Serial Blood Filter Switching Mechanism for Cardiopulmonary Bypass
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Solution Overview
Problem
The single arterial filter system used in blood filtration during cardiopulmonary bypass surgeries becomes progressively coated with filtrate, leading to increased pressure, mechanical damage, and the release of harmful particles and biochemicals into the blood, causing inflammatory responses and multi-organ dysfunction.
Innovation Solution
A device that allows for the serial use of multiple blood filters, where each filter is used for a period of time before being replaced, maintaining optimal flow dynamics and minimizing the breakdown of debris and release of bioactive chemicals by redirecting blood flow to a new filter before the previous one becomes fully coated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single arterial filter is used continuously during blood filtration, then the filter structure remains simple and operation is easy, but the filter becomes progressively coated with filtrate leading to increased pressure and mechanical damage to blood components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single continuous filter into multiple discrete filter units that can be used in sequence. The blood filtration system incorporates a first filter and a second filter that can be alternated, allowing the first filter to be replaced with a second filter when the first becomes coated with filtrate. This segmentation enables each filter to be used for a limited period before replacement, preventing the accumulation of filtrate coating that causes mechanical damage to blood components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a system where used filters are discarded and replaced with fresh filters. The first filter, after becoming coated with filtrate and causing increased pressure and mechanical damage, is removed and discarded. A second fresh filter is then introduced to continue filtration without the harmful effects of filtrate accumulation. This discard-and-replace approach ensures continuous fresh filtration capacity.
2Device complexity
If a single filter is used for extended periods, then device complexity is minimized, but hydrostatic pressure increases causing filter channel blockage and release of harmful particles
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is segmented into multiple filter units (first filter and second filter) that can be alternated. This segmentation allows the system to maintain consistent performance by switching between filters, ensuring that at least one filter remains in a fresh, high-performance state. The multi-filter configuration provides redundancy and performance consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic replacement of filters in the blood filtration system. Rather than using a single filter continuously, the system periodically switches from the first filter to the second filter when the first becomes coated with filtrate. This periodic action maintains consistent filtration performance by ensuring that the active filter is always in a relatively fresh state with open channels and low hydrostatic pressure.
3Duration of action of moving object
If blood flow continues through a coated filter, then uninterrupted filtration is maintained, but mechanical shear forces increase degrading cellular and non-cellular filtrate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the continuous filtration process into discrete phases using multiple filters. Instead of forcing blood through a single coated filter for the entire duration, the system switches from the first filter to the second filter when the first becomes coated. This segmentation prevents the accumulation of mechanical shear damage that would occur in a continuous single-filter system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards the first filter when it becomes coated with filtrate, preventing continued mechanical degradation of blood components. By removing the coated filter and replacing it with a fresh second filter, the system eliminates the source of mechanical shear forces that would otherwise continue to degrade cellular and non-cellular filtrate throughout the entire filtration period.
4Ease of operation
If a single filter apparatus is used, then the system is simple to operate, but inflammatory response and multi-organ dysfunction increase due to filter coating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the filtration system into multiple filter units that can be alternated, reducing the inflammatory response caused by filter coating. By having a first filter and a second filter available, the system can switch to a fresh filter when the first becomes coated, thereby minimizing the release of inflammatory mediators and preventing multi-organ dysfunction while maintaining operational simplicity.
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 reduces hydrostatic injury to debris, maintains open channels in the filter, and minimizes the release of harmful particles and biochemicals into the bloodstream, thereby improving patient outcomes by continuously providing a clean filter with more open channels and reducing inflammatory responses.
Implementation Method 1
a blood filter is placed in the line of return blood flow to the body to remove unwanted elements including both cellular and non-cellular matter
Implementation Method 2
the mechanical effect of this flow can serve to degrade this cellular and non-cellular filtrate, releasing smaller particles and chemically active substances into the filtered blood
Implementation Method 3
Pressure increase resulting from filter material blocking previously open channels serves to increase the mechanical damage that is inflicted upon this filtered material
Data Source
AI summary
A device that allows for serial (time) use of clean blood filters during the use of a heart lung machine. The device is comprised of a series of filters and a switching mechanism that allows the new filter to be placed in the blood flow pathway while at the same time removing the old (previous) filter. A clean filter is always available, and filters for specific components of blood or those able to bind and remove specific biochemicals can be used.