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US 10,702,647 B2Granted
Systems, methods, and devices for removing circulating tumor cells from blood
AssigneeViatar LLC
InventorsStephen S. Keaney, Katherine J. Soojian, Russell W. Bowden, Ilan K. Reich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Filtering systems, methods, and devices, particularly adapted for apheresis of cellular bodies and more specifically for apheresis of circulating tumor cell bodies (CTCs) employs a cross-flow channel. Systems and methods as well as devices for such a system are described. Embodiments include a cylindrical filter that employs a thin micro-machined porous filter membrane with a regular array of pores and reliably pass blood while trapping CTCs.
Claims19
A method of removing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from whole blood, the method comprising:
- for a first duration, continuously flowing and recirculating whole blood along and parallel to a first side of a filter membrane while withdrawing filtrate that has passed through to a second side of the filter membrane opposite the first side such that red blood cells from the whole blood pass through the filter membrane without a rise in transmembrane pressure exceeding 100 torr over the first duration
- wherein the filter membrane has an array of pores, each pore tapering with respect to a thickness direction of the filter membrane from one of the first and second sides to the other of the first and second sides, and
- said one of the first and second sides has a greater open area than said other of the first and second sides of the filter membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.