Spinning Membrane Separator Flow Control for Hemolysis Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blood processing systems face challenges in controlling fluid flow rates during membrane separation, leading to potential hemolysis and membrane fouling, which can result in inefficient separation and contamination of blood components.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that uses a spinning membrane separator with a microprocessing controller to detect changes in free hemoglobin and transmembrane pressure, adjusting the flow rate to prevent overaggressive separation and minimize hemolysis, while also monitoring membrane fouling to maintain efficient filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the flow rate is increased to improve separation efficiency, then productivity is improved, but hemolysis and membrane fouling increase causing reliability to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors transmembrane pressure and free hemoglobin levels, using this feedback to dynamically adjust the pump flow rate. When pressure differential exceeds a threshold or hemoglobin increases indicating hemolysis, the system automatically reduces flow rate to prevent damage while maintaining separation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The flow rate is made dynamically adjustable based on real-time conditions rather than fixed. The pump speed varies automatically in response to changing transmembrane pressure and hemoglobin levels, allowing the system to optimize between productivity and reliability throughout the separation process
2Productivity
If aggressive separation is used to increase productivity, then separation efficiency is improved, but hemolysis increases causing harmful factors to worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Free hemoglobin monitoring provides real-time feedback on hemolysis levels. When hemoglobin concentration increases, indicating red blood cell damage, the system automatically reduces flow rate to prevent further hemolysis while maintaining acceptable separation productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action by monitoring transmembrane pressure and hemoglobin levels before severe hemolysis occurs. By detecting early signs of aggressive separation effects, the system preemptively adjusts flow rate to prevent harmful hemolysis while maintaining productivity
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 system effectively controls fluid flow rates to reduce hemolysis and membrane fouling, ensuring the integrity of separated blood components and maintaining separation efficiency, thereby increasing the yield and quality of blood products.
Implementation Method 1
providing a membrane separator configured to separate a biological fluid into filtrate and retentate
Implementation Method 2
Larger molecules, such as red blood cells, may be retained within one side of the membrane, while the smaller molecules, such as plasma, may escape through the pores of the membrane
Implementation Method 3
detecting a change of free hemoglobin within the plasma with an optical sensor
Implementation Method 4
detecting a change in transmembrane pressure within the spinning membrane separator with a pressure sensor
Implementation Method 5
as the whole blood is spun by the centrifuge, the heavier (greater specific gravity) components, such as red blood cells, move radially outwardly away from the center of rotation toward the outer or 'high-G' wall of the separation chamber
Implementation Method 6
The lighter (lower specific gravity) components, such as plasma, migrate toward the inner or 'low-G' wall of the separation chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer-implemented method for controlling fluid flow rates during a biological fluid procedure, comprising providing a membrane separator configured to separate a biological fluid into filtrate and retentate, wherein concentration of retentate exiting the membrane separator is controllable by altering a flow rate of the retentate exiting the membrane separator. The computer-implemented method also comprises detecting a change of attenuated retentate particles within the filtrate, comparing the change of attenuated retentate particles within the filtrate with a threshold level, and providing a response action comprising altering the concentration of retentate exiting the membrane separator if the change of attenuated retentate particles within the filtrate exceeds the threshold level.