Device and methods for platelet lysis or activation
Inventors
CENTENO, CHRISTOPHER J. • Steinmetz, Neven • Stemper, Ian • Berger, Dustin
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10905721-B2
Publication Date
2021-02-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
Apparatus, kit and method embodiments are disclosed herein that provide for the production of a modified autologous platelet mixture at a patient bedside for contemporaneous reinjection to the patient using a platelet lysis apparatus. Representative platelet lysis apparatus include a sample tube and a compressed gas source connected to or near the sample tube. The compressed gas source provides for the release of expanding gas into direct or indirect contact with an exterior surface of the sample tube to freeze a platelet containing mixture within the sample tube. An optional housing supports the sample tube and compressed gas source in an operative relationship with each other.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a platelet lysis apparatus that reduces a temperature within a sample tube by expanding gas from a compressed gas source into a channel adjacent to the sample tube. The channel is defined by an interior surface of a housing and an exterior surface of the sample tube, and a conduit connected to the compressed gas source extends from the compressed gas source to the sample tube and opens into the channel.
The expanding gas contacts at least one of direct or indirect contact with an exterior surface of the sample tube. This direct or indirect contact reduces the temperature within the sample tube to freeze an unfrozen platelet containing mixture within the sample tube, and the freezing of the unfrozen platelet containing mixture within the sample tube is the mechanism for causing platelet lysis as characterized in the document.
The invention further includes a gas release mechanism for selective release of gas from the compressed gas source and thermal-management features such as an insulated exterior surface of the housing, a thermal mass element in thermal contact with the sample tube, and a heat transfer casing thermally coupled to the sample tube and positioned to contact directly or indirectly gas released into the channel.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims covering a platelet lysis apparatus and a method of causing platelet lysis. Each independent claim is centered on cooling a platelet containing mixture in a sample tube by expanding gas from a compressed gas source through a housing-defined channel adjacent to the tube, with dependent claims refining gas release control and thermal management features.
Housing-defined adjacent channel for expanding gas contact
A sample tube; a compressed gas source; a housing supporting the sample tube and the compressed gas source; a conduit connected to the compressed gas source and extending to the sample tube; and a channel adjacent to the sample tube, the channel being defined by an interior surface of the housing and an exterior surface of the sample tube, wherein the conduit opens into the channel. The channel provides for expansion of a gas from the compressed gas source into at least one of direct or indirect contact with an exterior surface of the sample tube.
Freezing by gas contact to reduce temperature within the sample tube
The direct or indirect contact between the expanding gas and the exterior surface of the sample tube reduces a temperature within the sample tube to freeze an unfrozen platelet containing mixture within the sample tube.
Method steps for releasing and expanding gas to freeze the platelet mixture
Providing a platelet lysis apparatus comprising a sample tube, a compressed gas source, a housing supporting the sample tube and the compressed gas source, a conduit extending from the compressed gas source to the sample tube, and a channel adjacent to the sample tube defined by an interior surface of the housing and an exterior surface of the sample tube, wherein the conduit opens into the channel. Releasing the gas from the compressed gas source into the conduit; flowing the gas from the conduit to the channel; and expanding the gas in the channel as the gas is in at least one of direct or indirect contact with an exterior surface of the sample tube.
Method mechanism: freezing by reducing temperature from expanding gas contact
The direct or indirect contact between the expanding gas and the exterior surface of the sample tube reduces a temperature within the sample tube to freeze an unfrozen platelet containing mixture within the sample tube.
Overall, the claim coverage is anchored on expanding gas delivered via a conduit into a housing-defined adjacent channel for direct or indirect gas contact with the exterior of a sample tube and reducing the sample tube temperature to freeze an unfrozen platelet containing mixture. The independent method claim mirrors these apparatus relationships through explicit release, flow, and expansion steps, while dependent claims refine selective gas release and thermal management via insulation, thermal mass element, and a heat transfer casing positioned relative to the expanding gas and/or the sample tube.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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