Extra-lumenal crossflow plasmapheresis devices and method of use thereof
AssigneeHemasure, Inc.
InventorsStephen B. Kessler, Sumith Ranil Wickramasinghe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Improved devices for blood separations are provided based on the use of hollow fiber membrane arrays in extra-lumenal crossflow filtration. Blood is processed extra-lumenally across an ordered array of microporous hollow fibers to separate cells from plasma. By use of extra-lumenal crossflow filtration with suitably oriented fibers, the separation device is more efficient than existing devices which benefits a patient or donor by reducing extracorporeal volume.
Claims22
A device for separating blood cells from a liquid in which the cells are suspended which comprises a microporous hollow fiber membrane array disposed within a casing, the membrane array having (i) an average ratio S.sub.1 /S.sub.2 of about 0.5 to 2.0, S.sub.1, being a horizontal distance between the fibers, S.sub.2 being a vertical distance between two adjacent fibers, (ii) a void fraction of about 0.2 and 0.8, (iii) an overall depth of about 0.5 to 20 cm, and (iv) an angle of offset, .alpha., between two adjacent rows of the hollow fibers that is between 15.degree. and 75.degree., a liquid and blood cell inlet disposed on one side of said casing, a liquid outlet fed solely by the hollow fibers, and a concentrated liquid and blood cell outlet disposed on an opposite side of said casing from said inlet, wherein the liquid in which the cells are suspended flows across the hollow fiber membrane array.
A method for removing blood cells from a blood cell-containing liquid which comprises passing the liquid extra-lumenally across an array of hollow fiber microporous membranes having a spacing of fibers, a void fraction and an arrangement of fibers into offset rows configured for facilitating effective separation of blood cells from liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.