Two-Stage Hemodialysis with Taylor Vortex Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hemodialysis systems employing Couette flow and Taylor vortices are potentially slower than other methods, leading to lengthy procedure times for patients requiring renal function replacement or supplementation.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage hemodialysis system where blood is first filtered to remove cellular components using a filter membrane, and then the filtered plasma is processed through a diffusion membrane with a concentration gradient to remove metabolic waste, utilizing Couette flow and Taylor vortices to enhance separation and transport efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a two-stage hemodialysis system is used to remove cellular components first, then metabolic waste, the treatment speed increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hemodialysis process is divided into two distinct stages: first stage removes cellular components (blood cells, platelets) from plasma using a filter membrane, and the second stage removes metabolic waste products from the filtered plasma using a diffusion membrane. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized for its specific function, increasing overall treatment speed and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary filtered plasma state between whole blood and dialyzed blood. The first stage produces filtered plasma by removing cellular components, which then serves as the input for the second stage where metabolic waste is removed. This intermediary step enables more efficient waste removal in the second stage compared to processing whole blood directly
2Manufacturing precision
If Couette flow and Taylor vortices are used to enhance filtration, the separation efficiency improves, but the procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic flow patterns including Couette flow (created by relative motion between concentric cylinders) and Taylor vortices (rotational flow patterns that enhance mixing and transport). These dynamic flow mechanisms improve the efficiency of cellular component removal and waste product diffusion across membranes, achieving better separation efficiency without excessive procedure time extension
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces patient treatment time by allowing faster processing of plasma in the second stage, as cellular components are removed in the first stage, thereby decreasing overall dialysis time and inconvenience.
Implementation Method 1
Plasma comprising metabolic waste components is passed through the membrane, while passage of blood cells through the membrane is substantially prevented
Implementation Method 2
Fresh dialysis solution may be conveyed along an opposite side of the hemodialysis membrane to create a concentration gradient across the hemodialysis membrane to transport waste components, such as by diffusion, from the plasma through the diffusion membrane
Implementation Method 3
The first inner and outer surfaces are moved relative to each other, which may create fluid shear forces, such as by Couette flow
Implementation Method 4
more specifically, Taylor vortices along the first inner and outer surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for performing hemodialysis to remove metabolic waste from the blood of a patient are disclosed. The systems and methods preferably comprise at least one blood processing apparatus that receives whole blood from a patient. Cellular blood components are removed from the whole blood by hemofiltration, to provide filtered plasma comprising metabolic waste that is substantially reduced of blood cells. The cellular blood components may be returned to the patient. The filtered plasma comprising waste may be removed from the blood processing apparatus through a waste path for further processing in a separate apparatus, or in the same apparatus in a second stage processing procedure to remove metabolic waste components and excess water from the plasma by hemodialysis. At least one of the hemofiltration and hemodialysis processing apparatus comprises a Taylor vortex-enhanced separation apparatus.