CA1251108A - Multiple blood bag having plasticizer-free portions and a high blood component survival rate - Google Patents
Multiple blood bag having plasticizer-free portions and a high blood component survival rateInfo
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- CA1251108A CA1251108A CA000539237A CA539237A CA1251108A CA 1251108 A CA1251108 A CA 1251108A CA 000539237 A CA000539237 A CA 000539237A CA 539237 A CA539237 A CA 539237A CA 1251108 A CA1251108 A CA 1251108A
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Abstract
MULTIPLE BLOOD BAG HAVING PLASTICIZER-FREE PORTIONS
AND A HIGH BLOOD COMPONENT SURVIVAL RATE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A multiple blood bag system comprising a donor bag for receiving blood from a donor, and one or more transfer bags, communicating by flexible tubing with the donor bag, for receiving a blood component from the donor bag. In accordance with this invention, the various bags may be made of differing materials to provide differing characteristics to the bags as desired. For example, the transfer bag or bags may be made of a translucent, flexible, sterilizable material which is free of blood extractable ester-type plasticizers, and may have a relatively high carbon dioxide diffusion capacity. The donor bag may be made of a translucent, flexible, sterilizable material which contains preferably at least five percent by weight of a specified ester plasticizer, sufficient to cause a substantial reduction in plasma hemoglobin produced by blood stored under normal conditions for 21 days in the donor bag, when compared with blood in a corresponding, plasticizer-free donor bag stored under equivalent conditions.
AND A HIGH BLOOD COMPONENT SURVIVAL RATE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A multiple blood bag system comprising a donor bag for receiving blood from a donor, and one or more transfer bags, communicating by flexible tubing with the donor bag, for receiving a blood component from the donor bag. In accordance with this invention, the various bags may be made of differing materials to provide differing characteristics to the bags as desired. For example, the transfer bag or bags may be made of a translucent, flexible, sterilizable material which is free of blood extractable ester-type plasticizers, and may have a relatively high carbon dioxide diffusion capacity. The donor bag may be made of a translucent, flexible, sterilizable material which contains preferably at least five percent by weight of a specified ester plasticizer, sufficient to cause a substantial reduction in plasma hemoglobin produced by blood stored under normal conditions for 21 days in the donor bag, when compared with blood in a corresponding, plasticizer-free donor bag stored under equivalent conditions.
Description
~" 2 ~ ~5~
sACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Multiple blood bags are co~ercially available from the Fenwal Division of Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc., for collecting and processing blood under sterile conditions to obtain various blood components as may be desired, for example, packed red cells, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate.
The currently-available blood bags are made of a polyvinyl chloride formulation, which includes, as an ester-type plasticizer, di-2-ethylhexylphthalate. This blood bag system has served extremely well in the storage and processing of blood and blood components, exhibiting a high survival rate, with a resultingly low plasma hemoglobin content after, for example, 21 days of lS storage.
However, some concern has been expressed from various sources about the potential undesirability of the plasticizer leaching from the plastic material, and entering the blood, from where it is infused to the patient upon infusion of the blood or blood components.
This is so despite the lack of any apparent significant toxicity of the particular plasticizer used, the concern being about long-term and subtle effects not yet discovered.
Accordingly, various plastic formulations which are flexible, translucent, sterilizable, and free or essentially free of liquid plasticizers capable of leaching have been tested as blood bag materials. Many of the plastic formulations which have been tested have physical characteristics which are different from each other and from the current polyvinyl chloride formulations. For example, some plastic formulations have an improved capacity to transfer carbon dioxide, so that it would be of advantage to make one or more of the transfer packs of a multiple blood bag of such a material to permit an increased diffusion rate of carbon dioxide through the transfer pack during platelet storage so that -the pH decrease of the platelets during storage is reduced.
3 ~5~8 It has been surprisingly found that the presence of certain ester-type plasticizers such as di-2-ethylhexyl-phthalate and di-2-ethy'hexyladipate in plastics causes a significant lowering of the plasma hemoglobin content during long-term storage of blood in containers made of such plastics.
In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the overall contact of blood plasma and other components to the blood-extractable plasticizer may be minimized, while still attaining low plasma hemoglobin levels in long-term storage, by providing a multiple blood bag system in which the donor bag is made of a plastic which contains a ~lood extractable plasticizer, but the transfer bags are free or essentially free of blood extractable plasticizers. ~ccordingly, the red blood cells, which normally are retained in the donor bag, are stabilized and preserved by the surprising benefit which has been found by the presence of the specific plasticizers described above. At the same time, the plasma and other blood components may be removed from the donor bag, being thus freed from further exposure to the plasticizer, and stored in transfer bags of different materials of different desirable characteristics, for example, transfer bags made of a material having relatively high carbon dioxide diffusion capability.
Accordingly, in accordance with an aspect of this invention, the specific properties of the various bags of the multiple blood bag of this invention may be optimized by the use of different materials for each of the bags as desired, with one bag material being chosen for the donor bag in order to minimize the formation of plasma hemoglobin and to maximize the life of the red cells, while the transfer packs may be made of material having other characteristics, for example, the relatively high carbon dioxide diffusion capability.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
. . . _ Various aspects of the invention are as follows:
A multiple blood bag system comprising: a first container intended to receive blood from a donor, at least a portion of which container includes a material which imparts a predetermined first physical characteristic which is beneficial to the storage of blood in said first container, said first physical characteristic being the suppression of hemolysis of red cells during long term storage, said first container material including a blood-extractable plasticizer, said blood-extractable plastici2er being selected from the group consisting of dioctyladipates, a second container including a material which imparts a predetermined second physical characteristic which is different than said first physical characteristic and which is beneficial to the intended function of said second container, and conduit means providing sealed flow communication between said first container and said second container.
A multiple blood bag system comprising: a first container intended to receive blood from a donor, at least a portion of which container includes a material which imparts a predetermined first physical characteristic which is beneficial to the storage of blood in said first container, said first physical characteristic being the suppression of hemolysis of red cells during long term storage, said first container material including a blood-extractable plasticizer, said blood-extractable plasticizer being di-2-ethylhexyl-adipate, a second container including a material which imparts a predetermined second physical characteristic which is different than said first physical characteristic and which is beneficial to the intended function of said second container, and conduit means providing sealed flow communication between said first container and said second container.
A multiple blood bag system comprising: a first container intended to receive blood from a donor, said first container material including a blood-extractable plasticizer, said material of said first container including an insert in said first container, said insert 5 ~ 5~08 containing at least 5 percent by weight of said blood-extractable plasticizer, a second container including a material which imparts a predetermined second physical characteristic which is different than said first physical characteristic and which is beneficial to the intended function of said second container, and conduit means providing sealed flow communication between said first container and said second container.
In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the donor bag and transfer bag may be made of plastic materials which each comprise a different polymer entity so that the respective bag materials exhibit different characteristics which may be specifically selected for lS beneficial effect in the specific function of each of the transfer and donor bags.
For example, the transfer bag or bags may be made of a translucent, flexible, sterilizable material which is free or essentially free of blood-extractable plasticizers. On the other hand, the donor bag may be made of a transparent, flexible, sterilizable material which contains an amount of blood-extractable plasticizer selected from the group consisting of dioctylphthalates and dioctyladipates and combinations thereof, preferably di-2-ethylhexylphthalate, and preferably in a concentration in the flexible material of 5 to 50 weight percent, and typically about 15 to 40 weight percent.
This can result in a substantial reduction in plasma hemoglobin produced by blood stored under normal conditions for 21 days in the donor bag, when compared with blood in a corresponding donor bag, free of blood extractable plasticizers and stored under equivalent conditions.
If desired, only portions of the bag materials which are in contact with the blood contained therein may contain the blood-extractable plasticizers of this invention, although preferably the entire bag material contains the plasticizer. Alternatively, a plastic -~ 6 ~ 8 insert member such as a sheet of plastic or the like positioned within the blood bag may contain the blood-extractable plasticizer material, while the actual bag walls may be relatively free of p]asticizer. Both of these circumstances are generally equivalent to the preferred use of blood-extractable plasticizer throughout essentially the entire material of the donor bag.
It is specifically desirable for the concentration and configuration of plasticizer in the bag to be such that when the bag is filled with blood and stored on a long term basis, the concentration of the blood-extractable plasticizer in the blood rises to typically about 30 to 100 micrograms per ml., and preferably from lS about 50 to 80 micrograms of the plasticizer per ml., in the blood in 21 days. This takes place due to the extraction of the plasticizer from the plastic material in dissolved form into the blood.
It has been found to be difficult to dissolve the blood-extractable plasticizers used herein in bulk in the blood, and it has been found that a greater beneficial effect is provided by placing the extractable plasticizer in the plastic material of the blood bag for extraction by the blood during the storage period.
The transfer bag or bags and optionally the tubing in the blood bag of this invention may be made of a polyester material in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Patent No. 4,045,431.
It may also be desirable to make the donor bag of the multiple bag system of this invention out of a similar polyester material to the transfer bag, but containing blood-extractable plasticizer.
Alternatively, bags of this invention may be made out of a blood-compatible polyurethane formulation.
Another type of material which is suitable for the transfer bag of this invention comprises a mixture of from 10 to 40 percent by weight of a polyolefin consisting essentially of propylene units; from 40 to 85 percent by weight of a block copolymer, having - 7 ~ 25~8 thermoplastic rubber characteristics, consisting essentially of (1) a central block comprising 50 to 85 percent by weight of the copolymer molecule of a rubbery olefin polymer (and preferably consisting of generally equal proportions of ethylene and butylene units); and
sACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Multiple blood bags are co~ercially available from the Fenwal Division of Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc., for collecting and processing blood under sterile conditions to obtain various blood components as may be desired, for example, packed red cells, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate.
The currently-available blood bags are made of a polyvinyl chloride formulation, which includes, as an ester-type plasticizer, di-2-ethylhexylphthalate. This blood bag system has served extremely well in the storage and processing of blood and blood components, exhibiting a high survival rate, with a resultingly low plasma hemoglobin content after, for example, 21 days of lS storage.
However, some concern has been expressed from various sources about the potential undesirability of the plasticizer leaching from the plastic material, and entering the blood, from where it is infused to the patient upon infusion of the blood or blood components.
This is so despite the lack of any apparent significant toxicity of the particular plasticizer used, the concern being about long-term and subtle effects not yet discovered.
Accordingly, various plastic formulations which are flexible, translucent, sterilizable, and free or essentially free of liquid plasticizers capable of leaching have been tested as blood bag materials. Many of the plastic formulations which have been tested have physical characteristics which are different from each other and from the current polyvinyl chloride formulations. For example, some plastic formulations have an improved capacity to transfer carbon dioxide, so that it would be of advantage to make one or more of the transfer packs of a multiple blood bag of such a material to permit an increased diffusion rate of carbon dioxide through the transfer pack during platelet storage so that -the pH decrease of the platelets during storage is reduced.
3 ~5~8 It has been surprisingly found that the presence of certain ester-type plasticizers such as di-2-ethylhexyl-phthalate and di-2-ethy'hexyladipate in plastics causes a significant lowering of the plasma hemoglobin content during long-term storage of blood in containers made of such plastics.
In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the overall contact of blood plasma and other components to the blood-extractable plasticizer may be minimized, while still attaining low plasma hemoglobin levels in long-term storage, by providing a multiple blood bag system in which the donor bag is made of a plastic which contains a ~lood extractable plasticizer, but the transfer bags are free or essentially free of blood extractable plasticizers. ~ccordingly, the red blood cells, which normally are retained in the donor bag, are stabilized and preserved by the surprising benefit which has been found by the presence of the specific plasticizers described above. At the same time, the plasma and other blood components may be removed from the donor bag, being thus freed from further exposure to the plasticizer, and stored in transfer bags of different materials of different desirable characteristics, for example, transfer bags made of a material having relatively high carbon dioxide diffusion capability.
Accordingly, in accordance with an aspect of this invention, the specific properties of the various bags of the multiple blood bag of this invention may be optimized by the use of different materials for each of the bags as desired, with one bag material being chosen for the donor bag in order to minimize the formation of plasma hemoglobin and to maximize the life of the red cells, while the transfer packs may be made of material having other characteristics, for example, the relatively high carbon dioxide diffusion capability.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
. . . _ Various aspects of the invention are as follows:
A multiple blood bag system comprising: a first container intended to receive blood from a donor, at least a portion of which container includes a material which imparts a predetermined first physical characteristic which is beneficial to the storage of blood in said first container, said first physical characteristic being the suppression of hemolysis of red cells during long term storage, said first container material including a blood-extractable plasticizer, said blood-extractable plastici2er being selected from the group consisting of dioctyladipates, a second container including a material which imparts a predetermined second physical characteristic which is different than said first physical characteristic and which is beneficial to the intended function of said second container, and conduit means providing sealed flow communication between said first container and said second container.
A multiple blood bag system comprising: a first container intended to receive blood from a donor, at least a portion of which container includes a material which imparts a predetermined first physical characteristic which is beneficial to the storage of blood in said first container, said first physical characteristic being the suppression of hemolysis of red cells during long term storage, said first container material including a blood-extractable plasticizer, said blood-extractable plasticizer being di-2-ethylhexyl-adipate, a second container including a material which imparts a predetermined second physical characteristic which is different than said first physical characteristic and which is beneficial to the intended function of said second container, and conduit means providing sealed flow communication between said first container and said second container.
A multiple blood bag system comprising: a first container intended to receive blood from a donor, said first container material including a blood-extractable plasticizer, said material of said first container including an insert in said first container, said insert 5 ~ 5~08 containing at least 5 percent by weight of said blood-extractable plasticizer, a second container including a material which imparts a predetermined second physical characteristic which is different than said first physical characteristic and which is beneficial to the intended function of said second container, and conduit means providing sealed flow communication between said first container and said second container.
In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the donor bag and transfer bag may be made of plastic materials which each comprise a different polymer entity so that the respective bag materials exhibit different characteristics which may be specifically selected for lS beneficial effect in the specific function of each of the transfer and donor bags.
For example, the transfer bag or bags may be made of a translucent, flexible, sterilizable material which is free or essentially free of blood-extractable plasticizers. On the other hand, the donor bag may be made of a transparent, flexible, sterilizable material which contains an amount of blood-extractable plasticizer selected from the group consisting of dioctylphthalates and dioctyladipates and combinations thereof, preferably di-2-ethylhexylphthalate, and preferably in a concentration in the flexible material of 5 to 50 weight percent, and typically about 15 to 40 weight percent.
This can result in a substantial reduction in plasma hemoglobin produced by blood stored under normal conditions for 21 days in the donor bag, when compared with blood in a corresponding donor bag, free of blood extractable plasticizers and stored under equivalent conditions.
If desired, only portions of the bag materials which are in contact with the blood contained therein may contain the blood-extractable plasticizers of this invention, although preferably the entire bag material contains the plasticizer. Alternatively, a plastic -~ 6 ~ 8 insert member such as a sheet of plastic or the like positioned within the blood bag may contain the blood-extractable plasticizer material, while the actual bag walls may be relatively free of p]asticizer. Both of these circumstances are generally equivalent to the preferred use of blood-extractable plasticizer throughout essentially the entire material of the donor bag.
It is specifically desirable for the concentration and configuration of plasticizer in the bag to be such that when the bag is filled with blood and stored on a long term basis, the concentration of the blood-extractable plasticizer in the blood rises to typically about 30 to 100 micrograms per ml., and preferably from lS about 50 to 80 micrograms of the plasticizer per ml., in the blood in 21 days. This takes place due to the extraction of the plasticizer from the plastic material in dissolved form into the blood.
It has been found to be difficult to dissolve the blood-extractable plasticizers used herein in bulk in the blood, and it has been found that a greater beneficial effect is provided by placing the extractable plasticizer in the plastic material of the blood bag for extraction by the blood during the storage period.
The transfer bag or bags and optionally the tubing in the blood bag of this invention may be made of a polyester material in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Patent No. 4,045,431.
It may also be desirable to make the donor bag of the multiple bag system of this invention out of a similar polyester material to the transfer bag, but containing blood-extractable plasticizer.
Alternatively, bags of this invention may be made out of a blood-compatible polyurethane formulation.
Another type of material which is suitable for the transfer bag of this invention comprises a mixture of from 10 to 40 percent by weight of a polyolefin consisting essentially of propylene units; from 40 to 85 percent by weight of a block copolymer, having - 7 ~ 25~8 thermoplastic rubber characteristics, consisting essentially of (1) a central block comprising 50 to 85 percent by weight of the copolymer molecule of a rubbery olefin polymer (and preferably consisting of generally equal proportions of ethylene and butylene units); and
(2) terminal blocks of polystyrene; and as a third, optional ingredient, from 0 to 40 percent by weight of a softening agent such as polyethylene or poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) containing no more than 35 percent by weight of vinyl acetate units. This polyolefin formulation exhibits relatively good low temperature strength and good carbon dioxide transfer characteristics, and thus is suitable for use as transfer bags for collecting cryoprecipitate or storing platelets.
The above material is further described in U.S.
Patent No. 4,140,162.
The above block copolymer is commerically available from the Shell Chemical Company under the trademark KRATON or KRATON-G, the latter class of materials being preferred.
Other materials from which the transfer bags of this invention, and optionally the tubing, may be made include poly(ethylene-vinyl actate~ copolymers, and polyethylene formulations, as well as polyvinyl chloride plasticized with tri-2-ethylhexyl trimellitate, all of the above material being preferably essentially free of the blood-extractable plasticizers.
The donor bag, as described above, contains a b.lood extractable liquid plasticizer as described above, the plasticizer being generally present in a concentration of 5 to 50 percent by weight of the overall plasticized plastic material making up the donor bag.
Preferably, a conventional formulation of polyvinylchloride, plasticized with a dioctyl phthalate such as di-2-ethylhexylphthalate, similar to present commercial formulations, may be used. Alternatively, other plastics such as a polyester bag formulation may be used, for example utilizing the above-described ~5~ 8 polyester, in which preferably from 15 to 40 percent by weight of the di-2-ethylhexylphthalate plasticizer is present, either by formulation along with the original plastic material, or by allowing the plastic to soak in the diethylhexylphthalate until the desired amount of plasticizer has been taken up by the material.
Typically, -the polyester formulation may contain about 20 percent by weight of the ester plasticizer.
Alternatively, di-2-ethylhexyladipate or an equivalent material may be used as the blood-extractable plasticizer.
Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a multiple blood bag system in accordance with this invention.
Blood bag system 10 includes a donor bag 12 which may be of conventional construction, being made of a pair of plastic sheets, being sealed at periphery 14, and containing a blood collection tube 16 having the usual donor needle, and a pair of access ports 18.
Transfer -tubing 20 is connected to donor bag 12, for fluid flow through the transfer tubing, being controlled by conventional valving means 22, such as a cannula and diaphragm valve. Transfer tubing 20 communicates through Y site 23 to transfer bags 24, 26 which may also be of conventional construction, with the exception of the materials of which they are made, having the conventional access ports 28 and other known design features.
In accordance with an aspect of this invention, transfer bags 24, 26 are made of a material which may be translucent (e.g., transparent), flexible, and preferably autoclavable to permit sterilization, being made of a material which is free or essentially free of blood-extractable plasticizers, for example, a material as described above. Accordingly, plasma and other blood components which are expressed into transfer bags 24, 26 enter an environment free of additional exposure to plasticizers. In fact, the plasticizer-free formulations of bags 24, 26 can reduce the plasticizer ~ 25~8 . g level in the blood components by absorption thereof if the blood bag material of the transfer bags is of an appropriately plasticizer-compatible material.
It is specifically preferable for at least one of the transfer bags 24, 26 to be made of a material which has a relatively high capability to permit the diffusion of carbon dioxide, so that the bag may be desirably used as a platelet storage bag. Specifically, such a bag may be made from the polyolefin-thermoplastic rubber formulation described above and in aforementioned U.S.
Patent No. 4,140,162, or other formulations described therein. Alternatively, the same transfer bag may be used to collect and store cryoprecipitate in view of its good low temperature strength.
The other of the two transfer bags may be made of the polyester formulation described above. Accordingly, in one preferred embodiment the multiple bag shown in the drawings may comprise a pair of transfer bags 24, 26, each of which is made of a different material from the other. Alternatively, they may be the same.
Tubing 20 may be made of a flexible material, free of blood-extractable plasticizers, similar to that of one of the transfer bags 2~, 26, if desired, or it may be made of the material of donor bag 12, or any other desired material.
Donor bag 12 is made of a transparent, flexible, preferably autoclavable material which contains the desired amount of blood-extractable plasticizer as described above, to cause a substantial reduction in the plasma hemoglobin of blood stored under normal conditions for 21 days in the donor bag 12, when com-pared with a corresponding extractable plasticizer-free donor bag stored under equivalent conditions.
As stated above, a commercial polyvinyl chloride blood bag formulation may be used, which contains di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate. Alternatively, another plastic such as a polyester material as described above, containing the desired amount of compatible liquid plasticizer, may be used.
- ~5~8 If desired, an optional plastic insert 32 may be inserted within the donor bag 12. Insert 32 may be made of a similar material to donor bag 12, or a material which is particularly compatible to the desired blood-extractable plasticizer used herein. Accordingly, the material of bag 12 may be relatively free of the desired blood-extractable plasticizer, but insert 32 within the bag may carry any desired amount of the plas-ticizer, preferably from 15 to 70 percent by weight, to provide the extractable plasticizer to the blood which is placed in bag 12. It has been found that the desirable results of this invention can be achieved by this alternate technique. Insert 32 may be a single sheet, or a plurality of plastic beads, or any other convenient structure.
For example, the blood bag may be made out of a polyolefin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, the polyolefin block copolymer formulation described previously, polyester, polyurethane, or any other blood-compatible, inert, flexible plastic material.
Insert 32, on the other hand, may be made of a blood-compatible polyvinyl chloride formulation and may contain most preferably up to about 50 percent of di-2-ethylhexylphthalate or di-2-ethylhexyladipate, to be extracted into the blood over the storage period. If desired, higher concentrations than 50 percent of the extractable plasticizer may be used in insert 32, since there is no need for insert 32 to exhibit a high tensile strength, as would be necessary if it were part of the bag wall itself. Correspondingly, the specific bag material chosen for use may be free of the extractable plasticizer, while the advantages of this invention are still achieved.
As blood is collected through the donor tube 16 into the blood bag 12, it is mixed with blood preservative 30 such as ACD or CPD solution in bag 12.
The blood may then be processed or stored as desired.
During storage, the presence of the plasticizer effectively suppresses the amount of plasma hemoglobin which is generated over a period of time, compared with blood stored in a bag made of a formulation which is free of blood-extractable plasticizers.
The blood may be centrifuged, with the red cells settling to the bottom of donor bag 12, and the plasma and other components being expressed through tubing 20 into transfer bags 24, 26. Thereafter, the expressed blood components are free from exposure to plasticizer, while the red cells in bag 12 may be stored with appropriate treatment to continue to receive the benefit of the presence of plasticizer in the material of transfer bag 12.
The materials from which transfer bags 24, 26 are made may also exhibit other benefits; for example, polyolefins and other materials may have improved gas transmission characteristics for improved platelet survival, since the carbon dioxide diffuses through the bag wall more readily than with polyvinyl chloride, with the result that the pH remains more stable.
2~ Also, if desired, donor bag 12 and transfer bags 24, 26 may be separate bags that have been connected together during use by means of a sterile connector system, for example, that shown in U.S. Patent No.
4,004,586, or any other sterile connector system.
The following examples are for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the invention described herein.
Example 1. Blood bags were prepared of a design similar to the commercially-available Fenwal donor bag, but made of a polyester as described in U.S. Patent No.
4,045,431. The blood bags were sterilized in accordance with commercial standards, and whole blood was drawn into the blood bags.
The first group of bags was made of the same polyester and was plasticizer-free~ while the second group of bags was soa~ed to about a 20 weight percent concentration of di-2-ethylhexylphthalate plasticizer.
The blood was divided between first group and second group of bags in equal quantities in a
The above material is further described in U.S.
Patent No. 4,140,162.
The above block copolymer is commerically available from the Shell Chemical Company under the trademark KRATON or KRATON-G, the latter class of materials being preferred.
Other materials from which the transfer bags of this invention, and optionally the tubing, may be made include poly(ethylene-vinyl actate~ copolymers, and polyethylene formulations, as well as polyvinyl chloride plasticized with tri-2-ethylhexyl trimellitate, all of the above material being preferably essentially free of the blood-extractable plasticizers.
The donor bag, as described above, contains a b.lood extractable liquid plasticizer as described above, the plasticizer being generally present in a concentration of 5 to 50 percent by weight of the overall plasticized plastic material making up the donor bag.
Preferably, a conventional formulation of polyvinylchloride, plasticized with a dioctyl phthalate such as di-2-ethylhexylphthalate, similar to present commercial formulations, may be used. Alternatively, other plastics such as a polyester bag formulation may be used, for example utilizing the above-described ~5~ 8 polyester, in which preferably from 15 to 40 percent by weight of the di-2-ethylhexylphthalate plasticizer is present, either by formulation along with the original plastic material, or by allowing the plastic to soak in the diethylhexylphthalate until the desired amount of plasticizer has been taken up by the material.
Typically, -the polyester formulation may contain about 20 percent by weight of the ester plasticizer.
Alternatively, di-2-ethylhexyladipate or an equivalent material may be used as the blood-extractable plasticizer.
Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a multiple blood bag system in accordance with this invention.
Blood bag system 10 includes a donor bag 12 which may be of conventional construction, being made of a pair of plastic sheets, being sealed at periphery 14, and containing a blood collection tube 16 having the usual donor needle, and a pair of access ports 18.
Transfer -tubing 20 is connected to donor bag 12, for fluid flow through the transfer tubing, being controlled by conventional valving means 22, such as a cannula and diaphragm valve. Transfer tubing 20 communicates through Y site 23 to transfer bags 24, 26 which may also be of conventional construction, with the exception of the materials of which they are made, having the conventional access ports 28 and other known design features.
In accordance with an aspect of this invention, transfer bags 24, 26 are made of a material which may be translucent (e.g., transparent), flexible, and preferably autoclavable to permit sterilization, being made of a material which is free or essentially free of blood-extractable plasticizers, for example, a material as described above. Accordingly, plasma and other blood components which are expressed into transfer bags 24, 26 enter an environment free of additional exposure to plasticizers. In fact, the plasticizer-free formulations of bags 24, 26 can reduce the plasticizer ~ 25~8 . g level in the blood components by absorption thereof if the blood bag material of the transfer bags is of an appropriately plasticizer-compatible material.
It is specifically preferable for at least one of the transfer bags 24, 26 to be made of a material which has a relatively high capability to permit the diffusion of carbon dioxide, so that the bag may be desirably used as a platelet storage bag. Specifically, such a bag may be made from the polyolefin-thermoplastic rubber formulation described above and in aforementioned U.S.
Patent No. 4,140,162, or other formulations described therein. Alternatively, the same transfer bag may be used to collect and store cryoprecipitate in view of its good low temperature strength.
The other of the two transfer bags may be made of the polyester formulation described above. Accordingly, in one preferred embodiment the multiple bag shown in the drawings may comprise a pair of transfer bags 24, 26, each of which is made of a different material from the other. Alternatively, they may be the same.
Tubing 20 may be made of a flexible material, free of blood-extractable plasticizers, similar to that of one of the transfer bags 2~, 26, if desired, or it may be made of the material of donor bag 12, or any other desired material.
Donor bag 12 is made of a transparent, flexible, preferably autoclavable material which contains the desired amount of blood-extractable plasticizer as described above, to cause a substantial reduction in the plasma hemoglobin of blood stored under normal conditions for 21 days in the donor bag 12, when com-pared with a corresponding extractable plasticizer-free donor bag stored under equivalent conditions.
As stated above, a commercial polyvinyl chloride blood bag formulation may be used, which contains di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate. Alternatively, another plastic such as a polyester material as described above, containing the desired amount of compatible liquid plasticizer, may be used.
- ~5~8 If desired, an optional plastic insert 32 may be inserted within the donor bag 12. Insert 32 may be made of a similar material to donor bag 12, or a material which is particularly compatible to the desired blood-extractable plasticizer used herein. Accordingly, the material of bag 12 may be relatively free of the desired blood-extractable plasticizer, but insert 32 within the bag may carry any desired amount of the plas-ticizer, preferably from 15 to 70 percent by weight, to provide the extractable plasticizer to the blood which is placed in bag 12. It has been found that the desirable results of this invention can be achieved by this alternate technique. Insert 32 may be a single sheet, or a plurality of plastic beads, or any other convenient structure.
For example, the blood bag may be made out of a polyolefin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, the polyolefin block copolymer formulation described previously, polyester, polyurethane, or any other blood-compatible, inert, flexible plastic material.
Insert 32, on the other hand, may be made of a blood-compatible polyvinyl chloride formulation and may contain most preferably up to about 50 percent of di-2-ethylhexylphthalate or di-2-ethylhexyladipate, to be extracted into the blood over the storage period. If desired, higher concentrations than 50 percent of the extractable plasticizer may be used in insert 32, since there is no need for insert 32 to exhibit a high tensile strength, as would be necessary if it were part of the bag wall itself. Correspondingly, the specific bag material chosen for use may be free of the extractable plasticizer, while the advantages of this invention are still achieved.
As blood is collected through the donor tube 16 into the blood bag 12, it is mixed with blood preservative 30 such as ACD or CPD solution in bag 12.
The blood may then be processed or stored as desired.
During storage, the presence of the plasticizer effectively suppresses the amount of plasma hemoglobin which is generated over a period of time, compared with blood stored in a bag made of a formulation which is free of blood-extractable plasticizers.
The blood may be centrifuged, with the red cells settling to the bottom of donor bag 12, and the plasma and other components being expressed through tubing 20 into transfer bags 24, 26. Thereafter, the expressed blood components are free from exposure to plasticizer, while the red cells in bag 12 may be stored with appropriate treatment to continue to receive the benefit of the presence of plasticizer in the material of transfer bag 12.
The materials from which transfer bags 24, 26 are made may also exhibit other benefits; for example, polyolefins and other materials may have improved gas transmission characteristics for improved platelet survival, since the carbon dioxide diffuses through the bag wall more readily than with polyvinyl chloride, with the result that the pH remains more stable.
2~ Also, if desired, donor bag 12 and transfer bags 24, 26 may be separate bags that have been connected together during use by means of a sterile connector system, for example, that shown in U.S. Patent No.
4,004,586, or any other sterile connector system.
The following examples are for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the invention described herein.
Example 1. Blood bags were prepared of a design similar to the commercially-available Fenwal donor bag, but made of a polyester as described in U.S. Patent No.
4,045,431. The blood bags were sterilized in accordance with commercial standards, and whole blood was drawn into the blood bags.
The first group of bags was made of the same polyester and was plasticizer-free~ while the second group of bags was soa~ed to about a 20 weight percent concentration of di-2-ethylhexylphthalate plasticizer.
The blood was divided between first group and second group of bags in equal quantities in a
3 ~5~8 conventional manner, and the bags were sealed ofE.
Thereafter, the bags were stored at 4C. for 21 days.
Then, the amount of plasma hemoglobin was measured in the two groups of bags, with the results as shown in Table I below.
TABLE I
Plasma Hemoglobin (mg. %) First Group of Bags Second Group of Bags ~plasticizer free)Containing Plasticizer Multiple Bag No. 1 40.7 mg. %16.5 mg. %
2 36.7 21.3 3 11.5 7.2
Thereafter, the bags were stored at 4C. for 21 days.
Then, the amount of plasma hemoglobin was measured in the two groups of bags, with the results as shown in Table I below.
TABLE I
Plasma Hemoglobin (mg. %) First Group of Bags Second Group of Bags ~plasticizer free)Containing Plasticizer Multiple Bag No. 1 40.7 mg. %16.5 mg. %
2 36.7 21.3 3 11.5 7.2
4 21.1 9.~
155 20.9 12.3 6 42.6 9.8 7 62.7 21.4 8 34.0 18.4 9 44.6 14.6 2010 31.8 9.7 Average 34.7 14.1 The above data shows the significant reduction in plasma hemoglobin which results from storing whole blood for 21 days under conventional storage conditions in a blood bag which contains plasticizer, even when the plasticizer is not necessary for its usual purpose of obtaining desired characteristics in the plastic of the blood bag.
Example 2. Blood bags were made ou-t of the commer-cial polyvinyl chloride formulation utilized by TravenolLaboratories, Inc. and containing from 25 to 30 percent by weight of di-2-ethylhexylphthalate. Other blood bags were made out of different formulations as indicated in Table II below, and were essentially free of blood-extractable ester plasticizers.
Multiple samples of all of the blood bags were filled with whole blood and were stored for 21 days.
Table II below illustrates the numbers of samples tested and the average amount of plasma hemoglobin expressed in ~;~5~L08 terms of milligram percent for the various groups of sample bags.
TABLE II
No. of Samples Mean A~,ount of Tested Plasma Hemoglobin_(mg. ~) Co~mericial pol~vinyl Chloride blood bag formu-lation of Travenol Laboratories, Inc. 21 20.4 Polyvinyl chloride plastic.ized with tri-2-ethylhexyl trimellitate 10 51.7 Polyolefin blend as described in Example 2 of U.S. Patent No.
15 4,140,162 10 48.8 Flexible polyester 8 45.2 Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer 4 43.2 20 Polyethylene 4 45 The above shows that the presence of the extractable ester plasticizer provides a substantial reduction of the creation of plasma hemoglobin in stored blood.
Suitable multiple blood bags may be made in accordance with this example, with the donor bag being made from the commercial Travenol polyvinyl chloride formulation, and the transfer bags being made of one or more of the remaining formulations described in Table II.
The above has been offered for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to limit the invention of this application, which is as defined in the claims below.
155 20.9 12.3 6 42.6 9.8 7 62.7 21.4 8 34.0 18.4 9 44.6 14.6 2010 31.8 9.7 Average 34.7 14.1 The above data shows the significant reduction in plasma hemoglobin which results from storing whole blood for 21 days under conventional storage conditions in a blood bag which contains plasticizer, even when the plasticizer is not necessary for its usual purpose of obtaining desired characteristics in the plastic of the blood bag.
Example 2. Blood bags were made ou-t of the commer-cial polyvinyl chloride formulation utilized by TravenolLaboratories, Inc. and containing from 25 to 30 percent by weight of di-2-ethylhexylphthalate. Other blood bags were made out of different formulations as indicated in Table II below, and were essentially free of blood-extractable ester plasticizers.
Multiple samples of all of the blood bags were filled with whole blood and were stored for 21 days.
Table II below illustrates the numbers of samples tested and the average amount of plasma hemoglobin expressed in ~;~5~L08 terms of milligram percent for the various groups of sample bags.
TABLE II
No. of Samples Mean A~,ount of Tested Plasma Hemoglobin_(mg. ~) Co~mericial pol~vinyl Chloride blood bag formu-lation of Travenol Laboratories, Inc. 21 20.4 Polyvinyl chloride plastic.ized with tri-2-ethylhexyl trimellitate 10 51.7 Polyolefin blend as described in Example 2 of U.S. Patent No.
15 4,140,162 10 48.8 Flexible polyester 8 45.2 Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer 4 43.2 20 Polyethylene 4 45 The above shows that the presence of the extractable ester plasticizer provides a substantial reduction of the creation of plasma hemoglobin in stored blood.
Suitable multiple blood bags may be made in accordance with this example, with the donor bag being made from the commercial Travenol polyvinyl chloride formulation, and the transfer bags being made of one or more of the remaining formulations described in Table II.
The above has been offered for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to limit the invention of this application, which is as defined in the claims below.
Claims (9)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A multiple blood bag system comprising: a first container intended to receive blood from a donor, at least a portion of which container includes a material which imparts a predetermined first physical characteristic which is beneficial to the storage of blood in said first container, said first physical characteristic being the suppression of hemolysis of red cells during long term storage, said first container material including a blood-extractable plasticizer, said blood-extractable plasticizer being selected from the group consisting of dioctyladipates, a second container including a material which imparts a predetermined second physical characteristic which is different than said first physical characteristic and which is beneficial to the intended function of said second container, and conduit means providing sealed flow communication between said first container and said second container.
2. A multiple blood bag system comprising: a first container intended to receive blood from a donor, at least a portion of which container includes a material which imparts a predetermined first physical characteristic which is beneficial to the storage of blood in said first container, said first physical characteristic being the suppression of hemolysis of red cells during long term storage, said first container material including a blood-extractable plasticizer, said blood-extractable plasticizer being di-2-ethylhexyl-adipate, a second container including a material which imparts a predetermined second physical characteristic which is different than said first physical characteristic and which is beneficial to the intended function of said second container, and conduit means providing sealed flow communication between said first container and said second container.
3. A multiple blood bag system comprising: a first container intended to receive blood from a donor, said first container material including a blood-extractable plasticizer, said material of said first container including an insert in said first container, said insert containing at least 5 percent by weight of said blood-extractable plasticizer, a second container including a material which imparts a predetermined second physical characteristic which is different than said first physical characteristic and which is beneficial to the intended function of said second container, and conduit means providing sealed flow communication between said first container and said second container.
4. A multiple blood bag system of claim 3, wherein said second container is intended to receive a blood component from said first container and wherein said second physical characteristic imparted by said second container material is beneficial to the storage of said blood component.
5. A multiple blood bag system of claim 3 or 4, wherein said insert contains 15-70 percent by weight of said blood-extractable plasticizer.
6. A multiple blood bag system of claim 3 or 4, wherein said insert is made of a polyvinyl chloride formulation containing a blood-extractable plasticizer.
7. A multiple blood bag system of claim 3 or 4, wherein said material of said first container includes an insert in said first container, which insert contains 15-50 percent by weight of said blood-extractable plasticizer, said first container material also including outer walls which are essentially free of said blood-extractable plasticizer.
8. A multiple blood bag system of claim 1, wherein said material of said second container includes a polyolefin, and wherein said material of said second container includes a copolymer of from 10 to 40 percent by weight of a polyolefin consisting essentially of propylene units; from 40 to 85 percent by weight of a block copolymer, having thermoplastic rubber characteristics, consisting essentially of (1) a central block comprising 50 to 85 percent by weight of the copolymer molecule, of a rubbery olefin polymer of generally equal proportions of ethylene and butylene units, and (2) terminal blocks of polystyrene; and from 0 to 40 percent by weight of a softening agent selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) containing no more than 35 percent by weight of vinyl acetate.
9. A multiple blood bag system of claim 1, wherein said second container is intended to receive a blood component from said first container, wherein said second physical characteristic imparted by said second container material is beneficial to the storage of said blood component, wherein said material of said second container includes a polyolefin, and wherein said material of said second container includes a copolymer of from 10 to 40 percent by weight of a polyolefin consisting essentially of propylene units; from 40 to 85 percent by weight of a block copolymer, having thermoplastic rubber characteristics, consisting essentially of (1) a central block comprising 50 to 85 percent by weight of the copolymer molecule, of a rubbery olefin polymer of generally equal proportions of ethylene and butylene units, and (2) terminal blocks of polystyrene; and from 0 to 40 percent by weight of a softening agent selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) containing no more than 35 percent by weight of vinyl acetate.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000539237A CA1251108A (en) | 1978-10-26 | 1987-06-09 | Multiple blood bag having plasticizer-free portions and a high blood component survival rate |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US955,059 | 1978-10-26 | ||
| US05/955,059 US4222379A (en) | 1978-10-26 | 1978-10-26 | Multiple blood bag having plasticizer-free portions and a high blood component survival rate |
| CA000338439A CA1243576A (en) | 1978-10-26 | 1979-10-25 | Multiple blood bag having plasticizer-free portions and a high blood component survival rate |
| CA000539237A CA1251108A (en) | 1978-10-26 | 1987-06-09 | Multiple blood bag having plasticizer-free portions and a high blood component survival rate |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000539237A Division CA1251108A (en) | 1978-10-26 | 1987-06-09 | Multiple blood bag having plasticizer-free portions and a high blood component survival rate |
Related Child Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000539237A Division CA1251108A (en) | 1978-10-26 | 1987-06-09 | Multiple blood bag having plasticizer-free portions and a high blood component survival rate |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1251108A true CA1251108A (en) | 1989-03-14 |
Family
ID=25668982
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000539238A Expired CA1250792A (en) | 1978-10-26 | 1987-06-09 | Multiple blood bag having plasticizer-free portions and a high blood component survival rate |
| CA000539237A Expired CA1251108A (en) | 1978-10-26 | 1987-06-09 | Multiple blood bag having plasticizer-free portions and a high blood component survival rate |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000539238A Expired CA1250792A (en) | 1978-10-26 | 1987-06-09 | Multiple blood bag having plasticizer-free portions and a high blood component survival rate |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (2) | CA1250792A (en) |
-
1987
- 1987-06-09 CA CA000539238A patent/CA1250792A/en not_active Expired
- 1987-06-09 CA CA000539237A patent/CA1251108A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA1250792A (en) | 1989-03-07 |
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