Blood purification
OwnerClara M. Ambrus, Csaba Horvathinventors
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Abstract
Extracorporeal apparatus for selective removal of pathogenic factors, i.e. antigens, from blood by circulating the blood through hollow fibers which, exterior to the lumen are in proximity to antibodies, i.e. proteins having strong biospecific activity for the pathogenic factors. In some situations, the antibody is segregated in a liquid medium outside the hollow fiber to improve mass transfer and the antigen penetrates the ultrafilter wall of the fiber to join the antibody.
Claims18
A process for removing antigens from blood fluid comprising the steps of (1) immobilizing a specific immunoreactive scavenging means for said antigen within a porous exterior surface of said membrane, (2) passing an antigen-bearing blood fluid along a retentive-barrier side of an anisotropic membrane the barrier layer of which will not allow passage of the blood cells, (3) assuring a unidirectional diffusion process is the only steady-state process for carrying any other blood components through said membrane by maintaining the porous side of said membrane in a closed container of constant volume, and (4) utilizing said scavenging means to maintain a concentration gradient of said antigen across said membrane and to achieve an improved capture rate of said antigen by said immunoreactive scavenging means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.