Centrifuge Rotor Light Pipe Fill Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blood centrifuges risk overfilling, leading to incomplete separation of blood cells and inaccurate diagnostic results due to the limited capacity of the absorbent gel, as users may unknowingly add excessive blood samples.
Innovation Solution
A rotor with a light transmissible housing and integrated light pipe that visually indicates the optimal blood volume, preventing overfilling by allowing blood to fill the light pipe instead of the chamber when the maximum volume is reached, ensuring the gel can absorb all red blood cells and minimizing spillage during centrifugation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the rotor chamber is overfilled with whole blood sample, then the volume of blood sample increases, but the gel cannot absorb all blood cells resulting in incomplete separation and inaccurate diagnostic results
Solution Approach 1:
The light pipe is pre-positioned within the rotor housing at a specific height to indicate the maximum fill level before centrifugation begins. This preliminary visual indicator prevents overfilling before the separation process starts, ensuring the gel can absorb all blood cells from the intended blood volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The light pipe provides real-time visual feedback during the filling process. As blood is added to the rotor chamber, the user can observe the blood level relative to the light pipe indicator and stop filling at the appropriate level, preventing overfilling and ensuring complete blood cell separation.
2Loss of information
If instructions are provided with the analyzer on proper use and correct volume, then the user is informed of proper procedure, but the user may still unknowingly overfill the rotor resulting in unseparated blood cells remaining in plasma
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces reliance on user memory and instruction following with a visual optical indicator system. The light pipe provides an intuitive visual cue that is always present in the rotor, eliminating the need for users to remember or reference external instructions during the filling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor housing itself provides the filling guidance through the integrated light pipe indicator. The system is self-instructing, allowing users to correctly fill the rotor without external guidance, making the proper procedure inherent to the device design.
3Measurement precision
If a light pipe is added to indicate proper fill level, then visual indication of optimal volume is provided preventing overfilling, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light pipe serves multiple functions: it indicates the maximum fill level during loading, provides a visual reference during centrifugation, and may serve as a structural support element. This multi-functionality justifies the added component by providing several benefits from a single structural addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The light pipe can be implemented as a thin, translucent structural element integrated into the rotor housing. This minimizes the added complexity and material usage while maintaining the visual indication function, allowing the indicator to be part of the housing structure rather than a separate bulky component.
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 solution provides a clear visual indication of the optimal fill level, preventing overfilling and ensuring accurate blood separation, while minimizing the risk of blood spillage, even if the rotor is inverted, thereby enhancing the reliability of diagnostic tests.
Implementation Method 1
The top wall has at least a portion thereof formed from a light transmissible material, such as a clear or translucent plastic material. The rotor further includes a light pipe joined to the top wall and light transmissively communicating with the light transmissive portion of the top wall.
Implementation Method 2
The rotor 2 includes a silicone gel 12 situated circumferentially about the interior chamber 8 above the lower portion 6, which gel 12 captures or absorbs the denser blood cells from the sample, but not the plasma, when the rotor 2 is spun at high speeds.
Implementation Method 3
the gel 12 captures or absorbs the denser blood cells from the sample
Data Source
AI summary
A spinnable rotor for a high speed centrifuge includes a housing which defines a chamber interiorly thereof for receiving a whole blood sample and for containing a predetermined amount of red blood cell absorbent gel. The housing includes an upper portion and a bottom portion, the upper portion having a port formed through the thickness thereof. The upper portion has at least a portion thereof formed from a light transmissible material. A light pipe is joined to the upper portion and light transmissively communicates with the light transmissive portion of the upper portion. The light pipe extends at least partially into the chamber and has an open, lower free end. When whole blood filling the rotor chamber contacts the lower free end of the light pipe, the red color of the blood is transmissively communicated to the upper portion of the rotor housing where it is viewable by the user of the centrifuge.