Tissue Pathogen Inactivation via High G-Force Centrifugation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleansing and disinfecting animal tissues, particularly bone and connective tissue, are inadequate in removing or inactivating internal viral pathogens, as they are mostly topical and can damage the tissue, and existing systems with liquid seals are cumbersome and unreliable.
Innovation Solution
A process involving dry spin centrifugation to remove contaminants and subsequent solvent penetration using a pathogen-reducing solution at high G-forces to inactivate pathogens within the tissue's cavities, eliminating the need for liquid seals and enhancing penetration and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sterilization techniques are employed to inactivate viruses, then pathogen inactivation is achieved, but tissue damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing radiation protectants and cryoprotectants into the tissue before sterilization. These protectants are infused under pressure to penetrate deep into the tissue structure, providing protection before the harmful sterilization process begins, thereby reducing tissue damage while maintaining pathogen inactivation effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses radiation protectants and cryoprotectants as intermediary substances that mediate between the sterilization process and the tissue. These intermediaries absorb or mitigate the harmful effects of sterilization on tissue while allowing the pathogen inactivation function to proceed, resolving the contradiction between effective sterilization and tissue preservation
2Ease of manufacture
If topical disinfecting processes are used to clean tissue, then surface contamination is removed, but internal viral contamination remains untreated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs hydraulic principles by using pressure infusion to deliver pathogen-reducing solutions deep into the tissue. The pressurized fluid delivery system overcomes the limitation of topical application by forcing the solution through the tissue matrix to reach internal viral contaminants, thereby maintaining operational simplicity while achieving deep penetration and reliable internal pathogen removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional surface disinfection to three-dimensional deep tissue penetration by using pressure-driven fluid delivery. This dimensional change allows the pathogen-reducing solution to reach internal cavities and vascular structures where viruses reside, converting a surface-level process into a volumetric treatment that addresses internal contamination effectively
3Speed
If centrifugal force is increased to improve pathogen removal, then penetration into internal cavities improves, but tissue damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the G-force magnitude, duration of centrifugal treatment, and temperature conditions. By optimizing these parameters, the process achieves sufficient solvent penetration into internal cavities to remove pathogens while maintaining tissue structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between penetration effectiveness and tissue damage prevention
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
This method effectively removes and inactivates pathogens throughout the tissue, including internal viral contaminants, while minimizing tissue damage and avoiding the use of cumbersome liquid seals, providing a faster and more efficient cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
a centrifuge may be employed as part of a bone cleaning system where the centrifugal forces and increased gravity force materials and substances from the bone
Implementation Method 2
Internal bone spaces can be reached by a pressure/flow process employing pumps
Data Source
AI summary
Bone such as cortical or cancellous bone or connective tissue are centrifuged as a solution is applied to the tissue in a continuous process. The centrifuge creates forces, which cause the flowing solution to penetrate substantially all of the cavities of the tissue. The solution, which may be alcohol, a detergent, an oxidizer, or a surfactant, with or without water, flushes the cavities of the tissue and removes and inactivates viral and bacterial contaminants. In a second embodiment, bone or connective tissue is centrifuged in a batch process to remove contaminants from cavities in the tissue by first spinning the tissue dry and then submerging the tissue in a viral/bacteria cleansing solution and centrifuging the submerged tissue and solution at a sufficiently high speed and radius from the spin axis to create substantially high G forces on the tissue and solution to force the solution into and through the tissue cavities. The solution with the flushed contaminants is then removed from the vicinity of the tissue. In a further embodiment, an enzyme is centrifuged with the tissue to digest lipids and proteins which are then removed with a flushing solution which may also inactivate viral and bacterial contaminants. In yet a further embodiment, the centrifuge can be used to infuse biologically and/or structurally useful materials into the tissue. Further, the lipids and proteins may be removed by a chemically active agent such as oxo anions.