Device and method for deactivating pathogens in blood plasma, blood product and biological product
AssigneeMillisecond Technologies Corp.
InventorDmitry Dolgopolov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are methods and devices for reducing the number of pathogens in a liquid. The methods or devices uses one or more of pressure, pressure drop, increased temperature, rate of temperature increase, and inert gas to kill pathogens. In one embodiment, inert gas is dissolved into a liquid at a pressure greater than ambient pressure. The pressure is later rapidly reduced, which causes inert gas to be released from the liquid. This reduces the number of pathogens in the liquid. Other method steps or processes that do not utilize inert gas are also disclosed.
Claims23
A method of reducing the number of pathogens in a liquid, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing the liquid into a first vessel;
- (b) introducing inert gas into the first vessel;
- (c) raising the pressure in the first vessel to a first pressure at which at least some of the introduced inert gas is dissolved in the liquid;
- (d) passing the liquid through a nozzle having a first end at which the liquid enters at the first pressure, and a second end at which the liquid exits into a second vessel at a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is less than the first pressure, and at least some of the inert gas is released from the liquid at the second pressure, wherein the liquid is converted into a spray of droplets while leaving the second end, wherein the second vessel comprises a frustoconical top part comprising an inner wall, a cylindrical center part, and a frustoconical lower part;
- and
- (e) heating the liquid as the spray of droplets in the second vessel at the second pressure to a temperature greater than 50° C., wherein heating the liquid comprises droplets contacting one or more of the cylindrical center part and the frustoconical lower part, wherein the liquid does not contact the inner wall of the frustoconical top part of the second vessel, and wherein the liquid is heated at a rate of about 3,000° C./sec to about 5,000° C./sec.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.