Pulsatile Perfusion Afterbirth Cell Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for isolating stem cells from umbilical cord blood are inefficient, resulting in insufficient usable cells for transplants and research, and do not effectively utilize pulsatile perfusion or digestive enzymes to extract cells from afterbirth tissue.

Innovation Solution

The method employs pulsatile perfusion of afterbirth tissue using a perfusion circuit with a pulsatile perfusion pump and a solution containing colloidal, anti-edema, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory agents, followed by enzymatic digestion to extract a higher number of viable cells, including pluripotent stem cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional gravity drainage method is used to collect umbilical cord blood, then the collection process is simple, but the number of usable stem cells obtained is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of collection methodVSAvoidnumber of usable stem cells

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the simple gravity drainage method with a pulsatile perfusion system that uses mechanical pumping to circulate perfusate through the placental tissue. This mechanical system actively extracts cells from the tissue matrix, dramatically increasing cell recovery numbers while maintaining operational simplicity through automated circulation and collection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of cell extraction by introducing pulsatile flow dynamics and enzymatic digestion. The perfusion system varies flow rate and pressure dynamically to optimize cell release from tissue, while enzymatic parameters are adjusted to enhance cell detachment without damaging viability, thereby increasing total cell yield.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If pulsatile perfusion with enzymes is used to extract cells from afterbirth tissue, then the number of viable cells obtained increases significantly, but the process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of viable cellsVSAvoidcomplexity of perfusion system

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cell extraction process into distinct functional stages: perfusate circulation through the placenta, enzymatic digestion of tissue matrix, cell separation from plasma, and cell collection. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently while using standardized components, managing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces digestive enzymes as intermediary substances that mediate between the perfusion system and tissue cells. The enzymes facilitate cell release from the tissue matrix without requiring direct mechanical disruption, simplifying the extraction mechanism while dramatically increasing cell viability and numbers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If conventional UCB collection methods are used, then the collection process is fast, but the number of stem cells available for transplant is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollection speedVSAvoidnumber of stem cells

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous perfusion circulation where perfusate is constantly pumped through the placental tissue, continuously releasing cells into the collection system. This continuous action maintains high cell recovery rates throughout the entire collection process, increasing total cell numbers without extending the overall collection time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 yields significantly more viable cells, often twice as many as traditional UCB collection methods, expanding the applicability of stem cell transplants and providing a powerful tool for broader cell research, including non-hematopoietic cell types.

Implementation Method 1

extracting cells from said afterbirth tissue by pulsatile perfusion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPulsatile perfusion:

Implementation Method 2

The method involves the steps of: a) placing the afterbirth tissue into a perfusion circuit, b) extracting cells from said afterbirth tissue by pulsatile perfusion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzymatic digestion: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentUS8673547B2Method for isolation of afterbirth derived cells

Publication Date: 2014.03.18 HEMACELL PERFUSION

AI summary

A method for extracting cells from afterbirth tissue, including placing the afterbirth into a perfusion circuit prior to exsanguination, extracting the cells from the afterbirth with digestive enzymes and mechanically recovering cells from the digested afterbirth tissue, and isolating the cells from the perfusate and digestion mix. Also disclosed is a cell line derived from afterbirth using the two-step pulsatile perfusion extraction method.