Vacuum-Driven Plasma Separation Membrane for Rapid Blood Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for plasma separation from whole blood, such as centrifugation and membrane filtration, suffer from issues like poor plasma purity, analyte bias, high hemolysis, long separation times, and complex workflows, particularly in point-of-care settings.
Innovation Solution
A biological fluid separation device utilizing a track-etched membrane and a single vacuum source to separate plasma from whole blood within one minute, without requiring hardware or electric power, by using a syringe draw or vacutainer tube, ensuring high-quality plasma production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If centrifugation is used for plasma separation, then plasma purity is improved, but separation time increases to 15-20 minutes and requires heavy labor
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the separation process into distinct functional zones: a first chamber for receiving whole blood, a separation member with selective pores for plasma/whole blood separation, and a second chamber for collecting separated plasma. This segmentation enables rapid separation without centrifugation by allowing plasma to pass through the separation member while retaining whole blood in the first chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation member utilizes a porous structure with specific pore sizes that allow plasma to pass through while retaining whole blood components. This porous filtration mechanism achieves plasma separation without requiring centrifugal force, significantly reducing separation time while maintaining plasma purity.
2Loss of time
If membrane filtration is used for plasma separation, then separation time is reduced, but plasma purity deteriorates and analyte bias occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The separation member is designed with non-uniform pore distribution, having different pore sizes in different regions. This local quality variation allows selective passage of plasma components while retaining whole blood, achieving both rapid separation and high plasma purity without analyte bias.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the pore size parameter of the separation member to optimize the balance between separation speed and plasma purity. By carefully selecting and varying pore dimensions, the system achieves rapid filtration while maintaining the integrity of plasma components for accurate diagnostic testing.
3Device complexity
If a single vacuum source is used to power separation, then device complexity is reduced, but control precision over separation process may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The single vacuum source serves multiple functions simultaneously: it creates negative pressure in both the first chamber to draw whole blood through the separation member, and in the second chamber to collect separated plasma. This multi-functionality simplifies the device while maintaining effective separation control through the inherent pressure differential across the separation member.
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 achieves fast, efficient, and high-quality plasma separation comparable to centrifugation, suitable for various diagnostic needs, with scalability from microliters to milliliters, and minimal hemolysis.
Implementation Method 1
a separation member separating at least a portion of the first chamber outlet and the second chamber. The separation member is adapted to restrain the first portion of the biological fluid sample within the first chamber and to allow at least a portion of the second portion of the biological fluid portion to pass into the second chamber
Implementation Method 2
an actuator in communication with a portion of the housing, such that actuation of the actuator draws the biological fluid sample into the first chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
A biological fluid separation device adapted to receive a biological fluid sample having a first portion and a second portion is disclosed. The device includes a housing having a first chamber having a first chamber inlet for receiving the biological fluid sample therein and a first chamber outlet. The housing has a second chamber having a second chamber inlet and a second chamber outlet, and a separation member separating at least a portion of the first chamber outlet and the second chamber. The separation member is adapted to restrain the first portion of the biological fluid sample within the first chamber and to allow at least a portion of the second portion of the biological fluid sample to pass into the second chamber. An actuator, such as a vacuum source, draws the biological fluid sample into the first chamber and the second portion into the second chamber.