Modular Blood Product Storage System for Temperature-Regulated Storage of Blood Products

Abstract

Modular blood product storage system for temperature-regulated storage of blood products with a temperature regulation unit for temperature regulation of the blood product storage system, a base unit and at least one agitator unit with an upper connection side, a lower connection side, a movable compartment to receive the blood products and a drive for movement of the compartment, wherein the compartment is arranged between the upper connection side and the lower connection side, wherein the upper connection side of the agitator unit is selectively connectable to the temperature regulation unit or a further agitator unit, and wherein the lower connection side of the agitator unit is selectively connectable to the base unit or a further agitator unit.

Claims

1. Modular blood product storage system for temperature-regulated storage of blood products with a temperature regulation unit for temperature regulation of the blood product storage system, a base unit and a plurality of agitator units wherein each agitator unit comprises an upper connection side, a lower connection side, a movable compartment to receive the blood products and a drive for movement of the compartment, wherein the compartment is arranged between the upper connection side and the lower connection side, wherein the upper connection side of each agitator unit is selectively connectable to the temperature regulation unit or a further agitator unit, and wherein the lower connection side of each agitator unit is selectively connectable to the base unit or a further agitator unit, and in which the temperature regulation unit and/or the base unit has an air circulation device, wherein the air circulation device generates a temperature-regulated air flow between the temperature regulation unit and the base unit through each agitator unit.

2. Blood product storage system according to claim 1, in which each agitator unit has its own drive for movement of its compartment.

3. (canceled)

4. Blood product storage system according to claim 1, in which each agitator unit has a bottom provided with openings, wherein the bottom is arranged below the compartment in the region of the lower connection side and the temperature regulated air flow flows through the openings from the temperature regulation unit to the base unit.

5. Blood product storage system according to claim 1, in which the agitator unit has a separate air passage, wherein the air flow from the base unit to the temperature regulation unit flows through the air passage.

6. Blood product storage system according to claim 1, in which the temperature regulation unit has a power supply, wherein each agitator unit can be supplied with current from the power supply via the upper connection side.

7. Blood product storage system according to claim 1, in which the base unit has a power supply, wherein each agitator unit can be supplied via the lower connection side with current from the power supply.

8. Blood product storage system according to claim 1, in which each agitator unit has an access opening for the insertion and removal of blood products, wherein the access opening can be closed by a door, and wherein the drive stops when the door is opened.

9. Blood product storage system according to claim 1, in which the blood product storage system has a control device, wherein the drive of each agitator unit can be actuated on an individual basis by means of the control device.

10. Blood product storage system according to, claim 9, in which the operating parameters of the drive of each agitator unit are adjustable by means of the control device, in particular the speed and type of movement of the compartment.

11. Blood product storage system according to claim 1, in which the blood product storage system has a modular bus system, wherein the drive of agitator unit can be actuated by means of the bus system.

12. Blood product storage system according to claim 1, in which each agitator unit has a liquid circuit that is connectable to the temperature regulation unit, wherein the temperature regulation unit has a pump for circulation of a fluid of the liquid circuit.

13. Blood product storage system according to claim 12, in which the agitator unit has couplings for the liquid circuit on the lower connection side and/or on the upper connection side.

Description

[0023] The invention will be explained below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in more detail in the schematic drawings, wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blood product storage system according to the invention with seven agitator units;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an agitator unit; and

[0026] FIG. 3 is perspective view of a drive of an agitator unit.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a blood product storage system 1 according to the invention for the temperature-regulated storage of blood products 2 with a temperature regulation unit 3, a base unit 4 and, in this exemplary embodiment, seven agitator units 5. In this exemplary embodiment platelet concentrate in bags is provided as blood products 2. The blood product storage system 1 has a layered vertical structure, wherein the base unit 4 forms the bottom unit and the temperature regulation unit 3 the top unit in vertical direction. Moreover, the base unit 4 is conceived to stand the blood product storage system 1 upright, e.g. on a table or the floor. For this, the base unit 4 can have rotating feet (not shown) on the underside to also place the blood product storage system 1 horizontally on uneven support surfaces.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, each agitator unit 5 has an upper connection side 6 and a lower connection side 7. In addition, each agitator unit 5 has a compartment 8 for receiving the blood products 2. For movement of the compartment 8 the agitator unit 5 has a drive 9. The compartment 8 is provided with passages, as shown. In addition, the agitator unit 5 has a bottom 10 provided with holes, which is arranged below the compartment 8 in the region of the lower connection side 6. The compartment 8 is surrounded in a U-shape by an insulation 11 so that an access opening 12 is left open for the insertion and removal of blood products 2 into the compartment 8 or from the compartment 8. The access opening 12 can be closed with a door 13. Moreover, the agitator unit 5 has a side chamber 14, in which parts of the drive 9 and also a separate air passage 15 are arranged. The side chamber 14 is separated from the region, in which the compartment 8 is arranged, by the insulation 11.

[0029] Each agitator unit 5 has a connection region 16 on the upper connection side 6 and on the lower connection side 7. The connection region 16 serves to connect the agitator unit 5 to a further agitator unit 5, the temperature regulation unit 3 or the base unit 4, as will be explained in more detail below. The connection region 16 has a power coupling, a bus coupling as well as a fluid coupling for connection of a liquid circuit 17 of the agitator unit 5. The liquid circuit 17 of the agitator unit 5 is directed in a loop or meandering shape below the compartment 8 and serves to (additionally) regulate the temperature of the blood products 2 received in the compartment 8.

[0030] The temperature regulation unit 3 and/or the base unit 4 has an air circulation device (not shown) for generation of a temperature-regulated air flow L. The temperature-regulated air flow L is represented by arrows in FIG. 1. In this exemplary embodiment the temperature-regulated air flow L is generated by the temperature regulation unit 3. The temperature-regulated air flow L regulates the interior of the blood product storage system 1 to the temperature necessary for platelet concentrates of 222 C. by flowing from the temperature regulation unit 3 through the agitator units 5 to the base unit 4. In the base unit 4 the air flow L is then directed laterally in the direction of the side chamber 14 of the agitator units 5, and through the separate air passages 15 of the agitator units 5 from the base unit 4 again in the direction of the temperature regulation unit 3. It can thus be ensured that the blood products 2 are regulated to the desired temperature with freshly temperature-regulated air. To enable or not hinder the air flow L, each agitator unit 5 has passages in the respective compartment 8 as well as the bottom 10 provided with openings.

[0031] Moreover, the (additional) liquid circuit 17 of each of the agitator units 5 is provided for temperature regulation of the blood products 2. In particular if the blood product storage system 1 has a relatively high number of agitator units 5 (e.g. 24), regulation to the desired temperature can be ensured by the additional liquid circuit 17. For this, a combined liquid circuit is generated by means of the fluid couplings provided in the connection region 16, into which all the individual liquid circuits 17 of the respective agitator units 5 are incorporated. The temperature regulation unit or the base unit has a pump for circulating the combined liquid circuit. The combined liquid circuit is preferably pre-regulated to the desired temperature by means of an additional temperature regulation element.

[0032] The temperature regulation unit 3 additionally has a power supply (not shown), a temperature curve display 18, a control device 19 and also a control panel 20. The control panel 20 is configured as a touch screen in this exemplary embodiment. The temperature curve display 18 shows the current temperature in the interior of the blood product storage system 1 as well as a temperature-time curve. The control device 19 controls all functions of the temperature regulation unit 3 and the incorporated agitator units 5. The power supply in this exemplary embodiment is a conventional 230 V connection, but can also have additional batteries, for example, to also guarantee function of the blood product storage system 1 in the event of a power cut. Moreover, the power supply can also be arranged in the base unit 4.

[0033] For construction of the blood product storage system 1 the base unit 4 is firstly erected. The first agitator 5 is placed with the lower connection side 7 onto the base unit 4 and is firmly connected to this, for example, by means of one or more connecting elements. A second agitator unit 5 can then be placed with the lower connection side 7 on the upper connection side 6 of this first agitator unit 5. In this case, the liquid circuit 17 of the first agitator unit 5 is connected to the liquid circuit 17 of the second agitator unit 5 by means of the fluid couplings provided in connection region 16. In addition, a power-carrying connection is created between the first agitator unit 5 and the second agitator unit 5 by means of the contacts provided in the respective connection region 16. A bus connection is also created accordingly by means of a contact or a coupling. A further agitator unit 5 can then be placed with the lower connection side 7 on the upper connection side 6 of the second agitator unit 5 and integrated as just described. The temperature regulation unit 3 is lastly placed on the upper connection side 7 of the last desired agitator unit 5. In this case, the combined liquid circuit is connected to the circulation pump of the temperature regulation unit 3 by means of corresponding fluid couplings. In addition, the power supply of the agitator units 5 is created by a connection with the power supply of the temperature regulation unit 3. Moreover, the agitator units 5 are integrated into a bus system connected to the control device 19.

[0034] The entire blood product storage system 1 can now be controlled via the control panel 20. For example, the combined liquid circuit can be activated or deactivated. In addition, the drive 9 of an agitator unit 5 can be actuated selectively, for example, and thus be reduced in speed, for example. In addition, the control panel 20 can also be used to cause the drive 9 of an agitator unit 5 to stop when the door 13 of the access opening 12 is opened. It is also conceivable that the drive 9 is connected to the door 13 by means of a contact switch, so that stoppage of the drive 9 can occur independently of an actuation through the control device 19.

[0035] For the modular extension and reduction of the storage capacity of the blood product storage system 1 the temperature regulation unit 3 is firstly removed from the upper connection side 6 of the uppermost agitator unit 5. Either additional agitator units 5 can then be put in place or agitator units 5 can be removed. Once the desired storage capacity has been reached, the temperature regulation unit 3 is placed on the upper connection side 7 of the now uppermost agitator unit 5 again.

[0036] The drive 9 of the agitator unit 5 will be described in the following. The drive 9 has an electric motor 21 and a gear system 22. The gear system 22 has two planetary gear units 23. The planetary gear units 23 are identical in structure, so that only one planetary gear unit 23 will be described in more detail below.

[0037] The planetary gear unit 23 consists of a planet disc 24 with a toothed internal periphery 25. A planet wheel 26 with a spigot 27 and a toothed external periphery 28 can rotate on the toothed internal periphery 25. The planet disc 24 is fixedly connected to a frame 30 of the drive 9. The planet wheel 26 is driven eccentrically by means of a pulley 29. The pulley 29 is arranged concentrically to the planet disc 24 and connected by means of a belt 31 to a drive wheel 32 connected to the electric motor 21. The belt 31 is configured as a toothed belt here.

[0038] As shown, the spigot 27 is arranged eccentrically on the planet wheel 26 and extends in vertical direction from the frame 30. The spigot 27 is connected to the compartment 8 of the agitator unit 5 and transfers the resulting movement to the compartment 8. An elliptical movement of the compartment 8 is achieved as a result of the eccentric arrangement of the planet wheel 26 to the pulley 29 and the eccentric arrangement of the spigot 27 on the planet wheel 26. The type of movement of the compartment 8 can be influenced by changing the relative position of the spigot 27 on the planet wheel 26. As mentioned, an elliptical movement of the compartment 8 results in the case of the illustrated eccentric position of the spigot 27 on the planet wheel 26. A circulating movement of the compartment 8 results in the case of a concentric arrangement of the spigot 27 on the planet wheel 26. In the case of a tangential arrangement of the spigot 27 on the planet wheel 26, i.e. an arrangement substantially in the region of the toothed external periphery 28, there results a linear movement of the compartment 8.

[0039] It is conceivable that the movement of the compartment 8 is achieved by replacement of the planet wheels 26 of the planetary gear units 23. Moreover, the spigot 27 can also be moved in position by motor, i.e. by an electric motor in the planet wheel 26 attached to the power supply and the bus system by means of sliding contacts.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0040] 1 blood product storage system [0041] 2 blood product [0042] 3 temperature regulation unit [0043] 4 base unit [0044] 5 agitator unit [0045] 6 upper connection side [0046] 7 lower connection side [0047] 8 compartment [0048] 9 drive [0049] 10 bottom [0050] 11 insulation [0051] 12 access opening [0052] 13 door [0053] 14 side chamber [0054] 15 air passage [0055] 16 connection region [0056] 17 liquid circuit [0057] 18 temperature display [0058] 19 control device [0059] 20 control panel [0060] 21 electric motor [0061] 22 gear system [0062] 23 planetary gear unit [0063] 24 planet disc [0064] 25 toothed internal periphery [0065] 26 planet wheel [0066] 27 spigot [0067] 28 toothed external periphery [0068] 29 pulley [0069] 30 frame [0070] 31 belt [0071] L air flow