Thermoplastic Elastomer Stabilized Thixotropic Serum Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thixotropic serum- or plasma-separating compositions used in blood centrifugation tend to undergo phase separation due to strong hydrogen bonding, leading to localization of components and leakage, which contaminates measurement devices and affects measurement precision.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a thermoplastic elastomer into the composition with a liquid organic compound and a thixotropic-property imparting component, such as a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, to maintain a homogeneously blended state and prevent phase separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a thixotropic-property imparting component is used to form a hydrogen-bonding-based network in a liquid organic compound, then thixotropic property is achieved, but phase separation occurs over time due to strong aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
A silane-modified polyoxyethylene compound is introduced as an intermediary substance between the thixotropic-property imparting component and the liquid organic compound. This intermediary prevents direct strong hydrogen bonding that causes aggregation, while still enabling thixotropic property development, thus maintaining compositional homogeneity over time
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the chemical parameters of the thixotropic-property imparting component by introducing silane modification to the polyoxyethylene compound. This parameter change alters the hydrogen bonding characteristics, reducing excessive aggregation tendency while preserving the ability to form a thixotropic network structure
2Ease of operation
If phase separation occurs in the serum- or plasma-separating composition, then liquid organic compound leaks and spreads, but this contaminates measurement devices and affects measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The silane-modified polyoxyethylene compound acts as a mediator that maintains controlled fluidity while preventing uncontrolled spreading. It regulates the interaction between components to ensure the composition remains fluid enough for operation but stable enough to prevent contamination
Solution Approach 2:
By modifying the polyoxyethylene compound with silane groups, the invention changes the surface properties and hydrogen bonding capacity, thereby controlling the fluidity and spreading characteristics of the liquid organic compound to prevent device contamination
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 solution effectively prevents separation between the liquid organic compound and the thixotropic-property imparting component, maintaining homogeneity even at high temperatures, thus preventing contamination and ensuring precise measurement of serum or plasma components.
Implementation Method 1
The thixotropic-property imparting agent and the thixotropic-property enhancer disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2 are intended to obtain a thixotropic-property by forming a hydrogen-bonding-based network in a liquid organic compound.
Implementation Method 2
techniques for separating serum or plasma from blood by centrifugation using a difference in the specific gravities between blood components are widely used
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a serum- or plasma-separating composition less likely to cause separation between a liquid organic compound and a thixotropy imparting component and capable of maintaining a homogeneous blended state for a prolonged period. The serum- or plasma-separating composition comprises a liquid organic compound, a thixotropy imparting component, and a thermoplastic elastomer.