JP2015054181A - Blood component separation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably form a leucocyte layer in a desired position after centrifugal separation.SOLUTION: A blood storage tank 20 for storing blood includes a first storage part 21, a second storage part 22, and a third storage part 23 provided between the first storage part and the second storage part which is communicated with the first storage part and the second storage part. A volume adjusting member capable of adjusting the volume of the blood storage tank is arranged in the blood storage tank. The volume adjusting member includes a bag body 80 having flexibility. The bag body can store fluid, in isolation from the blood stored in the blood storage tank. By changing the amount of the fluid stored in the bag body, the volume of the blood storage tank can be adjusted.

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for separating blood components used for centrifuging blood into blood components.

  In recent years, instead of whole blood transfusion, component transfusion in which only necessary components in blood are transfused into a patient, and further, plasma collection for producing a plasma preparation has been performed. For this reason, blood that has been placed in a plastic blood bag is conventionally centrifuged using the difference in specific gravity of each component such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, and the necessary blood components are separated. It is done in the field of business.

  As shown in FIG. 16, a conventional blood bag 800 used for separating blood components includes a plastic bag body 801 having a substantially rectangular shape, a port 802 communicating with the bag body 801, and liquid feeding tubes 811 812, and 813. It has. A child bag (not shown) for storing separated blood components (plasma component, leukocyte component) is connected to the ends of the liquid feeding tubes 812 and 813, respectively.

  Separation of blood components using the blood bag 800 is performed as follows. First, the collected blood is stored in the bag body 801 via the liquid feeding tube 811. At this time, the port 802 and the liquid feeding tubes 812 and 813 are closed. Next, the blood in the bag body 801 is centrifuged to separate into a red blood cell layer A, a plasma layer B, and a white blood cell layer C containing platelets, as shown in FIG. Next, the liquid supply tube 812 is opened, the bag body 801 is pressurized, and the plasma layer B is transferred via the liquid supply tube 812 to a child bag (not shown) connected to the end of the liquid supply tube 812. . Next, the liquid supply tube 813 is opened, the bag body 801 is pressurized, and the leukocyte layer C is connected to another child bag (not shown) connected to the end of the liquid supply tube 813 via the liquid supply tube 813. Transport. Thus, the separation of each blood component is completed.

  There are fewer leukocyte components in the blood than other components. Therefore, in the conventional blood bag 800 shown in FIG. 16, the white blood cell layer C is separated as a very thin layer between the red blood cell layer A and the plasma layer B. In the above method, the red blood cell component is not mixed with the white blood cell component, or the white blood cell component is not left in the red blood cell layer A, and only the white blood cell component is not transferred to the child bag via the liquid feeding tube 813. Not easy. Further, when the leukocyte layer C is moved in the bag main body 801 to be transferred to the child bag, leukocyte components adhere to the inner surface of the bag main body 801, so that it is difficult to collect all leukocyte components.

  Therefore, a blood component separating blood bag capable of solving these problems has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1), which will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the blood component separating blood bag 900 includes a bag main body 901 for storing blood and a liquid feeding tube 902 for transferring the collected blood to the bag main body 901. The bag body 901 includes a first bag part 911 and a second bag part 912 at both ends, and a third bag part 913 between them. The third bag portion 913 is narrower than the first bag portion 911 and the second bag portion 912. The first bag portion 911, the second bag portion 912, and the third bag portion 913 are provided with a first port 921, a second port 922, and a third port 923, respectively, for taking out the contents.

  Separation of blood components using the blood bag 900 is performed as follows. First, blood is stored in the bag body 901 through the liquid feeding tube 902. Next, the blood in the bag body 901 is centrifuged. The blood is separated into a red blood cell layer A in the first bag portion 911, a plasma layer B in the second bag portion 912, and a white blood cell layer C in the third bag portion 913. Next, the boundary portion between the first bag portion 911 and the third bag portion 913 and the boundary portion between the third bag portion 913 and the second bag portion 912 are sealed. The sealing is performed by, for example, a heat sealing method or a high frequency sealing method. Next, the bag body 901 is cut into first, second, and third bag portions 911, 912, and 913 at the seal portion. The red blood cell layer A, the plasma layer B, and the white blood cell layer C in the first, second, and third bag portions 911, 912, and 913 are connected via the first port 921, the second port 922, and the third port 923. Take out each one.

  As described above, the blood bag 900 is configured so that the bag body 901 can be sealed and separated for each component after centrifugation. Therefore, it is possible to separate blood into pure blood components without mixing other blood components, and in particular, it is possible to improve the recovery rate of leukocyte components.

Japanese Patent No. 4431929

  In blood, the amount of red blood cell components and the amount of plasma differ depending on the hematocrit value and blood volume. The hematocrit value is a numerical value indicating the proportion of blood cell volume in the blood, and about 40 to 50% is normal for adult males and about 35 to 45% is normal for adult females. This hematocrit value may be lower or higher than the normal value for some reason. If the hematocrit value and the blood volume vary, the position of the white blood cell layer formed in the blood bag after the blood is centrifuged changes.

  Therefore, when blood is stored in the conventional blood bag 900 (see FIG. 17) and centrifuged, the white blood cell layer C is not always formed in the third bag portion 913. When the leukocyte layer C is displaced from the third bag portion 913, the first bag portion 911 or the second bag portion 912 can be crushed to move the leukocyte layer C to the third bag portion 913. However, since each component is mixed by this operation, the recovery rate of the white blood cell component is lowered.

  The present invention provides a blood component separation device that can stably form a white blood cell layer (also referred to as “buffy coat”) at a desired position after centrifugation and, as a result, improves the recovery rate of white blood cell components. For the purpose.

  The blood component separation device of the present invention includes a blood storage tank for storing blood, and is used for centrifuging blood stored in the blood storage tank. The blood reservoir is provided between the first reservoir, the second reservoir, the first reservoir and the second reservoir, and communicates with the first reservoir and the second reservoir. A third reservoir. A volume adjusting member capable of adjusting the volume of the blood reservoir is disposed in the blood reservoir. The volume adjusting member includes a flexible bag. The said bag body can isolate | separate from the blood stored in the said blood storage tank, and can store a fluid. The volume of the blood reservoir can be adjusted by changing the amount of the fluid stored in the bag.

  According to the present invention, the volume of the blood reservoir can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of fluid stored in the bag according to the blood volume and hematocrit value of the blood to be centrifuged. Thereby, the position of the buffy coat after the centrifugation can always be made coincident with the third storage part regardless of the blood volume or hematocrit value of the blood to be centrifuged. As a result, the recovery rate of leukocyte components can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blood component separation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the blood component separation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the support member is separated from the blood reservoir. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the blood component separation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus for separating blood components according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the blood component separation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the blood component separation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention in which the first blocking member blocks communication between the first storage unit and the third storage unit. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the blood component separation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, with the stopper removed from the state of FIG. FIG. 8 shows the implementation of the present invention in which the first blocking member blocks communication between the first storage unit and the third storage unit and the second blocking member blocks communication between the second storage unit and the third storage unit. It is sectional drawing of the apparatus for blood component separation concerning Embodiment 2. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the flow of fluid when the leukocyte component in the third reservoir is collected in the blood component separation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the flow of fluid when the inside of the third reservoir is washed with physiological saline in the blood component separation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a blood component separation device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the blood component separation device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13A is a perspective view of a blood component separation device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention as viewed from above. FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the blood component separation device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, as viewed from below. FIG. 14A is a vertical cross-sectional view of a blood reservoir that constitutes a blood component separation device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 14B is a vertical cross-sectional view of the blood reservoir constituting the blood component separation device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention along a cross section orthogonal to the cross section of FIG. 14A. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a blood reservoir that constitutes the blood component separation device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, to which various tubes are attached. FIG. 16 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional blood bag used for separation of blood components. FIG. 17 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional improved blood bag used for separating blood components.

  In the blood component separation device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the bag is disposed in the first storage part in which red blood cell components are stored after centrifugation. Thereby, the bag can always be sunk in the blood during centrifugation. This is advantageous for always matching the position of the buffy coat after centrifugation with the third reservoir.

  The bag body preferably has a seamless seamless structure. Thereby, the bag body which has the outer surface comprised by the smooth convex curve can be produced easily. As a result, since the possibility that the movement of the blood component is hindered by the outer surface of the bag body during the centrifugation is reduced, the recovery rate of the white blood cell component can be improved.

  When the fluid is not injected into the bag body, it is preferable that the bag body can be deformed so that the internal volume of the bag body becomes substantially zero. Thereby, since the amount of air mixed into the bag can be reduced, the stability of the bag during centrifugation can be improved. This is advantageous for improving the recovery rate of leukocyte components.

  The blood component separation device of the present invention may further include a tube communicating with the bag body in order to put the fluid into and out of the bag body. In this case, it is preferable that the tube is led out of the blood reservoir. Thereby, it is possible to easily adjust the amount of liquid stored in the bag with a simple configuration.

  The blood component separation device according to the present invention described above can block communication between the first reservoir and the third reservoir, and allows communication between the second reservoir and the third reservoir. It is preferable to be configured so that it can be blocked. Thereby, after centrifugation, leukocyte components can be efficiently recovered while suppressing the mixing of other components.

  It is preferable that the blood component separation device according to the present invention further includes a flow path for allowing the blood component in the third reservoir to flow out of the blood reservoir. Thereby, leukocyte components can be efficiently collected after centrifugation.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. For convenience of explanation, the drawings referred to in the following description show only the main members necessary for explaining the present invention in a simplified manner among the members constituting the embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention can include any member not shown in the following drawings. Further, in the following drawings, the actual dimensions of members and the dimensional ratios of the members are not faithfully represented.

(Embodiment 1)
In the first embodiment, a basic configuration of a blood component separation device including a volume adjusting member that adjusts the volume of a blood reservoir will be described.

<Configuration of blood component separation device>
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a blood component separation device 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as “device 1”) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device 1 showing a state in which the pair of support halves 91a and 91b constituting the support member 90 is separated from the blood storage tank 20. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the device 1 along the vertical direction. In FIG. 3, an alternate long and short dash line 1 a is the central axis of the device 1. For convenience of the following description, a direction parallel to the central axis 1a is referred to as “vertical direction”, and a direction parallel to a plane orthogonal to the central axis 1a is referred to as “horizontal direction”.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the device 1 includes a blood storage tank 20 for storing blood. The device 1 is used for centrifuging blood stored in the blood storage tank 20 into each blood component.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the blood reservoir 20 includes a first reservoir 21, a second reservoir 22, and a third reservoir provided between the first reservoir 21 and the second reservoir 22. And a storage unit 23. The third reservoir 23 communicates with the first reservoir 21 and the second reservoir 22 respectively. Therefore, the first storage unit 21 and the second storage unit 22 communicate with each other via the third storage unit 23. During centrifugation, each blood component can freely move from the first reservoir 21 through the third reservoir 23 to the second reservoir 22 or vice versa. The apparatus 1 is normally used with the central axis 1a in the vertical direction and the first reservoir 21 facing down.

  The blood is injected into the blood storage tank 20 through an injection port 24 provided on the upper surface of the second storage unit 22. The device 1 storing blood in the blood storage tank 20 is subjected to a centrifuge so that centrifugal force acts in the direction of arrow F in FIGS. After centrifugation, the red blood cell component is stored in the first storage unit 21, the plasma component is stored in the second storage unit 22, and the buffy coat (white blood cell layer) containing the white blood cell component and platelets is stored in the third storage unit 23. .

  The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd storage parts 21, 22, and 23 have a hollow substantially cylindrical shape, respectively, and are arranged coaxially. The first reservoir 21 and the second reservoir 22 have substantially the same inner diameter and substantially the same outer diameter.

  The inner peripheral surface of the third reservoir 23 is a smooth cylindrical surface having a substantially constant inner diameter in the direction of the central axis 1a. Since the 3rd storage part 23 which connects the 1st storage part 21 and the 2nd storage part 22 has such an internal peripheral surface, the blood component which moves the inside of the 3rd storage part 23 at the time of centrifugation is the 3rd storage part. It is hard to stay in 23. That is, during centrifugation, a blood cell component having a relatively large specific gravity such as red blood cells can easily move from the second reservoir 22 to the first reservoir 21 through the third reservoir 23, and plasma or the like. It is easy for a component having a relatively small specific gravity to move from the first reservoir 21 to the second reservoir 22 through the third reservoir 23. Therefore, the inner peripheral surface of the third reservoir 23 being a cylindrical surface having a constant inner diameter is advantageous for improving the recovery rate of the white blood cell component.

  The inner diameter of the third reservoir 23 is smaller than the inner diameters of the first reservoir 21 and the second reservoir 22. Since the ratio of the white blood cell component in the blood is relatively small, the thickness (vertical dimension) of the buffy coat after centrifugation can be made relatively large by reducing the inner diameter of the third reservoir 23. This is advantageous for efficiently collecting leukocyte components.

  An inner peripheral surface (bottom surface) 22a on the lower side (the third storage unit 23 side) of the second storage unit 22 is inclined so as to descend (approach the third storage unit 23) as it approaches the central axis 1a. (In other words, it has a conical surface shape or a tapered surface shape). The inclination of the inner peripheral surface 22a means that blood cell components having a relatively large specific gravity such as red blood cells in the second reservoir 22 pass through the third reservoir 23 and move to the first reservoir 21 during centrifugation. Make it easy to do.

  Similarly, the inner peripheral surface (upper surface) 21a on the upper side (the third storage unit 23 side) of the first storage unit 21 is inclined so as to rise (approach the third storage unit 23) as it approaches the central axis 1a. It preferably has a funnel shape (that is, a conical surface shape or a tapered surface shape). The inclination of the inner peripheral surface 21a means that components having a relatively low specific gravity such as plasma in the first reservoir 21 pass through the third reservoir 23 and move to the second reservoir 22 during centrifugation. To make it easier.

  In the cross section along the plane including the central axis 1a, the inclination angle with respect to the plane along the horizontal direction of the inner peripheral surface 22a on the lower side of the second reservoir 22 and the inner peripheral surface 21a on the upper side of the first reservoir 21. Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular, the inclination | tilt angle with respect to the surface along a horizontal direction of 10 to 45 degree | times is preferable, Furthermore, 15 to 30 degree | times is preferable, If an example is given, it can set to 20 degree | times. When the inclination angle is larger than this numerical range, the volumes of the first and second storage units 21 and 22 become small. If the inclination angle is smaller than this numerical range, red blood cells, white blood cells, etc. remain in the second reservoir 22 after centrifugation, or white blood cells, plasma components remain in the first reservoir 21, etc. The recovery rate decreases. The inner peripheral surface 22a on the lower side of the second reservoir 22 and the inner peripheral surface 21a on the upper side of the first reservoir 21 do not need to be exact conical surfaces, and for example, the inclination angles of the inner peripheral surfaces 21a and 22a are the center It may be an inclined surface that changes depending on the distance along the horizontal direction from the shaft 1a.

  A columnar knob 25 protrudes upward at the center of the upper surface of the second reservoir 22. The knob 25 can be used as a handle when the device 1 is grasped and moved by hand. A ventilation filter 26 (see FIG. 1) is provided on the side surface of the knob 25. The ventilation filter 26 is a filter having a property that gas is allowed to pass therethrough but liquid is not allowed to pass therethrough, and bacteria and the like are not allowed to pass therethrough. The blood reservoir 20 communicates with the outside through the ventilation filter 26. When blood is injected into the empty blood storage tank 20 through the injection port 24, the air originally present in the blood storage tank 20 is discharged out of the blood storage tank 20 through the ventilation filter 26. As a result, an excessive increase in the pressure in the blood reservoir 20 is reduced, and a desired amount of blood is injected into the blood reservoir 20 without reducing the blood injection rate into the blood reservoir 20. It becomes possible. In the present embodiment, the ventilation filter 26 is provided on the side surface of the knob 25, but the ventilation filter 26 may be provided at a position other than the knob 25. However, once the ventilation filter 26 comes into contact with blood and gets wet, the air permeability of the ventilation filter 26 decreases. Therefore, it is preferable to provide the ventilation filter 26 at a location where the possibility of touching the blood is low in the second reservoir 22.

  In the present embodiment, the knob 25 has a substantially cylindrical shape, but may have any other shape. For example, it may have an inverted “U” shape so that a finger can be inserted. Further, the inside of the knob 25 may not be hollow.

  The material of the blood reservoir 20 including the first, second, and third reservoirs 21, 22, and 23 is mechanical to such an extent that the shape does not change (that is, has shape retainability) in a state where blood is stored. It is preferable to have strength, and further, it is preferable to have relatively high rigidity so that deformation can be suppressed to be small even by centrifugal force acting on blood during centrifugation. Moreover, it is preferable to have transparency so that the blood stored in the inside can be visually recognized from the outside. Such a material is not particularly limited. For example, polycarbonate, polyethylene, PP (polypropylene), polyester, polymethylpentene, methacryl, ABS resin (acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene copolymer), PET resin (polyethylene terephthalate). ) And PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

  The manufacturing method of the blood reservoir 20 is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the blood reservoir 20 is formed by combining a plurality of separately molded members in a liquid-tight manner in the direction of the central axis 1a. If necessary, an O-ring can be interposed at the joint between adjacent members. However, it is also possible to create the blood reservoir 20 by other methods. For example, all or most of the blood reservoir 20 can be integrally molded by a blow molding method or the like.

  A support member 90 (see FIG. 1) may be attached to the blood reservoir 20. As shown in FIG. 2, in the first embodiment, the support member 90 includes support halves 91a and 91b each having a semicylindrical shape. The support halves 91a and 91b are mounted on the blood reservoir 20 between the first reservoir 21 and the second reservoir 22 so as to face the third reservoir 23. The support half 91a and the support half 91b are coupled to each other using a fastening member (not shown) such as a screw. The lower ends of the support halves 91 a and 91 b are in contact with the first storage portion 21, and the upper ends thereof are in contact with the second storage portion 22. As shown in FIG. 1, when the support member 90 is attached to the blood storage tank 20, the outer peripheral surface of the support member 90 is substantially the same cylinder as the outer peripheral surfaces of the first storage unit 21 and the second storage unit 22. Form a surface.

  The support member 90 prevents the blood reservoir 20 (particularly the third reservoir 23) from being bent or buckled due to centrifugal force acting on the blood in the blood reservoir 20 during centrifugation. Therefore, it is preferable that the support member 90 has a high mechanical strength that can be regarded as a substantially rigid body. Further, the support member 90 is transparent so that the blood in the third reservoir 23 can be seen through the support member 90 in a state where the support member 90 is mounted on the blood storage tank 20 (see FIG. 1). It is preferable to have. From such a viewpoint, examples of the material of the support member 90 include resin materials such as polycarbonate, polypropylene, hard polyvinyl chloride, polyoxymethylene, and polyetheretherketone.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a bag body 80 is accommodated in the first storage portion 21. The bag body 80 is a hermetically sealed bag-like container (bag-like object), and has flexibility that can be freely deformed. A flexible tube 82 is connected to the bag body 80 and communicates with the inside of the bag body 80. The tube 82 is led out of the blood reservoir 20 through a lead-out hole 21 h provided in the upper wall of the first reservoir 21. Fluid is injected into the bag body 80 from the end of the tube 82 (the end opposite to the bag body 80). The bag body 80 is deformed and its volume is changed according to the amount of fluid injected into the bag body 80. The bag body 80 and the tube 82 are sealed in a liquid-tight manner, and the fluid injected into the bag body 80 is isolated from the blood stored in the blood storage tank 20. A known clamp (not shown) that opens and closes the flow path in the tube 82 by crushing the tube 82 is attached to a portion of the tube 82 outside the blood reservoir 20.

  Although there is no restriction | limiting in the fluid injection apparatus for inject | pouring the fluid in the bag body 80, For example, a syringe can be used. In this case, the mouth (male luer) of the syringe is connected to the end of the tube 82. By adjusting the pushing amount of the plunger of the syringe, the amount of fluid stored in the bag body 80 can be adjusted. In order to easily and reliably connect the tube 82 and the fluid injection device, a connector may be provided at the end of the tube 82.

  Although there is no restriction | limiting in the material of the bag body 80, Resin materials which have softness | flexibility, such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), and silicone, can be illustrated. A material having rubber elasticity may be used so that the bag 80 can be stretched and deformed like a rubber balloon by the injected fluid.

  The shape of the bag body 80 is not limited, but is arbitrary such as a flat shape, a spherical shape, an oval shape, a rod shape, or a donut shape with an open center. However, the outer surface of the bag body 80 is configured with a smooth convex curved surface so that movement of blood components is not hindered by blood components adhering to the outer surface of the bag body 80 during centrifugation. It is also preferable that the outer surface has as few irregularities and wrinkles as possible. Moreover, in order to suppress adhesion of blood components, the outer surface of the bag body 80 may be coated.

  The manufacturing method of the bag body 80 is not limited. For example, two sheets of the same size are overlapped and the periphery thereof is sealed (for example, heat sealing), or the molten material is blown with air. It can be produced by an arbitrary method such as an inflation method for inflating or a blow molding method in which air is blown into a material melted in a mold. Among them, the inflation method and the blow molding method are preferable because the seamless bag 80 having a seamless structure can be formed, and the outer surface thereof can be easily formed with a smooth convex curved surface.

  There is no restriction | limiting in the fluid inject | poured in the bag body 80, Any of a liquid and gas may be sufficient. However, the fluid preferably has incompressibility. If the fluid has compressibility, the volume of the bag body 80 changes due to the pressure during centrifugation. As a result, the position of the buffy coat changes during and after the centrifugation, and the recovery rate of the white blood cell component decreases due to, for example, the mixing of red blood cell components in the buffy coat. The fluid preferably has a specific gravity equal to or greater than that of blood. This is because if the specific gravity of the fluid is small, the bag body 80 floats on the blood surface. From such a viewpoint, the fluid is preferably a liquid. For example, physiological saline or glycerin can be used as the fluid. From the viewpoint of safety, physiological saline is preferable.

  The bag body 80 is preferably deflated so that its inner volume is substantially zero in an empty state where no fluid is injected (in FIG. 3, the bag body 80 swelled for easy understanding). It is shown). If air is present in the bag body 80 in a state where the fluid has not been injected, then, before the fluid is injected into the bag body 80, an operation of sucking out the air is required. In addition, if air is left mixed in the bag body 80, the air is compressed during centrifugation, and the volume of the bag body 80 changes.

  When fluid is injected into the bag body 80, the bag body 80 expands according to the amount of fluid injected, and the volume of the bag body 80 increases. As the volume of the bag 80 increases, the effective internal volume of the blood reservoir 20 (the amount that can actually store blood) decreases. By adjusting the amount of fluid injected into the bag body 80, the volume of the blood reservoir 20 can be adjusted. That is, the bag body 80 functions as a volume adjusting member that can adjust the volume of the blood reservoir 20.

  In order to form a buffy coat in the third reservoir 23 regardless of the blood volume or hematocrit value of the blood to be centrifuged, the bag body 80 is immersed in the blood without floating on the blood surface during centrifugation. It is preferable to continue. Moreover, the bag body 80 is the 1st storage so that the bag body 80 may not move within the 1st storage part 21 at the time of centrifugation, and the block part of the 1st storage part 21 and the 3rd storage part 23 may be blocked. It is preferable to be disposed at a position near the bottom surface of the portion 21. The measures for this are not limited, but, for example, the specific gravity of the fluid stored in the bag body 80 is made larger than the specific gravity of blood (particularly the specific gravity of the red blood cell component), the bag body 80 is attached with a weight, For example, a holding structure for holding the bag body 80 on the inner wall surface of the blood reservoir 20 may be provided.

<How to use>
A method of using the device 1 will be described.

  First, blood to be centrifuged (bone marrow fluid) is collected. The collection method is arbitrary. For example, a bone marrow fluid of a predetermined amount (for example, about 100 ml to 400 ml) can be collected by puncturing the bone marrow with a syringe that has been previously wetted with heparin.

  Next, the blood volume and hematocrit value of the collected blood are measured. The amount of erythrocyte component and plasma volume are calculated from the blood volume and hematocrit value.

  An empty blood reservoir 20 is prepared in which the support halves 91a and 91b are not mounted. The fluid is not injected into the bag body 80, and the internal volume of the bag body 80 is substantially zero. A syringe storing fluid (for example, physiological saline) is connected to the end of the tube 82, and the fluid is injected into the bag body 80 through the tube 82. The bag body 80 is inflated by injecting the fluid, whereby the volume of the blood reservoir 20 is reduced. The amount of fluid injected into the bag 80 is determined so that a buffy coat after centrifugation is formed in the third reservoir 23 of the blood reservoir 20 based on the previously obtained amount of red blood cell components and plasma volume. Is done. After injecting a predetermined amount of fluid into the bag body 80, the tube 82 is clamped and the flow path of the tube 82 is closed. Remove the syringe from the tube 82.

  Next, the collected blood is injected into the blood reservoir 20 via the injection port 24. Thereafter, the injection port 24 is closed.

  Note that the order of injecting fluid into the bag body 80 and injecting blood into the blood reservoir 20 is not limited to the above, and may be reversed.

  Next, the support halves 91 a and 91 b (support member 90) are attached to the blood reservoir 20. The clamped tube 82 is accommodated in the space between the blood reservoir 20 and the support halves 91a and 91b.

  Thereafter, the device 1 filled with blood is centrifuged and centrifuged. The centrifugal force acts in the direction of arrow F in FIGS. 1 and 3 in parallel with the central axis 1a. The blood is centrifuged into a red blood cell component in the first reservoir 21, a plasma component in the second reservoir 22, and a buffy coat (white blood cell component and platelets) in the third reservoir 23.

<Action>
In the present embodiment, a bag body 80 whose volume changes according to the amount of fluid injected is housed in the blood reservoir 20. The volume of the blood reservoir 20 can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of fluid in the bag body 20 according to the blood volume and hematocrit value of the blood to be centrifuged. Thereby, even if the blood volume and the hematocrit value are different for each blood injected into the blood reservoir 20, the position of the buffy coat after centrifugation can always be matched with the third reservoir 23. As a result, the recovery rate of leukocyte components can be improved.

  The buffy coat can be formed at a desired position with a very simple configuration in which the bag body 80 whose volume changes in accordance with the amount of the injected fluid is arranged in the blood reservoir 20. Since the structure of the bag body 80 is simple, it is excellent in durability and cost reduction. Since the fluid in the bag body 80 is isolated from the blood outside the bag body 80, the safety is excellent. Since the volume of the bag body 80 when the fluid is not injected is small, the decrease in the internal volume of the blood reservoir 20 by incorporating the bag body 80 is slight. Therefore, the volume of the blood reservoir 20 can be adjusted without increasing the size of the blood reservoir 20 and the apparatus 1. Moreover, the structure of the blood reservoir 20 containing the bag body 80 is simple, and the blood reservoir 20 and the apparatus 1 are easy to manufacture.

  Since the bag body 80 is disposed in the first storage part 21 in which red blood cell components are stored after centrifugation, the bag body 8 can always be submerged in the blood during centrifugation. Therefore, the buffy coat can be stably positioned in the third storage part 23 after centrifugation. This is advantageous for further improving the recovery rate of leukocyte components.

  In the actual blood centrifugation operation, a step of taking out the white blood cell component in the third reservoir 23 out of the blood reservoir 20 after the centrifugation is performed. In order to efficiently collect the white blood cell component while suppressing the mixing of other components, the third storage unit 23 is in a state where communication between the third storage unit 23 and the first storage unit 21 and the second storage unit 22 is blocked. It is desirable to cause the white blood cell component in the flow-out 23 to flow out of the blood reservoir 20. The configuration of the blood component separation device having a structure that enables this is not limited, and various devices can be adopted. Hereinafter, representative embodiments will be described as examples.

(Embodiment 2)
In Embodiment 2, the movable first and second blocking members block the communication between the third reservoir 23 and the first reservoir 21 and the communication between the third reservoir 23 and the second reservoir 22. A separation apparatus will be described.

<Configuration of blood component separation device>
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a blood component separation device 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as “device 2”) according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the device 2. In the following description, among the members constituting the device 2 of the second embodiment, the same or corresponding members as those of the device 1 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof are given. Omitted. Hereinafter, the apparatus 2 of the second embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the apparatus 1 of the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a disk-shaped first blocking member 31 is provided in the first storage portion 21. A first O-ring 51 is mounted on the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the first blocking member 31. The first blocking member 31 is held at the lower end of the hollow cylindrical first rod 41. The first rod 41 extends upward along the central axis 1a and penetrates the upper surface of the second reservoir 22 (knob 25). The cylindrical outer peripheral wall of the first rod 41 is formed with a first hole 41a that communicates the inside and the outside of the first rod 41 and a plurality (two in this embodiment) of second holes 41b. The first hole 41a is provided in the vicinity of the first blocking member 31 and slightly above it. When the first blocking member 31 is disposed at a position where the communication between the first storage unit 21 and the third storage unit 23 is blocked (see FIGS. 8 and 9 to be described later), the second hole 41b is the third storage unit 23. It is provided so that it may be located in the upper end vicinity.

  A flexible tube 43 having a hollow cylindrical shape is inserted into the first rod 41. The lower end of the tube 43 is led out of the first rod 41 through a first hole 41 a formed in the first rod 41. The tube 43 led out from the first rod 41 is curved downward, and the opening at the lower end thereof is located in the vicinity of the upper surface of the first blocking member 31.

  The upper end of the tube 43 is led out from the opening at the upper end of the first rod 41. Although not shown, a connector (female connector) that can be connected to the mouth (male luer) of the syringe is provided at the upper end of the tube 43.

  The outer diameter of the tube 43 is smaller than the inner diameter of the first rod 41. Therefore, a slight gap is formed between the first rod 41 and the tube 43 in the first rod 41.

  A disc-shaped second blocking member 32 is provided in the second reservoir 22. A second O-ring 52 is attached to the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the second blocking member 32. The second blocking member 32 is held at the lower ends of the two second rods 42. The second rod 42 is disposed at a symmetric position with respect to the first rod 41, extends upward in parallel with the first rod 41, and penetrates the upper surface of the second reservoir 22 (knob 25). The upper end of the 2nd rod 42 is being fixed to the operation piece 45 distribute | arranged above the upper surface of the 2nd storage part 22 (knob 25).

  The first rod 41 passes through the second blocking member 32 and the operation piece 45. In order to provide a fluid-tight seal between the outer peripheral wall of the first rod 41 and the second blocking member 32, the third O-ring 53 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole through which the first rod 41 of the second blocking member 32 passes. It is installed.

  The material of the first blocking member 31 and the second blocking member 32 is preferably a hard material that can be regarded as a substantially rigid body so that the O-rings 51, 52, and 53 can form a liquid-tight seal. . The material of the second blocking member 32 is preferably a material having a small specific gravity in order to avoid a large centrifugal force from acting during centrifugation, and has a specific gravity lower than the specific gravity of plasma (about 1.027). It is preferable. From such a viewpoint, as the material of the first blocking member 31 and the second blocking member 32, for example, a resin material such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), or ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA) can be used. . In addition, in order to suppress adhesion of red blood cells to the first blocking member 31 and the second blocking member 32, an inclined surface such as a conical surface is provided on the upper surface of the first blocking member 31 and the second blocking member 32, or coating is performed. Is preferable.

  On the other hand, as the O-rings 51, 52, and 53, a general-purpose O-ring that can form a liquid-tight seal can be used. The material is not particularly limited, but a material having rubber elasticity (also called an elastomer) such as natural rubber, isoprene rubber, silicone rubber and the like, and thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene elastomer, olefin elastomer and polyurethane elastomer. ) Can be used.

  By operating the first rod 41 protruding outside the blood storage tank 20, the first blocking member 31 and the first rod 41 can be moved up and down integrally. Further, by operating the operation piece 45 attached to the upper end of the second rod 42, the second blocking member 32, the second rod 42, and the operation piece 45 can be integrally moved up and down. The up-and-down movement of the integrated object including the first blocking member 31 and the up-and-down movement of the integrated object including the second blocking member 32 can be performed independently of each other.

  A stopper 47 is inserted between the upper surface of the second reservoir 22 (knob 25) and the operation piece 45. The stopper 47 is formed with three notches 47n extending in the vertical direction (see FIG. 7 described later). The first rod 41 and the two second rods 42 are inserted into the three notches 47n. The stopper 47 regulates the downward movement of the integrated object composed of the second blocking member 32, the second rod 42, and the operation piece 45. The stopper 47 can be freely inserted and removed between the upper surface of the second reservoir 22 and the operation piece 45 by moving in the horizontal direction along the notch 47n.

  In FIG. 5, the lower surface of the first blocking member 31 is in contact with the upper surface of the bag body 80. Further, the second blocking member 32 floats in the second reservoir 22 without contacting the inner peripheral surface of the second reservoir 22. The positions of the first blocking member 31 and the second blocking member 32 in FIG. 5 are referred to as “initial positions” in the present invention.

  The apparatus 2 is the same as the apparatus 1 of Embodiment 1 except for the above.

<How to use>
A method of using the device 2 will be described.

  The blood storage tank 20 in which the first blocking member 31 and the second blocking member 32 are in the initial positions shown in FIG. 5 is prepared. In the same manner as in the first embodiment, fluid is injected into the bag body 80 and blood is injected into the blood reservoir 20. Next, the support halves 91 a and 91 b (support members 90) are attached to the blood reservoir 20 to assemble the apparatus 2.

  Next, the device 2 is centrifuged and centrifuged. The centrifugal force acts in the direction of arrow F in FIGS. 4 and 5 in parallel with the central axis 1a. The lower surface of the first blocking member 31 is in contact with the upper surface of the bag body 80. Further, a stopper 47 is inserted between the upper surface of the second storage part 22 and the operation piece 45. Therefore, even if the centrifugal force F acts upon centrifugation, the vertical position of the first blocking member 31 and the second blocking member 32 does not change from the initial position.

  After centrifugation, the device 2 is removed from the centrifuge. After confirming that the buffy coat is formed in the third reservoir 23, first, the upper end of the first rod 41 is grasped and the first rod 41 is pulled upward. At this time, in order to prevent the second blocking member 32 from being lifted together with the rising first rod 41, the operation piece 45 is suppressed downward with a hand different from the hand that has gripped the first rod 41 as necessary. May be. By pulling up the first rod 41, the first blocking member 31 attached to the lower end of the first rod 41 moves upward in the first reservoir 21. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the first O-ring 51 attached to the first blocking member 31 is fitted into the lower opening of the third reservoir 23. Thus, the opening on the first reservoir 21 side of the third reservoir 23 is closed by the first blocking member 31. As a result, the communication between the first storage unit 21 and the third storage unit 23 is liquid-tightly blocked by the first blocking member 31.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the stopper 47 is removed from between the upper surface of the second reservoir 22 and the operation piece 45. Subsequently, the operation piece 45 is pushed downward. At this time, the upper end of the first rod 41 is pulled upward with a hand different from the hand that pushes down the operating piece 45 as necessary so that the first blocking member 31 does not descend together with the operating piece 45 that is lowered. May be. By pushing down the operation piece 45, the second blocking member 32 attached to the lower end of the second rod 42 moves downward in the second reservoir 22. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the second O-ring 52 attached to the second blocking member 32 is fitted into the upper opening of the third reservoir 23. Thus, the opening on the second reservoir 22 side of the third reservoir 23 is closed with the second blocking member 32. As a result, the communication between the second storage part 22 and the third storage part 23 is liquid-tightly blocked by the second blocking member 32.

  Thus, the first storage unit 21 storing the red blood cell component, the third storage unit 23 storing the white blood cell component, and the second storage unit 22 storing the plasma component are separated from each other in a liquid-tight manner. . The lower end of the tube 43 led out from the first hole 41 a of the first rod 41 and the second hole 41 b of the first rod 41 are open in the third reservoir 23.

  Next, an empty syringe mouth (male luer) is connected to a connector (not shown) at the upper end of the tube 43, and the syringe plunger is pulled. As a result, the leukocyte component in the third reservoir 23 is sucked and collected into the syringe via the flow path (first flow path) 61 in the tube 43 as indicated by an arrow 65 in FIG. As the leukocyte component moves from the third reservoir 23 to the syringe, external air is provided in the gap between the first rod 41 and the tube 43 and in the first rod 41 as indicated by an arrow 66. Then, it flows into the third reservoir 23 through a flow path (second flow path) 62 that connects the second holes 41b in order. Accordingly, the inside of the third reservoir 23 does not become excessively negative pressure, and the white blood cell component can be easily recovered.

  Further, the third reservoir 23 and the inside of the tube 43 may be washed with physiological saline to further collect the white blood cell components remaining in these. This can be done as follows. The syringe from which the white blood cell component has been collected is removed from the connector at the upper end of the tube 43, and instead of this, a syringe filled with physiological saline is connected to the connector. Then, physiological saline is injected from the syringe into the third reservoir 23 via the first flow path 61 in the tube 43 as indicated by an arrow 67 in FIG. At this time, the air that already exists in the third reservoir 23 passes through the second hole 41 b provided in the first rod 41 and the gap between the first rod 41 and the tube 43 as indicated by an arrow 68. It flows out of the 3rd storage part 23 through the 2nd flow path 62 connected in order. The physiological saline injected into the third reservoir 23 can also be recovered by a suction operation of a syringe attached to the upper end of the tube 43, as in the recovery of the white blood cell component described above. The physiological saline that has flowed out contains leukocyte components. The collected physiological saline may be centrifuged to perform a known process such as concentration of leukocyte components.

<Action>
The second embodiment has the following actions in addition to the actions of the first embodiment.

  In the device 2 according to the second embodiment, a first blocking member 31 is provided in the first storage part 21, and a second blocking member 32 is provided in the second storage part 22. After the centrifugal separation, the first blocking member 31 can be moved to block the boundary portion between the first storage unit 21 and the third storage unit 23 with the first blocking member 31, and the second blocking member 32 can be moved. Thus, the boundary portion between the second storage portion 22 and the third storage portion 23 can be closed with the second blocking member 32. Therefore, after blood is centrifuged into three components, a red blood cell component, a plasma component, and a white blood cell component, the blood reservoir 20 is divided into three portions in a liquid-tight manner. In this state, the white blood cell component in the third reservoir 23 can be collected via the first flow path 61. Furthermore, the leukocyte component remaining in the third reservoir 23 can be collected together with the physiological saline via the first flow path 61. For this reason, leukocyte components can be efficiently recovered without mixing with other components (red blood cell components, plasma components, etc.).

  Unlike Embodiment 3 to be described later, in order to close the boundary portion between the first storage portion 21 and the third storage portion 23 and the boundary portion between the second storage portion 22 and the third storage portion 23, the blood storage tank at the boundary portion. There is no need to deform or crush 20. Therefore, it is possible to set the inner diameter of the third storage portion 23 to be relatively large. This facilitates the passage of each component through the third reservoir 23 during centrifugation, so that blood is easily centrifuged into three components. This is advantageous for efficiently collecting leukocyte components. Further, it is advantageous for improving the shape retention of the blood reservoir 20 in a state where the support member 90 is not attached.

  The tube 43 is inserted into the first rod 41 that holds the first shielding member 31 to form a double tube structure, the first flow path 61 is formed in the tube 43 that is the inner tube, and the tube 43 (inner tube) A second flow path 62 is formed between the first rod 41, which is an outer tube. Since the two flow paths 61 and 62 for communicating the third reservoir 23 sealed at both ends with the outside of the blood reservoir 20 are formed, the third reservoir is suppressed while suppressing the pressure fluctuation in the third reservoir 23. The leukocyte component in the unit 23 can be collected smoothly. In addition, since the first flow path 61 and the second flow path 62 are formed in the first rod 41 that holds the first shielding member 31, the first flow path 61 and the second flow path 62 are outside the first rod 41. As compared with the case of forming, the number of parts constituting the device 1 can be reduced, and the configuration of the device 1 can be simplified.

  In the second embodiment, the second rod 42 is formed of a hollow rod-like member, and the lower end of the second rod 42 is inserted into a through-hole penetrating the second blocking member 32 in the vertical direction. Alternatively, the upper end may be protruded upward through the operating piece 45. Thereby, the 2nd flow path 62 which makes the 3rd storage part 23 and the blood storage tank 20 exterior which were sealed fluid-tightly communicate in the 2nd rod 42 can be formed. In this case, the second flow path is unnecessary in the first rod 41, and only one flow path (first flow path) needs to be formed in the first rod 41. Therefore, the tube 43 can be omitted.

(Embodiment 3)
In Embodiment 3, the boundary part of the 3rd storage part 23, the 1st storage part 21, and the 2nd storage part 22 is crushed and deformed, and the 3rd storage part 23, the 1st storage part 21, and the 2nd storage part An apparatus for separating blood components that blocks communication with 22 will be described.

<Configuration of blood component separation device>
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a blood component separation device 3 (hereinafter simply referred to as “device 3”) according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the device 3. The apparatus 3 includes a blood storage tank 320 and three support pieces 390 that are attached to the blood storage tank 320 and hold the posture.

  FIG. 13A is a perspective view seen from above the blood reservoir tank 320, and FIG. 13B is a perspective view seen from below the blood reservoir tank 320. 14A and 14B are vertical sectional views of the blood reservoir 320. FIG. 14A and 14B, a two-dot chain line 3a is a central axis of the blood reservoir 320 (that is, the device 3). The cross section of FIG. 14A and the cross section of FIG. 14B include the central axis 3a and are orthogonal to each other. For convenience of the following description, a direction parallel to the central axis 3a is referred to as “vertical direction”, and a direction parallel to a plane orthogonal to the central axis 3a is referred to as “horizontal direction”.

  In the following description, among the members constituting the device 3 of the third embodiment, the same or corresponding members as those of the device 1 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof are given. Omitted. Hereinafter, the apparatus 3 according to the third embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

  The blood reservoir 320 includes a first reservoir 321, a second reservoir 322, and a third reservoir 323 provided between the first reservoir 321 and the second reservoir 322. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd storage part 321,322,323 corresponds to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd storage part 21,22,23 of Embodiment 1 in order. The material of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd storage part 321,322,323 can use the same material as the material of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd storage part 21,22,23 of Embodiment 1. FIG.

  The 1st storage part 321 and the 3rd storage part 323 are connected via the 1st connection part 303a, and the 2nd storage part 322 and the 3rd storage part 323 are connected via the 2nd connection part 303b. . The first and second connection portions 303a and 303b have flexibility. Moreover, it is preferable that the 1st and 2nd connection parts 303a and 303b have transparency from the viewpoint of making the blood stored in the inside visible. From this point of view, examples of the material of the first and second connection portions 303a and 303b include rubber, soft polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polybutadiene (PBD), polyurethane, silicone, and polyethyl acetate. Of these, soft polyvinyl chloride is particularly desirable. As the first and second connection portions 303a and 303b, hollow cylindrical tubes made of the above-described flexible material can be used.

  The first, second, and third reservoirs 321, 322, and 323 all have a substantially cylindrical shape (or a substantially disk shape) that is coaxial. The outer diameter of the first reservoir 321 and the outer diameter of the second reservoir 322 are substantially the same, and the outer diameter of the third reservoir 323 is smaller than the outer diameter of the first reservoir 321 and the second reservoir 322. The inner diameter and volume of the third reservoir 323 are smaller than either the inner diameter and volume of the first reservoir 321 and the second reservoir 322.

  As shown in FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, a groove 335 continuous in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical surface shape of the third storage portion 323. As shown in FIG. 14B, the third storage portion 323 is formed with a first port 331 and a second port 332 that allow the internal space of the third storage portion 323 and the outside of the third storage portion 323 to communicate with each other. ing. The first port 331 is formed on the upper surface of the third reservoir 323 (the surface facing the second reservoir 322), and the second port 332 is the lower surface of the third reservoir 323 (on the first reservoir 321). On the opposite side). The first port 331 and the second port 332 are formed in a direction that obliquely intersects the central axis 3a.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, three pairs of ribs 381 projecting toward the second reservoir 322 are formed on the upper surface of the first reservoir 321 (the surface facing the second reservoir 322). ing. As shown in FIG. 13B, three pairs of ribs 382 projecting toward the first reservoir 321 are formed on the lower surface of the second reservoir 322 (the surface facing the first reservoir 321). ing. The three pairs of ribs 381 and the three pairs of ribs 382 are arranged at equiangular intervals with respect to the central axis 3a (see FIGS. 14a and 14b), and extend radially from the central axis 3a. When viewed along a direction parallel to the central axis 3a, the three pairs of ribs 381 and the three pairs of ribs 382 have the same rotational position about the central axis 3a.

  As shown in FIGS. 13A and 14A, an injection port 324 for injecting blood into the blood reservoir 320 is provided on the upper surface of the first reservoir 321.

  As shown in FIGS. 13A and 14B, a columnar knob 25 protrudes upward at the center of the upper surface of the second reservoir 322. A ventilation filter 26 is provided on the side surface of the knob 25.

  As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the same bag body 80 as described in the first embodiment is accommodated in the first storage portion 321. A flexible tube 82 connected to the bag body 80 is led out of the blood reservoir 320 through a lead-out hole 321 h provided in the side surface of the first reservoir 321. A clamp (not shown) that opens and closes the flow path in the tube 82 by crushing the tube 82 may be attached to a portion of the tube 82 outside the blood storage tank 320.

  As shown in FIG. 15, one end of a flexible first tube 361 is connected to the first port 331 (see FIGS. 13B and 14B) of the third reservoir 323. A first connector 361 c is attached to the other end of the first tube 361. One end of a flexible second tube 362 is connected to the second port 332 (see FIGS. 13A and 14B) of the third reservoir 323. A second connector 362 c is attached to the other end of the second tube 362. Although not shown, one end of a flexible tube having a connector attached to the other end may also be connected to the injection port 324.

  The 1st storage part 321 and the 3rd storage part 323 are connected by the 1st connection part 303a which has flexibility, and the 2nd storage part 322 and the 3rd storage part 323 are also flexible 2nd. It is connected by the connection part 303b. Therefore, unlike the blood reservoir 20 of the first and second embodiments, the posture of the blood reservoir 320 of the third embodiment is unstable, and the blood reservoir 320 has a self-holding property (that is, shape retaining property) of the posture. I don't have it. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, by attaching three support pieces 390 as support members to the blood storage tank 320, the posture of the blood storage tank 320 is kept constant.

  The support piece 390 has a columnar shape as a whole. One end of the support piece 390 in the longitudinal direction is a first connection portion 391, and the other end is a second connection portion 392. The third connection portion 393 protrudes at a position substantially intermediate between the first connection portion 391 and the second connection portion 392 of the support piece 390.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the support piece 390 is attached to the blood storage tank 320 so as to be disposed between the first storage part 321 and the second storage part 322. The first connection part 391 is connected and fixed to the first storage part 321 by fitting with the rib 381 formed in the first storage part 321. Similarly, the second connection portion 392 is connected and fixed to the second storage portion 322 by fitting with the rib 382 formed in the second storage portion 322. The third connection portion 393 is connected and fixed to the third storage portion 323 by fitting into the groove 335 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the third storage portion 323. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11, the first storage portion 321, the first connection portion 303 a, the third storage portion 323, the second connection portion 303 b, and the second storage portion 322 are provided by the three support pieces 390. Positioned coaxially along the central axis 3a, these postures are stably maintained. The three support pieces 390 are arranged at equiangular intervals with respect to the central axis 3a. Adjacent support pieces 390 are spaced apart from each other, and the first connection portion 303a, the second connection portion 303b, and the third storage portion 323 can be seen from between them.

  The support piece 390 is formed with a first slit 395a and a second slit 395b. Each of the slits 395a and 395b has a substantially L shape, and includes a horizontal portion opened on the surface opposite to the third storage portion 323 and a vertical portion extending from the horizontal portion to the first storage portion 321 side. . The widths of the slits 395a and 395b become narrower as they approach the deepest part of the vertical part (the part closest to the first storage part 321).

  As shown in FIG. 11, the tubes 361 and 362 are inserted into the first slit 395a and fixed. When the tubes 361 and 362 are inserted into the vertical portion of the slit 395a, the flexible tubes 361 and 362 are compressed and deformed in the diametrical direction, and the flow paths inside the tubes are closed.

  Similarly, the tube 82 is inserted and fixed in the second slit 395b. When the tube 82 is inserted into the vertical portion of the slit 395b, the flexible tube 82 is compressed and deformed in the diameter direction, and the flow path inside the tube 82 is closed.

  Since the support piece 390 needs to maintain the posture of the blood storage tank 320 against the centrifugal force at the time of centrifugation, the support piece 390 preferably has a high mechanical strength that can be regarded as a substantially rigid body. Moreover, it is preferable that the support piece 390 has transparency so that the third storage portion 323 and the like can be seen through the support piece 390. From this point of view, examples of the material of the support piece 390 include resin materials such as polycarbonate, polypropylene, hard polyvinyl chloride, polyoxymethylene, and polyetheretherketone.

  The apparatus 3 is the same as the apparatus 1 of Embodiment 1 except for the above.

<How to use>
A method of using the device 3 will be described.

  An apparatus 3 is prepared in which three support pieces 390 are mounted on an empty blood storage tank 320. The tubes 361 and 362 are inserted into the first slit 395a, and the flow paths are closed. On the other hand, the tube 82 is not inserted into the second slit 395b. The fluid is not injected into the bag body 80, and the internal volume of the bag body 80 is substantially zero.

  In the same manner as in the first and second embodiments, the fluid is injected into the bag body 80 through the tube 82. After injecting a predetermined amount of fluid into the bag body 80, the tube 82 is inserted into the second slit 395b to close the flow path.

  Next, the collected blood is injected into the blood storage tank 320 via the injection port 324. Thereafter, the injection port 324 is closed.

  Note that the order of injecting fluid into the bag body 80 and injecting blood into the blood reservoir 320 is not limited to the above, and may be reversed.

  Next, the apparatus 3 is centrifuged and centrifuged. The centrifugal force acts in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 11 in parallel with the central axis 3a.

  After centrifugation, the device 3 is removed from the centrifuge. After confirming that the buffy coat is formed in the third storage part 323, the first connection part 303a and the second connection part 303b are clamped, and the flow path inside thereof is closed. Clamping can be performed using any instrument used to close the flow path of the flexible tube, such as forceps and plate clamp. Thereby, the communication between the first storage unit 321 and the third storage unit 323 and the communication between the second storage unit 322 and the third storage unit 323 are both blocked in a liquid-tight manner.

  Next, the tubes 361 and 362 are taken out from the first slit 395a. A first syringe filled with physiological saline is connected to the connector 361 c at the end of the first tube 361, and an empty second syringe is connected to the connector 362 c at the end of the second tube 362. And the physiological saline in a 1st syringe is inject | poured in the 3rd storage part 323, and the white blood cell component in the 3rd storage part 323 is pushed out, flushing with a physiological saline, and is collect | recovered in a 2nd syringe.

  The collected leukocyte component may be transferred to another container and further centrifuged as necessary to perform a known treatment such as concentration of the leukocyte component.

<Action>
The third embodiment has the following operation in addition to the operation of the first embodiment.

  In the device 3 according to the third embodiment, the first storage portion 321 and the third storage portion 323 are connected by a flexible cylindrical first connection portion 303a, and the second storage portion 322 and the third storage portion 323 are connected. The storage part 323 is connected by the cylindrical 2nd connection part 303b which has flexibility. After the centrifugal separation, the connection portions 303a and 303b can be clamped to block the flow paths. Therefore, after blood is centrifuged into three components, a red blood cell component, a plasma component, and a white blood cell component, the blood reservoir 320 is liquid-divided into three parts. In this state, the white blood cell component in the third reservoir 323 can be recovered via the flow path in the tubes 361 and 362. For this reason, leukocyte components can be efficiently recovered without mixing with other components (red blood cell components, plasma components, etc.).

  Similarly to the second embodiment, since the two reservoirs (flow paths) 61 and 62 are provided for communicating the third reservoir 323 whose both ends are sealed with the outside of the blood reservoir 320, the pressure in the third reservoir 323 is provided. While suppressing the fluctuation, the white blood cell component in the third reservoir 323 can be collected smoothly.

(Various modifications)
The above first to third embodiments are merely examples. The present invention is not limited to the first to third embodiments, and can be changed as appropriate.

  In said Embodiment 1-3, the bag 80 was arrange | positioned in the 1st storage part, However, as long as it is immersed in the blood in a blood storage tank, it arrange | positions in a 2nd storage part or a 3rd storage part. May be. However, if the bag body 80 is disposed in the second storage part, it is difficult to adjust the position of the buffy coat. Moreover, when the bag body 80 is disposed in the third storage part, there is a possibility that blood components are prevented from passing through the third storage part during centrifugation. Therefore, it is preferable that the bag body 80 is disposed in the first storage part in which the red blood cell component is stored after centrifugation.

  In said Embodiment 1-3, although the number of the bag bodies 80 accommodated in a blood reservoir is one, the number of the bag bodies 80 may be two or more. In this case, one tube 82 common to the plurality of bag bodies 80 may be connected, or the tube 82 may be connected to each of the plurality of bag bodies 80. The plurality of bag bodies 80 do not have to be arranged in the same storage section, and the bag bodies 80 may be arranged in at least two of the first to third storage sections.

  In said Embodiment 1-3, the tube 82 was derived | led-out from the 1st storage part out of the blood storage tank, However, This invention is not limited to this, Blood storage from a 3rd storage part or a 2nd storage part It may be led out of the tank. However, the tube 82 may be disposed so that the communication between the first storage unit and the third storage unit is not blocked and the communication between the second storage unit and the third storage unit is not blocked. preferable. In general, it is preferable that the tube 82 connected to the bag body 80 is led out of the blood storage tank from the storage portion in which the bag body 80 is stored.

  In Embodiment 2 described above, when the first blocking member 31 is in the initial position (FIG. 5), the first blocking member 31 is placed on the bag 80, but the present invention is not limited to this. The first blocking member 31 in the initial position may be in contact with the bottom surface of the first storage unit 21. In this case, the bag body 80 can be disposed at a position away from the central axis 1a so as not to prevent the movement of the first blocking member 31.

  The structure for blocking the communication between the first storage unit and the third storage unit after the centrifugation and blocking the communication between the second storage unit and the third storage unit is not limited to the second and third embodiments. . For example, you may arrange | position a balloon in each of the boundary part of a 3rd storage part, a 1st storage part, and a 2nd storage part. By inflating the balloon by injecting a fluid, communication between the third reservoir, the first reservoir, and the second reservoir can be blocked. Or you may arrange | position the several blade | wing which can be opened and closed which has the structure similar to a lens shutter in each of the boundary part of a 3rd storage part, a 1st storage part, and a 2nd storage part. By operating a plurality of blades from outside the blood reservoir, communication between the third reservoir, the first reservoir, and the second reservoir can be blocked.

  The application field of the present invention is not particularly limited, and can be widely used in fields where blood needs to be centrifuged. Among them, the present invention can be preferably used in the fields of blood component separation, bone marrow transplantation mainly using leukocyte components, and regenerative medicine when performing component transfusion for transfusion of only necessary components in blood.

1, 2, 3 Blood component separation devices 20, 320 Blood reservoirs 21, 321 First reservoir 22, 322 Second reservoir 23, 323 Third reservoir 61 First channel 62 Second channel 80 Bag body 82 Tube 361 communicating with bag body First tube (first flow path)
362 Second tube (second flow path)

Claims (7)

A device for separating blood components, comprising a blood reservoir for storing blood, and used for centrifuging blood stored in the blood reservoir,
The blood reservoir is provided between the first reservoir, the second reservoir, the first reservoir and the second reservoir, and communicates with the first reservoir and the second reservoir. A third reservoir,
A volume adjustment member capable of adjusting the volume of the blood reservoir is disposed in the blood reservoir,
The volume adjusting member includes a flexible bag body,
The bag body can store a fluid isolated from the blood stored in the blood storage tank,
An apparatus for separating blood components, wherein the volume of the blood storage tank can be adjusted by changing the amount of the fluid stored in the bag.   2. The blood component separation device according to claim 1, wherein the bag is disposed in the first storage part in which red blood cell components are stored after centrifugation.   The blood component separation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bag has a seamless seamless structure.   The blood according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the fluid is not injected into the bag body, the bag body can be deformed so that the internal volume of the bag body is substantially zero. Equipment for component separation. A tube communicated with the bag body for putting the fluid into and out of the bag body;
The apparatus for separating blood components according to claim 1, wherein the tube is led out of the blood reservoir.   The communication between the first storage unit and the third storage unit can be blocked, and the communication between the second storage unit and the third storage unit can be blocked. Item 6. The blood component separation device according to any one of Items 1 to 5.   The blood component separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a flow path for allowing the blood component in the third storage part to flow out of the blood storage tank.

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