Hour-Glass Isolation Container for Buffy Coat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for isolating blood components, particularly the buffy coat, are inefficient in terms of time, waste, and contamination risk, and often require multiple sample transfers and manual processing steps, which can lead to suboptimal recovery of stem cells like mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
Innovation Solution
A blood processing system comprising an hour-glass shaped isolation container with a narrowed medial reservoir, a plunger, and optional features like a port or lumen, designed to facilitate efficient centrifugation and isolation of the buffy coat within the container, minimizing sample handling and allowing on-site processing and re-injection of MSCs for therapeutic purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional centrifugation methods with manual post-processing are used, then blood can be separated into density graded layers, but the process requires multiple sample transfers and manual handling which increases contamination risk and processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the centrifugation chamber and isolation chamber into a single integrated container, eliminating the need to transfer samples between separate centrifuge tubes and isolation vessels. This merging of functions reduces handling steps and contamination risk while maintaining efficient separation and isolation capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation container serves multiple functions: it acts as both the centrifugation chamber and the isolation chamber, and includes integrated features for sample introduction, centrifugation, and buffy coat removal. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate manual transfer steps between different vessels
2Productivity
If conventional centrifugation methods are used, then blood components can be separated, but multiple manual transfer steps are required which reduces processing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the centrifugation and isolation functions into a single container system, eliminating multiple transfer steps between separate vessels. The isolation chamber is positioned within or integrated with the centrifugation chamber, allowing direct access to separated layers without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The container is pre-configured with the isolation chamber positioned to receive and isolate specific density layers during centrifugation. The geometry and positioning are designed in advance to automatically capture the buffy coat layer at the appropriate centrifugal force, eliminating the need for manual timing and transfer operations
3Quantity of substance
If standard centrifuge tubes are used for blood separation, then density gradient separation can be achieved, but the buffy coat layer is difficult to isolate efficiently due to small volume and lack of concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation chamber has a reduced cross-sectional area compared to the centrifugation chamber, creating a localized region of higher concentration for the buffy coat layer. This geometric concentration effect increases the density and volume of isolated nucleated cells, making extraction more efficient and yielding higher quantities of target substances
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a uniform cylindrical centrifuge tube to a container with varying cross-sectional dimensions. The isolation chamber's reduced area in one dimension concentrates the buffy coat layer, transforming a diffuse thin layer into a concentrated volume that is easier to isolate and yields higher cell recovery
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
The system significantly increases the recovery of nucleated cells, particularly MSCs, by up to 4.6-fold compared to conventional techniques, while reducing waste and contamination risk, and enables efficient on-site processing and re-injection of buffy coat for therapeutic use.
Implementation Method 1
separate the blood into density graded fractional layers
Implementation Method 2
separated into density graded layers
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, systems and methods for processing a blood sample. One embodiment comprises an isolation container having at least one sidewall defining an interior volume. The interior volume includes a medial reservoir in fluid communication with proximal and distal reservoirs. The diameter of the medial reservoir is less than the diameter of the proximal and distal reservoirs. Therefore, the isolation container has an interior volume which is roughly hour-glass shaped with the medial reservoir being a substantially narrowed portion or channel between two wider portions. The isolation container is configured such that the buffy coat layer of fractionated blood will be located within and may be accessed from the reduced cross sectional medial reservoir after a centrifuge or other processing step.