{"id":453,"date":"2024-06-05T14:45:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-05T14:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyprp.com\/?p=453"},"modified":"2025-05-01T05:01:05","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T05:01:05","slug":"prp-processing-station","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyprp.com\/en\/prp-processing-station\/","title":{"rendered":"PRP Processing Station"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The DIY PRP system relies on a bench-top processing station for optimal collection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP). As the syringe plungers used in the DIY PRP system are trimmed and modified to fit inside a centrifuge for spinning, a processing station was designed in order to facilitate the manipulation of the plunger’s rubber stopper. The entire device is designed around a vertically rising rack and pinion mechanism that is able to drive the inner plunger by twisting a knob on the side of the device. This processing station was designed around a 60 mL syringe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rack and pinion.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Rack and pinion.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Rack and pinion.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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All individual parts of the assembly.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Purpose of the Processing Station<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In order to make the DIY PRP system function as intended, the 60 mL syringes must be made to fit within the swinging buckets of the centrifuge by lightly modifying them. Two modifications are required:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. The syringe plunger must be cut off, leaving no material of the plunger extruding from the bottom of the barrel. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The barrel flange must be cut down a couple millimeters to allow the syringe to slide down into the 50 mm bucket.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    With these modifications completed, the syringe plungers and internal rubber stoppers can no longer be easily manipulated, hence the creation of the bench-top processing station which is used in the manipulation of the internal rubber stopper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Plunger modification.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    This processing station designed using TinkerCAD, a free and accessible 3D design software. The CAD project<\/strong><\/a> is available on TinkerCAD<\/strong><\/a> for anyone interested in reproducing the design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The material chosen for the production model was billet aluminium in 10 mm thickness, and a single block of at least 40 mm thickness. The overall cost of aluminium shouldn’t cost more than $50 USD. The base plate could be cut from steel, to weigh down the processing station on the bench top and save the cost of using aluminium. The processing station’s walls are meant to be 10 mm aluminium. Both laser cutting and CNC machining are required to fabricate this design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This design does allow for the modification and introduction of a separate rack and pinion mechanism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Design Criteria<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Cost-Effectiveness:<\/strong> The total cost of $500 is significantly lower than commercial alternatives which can be as much as $2,000.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Ease of Construction:<\/strong> Utilizing aluminium in the fabrications reduces the difficulty of machining and finishing of the individual parts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Performance:<\/strong> Performance is determined by the tooth count and tooth size of the rack and pinion mechanism and isn’t a fixed measurement. The resolution of the movement can be increased by changing these measurements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Scalability:<\/strong> By using smaller plunger drive inserts, the manipulation of smaller syringes is theoretically possible.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Materials and Costs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n