Soft Blood Collection Cassette for Integrated Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blood component collection cassettes are complex and costly due to being made of hard resin through injection molding, and they require pressure measurement to ensure proper operation, which is not efficiently addressed.
Innovation Solution
A blood component collection cassette made of a soft material with load detection soft portions that can measure internal pressure using a simple and economical configuration, incorporating a first and second load detection soft portions that are pressed during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a cassette is made of hard resin through injection molding, then structural strength and durability are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by replacing the conventional hard resin injection-molded cassette with a soft material cassette. The soft material cassette body (28) is formed from flexible material that can be molded more simply and cost-effectively while maintaining sufficient structural integrity for its function of containing and directing blood flow through the circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies this principle by changing the material parameter from hard resin to soft material. This material parameter change simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces cost while the load detection soft portions (60, 62) are strategically designed to provide the necessary structural response for pressure measurement.
2Measurement precision
If pressure measurement is added to the blood component collection system, then operational monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by making the cassette itself perform the pressure measurement function through its load detection soft portions (60, 62). The soft material structure inherently responds to pressure changes via deformation, which is then detected by load detectors on the separation device, eliminating the need for separate pressure sensing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies this principle by designing the soft material cassette to serve multiple functions: containing blood, directing flow through the circuit, and enabling pressure measurement. The load detection soft portions (60, 62) are integrated into the cassette structure, allowing the same component to fulfill both structural and sensing roles.
3Ease of manufacture
If soft material is used for the cassette body, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but structural rigidity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by utilizing the flexible nature of the soft material to create a cassette body that is both easy to manufacture and functional. The flexibility allows the material to deform in response to pressure while maintaining the structural integrity needed to contain and direct blood flow through the defined circuit path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies this principle by changing the material parameter from hard resin to soft material, which reduces manufacturing cost and complexity. The soft material properties are leveraged to enable pressure detection through deformation while still providing sufficient structural support for the application.
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
Enables accurate measurement of circuit internal pressure while reducing manufacturing costs and minimizing damage to blood flow paths, ensuring proper operation and attachment to the separation device.
Implementation Method 1
a first line forming member forming one of the inflow line and the return line and having a load detection soft portion made of a soft material, and a second line forming member forming a second line through which blood does not flow during operation of the blood component separation device, and having a second load detection soft portion made of a soft material, characterized in that the first and the second load detection soft portions are configured to be pressed when the blood component separation device is in operation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Provided is a blood component collection cassette capable of measuring a circuit internal pressure using a simple and economical configuration. A blood component collection cassette (28) includes an inflow line for sending blood or a blood component collected from a donor to a centrifugal separator (14), a return line for returning a predetermined blood component to the donor, and a line forming member forming one of the inflow line and the return line and having a load detection soft portion made of a soft material.