Innovative Application of Color Sensor Technology in Autologous Blood Recovery for Centrifugal Apheresis Plasma Machines

Project Background

With ongoing advances in medical technology, surgical volume and blood use continue to rise. National annual blood usage is estimated at about 4,000 tons with about 20% yearly growth. Blood shortages and transfusion-related risks are receiving greater attention. To reduce allogeneic transfusion, the Health Ministry promoted autologous blood transfusion techniques in 2012.

Xi'an Company is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the development, production, and sales of blood collection and transfusion devices and accessories. Their autologous blood recovery solution requires a Color Sensor to work with the centrifuge.

Solution

Autologous blood recovery involves collecting, processing, and preserving the patient's own blood for re-infusion during surgery or treatment. This reduces demand for external blood and lowers transfusion-related risks. The process includes collection, washing, and retransfusion. During red cell collection, a Color Sensor is used to detect the separated red cell layer.

After detailed communication, Atonm engineers recommended the CL1-N3S1 Color Sensor. The CL1-N3S1 automatically generates the required light source for stable color detection. It uses an external detection head and fiber optic transmitter to produce a high-intensity single light spot, reducing sensor size and easing installation.

The Color Sensor is mounted beside the blood collection reservoir. When the centrifuge runs, collected blood enters the recovery tank; red cells remain while waste fluids pass to waste bags. When the Color Sensor detects the blood layer it outputs a signal and the device switches from collection to washing mode. Washing and filtration remove free hemoglobin, plasma, platelets, white cells, and anticoagulants, producing Hct50-80% red cell suspension for immediate or short-term re-infusion.

After testing, the Atonm Color Sensor performed excellently, and the customer adopted it for mass use. After about one year in use, the product has shown stable performance and reliable after-sales support.