# US 9,572,918 B2 · Graphene-based filter for isolating a substance from blood > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,572,918 B2 - Document ID: US9572918B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/923,503 - Filed: 2013-06-21 - Published: 2014-12-25 - Granted: 2017-02-21 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-21 - Assignees: Lockheed Martin Corporation - Applicants: Lockheed Martin Corporation - Inventors: Svetlana Monakhova Bachmann; Paul Declan Mountcastle; Byron W. Tietjen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9572918B2 ## CPC - A61M 1/34: Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration - A61K 35/14: Blood; Artificial blood (perfluorocarbons A61K31/02; umbilical cord blood A61K35/51; haemoglobin A61K38/42) - A61M 1/1631: {having non-tubular membranes, e.g. sheets} - A61M 1/36: Other treatment of blood in a by-pass of the natural circulatory system, e.g. temperature adaptation, irradiation {; Extra-corporeal blood circuits} - A61M 1/3633: {Blood component filters, e.g. leukocyte filters} - B01D 61/02: Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration {; Nanofiltration} - B01D 69/02: characterised by their properties - B01D 71/0211: {Graphene or derivates thereof} - A61M 2202/0014: removed from the body - A61M 2202/0042: filtrate, i.e. the fluid passing through the filter - A61M 2205/04: implanted - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract A device isolates a substance from blood. The substance includes particles with an effective diameter that is within a range defined by effective diameters of constituents of blood. The device comprises a first sheet of graphene including a first plurality of apertures. The first plurality of apertures are configured to pass objects with an effective diameter less than or equal to the effective diameter of the particles of the substance. The device comprises a second sheet of graphene including a second plurality of apertures. The second plurality of apertures are configured to pass objects with an effective diameter less than the effective diameter of the particles of the substance. The device may be configured to include a conduit system. The device may be configured to operate according to a reversible cycle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for isolating glucose from blood, the method comprising: regulating the flow of the blood through a first sheet of graphene and a second sheet of graphene, wherein the first sheet of graphene comprises a first plurality of apertures with an effective diameter that allows passage of glucose across the first sheet of graphene; and wherein the second sheet of graphene comprises a second plurality of apertures with an effective diameter less than the effective diameter of glucose. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of apertures comprises apertures with a nominal diameter of at least 0.74 nanometers and the second plurality of apertures comprises apertures with a nominal diameter less than 0.70 nanometers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first plurality of apertures comprises apertures that are nominally spaced 2 nanometers center-to-center. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the second plurality of apertures comprises apertures that are nominally spaced 2 nanometers center-to-center. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein regulating the flow of the blood through the first sheet of graphene and the second sheet of graphene includes circulating blood from a source through a conduit system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein regulating the flow of the blood through the first sheet of graphene and the second sheet of graphene includes using a reversible cycle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein said regulation is with a device that comprises a plurality of pressure release valves configured to regulate the flow of the blood from the conduit system to the source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein regulating the flow of the blood through the first sheet of graphene and the second sheet of graphene includes using a mechanical system comprising a piston disposed within a cylinder, wherein the piston is configured to circulate blood from a source through the cylinder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the mechanical system further includes a plurality of controllable valves, and wherein isolating the glucose using the reversible cycle includes drawing blood from the source through the first sheet of graphene and into the cylinder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein isolating the glucose using the reversible cycle further includes returning blood from the cylinder to the source through the second sheet of graphene. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of apertures is approximately 2% to 25% larger than the effective diameter of glucose. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of apertures is approximately 2% to 25% smaller than the effective diameter of glucose. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the first plurality of apertures and the diameter of the second plurality of apertures differ by about 0.04 nanometers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the conduit system is a two stage bypass filter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of graphene and the second sheet of graphene are configured in a medical device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the medical device is an implantable medical device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of graphene, the second sheet of graphene or both are coupled with one or more additional sheets of graphene to form multiple sheet graphene membranes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of graphene, the second sheet of graphene or both are coupled with one or more diamond membranes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising returning the blood that flowed through the first sheet of graphene and the second sheet of graphene to its source. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of apertures comprises apertures that are approximately 2% to 25% larger than the effective diameter of glucose, and wherein the second plurality of apertures comprises apertures that are approximately 2% to 25% smaller than the effective diameter of glucose. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of apertures comprises apertures that are approximately 2% larger than the effective diameter of glucose, and wherein the second plurality of apertures comprises apertures that are approximately 2% smaller than the effective diameter of glucose. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of apertures comprises apertures with a nominal diameter of approximately 0.74 nm, and wherein the second plurality of apertures comprises apertures with a nominal diameter of approximately 0.70 nm. ### Claim 23 A method for isolating glucose from blood, the method comprising: passing blood through a first sheet of graphene and a second sheet of graphene, wherein the first sheet of graphene comprises a first plurality of apertures with a nominal diameter of approximately 0.74 nm, and wherein the second sheet of graphene comprises a second plurality of apertures with a nominal diameter of approximately 0.70 nm, to thereby isolate the glucose from the blood. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the first sheet of graphene consists of a first plurality of apertures with a nominal diameter of approximately 0.74 nm, and wherein the second sheet of graphene consists of a second plurality of apertures with a nominal diameter of approximately 0.70 nm. ### Claim 25 A method for isolating glucose from blood, the method comprising: passing blood through a first sheet of graphene and a second sheet of graphene, wherein the first sheet of graphene comprises a first plurality of apertures with a nominal diameter of at least 0.74 nm, and wherein the second sheet of graphene comprises a second plurality of apertures with a nominal diameter of less than 0.70 nm, to thereby isolate the glucose from the blood. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the first plurality of apertures have a nominal diameter of from 0.74 nm to 0.9 nm. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the second plurality of apertures have a nominal diameter of from 0.54 nm to 0.7 nm.