Syringe Bead Concentration for Biological Material Processing
Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for processing biological materials are complex, costly, and require multiple processing steps, often resulting in product loss due to timely centrifugation processes.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a syringe barrel with desiccating or polyacrylamide beads and a filter, along with a plunger assembly that mixes the biological material with the beads, allowing for efficient processing and concentration of biological materials with fewer steps, using a syringe-like mechanism for aspiration and administration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple centrifugation steps are used to process biological materials, then the desired product can be obtained, but the processing time increases and product loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the centrifugation function entirely from the processing system and replaces it with a syringe-based manual operation. The biological material is drawn into a syringe containing beads, mixed by manual agitation, and the desired concentrate is obtained without any centrifugation equipment or multi-step separation processes, thereby eliminating processing time delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces beads as an intermediary substance within the syringe that facilitates the concentration process. These beads interact with the biological material during manual mixing to enable separation and concentration without requiring centrifugal force, thus replacing complex mechanical separation with a simpler chemical/physical interaction mechanism.
2Reliability
If multiple centrifugation steps are used to process biological materials, then the desired product can be obtained, but product loss increases due to fraction isolation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for fraction isolation steps by performing the entire concentration process within a single syringe. The biological material is mixed with beads directly in the syringe, and the concentrate is obtained by simple aspiration or gravity flow, eliminating the multiple transfer and isolation steps that cause product loss in centrifugation-based systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple processing functions (mixing, separation, concentration) into a single integrated syringe system. All operations occur within the same container without transferring material between different equipment or vessels, thereby preventing product loss that occurs during fraction isolation and transfer operations in traditional centrifugation protocols.
3Reliability
If complex processing devices are used to process biological materials, then the desired processing can be achieved, but the device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal syringe-based device that can process various biological materials (blood, bone marrow, adipose tissue) through the same basic mechanism. The single syringe design with beads performs mixing, separation, and concentration functions that would otherwise require multiple specialized devices, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable syringe-based system that eliminates the need for expensive, complex, reusable processing equipment. The single-use nature of the syringe with integrated beads provides a cost-effective alternative to costly centrifugation machines and associated consumables, reducing both device complexity and overall processing cost.
4Reliability
If complex processing devices with multiple steps are used, then the desired product can be obtained, but the processing scheme becomes elaborate and difficult to use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex multi-step processing scheme and replaces it with a single-step syringe-based operation. The biological material is simply drawn into the syringe, mixed by agitation, and the concentrate is obtained by aspiration or gravity flow, eliminating the elaborate sequence of centrifugation steps and making the process easy to perform.
Solution Approach 2:
The syringe-based system is designed to be self-contained and self-operating. The beads within the syringe automatically interact with the biological material during manual mixing, and the separation and concentration occur passively through gravity or simple aspiration without requiring complex control mechanisms or multiple operational steps, thereby simplifying the user interface and operation.
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 device enables cost-effective, simplified processing of biological materials with reduced steps, effectively concentrating and administering processed materials back to the patient or for grafts, while minimizing product loss.
Implementation Method 1
The filter comprises pores with diameters smaller than a diameter of the beads, but larger than a diameter of the biological material
Implementation Method 2
Desiccating beads are positioned within the barrel... the paddle assembly is configured to mix the biological material with the desiccating beads
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
A device for processing a biological material is disclosed. The device includes a syringe barrel comprising beads, a filter positioned at a close end of the barrel, a plunger insertable into the barrel through an open end, and a needle. The plunger includes a paddle assembly that is configured to mix a biological material with the beads after the biological material has been harvested from a patient.