Spiral Membrane Blood Separation for Point-of-Care
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating blood plasma or serum from whole blood are either expensive, prone to clogging, or achieve limited purity, and are not suitable for resource-limited or point-of-care settings, especially when dealing with small volumes of blood.
Innovation Solution
A device with a spiral membrane for lateral flow blood separation, integrated into a single-use apparatus for blood collection and storage, which allows for efficient separation and drying of blood components, including a desiccant to prevent contamination and degradation, and a compact design for easy handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If centrifugation is used to separate plasma from whole blood, then separation purity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the separation function from complex centrifugal machinery and implements it through a simple spiral membrane structure that performs separation based on lateral flow principles, eliminating the need for expensive centrifuges while achieving adequate plasma separation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the separation mechanism from centrifugal force-based to lateral flow-based, fundamentally altering the physical parameter used for separation and enabling simple, low-cost plasma extraction without complex equipment
2Extent of automation
If microfluidic platforms are used for blood separation, then automation is improved, but device complexity and clogging risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the blood separation process into simple lateral flow through the spiral membrane, avoiding the complex multi-channel microfluidic networks that are prone to clogging while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The spiral membrane uses porous material properties to enable blood separation through lateral flow, providing automation without the complex microfluidic channel structures that are susceptible to clogging
3Speed
If synthetic membranes are used for blood filtration, then separation speed is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple filtrations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the filtration and separation functions into a single spiral membrane structure, eliminating the need for multiple sequential filtration steps while maintaining rapid separation speed
Solution Approach 2:
The spiral membrane employs a curved, spiral configuration that enables blood to flow laterally across the membrane surface, achieving rapid separation in a single pass without requiring multiple linear filtration stages
4Manufacturing precision
If conventional centrifugation equipment is used, then separation purity is improved, but cost increases making it unsuitable for resource-limited settings
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a disposable spiral membrane device that provides adequate plasma separation at low cost, eliminating the need for expensive, reusable centrifugal equipment while maintaining sufficient separation purity for point-of-care applications
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 spiral membrane device effectively separates blood plasma or serum from whole blood, reducing hemolysis and allowing for stable storage and analysis of small blood samples, making it suitable for field use and resource-limited settings.
Implementation Method 1
The invention provides a method of separating blood cells from whole blood comprising the steps of: a) providing: i) a filter module, wherein said filter module comprises a spiral membrane configured to allow passage of blood plasma or serum but not other blood components such as red blood cells or white blood cells
Implementation Method 2
c) filtering said blood sample through said spiral membrane using a lateral flow
Implementation Method 3
The invention can be integrated in a single-use apparatus for blood collection and storage as a dried sample comprising structural components that form an interior circular chamber(s) containing a sample collection material(s), and a desiccant
Implementation Method 4
The sample collection material being in fluid communication with a capillary tube or opening that extend to the exterior of the device and through which the user introduces the fluid to be collected
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention provides systems, devices, kits, and methods for separating blood plasma or serum from whole blood. The present invention further provides systems, devices, and methods for separating a volume of blood plasma or serum from whole blood.