Vacuum-Sealed Blood Fractionation for Sterile Plasma Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for preparing blood compounds with desirable biological properties are prone to bacterial contamination due to exposure to the surrounding air during handling, which can lead to infection risks.

Innovation Solution

A method using vacuum-sealed tubes and an extraction device that maintains a closed system to prevent contact with air, allowing for selective extraction and storage of plasma and other fractions in sealed, sterile containers, reducing contamination risks and enabling personalized dosing for medical applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If open tubes are used for blood handling and compound preparation, then the handling procedure is simple and accessible, but the risk of bacterial contamination increases due to exposure to surrounding air

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling procedure simplicityVSAvoidbacterial contamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a closed system with vacuum-sealed tubes that create an inert environment, preventing blood and compounds from contacting atmospheric air throughout the entire preparation process. This eliminates bacterial contamination risk while maintaining operational simplicity through pre-sealed, ready-to-use containers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the harmful factor (atmospheric air) from the handling environment by using vacuum-sealed tubes that prevent air contact. The system separates the blood processing environment from the external atmosphere, allowing simple handling procedures without contamination risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If vacuum-sealed tubes are used for blood handling and compound preparation, then the risk of bacterial contamination is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebacterial contamination riskVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs disposable vacuum-sealed tubes that are pre-prepared and single-use. This approach eliminates the need for complex sterilization and sealing equipment, reducing device complexity while maintaining sterile conditions throughout the process. Each tube is independently sealed and discarded after one use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum-sealed tubes are prepared in advance with all necessary components (anticoagulant, separation gel, vacuum level) before use. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex equipment during the actual procedure, reducing device complexity while ensuring sterile conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If plasma is extracted and handled in open containers, then the extraction process is straightforward, but the plasma becomes exposed to air and potential contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction process simplicityVSAvoidplasma sterility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains plasma sterility by conducting the entire extraction process within a closed vacuum-sealed system. The plasma remains in contact only with the sterile inner surface of the vacuum tube, never exposing to atmospheric air, thus ensuring reliability while keeping the process straightforward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum-sealed tube acts as an intermediary barrier between the plasma and the external environment. This mediator allows straightforward extraction procedures while preventing direct contact between plasma and contaminating air particles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 method significantly reduces the risk of bacterial contamination and ensures the end product remains sterile, maintaining optimal medical and biological conditions, allowing for tailored compounds suitable for various medical applications such as bone regeneration and joint treatment.

Implementation Method 1

uses vacuum-sealed tubes (i.e., tubes having an inner pressure that is below atmospheric pressure). For most of the duration of the method, and preferably for the entire duration, the plasma or any other compound involved in the method is prevented from coming into contact with the surrounding air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

the centrifugation of a tube containing blood and anticoagulant for a period of time and at a specific speed and temperature, the blood thereby being separated into different fractions; the extraction of the intermediate fraction, located above the red blood cells (lower fraction), where said intermediate fraction is a platelet-rich plasma

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentEP2430977B1Method for preparing at least one compound from blood, and sampling device for use when carrying out said method
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 BIOTECHNOLOGY INST I MAS D SL
  • EP2430977B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2430977B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Method for the preparation of at least one compound with biological properties from blood, where said method is performed in sealed tubes at a pressure below atmospheric pressure, thereby reducing or preventing the bacterial contamination of the compound through handling. The method comprises the repetition, for as many times as is required, of the following steps: connecting a second container that is vacuum-sealed to an extraction device connected in turn to a first container that contains blood separated into fractions, waiting for a period of time until the required fraction (s) is/are transferred, and removing said second container, with it thus being possible to obtain several second containers with different compounds for different medical applications including biological therapies. The steps may be performed in a closed system, without removing the caps of the containers, or alternatively the first container may be opened prior to the introduction of the extraction device.