US 5,211,850 A · Plasma filter sorbent system for removal of components from blood

Abstract

A system and method of achieving both convective and diffusive transport of plasma across a membrane accompanied by the selective removal of plasma components using sorbents followed by reinfusion of the purified plasma in a blood circulation system is achieved by pumping blood through a filter comprising a bundle of "U" shaped hollow fibers immersed in a closed plasma chamber containing sorbents in an electrolyte solution. As blood flows through the entry arm, due to positive transmembrane pressure difference, plasma filtration into the plasma chamber occurs. The entering plasma causes an increase in the chamber pressure but does not exceed the pressure in the entry arm. The increase in chamber pressure exceeds the pressure in the exit arm of filter where the transmembrane pressure difference is negative and the direction of filtration reverses causing reverse filtration/reinfusion of plasma from the chamber into the blood in the exit arm. The phenomena of positive and reverse filtration from the hollow fiber filter establishes the circulation of plasma fluid in the plasma chamber. The plasma filtering through the entry arm, which corresponds to the arterial end of the system, passes through the plasma chamber solution containing the sorbents where plasma components get selectively depleted. The sorbents may be in any usable form which are not permeable to the filter. The purified plasma reenters the filter along the exit arm corresponding to the venous end where negative transmembrane pressure exists.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A blood circulation and filtration system for the selective removal of targeted plasma components from blood by means of convective and diffusive transport of plasma from said blood across a filter membrane into a plasma chamber solution where the selective removal of targeted plasma components from non-targeted plasma components using sorbents in the plasma chamber solution is accomplished followed by the subsequent transport of the non-targeted plasma components across the filter membrane back into the blood which comprises:

(a) a closed plasma chamber filled with an electrolyte plasma chamber solution containing one or more sorbents which have an affinity for and bind said targeted plasma components said closed plasma chamber being configured to freely circulate, equilibrate, mix and interact plasma components with said sorbents in said plasma chamber solution under relatively uniform pressure,
(b) a "U" shaped hollow fiber membrane plasma filter having an inlet arm and an outlet arm immersed in said plasma chamber solution in said closed plasma chamber,
(c) means for securing said inlet arm and outlet arm of said fiber filter in said plasma chamber and losing said chamber to maintain relatively uniform plasma chamber solution pressure,
(d) circulation means for directing said blood into said inlet arm, through said filter and out through said outlet arm.

1 more element

A method for the selective removal of targeted plasma components from blood which comprises

(a) providing a blood circulation and filtration system having (1) a closed plasma chamber filled with an electrolyte plasma chamber solution containing one or more sorbents which have an affinity for and bind said targeted plasma components, (2) a "U" shaped hollow fiber membrane plasma filter having an inlet arm and an outlet arm and immersed in said plasma chamber solution in said closed plasma chamber, (3) means for securing said inlet arm and outlet arm of said fiber filter in said plasma chamber and closing said chamber, (4) circulation means for directing blood into said inlet arm, through said filter and out through said outlet arm;
(b) directing blood by said circulation means from a source into said inlet arm, through said filter and out said exit arm at a volume and velocity which permits the convective and diffusive transport of plasma from said blood across said filter membrane along the inlet arm of said filter into said plasma chamber solution,
(c) causing said plasma in said plasma chamber solution to come into contact with said sorbents where said targeted plasma components are selectively bound to said sorbents;
and
(d) causing said non-targeted plasma components to pass by diffusive and convective transport from said plasma chamber solution across the filter membrane back into the blood along the outlet arm of said filter and out of said system.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Plasma filter sorbent system for removal of components from blood

Life of this patent

Plasma filter sorbent system for removal of components from blood

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23