Extracorporeal Plasma Pathogen Inactivation via UV and Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current extracorporeal blood circulation devices are inadequate for effectively inactivating pathogens in blood products, particularly during pandemics and epidemics, as they lack clear clinical indications, safety, and efficacy studies, and fail to modulate inflammatory responses, leading to high mortality and economic losses.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a circuit of tubes with apheresis components, peristaltic pumps, heating, and ultraviolet light (UVL) devices to separate and treat blood plasma, leucocytes, and buffy coat, using heat and UVL to inactivate pathogens and modulate the immune response, while also cooling the plasma to normal temperature or inducing hypothermia.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional extracorporeal blood circulation devices are used, then basic blood filtration is achieved, but pathogen inactivation is insufficient leading to high mortality in pandemics and epidemics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple pathogen inactivation mechanisms (UVL irradiation, heat treatment, photosensitizer activation) into a single integrated extracorporeal blood circulation device. The device merges filtration, UVL exposure, heating elements, and photosensitizer delivery systems into one unified apparatus that processes blood through all these stages sequentially, achieving comprehensive pathogen inactivation without requiring multiple separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to handle multiple pathogen types (viruses, bacteria, parasites) using the same core mechanism of UVL and heat treatment. The system can treat different blood products (whole blood, plasma, platelets) through the same apparatus, making it a universal solution for pathogen inactivation across various clinical scenarios including pandemics, epidemics, and sepsis treatment.
2Reliability
If high doses of UVL are applied to inactivate pathogens, then pathogen inactivation is improved, but plasma proteins and coagulation factors are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs heat treatment at controlled temperatures (e.g., 56°C for 30 minutes) as an alternative or complementary method to UVL for pathogen inactivation. This thermal process achieves effective virus and bacteria killing without the protein-damaging effects of high-dose UVL. The system can adjust temperature and exposure time parameters to optimize pathogen destruction while preserving plasma protein integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces photosensitizers (such as riboflavin or porphyrins) as intermediary substances that enhance UVL pathogen inactivation efficiency at lower UVL doses. The photosensitizers absorb UVL energy and transfer it to pathogens, creating reactive oxygen species that destroy pathogens more effectively than UVL alone, while reducing the direct UVL exposure needed and thereby minimizing damage to plasma proteins.
3Reliability
If multiple treatment modalities are combined to improve pathogen inactivation, then treatment efficacy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates filtration, UVL irradiation, heat treatment, and photosensitizer activation into a single sequential processing line within one device. Blood or plasma flows through filters first, then passes through UVL exposure chambers, followed by heated sections, and finally receives photosensitizer administration. This merged approach achieves multi-modal treatment efficacy while avoiding the need for multiple separate devices and complex coordination between them.
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 effectively inactivates pathogens, reduces inflammation, and decreases mortality and morbidity in patients with severe infections, providing a therapeutic method for treating fatal infections and inducing hypothermia in acute brain injuries.
Implementation Method 1
at least one primary ultraviolet light (UVL) device (4)
Implementation Method 2
at least one heating device (10) heats the blood plasma
Implementation Method 3
at least one cooling device (14) cools the plasma to a specific temperature
Implementation Method 4
The apheresis device (2) separates the blood plasma from one or more blood cells
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method facilitate the extracorporeal inactivation of pathogens of blood products. The system includes an input peristaltic pump, at least one apheresis device, at least one plasma-treating system, and an output peristaltic pump. The input peristaltic pump, the apheresis device, the plasma-treating system, and the output peristaltic pump are in fluid communication with each other. The plasma-treating system includes at least one primary ultraviolet light (UVL) device, at least one heating device, and at least one cooling device. The input peristaltic pump facilitates the flow of blood from a patient through the system. The apheresis device facilitates separating of plasma from one or more blood cells. The plasma-treating system heats the plasma, inactivates pathogens within the plasma, and then cools the plasma. The output peristaltic pump facilitates the flow of blood from the system and back to the patient.