Methods for removal of toxins from blood using an extracorporeal circuit comprised of a hollow-fiber filter module and polymer sorbent in combination

A method for reducing (i) at least one of physiologic molecules and physiologic ions present in abnormal levels in blood and/or (ii) exogenous toxins in blood, the method comprising contacting the blood with a polymer sorbent in an extracorporeal circuit;

• wherein
• said extracorporeal circuit comprises a hollow-fiber filter module having (a) an extraluminal space within a housing compartment and (b) a plurality of hollow fibers and (c) at least two luminal ports which are configured to transport blood in and out through said hollow fibers in said module and (d) at least one extraluminal port for transporting permeate from said hollow-fiber filter module;
• wherein:
• said hollow fibers comprising semi-permeable membranes;
• said polymer sorbent is located within a separate sorbent device housing with an inlet port and an outlet port for permeate flow therethrough;
• said inlet port of said sorbent device housing is connected to an extraluminal port of said hollow-fiber filter module and the outlet port of said sorbent device housing is connected to an inlet (suction) side of a blood pump of the extracorporeal circuit;
• said blood is pumped through said hollow fibers while blood components comprising said at least one of physiologic molecules and physiologic ions present in abnormal levels and/or exogenous toxins pass through the semi-permeable membranes of said hollow fibers into permeate, and said permeate is drawn from said at least one extraluminal port of said module, through the separate sorbent device housing containing said polymer sorbent, and at least a portion of said at least one of physiologic molecules and physiologic ions present in abnormal levels and/or exogenous toxins are retained by said polymer sorbent, and
• wherein said permeate passing through the sorbent device housing is reintroduced into the extracorporeal circuit at the inlet (suction) side of the blood pump which is the only pump used in the circuit;
• and
• wherein said blood is pumped through said hollow fibers and said permeate is recirculated through the extraluminal space of said housing compartment by a single pump:
• the blood pump.

A hollow-fiber filter module for reducing (i) at least one of physiologic molecules and physiologic ions present in abnormal levels in blood and/or (ii) exogenous toxins in blood, said module having (a) an extraluminal space within a housing compartment and (b) a plurality of hollow fibers;

• (c) at least two luminal housing ports which are configured to transport blood in and out through said hollow fibers in said module and at least two extraluminal housing ports which serve as circuit connectors for permeate flow in or out of the extraluminal space;
• wherein:
• said hollow fibers comprising semi-permeable membranes;
• a polymer sorbent is located in said extraluminal space within said housing compartment of said hollow-fiber filter module, and said polymer sorbent is retained in said extraluminal space by screens at said luminal and extraluminal housing ports of said hollow-fiber filter module;
• said module configured with a single pump to allow blood to be pumped through said hollow fibers while blood components comprising said at least one of physiologic molecules and physiologic ions present in abnormal levels and/or exogenous toxins pass through the semi-permeable membrane of said hollow fibers into permeate within the extraluminal space and at least a portion of said at least one of physiologic molecules and physiologic ions present in abnormal levels and/or exogenous toxins are retained by said polymer sorbent;
• and
• wherein said blood is pumped through said hollow fibers and said permeate is recirculated through the extraluminal space of said housing compartment by the single pump.