Neutrally Buoyant Polymeric Sorbent for Blood Purification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The limited shelf life of blood products leads to periodic shortages and increased risks of transfusion-related complications due to the accumulation of undesirable molecules during storage, such as cytokines, inflammatory mediators, and antibodies, which can cause reactions like TRALI and allergic responses in recipients.
Innovation Solution
The use of hemocompatible sorbents, specifically biocompatible polymers in the form of neutrally buoyant beads, to remove Biologically Active Molecules (BAMs) from blood and blood products, extending their shelf life and reducing transfusion-related complications by maintaining their distribution throughout the blood volume without the need for mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If blood products are stored for extended periods to meet high transfusion demand, then the useful life of blood products is extended, but the accumulation of biologically active molecules (BAMs) increases causing transfusion-related complications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts harmful BAMs from blood products by introducing polymeric sorbent particles that selectively bind and remove cytokines, inflammatory mediators, and other biologically active molecules during storage, thereby extending shelf life without accumulating harmful substances
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric sorbent particles act as an intermediary substance between the blood products and the harmful BAMs, facilitating the removal of unwanted molecules through adsorption while maintaining the integrity and functionality of the blood products
2Reliability
If polymeric sorbent particles are added to remove BAMs during storage, then transfusion-related complications are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The polymeric sorbent particles autonomously remove BAMs from blood products through passive adsorption during storage without requiring external control systems, mixing mechanisms, or complex operational interventions, thereby improving safety while minimizing added complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs porous polymeric sorbent particles with high surface area and selective pore structures that enhance BAM removal capacity while maintaining simple particle form factors that integrate easily into existing blood storage containers
3Productivity
If neutral buoyancy of sorbent particles is achieved to maintain distribution throughout blood volume, then removal efficiency of BAMs is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the density parameter of polymeric sorbent particles by modifying polymer composition, crosslinking density, or incorporating buoyancy-adjusting agents to achieve neutral buoyancy in blood, enabling uniform distribution and enhanced BAM removal efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite polymeric structures combining sorbent functional materials with density-modifying components to achieve neutral buoyancy, thereby maintaining simple particle morphology while meeting precise density requirements for optimal performance
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 sorbents effectively mitigate complications by removing harmful substances, thereby extending the usable life of blood products and ensuring safer transfusions by maintaining the distribution of the sorbents throughout the blood volume without the need for agitation.
Implementation Method 1
a sorbent for removing one or more biologically active molecules (BAMs) from a blood product
Implementation Method 2
biocompatible polymers in the form of neutrally buoyant beads
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention concerns methods of treating stored blood and blood products maximizing shelf life and/or minimizing transfusion related complications such as non¬ hemolytic transfusion reactions such as fever, transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), transfusion associated dyspnea (TAD), and allergic reactions by removing undesirable molecules in the blood and blood products milieu through use of a sorbent.