Plasmapheresis Flow Path Agitation for High Plasma Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sepsis treatments, including broad-spectrum antibiotics and apheresis techniques, are often ineffective and have significant side effects, while current plasmapheresis devices are limited in efficacy for removing undesirable substances from blood.
Innovation Solution
A device with a blood flow path featuring alternating straight and curved sections and formations that agitate blood flow, combined with a permeable separation membrane, efficiently separates plasma from blood, reducing the risk of red blood cell lysis and leukocyte activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional plasmapheresis device with a simple linear blood flow path is used, then the device structure is simple, but the plasma separation rate is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The blood flow path incorporates curved sections instead of straight linear paths. The curvature creates secondary flows and enhances mixing, which improves plasma separation efficiency without requiring excessive path length or complex additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
Formations are strategically placed within the blood flow path to create controlled agitation and eddies in the blood flow. This mechanical disturbance enhances the separation process by increasing the contact between blood and the separation membrane, thereby improving plasma separation rate.
2Productivity
If the separation membrane has high porosity to improve plasma separation efficiency, then plasma separation rate increases, but the risk of red blood cell lysis and leukocyte activation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separation membrane is designed with specific pore size parameters (0.2-5.0 μm) and porosity (30-70%) that optimize plasma separation while maintaining blood cell integrity. These parameter selections balance separation efficiency with cell protection, preventing lysis and activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The blood flow path design creates different flow conditions at different locations. Curved sections and formations generate regions of enhanced flow that improve separation at the membrane interface, while other regions provide lower stress zones that protect blood cells from excessive mechanical stress.
3Productivity
If formations are added to the blood flow path to increase plasma separation rate, then separation efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The formations are integrated directly into the blood flow path structure rather than being separate components. This merging of functions allows the flow path to simultaneously guide blood flow and create the necessary agitation patterns, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining separation efficiency.
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 device achieves high plasma separation rates with reduced stress on blood cells, effectively removing pro-inflammatory cytokines, microbial toxins, and microbes, and allows for continuous treatment of sepsis with improved safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a separation membrane having a first surface in fluid communication with the blood flow path; wherein the separation membrane may be substantially permeable to blood plasma but substantially impermeable to one or more other components of blood
Implementation Method 2
the separation membrane may have an average pore size of at least 0.5μm, 1μm or 1.5μm, no more than 5μm, 4μm or 3μm, or around 2μm
Implementation Method 3
the formations are located in the blood flow path, for agitating blood flow along the blood flow path; the formations located in the blood flow path agitate, and in particular may create eddies and secondary flows, in the blood flow
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Apparatus for treating blood. A device (10) for separating plasma from blood comprises a blood flow path (20) including formations (24) for agitating blood flow along the blood flow path and a separation membrane (28) with a first surface in fluid communication with the blood flow path. The device may be comprised in an extracorporeal blood circuit and used in a method for separating plasma from blood.