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The Development of the IBM Blood Cell The Development of the IBM Blood Cell Separator and Blood Cell ProcessorSeparator and Blood Cell Processor

by Alan Jonesby Alan Jones

IBM 2990 Blood Cell Separator

IBM 2991 Blood Cell Processor

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The IBM blood cell project began when engineer George Judson's son, Tom, was diagnosed with leukemia in 1962.

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The IBM blood cell project began when engineer George Judson's son, Tom, was diagnosed with leukemia in 1962. Tom was admitted as a patient at the National Institutes of Health. At the National Cancer Institute, which is one of the institutes of NIH, George saw a process for removing white cells from a patient.

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The IBM blood cell project began when engineer George Judson's son, Tom, was diagnosed with leukemia in 1962. Tom was admitted as a patient at the National Institutes of Health. At the National Cancer Institute, which is one of the institutes of NIH, George saw a process for removing white cells from a patient. It was very laborious for the patient and the staff. He suggested that this could be done on a continuous flow basis.

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The IBM blood cell project began when engineer George Judson's son, Tom, was diagnosed with leukemia in 1962. Tom was admitted as a patient at the National Institutes of Health. At the National Cancer Institute, which is one of the institutes of NIH, George saw a process for removing white cells from a patient. It was very laborious for the patient and the staff. He suggested that this could be done on a continuous flow basis. The doctor sent him upstairs to Dr. Emil J. Friedrich who thought this was a great idea.

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The IBM blood cell project began when engineer George Judson's son, Tom, was diagnosed with leukemia in 1962. Tom was admitted as a patient at the National Institutes of Health. At the National Cancer Institute, which is one of the institutes of NIH, George saw a process for removing white cells from a patient. It was very laborious for the patient and the staff. He suggested that this could be done on a continuous flow basis. The doctor sent him upstairs to Dr. Emil J. Friedrich who thought this was a great idea. George returned to IBM and received permission to work on it. Lab Director Jim Troy also said he would provide engineering support.

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Technical challenges facing Technical challenges facing George JudsonGeorge Judson

A system for removing blood and returning to the patient.A centrifuge design to separate the componentsA rotating seal to allow the blood and components to enter and leave the bowl without damage.

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And the REALLY big challenge:And the REALLY big challenge:

How to get a parking permit!The problem was that he did not have a title. The people at the National Institutes of Health created a new title “Guest Scientist.”With this title, he was able to get a parking permit.

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The Blood Cell Separator circa 1963

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How George workedHow George worked

He would spend two weeks at a time at NIH in Bethesda.

On his return, he would meet Harry Crampton in the parking lot and give him drawings.

Harry would give him parts from the previous visit.

George would return to DC and assemble his experimental equipment.

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Some basic facts about bloodSome basic facts about blood

Almost half of your blood is made up of red blood cells. They carry oxygen.Most of the rest is a clear, yellowish liquid: plasma.About 1% is white blood cells and platelets.White cells help you fight infection and reject foreign material.Platelets aid in clotting.

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This is George's first This is George's first blood pump. It was blood pump. It was from a heart-lung from a heart-lung machine. I have no machine. I have no idea where he got it. idea where he got it. I do know it was a I do know it was a bear to load and bear to load and unload. It works by unload. It works by squeezing the tube. squeezing the tube. It's called a It's called a peristalic pump.peristalic pump.

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George's first George's first centrifuge. You centrifuge. You

can see the heart-can see the heart-lung blood pumplung blood pump

in the in the background. He background. He called this his called this his "Flower pot "Flower pot

design."design."

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After a year and a half of work:After a year and a half of work:

The results were so promising that the National Cancer Institute gave IBM a contract for development of a blood cell separator.The NCI contract started in January 1964.His machine had been run on patients 55 times.

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1993 1993 machine machine before before

beginninbeginning work g work

on on National National Cancer Cancer Institute Institute contract.contract.

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This is George's second-stage centrifuge. It was a density-gradient machine. Cells would be separated based on their density.

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This is the flow model This is the flow model that George that George constructed. constructed.

It allowed the It allowed the engineers to view the engineers to view the separation process. separation process.

A strobe light flashed A strobe light flashed once for each once for each revolution.revolution.

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A pump for the flow modelA pump for the flow model

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Cross-Cross-section of section of the 1963 the 1963 centrifugecentrifuge

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The new bowl design

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Announcement of the National Announcement of the National Cancer Institute Blood Cell Cancer Institute Blood Cell

SeparatorSeparatorOctober 19, 1965Met Dr. James Pert, Director of Research at the American Red Cross.He asked us if the machine could be used for deglyceroling red blood cells. We had never heard of this application.George assigned me the task of evaluating this. This led to the IBM 2991 Blood Cell Processor. More on this later.

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In October 1965, NCI announced the NCI Blood Cell Separator.

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At 1965 announcement of NCI Blood Cell Separator. From left: Seymour Perry (NCI), Alan

Jones (IBM), George Judson (IBM), Robert Greenwald (NCI)

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George Judson with centrifuge bowl, circa 1970. In 1966, George was named an IBM Fellow, the highest technical position in the company. It meant he could work on any project of his choosing. He chose to continue his medical work.

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Front: Bob Kellogg, Mary Chen, Pat Birchill, Marian Hess, George JudsonBack: Rick Bierstock, Harry Crampton, Vic Kruger, Max Treziak, Joe Huth, John Wolf, Alan Jones, John

Williams, Harry Dunn, Walt Smith, Jack Martin, Dick Truex, Wendell Wheeler, Charlie Tesori, Fred Tapner

Members of the IBM 2990 Blood Cell Separator Project, circa Members of the IBM 2990 Blood Cell Separator Project, circa 19681968

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The rotating sealThe rotating seal

The rotating seal remained a problem. Blood products would coat the lands which increased friction.Bob Kellogg returned from an IBM

Resident Study program at Johns Hopkins with a Ph.D. in fluid flow.He designed a new seal which had a

ceramic lower seal running against an upper stainless steel member.Saline, under pressure, lubricated the

lands.

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The IBM 2990 Blood Cell SeparatorThe IBM 2990 Blood Cell Separator

A doctor in New York City asked IBM to build him a Blood Cell Separator.IBM replied that the doctor could obtain the plans since they were in the public domain and build one 90himself.He was very unhappy and contacted Tom Watson.Watson told IBM Endicott to build the doctor a machine.An interesting note: The first two digits of the type number, '29' are the IBM Endicott RPQ number. RPQ means Request Price Quotation. In other words, a special product.

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The IBM Blood Cell Separator The IBM Blood Cell Separator "assembly line""assembly line"

IBM decided if one person wanted a Blood Cell Separator, maybe several did.A mini-market survey was done. It was determined that about 15 could be sold.Lee Bodie set up a production line to make machines.Eventually IBM made and sold about 60 of the IBM 2990 Blood Cell Separators.

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Lee Bodie set up a production line for the 2990 Blood Cell Separator.Photo taken in 2007 at Vestal Library presentation on Blood machines.

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The IBM 2990 Blood Cell The IBM 2990 Blood Cell SeparatorSeparator

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Installing Blood Cell Separator in Rome, Italy

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Development of theDevelopment of theIBM 2991 Blood Cell ProcessorIBM 2991 Blood Cell Processor

Exploratory work began in 1965 after Dr. Pert of the Red Cross asked if we could develop a machine to deglycerolize frozen/thawed red blood cells.

After a lot of experimentation, we came up with the scheme shown on the next pages.

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From my From my notebook. notebook. January January 19661966

I couldn't I couldn't see why see why George George Judson Judson didn't like didn't like the idea.the idea.

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It really was a lousy ideaIt really was a lousy idea

It didn't take long to realize we couldn't have the blood bag in a bucket of water.

A flexible membrane would be used.

But how could we simulate this? The rotating seal we had available didn't have enough ports.

Someone suggested to use the same port for input and output and agitate in-between.

The key ingredient was in place!

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In 1969, George worked at the In 1969, George worked at the Dutch Red Cross for several monthsDutch Red Cross for several months

He wanted to see if the separator could be used in a blood bank environment.

I reminded him of my idea.

I brought him up-to-date about the fact that the blood bag would not be down in a bucket of water but would be laid on top of a rubber membrane.

He asked me to make up parts and send to him.

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My wife, Barbara, suggested using one of our kid's rubber punch bag.

I made up parts like these and mailed them to George in Holland.

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Development begins!Development begins!

When George returned, he said the Dutch were excited about the idea.

He then embarked on something new: An IBM Fellow planning on developing a product.

We built a bench model.

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We learned as we went alongWe learned as we went along

The split cover would open slightly allowing the bag to extrude under the hydrostatic g-forces.

We found that our hydraulic fluid, oil, was lighter than blood and would move to the center thus pinching off the bag.

The membrane we used at first was permeable to oil. In the morning it was covered with oil.

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We replaced the split cover with a screw-on cover which was much stronger.

As you can see, by this time we had added timers, valves, and other controls. This was our B-test model.

It would do all the same functions as the final machine. We reached this stage in early 1972.

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The big remaining problem was the The big remaining problem was the seal!seal!

We were now in Product Test and they were about to throw us out if we couldn't fix it.

George asked me to stay after work one night to do what he liked to call “scheming.”

In a few hours that evening and with refinements over the next week, we came up with the seal that is still being used today and being made by the millions.

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This is the drawing I made for the patent disclosure.

The key to the design was the latex tubing that kept the seal surfaces tight together when not in the machine and allowed the lower seal to raise up off of its seat when in the machine under a weight.

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Initial transparent model made by Carl Wolff so we could see what was happening inside.

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As good as the seal was, there remained some problems.

Techniques had to be developed to manufacture it in quantity.

It had to be made for $1.00.

The seal was subject to occasional leaks due to the curvature of the latex.

More on the sealMore on the seal

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The seal years laterThe seal years later

Many years later, after the project was sold to Cobe Labs, the president visited to obtain information to fight a civil case.

He saw a remark in my notebook that the latex should be replaced by a molded silicon piece.

He said, “Why didn't you do that. It would have saved us millions of dollars!?”

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George in Holland with test machine.

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The IBM 2991 Blood The IBM 2991 Blood Cell Processor was Cell Processor was announced at the announced at the annual American annual American

Association of Blood Association of Blood Banks Meeting in Banks Meeting in Washington, DC in Washington, DC in September 1972September 1972

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IBM set up a marketing and IBM set up a marketing and manufacturing group at their former, manufacturing group at their former, Information Records Division location, Information Records Division location, in Princeton, NJ.in Princeton, NJ.

The night before the opening of the The night before the opening of the AABB meeting, one IBM salesman AABB meeting, one IBM salesman offered the opinion to his manager that offered the opinion to his manager that they shouldn't wear white shirts.they shouldn't wear white shirts.

The manager replied, “A white shirt The manager replied, “A white shirt never offended anyone.”never offended anyone.”

They all showed up in white shirts.They all showed up in white shirts.

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The 2991 Blood Cell Processor teamThe 2991 Blood Cell Processor team

Marion Heiss, Leo Berzinski, Dick Jones, Bob Kellogg, Harry Cramption, Vic Krueger, Alan Jones, Caas Kivhoven (Holland), Jim Aikens, John Williams, Wayne Krupa, Jim Harvelchuck, Carl Wolff, ?, Les Gumo, Fran McLoughlin

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This was part of the IBM advertising campaign. The

marketing was done from the former Supplies Division in

Princeton, NJ.

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The following slides The following slides show how the Blood Cell show how the Blood Cell

Processor is used.Processor is used.These photos were taken These photos were taken at the Pittsburgh Blood at the Pittsburgh Blood

BankBank

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To start process, blood isTo start process, blood is

drawn the normal way.drawn the normal way.

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The Technicon machine The Technicon machine

determined the blood type for determined the blood type for

each unit of blood processed.each unit of blood processed.

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The blood The blood is is separated separated into red into red cells and cells and plasma.plasma.

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The blood is allowed The blood is allowed to flow into a Teflon to flow into a Teflon freezing bag at the freezing bag at the same time that same time that glycerol is added.glycerol is added.

The technique of The technique of freezing red blood freezing red blood cells in glycerol was cells in glycerol was developed after developed after glycerol was glycerol was discovered to work for discovered to work for freezing bull sperm.freezing bull sperm.

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When When needed, needed, the red the red cells are cells are thawed.thawed.

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The thawed The thawed cells are cells are diluted with diluted with a salt a salt solution.solution.

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The thawed, The thawed, diluted cells diluted cells run into the run into the IBM Blood IBM Blood Cell Cell Processor by Processor by gravity. The gravity. The machine is machine is then started.then started.

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The IBM 2997 Blood Cell SeparatorThe IBM 2997 Blood Cell Separator

The IBM Blood Cell Processor was now in the market and doing well. However, we knew that the Blood Cell Separator could be improved.

It's main problem was that the bowl was not disposable.

An effort was launched to provide a separator with all materials disposable that came in contact with Blood.

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The IBM The IBM 2997 2997 Blood Blood Cell Cell SeparatoSeparator.r.

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Is a rotating seal necessary?Is a rotating seal necessary?

You would think that the answer to this question is obvious.

Not so! There is a way to get blood into a rotating centrifuge and its components out without crossing a rotating seal!

Can you think how this can be done?

Bob Kellogg and his team figured it out.

They devised a harness that rotated like a cowboy's lariat so that the system was always sealed.

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IBM sells its medical groupIBM sells its medical group

An automatic ECG reading machine had been introduced that was developed at IBM Yorktown Height.

The medical effort was not making “normal IBM profits”

The entire group was sold to Cobe Labs in 1984.

The next slides show the Cobe web sites advertising the machines.

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From the Cobe Labs web pageNotice all the uses for the 2991 that we never thought of.

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The Cobe Spectra Apheresis System evolved from the IBM work

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And now for the rest of the storyAnd now for the rest of the story

George Judson – Died in 1992. The Blood Cell Processor was used on him during an operation.

Kay Judson, George's wife lives near Burlington , VT

Son, Tom Judson died of leukemia, summer 1964

Son, Jim Judson, died in auto accident summer 1965

Daughter, Karen Judson – lives in Burlington, VT

Daughter, Betsy Judson – lives in Cody, WY

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Talk on Blood Machines at Vestal Talk on Blood Machines at Vestal Museum, September 2007Museum, September 2007

Bob Kellogg Bob Kellogg with his with his children Bob children Bob and Karen.and Karen.

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October 2007: American Association of Blood Bank award for development of the IBM 2991 Blood Cell Processor presented to

Alan Jones, Bob Kellogg, and Vic Kruger.

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What started out as a tragedy for a What started out as a tragedy for a family, ended up helping many family, ended up helping many

people with conditions very people with conditions very different from those for which different from those for which

George intended the machines.George intended the machines.

This is often the way that science This is often the way that science advances. We should keep advances. We should keep ourselves alert for those ourselves alert for those

serendipity moments.serendipity moments.