UV Plasma Irradiation Box for Pathogen Inactivation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating viral and bacterial infections in blood plasma using UV irradiation are limited as they damage cellular elements, and there is a need to combine UV Blood Irradiation (UBI) with Plasmapheresis to target pathogens while preserving valuable proteins.
Innovation Solution
A UV box system that irradiates blood plasma using multiple UV light sources with different wavelengths, integrated with plasmapheresis machines to selectively expose plasma to UV radiation, protecting cellular elements and allowing for controlled exposure and reintegration of treated plasma with cellular components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV light is used to irradiate blood for killing viruses and bacteria, then pathogen destruction is improved, but cellular elements (red and white blood cells) are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates blood into plasma and cellular elements before UV irradiation. The plasma is exposed to UV light for pathogen destruction, while cellular elements are protected from UV damage. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by spatially separating the irradiated plasma from sensitive cellular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts plasma from whole blood and subjects only the plasma to UV irradiation. This extraction allows selective treatment of the pathogen-containing plasma while leaving cellular elements untouched, thereby achieving pathogen destruction without cellular damage.
2Reliability
If UV light is used to sterilize blood plasma, then viral and bacterial infections are reduced, but valuable proteins in plasma may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses specific UV wavelengths (254nm and 365nm) and controls exposure parameters to achieve effective pathogen inactivation while minimizing damage to valuable plasma proteins. By optimizing irradiation parameters, the system resolves the contradiction between infection treatment efficacy and protein preservation.
3Reliability
If plasmapheresis is used to remove and replace plasma, then pathogen load is reduced, but the procedure complexity and time required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges UV irradiation with plasmapheresis by integrating a UV box into the plasmapheresis system. The plasma that is removed during plasmapheresis is simultaneously irradiated with UV light, combining pathogen removal and pathogen inactivation in one integrated process, thereby reducing overall procedure complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs UV irradiation on plasma before reinfusion during the plasmapheresis process. This preliminary action ensures that pathogens are inactivated before the treated plasma returns to the patient, allowing the procedure to proceed efficiently without requiring separate treatment steps.
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
Effectively inactivates pathogens in blood plasma without damaging cellular elements, facilitating immune response and reducing viral or bacterial loads while preserving valuable proteins, offering a potential treatment for antibiotic-resistant strains and novel viruses.
Implementation Method 1
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a potent source of energy, known to be capable of neutralizing or killing any virus or bacteria
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a UV light box, systems, and methods for irradiating plasma.