Blood analysis system

Abstract

A blood analysis system for analysis and correction of blood of a subject includes a centrifugation unit to receive blood of a subject. The centrifugation unit is configured to hold capturing molecules for chemical capture of molecules and/or ions that deactivate at least one of coagulation and complement pathways in the blood and centrifuge to suspend cellular components with a minimal plasma along with the capturing molecules. The blood analysis system includes a correction unit coupled to the centrifugation unit to receive the minimal plasma having the capturing molecules and the cellular components from the centrifugation unit. The correction unit is configured to extract the capturing molecules from the minimal plasma, prior to infusing the minimal plasma having the cellular components along with replaced captured molecules and/or ions back to the subject and discarding the extracted capturing molecules.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A blood analysis system ( 360 ) for analysis and correction of blood of a subject, the blood analysis system ( 360 ) comprising:
 a centrifugation unit ( 102 ) to receive blood of a subject, the centrifugation unit ( 102 ) is to:
 hold capturing molecules for chemical capture of molecules and/or ions that deactivate at least one of coagulation and complement pathways in the blood; and 
 centrifuge to suspend cellular components with a minimal plasma along with the capturing molecules; 
   a correction unit coupled to the centrifugation unit ( 102 ) to receive the minimal plasma having the capturing molecules and the cellular components from the centrifugation unit ( 102 ), the correction unit is to extract the capturing molecules from the minimal plasma, and discard the extracted capturing molecules;   a semi-permeable membrane (SPM) and/or a centrifuge to receive the minimal plasma from the correction unit to separate platelets from the minimal plasma;   a detection unit to receive the separate platelets and count the platelets; and   a correction unit to correct the count of the platelets, before infusing the minimal plasma with the corrected platelets and having the cellular components along with replaced captured molecules and/or ions back to the subject.   
     
     
         2 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the minimal plasma having the cellular components are suspended in an isotonic solution, and optionally with oxygen and glucose, before infusing back of the subject. 
     
     
         3 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the minimal plasma, after separating the platelets, is ultra-centrifuged to separate granulocytes from the minimal plasma, and wherein the blood analysis system ( 360 ) comprises:
 a detection unit to count the granulocytes; and   a correction unit to correct the count of the granulocytes, before infusing the minimal plasma with the corrected granulocytes to the subject.   
     
     
         4 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the minimal plasma, after separating the platelets, is ultra-centrifuged to separate red blood cells (RBCs) from the minimal plasma, and wherein the blood analysis system ( 360 ) comprises:
 a detection unit to count the RBCs; and   a correction unit to correct the count of the RBCs, before infusing the minimal plasma with the corrected RBCs to the subject.   
     
     
         5 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the blood analysis system ( 360 ) comprises:
 a holding unit ( 104 ) coupled to the centrifugation unit ( 102 ) to receive plasma with capturing molecules but without the cellular components from the centrifugation unit ( 102 ) and hold the received plasma, wherein the received plasma is diluted with water in the holding unit ( 104 ) to control the viscosity of the received plasma; and   one or more filtration units ( 160 - 1 ,  160 - 2 ,  160 - 3 ) to receive the plasma with the capturing molecules expelled from the holding unit ( 104 ) to filter out one or more specific types of molecules from the plasma for detection and correction, before moving the ion-free plasma having the corrected filtered molecules towards a collecting channel ( 180 ) for infusing back to the subject.   
     
     
         6 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the blood analysis system ( 360 ) comprises an ion separation unit ( 106 ) between the holding unit ( 104 ) and the at least one filtration unit ( 160 - 1 ,  160 - 2 ,  160 - 3 ) to receive the plasma from the holding unit ( 104 ), the ion separation unit ( 106 ) is to separate anions and cations from the received plasma based on electrostatically-charged semi permeable membranes. 
     
     
         7 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the ion separation unit ( 106 ) is to:
 separate the anions before the cations, or   separate the cations before the anions.   
     
     
         8 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the ion separation unit ( 106 ) is to separate the anions and the cations from the received plasma with or without at least one of centrifugation and external electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         9 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the ion separation unit ( 106 ) is coupled to the holding unit ( 104 ) through a channel ( 108 ) to receive the received plasma, and the ion separation unit ( 106 ) comprises an anion separation unit and a cation separation unit. 
     
     
         10 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein the anion separation unit comprises:
 a first cell ( 110 ) coupled to the channel ( 108 ) and having a first semi-permeable membrane (SPM) ( 125 ) of a specific molecular weight cut-off that allows the anions to pass through; and   a second cell ( 116 ) coupled to the channel ( 108 ) and having a second SPM ( 150 ), the second SPM ( 150 ) being the same as the first SPM ( 125 ),   wherein one of the first cell ( 110 ) and the second cell ( 116 ) is operated to separate the anions and the other of the first cell ( 110 ) and the second cell ( 116 ) is operated for declogging,   wherein each of the first cell ( 110 ) and the second cell ( 116 ) is coupled to a respective concentration unit ( 112 ,  118 ) and a respective detection unit ( 114 ,  120 ) to concentrate and detect, respectively, the filtered anions, and   wherein the detection unit ( 114 ,  120 ) is coupled to a correction unit ( 130 ) to correct a concentration of reconstituted anions expelled from the detection unit ( 114 ,  120 ) before passing the corrected anions towards the collecting channel ( 180 ).   
     
     
         11 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the cation separation unit comprises:
 a third cell ( 142 ) coupled to a channel ( 129 ) to receive a retentate plasma from the first cell ( 110 ) and the second cell ( 116 ) and having a third semi-permeable membrane (SPM) ( 144 ) of a specific molecular weight cut-off that allows the cations to pass through; and   a fourth cell ( 143 ) coupled to the channel ( 129 ) to receive a retentate plasma from the first cell ( 110 ) and the second cell ( 116 ) and having a fourth SPM ( 151 ), the fourth SPM ( 151 ) being the same as the third SPM ( 144 ),   wherein one of the third cell ( 142 ) and the fourth cell ( 143 ) is operated to separate the cations and the other of the third cell ( 142 ) and the fourth cell ( 143 ) is operated for declogging,   wherein each of the third cell ( 142 ) and the fourth cell ( 143 ) is coupled to a respective concentration unit ( 146 ,  152 ) and a respective detection unit ( 148 ,  154 ) to concentrate and detect, respectively, the filtered cations, and   wherein the detection unit ( 148 ,  154 ) is coupled to a correction unit ( 132 ) to correct a concentration of reconstituted cations expelled from the detection unit ( 148 ,  154 ) before passing the corrected cations towards the collecting channel ( 180 ).   
     
     
         12 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein the first SPM ( 125 ), the second SPM ( 150 ), the third SPM ( 144 ), and the fourth SPM ( 151 ) are negatively charged, when the anion separation unit is positioned before the cation separation unit in the ion separation unit ( 106 ). 
     
     
         13 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein the first SPM ( 125 ), the second SPM ( 150 ), the third SPM ( 144 ), and the fourth SPM ( 151 ) are positively charged, when the cation separation unit is positioned before the anion separation unit in the ion separation unit ( 106 ). 
     
     
         14 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein each filtration unit ( 160 - 1 ) comprises:
 a fifth cell ( 446 ) coupled to a channel ( 400 ) to receive the plasma and having a fifth SPM ( 448 ) of a specific molecular weight cut-off that allows molecules of a molecular weight equal to or less than the specific molecular weight cut-off to pass through; and   a sixth cell ( 450 ) coupled to the channel ( 400 ) to receive the plasma and having a sixth SPM ( 452 ), the sixth SPM ( 452 ) being the same as the fifth SPM ( 446 ),   wherein one of the fifth cell ( 446 ) and the sixth cell ( 450 ) is operated to filter the molecules and the other of the fifth cell ( 446 ) and the sixth cell ( 450 ) is operated for declogging,   wherein chambers on both sides of the fifth and sixth SPMs ( 448 ,  452 ) of each of the fifth cell ( 446 ) and the sixth cell ( 450 ) are coupled to a respective concentration unit ( 454 ,  458 ,  462 ,  468 ) and a respective detection unit ( 456 ,  460 ,  466 ,  470 ) to concentrate and detect, respectively, the retentate and filtrate molecules,   wherein the detection unit ( 456 ,  460 ), coupled to a retentate side of the fifth and sixth SPMs ( 448 ,  452 ) of the corresponding chamber, is coupled to a correction unit ( 170 - 1 ,  170 - 2 ,  170 - 3 ) to correct a concentration of reconstituted molecules expelled from the detection unit ( 456 ,  460 ) before passing the corrected molecules towards the collecting channel ( 180 ), and   wherein the detection unit ( 466 ,  470 ), coupled to a filtrate side of the fifth and sixth SPMs ( 448 ,  452 ) of the corresponding chamber, is coupled to a subsequent filtration unit ( 160 - 2 ,  160 - 3 ) for sequential filtration of molecules of a specific molecular weight less than the specific molecular weight cut-off associated with a previous filtration unit ( 160 - 1 ).   
     
     
         15 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  14 , wherein each of the correction units ( 130 ,  132 ,  170 - 1 ,  170 - 2 ,  170 - 3 ) comprises:
 a seventh cell ( 340 ) coupled to a channel ( 300 ) to receive plasma with the capturing molecules and with molecules and/or ions that are to be corrected and having a seventh SPM ( 344 ) of a specific molecular weight cut-off that allows molecules of a molecular weight equal to or less than the specific molecular weight cut-off to pass through; and   an eighth cell ( 342 ) coupled to the channel ( 300 ) to receive plasma with the capturing molecules and with molecules and/or ions that are to be corrected and having an eighth SPM ( 346 ), the eighth SPM ( 346 ) being the same as the seventh SPM ( 344 ),   wherein one of the seventh cell ( 340 ) and the eighth cell ( 342 ) is operated to separate the molecules and/or ions and/or the capturing molecules and the other of the seventh cell ( 340 ) and the eighth cell ( 342 ) is operated for declogging,   wherein the capturing molecules are removed from one of the seventh cell ( 340 ) and eighth cell ( 342 ) and discarded,   wherein chambers on a retentate side of the seventh and eighth SPMs ( 344 ,  346 ) of each of the seventh cell ( 340 ) and the eighth cell ( 342 ):
 are coupled to a channel ( 320 ,  318 ) to receive capturing molecules having a concentration depending on an amount of excess molecules and/or ions that are to be captured and removed from the plasma via the chambers on the retentate side, and 
 are coupled to a respective concentration unit ( 354 ,  358 ) and a respective detection unit ( 356 ,  360 ) to concentrate and detect, respectively, un-captured retentate molecules and/or ions during declogging of the seventh cell ( 340 ) or the eighth cell ( 342 ) or to correct a concentration of the un-captured retentate molecules and/or ions based on the detection, 
   wherein chambers on a filtrate side of the seventh and eighth SPMs ( 344 ,  346 ) of each of the seventh cell ( 340 ) and the eighth cell ( 342 ) are coupled to a respective concentration unit ( 346 ,  350 ) and a respective holding unit ( 348 ,  352 ) to concentrate and hold, respectively, filtrate molecules and/or ions before passing the filtrate molecules and/or ions towards the collecting channel ( 180 ).   
     
     
         16 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 15 , wherein each concentration unit comprises:
 a ninth cell ( 506 ) with a symmetrical arrangement of SPMs ( 508 ,  510 ) and a channel ( 504 ) to receive plasma in a region between the symmetrical arrangement of SPMs ( 508 ,  510 );   a tenth cell ( 526 ) with a symmetrical arrangement of SPMs ( 530 ,  532 ) and a channel ( 524 ) to receive plasma in a region between the symmetrical arrangement of SPMs ( 530 ,  532 ); and   an arrangement to allow water to circulate through the ninth cell ( 506 ) and the tenth cell ( 526 ),   wherein one of the ninth cell ( 506 ) and the tenth cell ( 526 ) is operated to increase a concentration of the plasma and the other of the ninth cell ( 506 ) and the tenth cell ( 526 ) is operated for declogging,   wherein the water is circulated to create an osmotic pressure in the regions between the symmetrical arrangement of SPMs ( 508 ,  510 ,  530 ,  532 ) and confine concentrated plasma to one of an area  518  and an area  536  that is being operated for concentration of the plasma.   
     
     
         17 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 15 , wherein each detection unit comprises:
 a plurality of pairs of bifurcation channels ( 604 ,  606 ,  608 ,  610 ,  612 ,  614 , . . . ), wherein each pair of bifurcation channels ( 606 ,  608 ) is to bifurcate plasma from a previous bifurcation channel ( 604 ) or from an inlet channel ( 602 ), through which plasma for detection of molecules is received, into two substantially equal plasma streams;   at least one of a spectroscopy unit and a chemical reaction-based measurement unit installed in each bifurcation channel to determine a concentration of the molecules and/or the ions in the respective bifurcation channel; and   a plurality of converging channels ( 632 ,  634 ,  636 ,  638 , . . . ), wherein each converging channel is to combine two plasma streams from a pair of bifurcation channels or from two converging channels into a single stream.   
     
     
         18 . The blood analysis system ( 360  according to  claim 17 , wherein the detection unit is to:
 determine whether the detected concentration of the molecules and/or the ions is less than or more than a predefined value; 
 in response to detecting that the concentration is less than the predefined value, add a specific amount of the molecules and/or the ions to match the predefined value; and 
 in response to detecting that the concentration is more than the predefined value, provide information to the correction unit about an amount of the molecules and/or the ions that are in excess; 
 wherein the correction unit is to operate the channel ( 318 ,  320 ) to provide a specific amount to capturing molecules into one of the seventh cell ( 340 ) and eighth cell ( 342 ) to remove the excess amount of the molecules and/or the ions. 
 
     
     
         19 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 15 , wherein molecules and/or ions, equivalent to the molecules and/or the ions captured by the discarded capturing molecules, are added before infusing the plasma back to the subject. 
     
     
         20 . The blood analysis system ( 360 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the blood analysis system ( 360 ) comprises a control unit to cut-off or cause a flow of plasma and/or cellular component at each channel of the blood analysis system ( 360 ) via flow rate pumps.