Systems and methods using a solvent for the removal of lipids from fluids

• US 20030104350A1
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company, Lipid Sciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company
• Inventors: Malholtra, Ripudaman, Garcia, Pablo E., Chavez, Bryan, Hegwer, Eric, Low, Thomas P., Shimon, Jeffrey J., Bomberger, David C.
• Application Number:
  US10/178,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20030104350A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/34 Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3472 with treatment of the filtrate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3482 by filtrating the filtrate using another cross-flow filter, e.g. a membrane filter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3486 Biological, chemical treatment, e.g. chemical precipitation; treatment by absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3496 Plasmapheresis; Leucopheresis; Lymphopheresis A61M1/3472 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0456 Lipoprotein
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/08 Lipoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/203 Bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/206 Viruses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/3621 comprising multiple pervaporation steps

Abstract

Systems and methods for removing lipids from a fluid, such as plasma, or from lipid-containing organisms. A fluid is combined with at least one extraction solvent, which causes the lipids to separate from the fluid or from lipid-containing organisms. The separated lipids are removed from the fluid. The extraction solvent is removed from the fluid or at least reduced to an acceptable concentration enabling the delipidated fluid to be administered to a patient without the patient experiencing undesirable consequences. Once the fluid has been processed, the fluid may be administered to a patient who donated the fluid, to a different patient, or stored for later use.

Claims

1. A device for removing at least one lipid from a fluid containing lipids or from a lipid-containing organism, comprising:

at least one homogenizer for mixing the fluid with a single extraction solvent to form a mixture of the fluid and the single extraction solvent and causing at least a portion of the at least one lipid to separate from the fluid; and

at least one solvent removal device for removing at least a portion of the single extraction solvent from the mixture.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a fluid supply for supplying a fluid to the homogenizer.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the fluid supply for supplying a fluid to the homogenizer comprises a device for removing plasma from blood.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one solvent removal device is comprised of at least one hollow fiber contactor.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one hollow fiber contactor is comprised of at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in parallel.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one hollow fiber contactor comprises at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in series.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a solvent removal subsystem for removing the extraction solvent from a material used in the at least one solvent removal device to remove the extraction solvent from the fluid.

8. A device for removing at least one lipid from a fluid containing lipids or from a lipid-containing organism, comprising:

at least one homogenizer for mixing the fluid with an extraction solvent to form a mixture of the fluid and the extraction solvent and causing at least a portion of the at least one lipid to separate from the fluid; and

at least one hollow fiber contactor for removing at least a portion of the extraction solvent from the mixture.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a fluid supply for supplying a fluid to the homogenizer.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the fluid supply for supplying a fluid to the homogenizer comprises a device for removing plasma from blood.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one hollow fiber contactor is comprised of at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in parallel.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one hollow fiber contactor comprises at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in series.

13. The device of claim 8, further comprising a solvent removal subsystem for removing the extraction solvent from a material used to remove the extraction solvent from fluid in the at least one hollow fiber contactor.

14. A device for removing at least one lipid from a fluid containing lipids or from lipid-containing organisms, comprising:

means for mixing the fluid with a single extraction solvent forming a mixture and causing at least a portion of the at least one lipid to separate from the fluid; and

solvent removal means for removing at least a portion of the single extraction solvent from the fluid.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the means for mixing the fluid with a single extraction solvent comprises at least one homogenizer.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the solvent removal means comprises at least one hollow fiber contactor.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the solvent removal means comprises at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in parallel.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the solvent removal means comprises at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in series.

19. A method for removing at least one lipid from a fluid containing lipids or from lipid-containing organisms, comprising:

mixing the fluid with a single extraction solvent forming a mixture of the fluid and the single extraction solvent and causing at least a portion of the at least one lipid to separate from the fluid; and

removing at least a portion of the single extraction solvent from the mixture.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein mixing the fluid with the single extraction solvent comprises mixing the fluid using a homogenizer.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein removing at least a portion of the single extraction solvent from the mixture comprises removing at least a portion of the extraction solvent using at least one hollow fiber contactor.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein removing at least a portion of the single extraction solvent from the mixture comprises removing at least a portion of the extraction solvent using at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in series.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein removing at least a portion of the single extraction solvent from the mixture comprises removing at least a portion of the extraction solvent using at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in parallel.