Methods for preserving blood

• US 20040132002A1
• Filed: 09/17/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PhotoThera, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PhotoThera, Inc.
• Inventors: Streeter, Jackson
• Application Number:
  US10/666,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20040132002A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/007 for cooling the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0613 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light

Abstract

Methods for preserving donated blood and blood products are described, including embodiments which involve the application of a preservation effective amount of electromagnetic energy from a laser or other electromagnetic energy source, the energy having a wavelength in the visible to near-infrared wavelength range and delivering the effective amount of energy includes selecting a predetermined power density (mW/cm²) of energy to deliver to the blood. The methods can be used in combination with other blood preservation techniques including hypothermic storage and the use of preservative compositions.

Claims

1. A method for preserving donated blood, said method comprising delivering a preservation effective amount of electromagnetic energy to donated blood, the electromagnetic energy having a wavelength in the visible to near-infrared wavelength range.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein delivering the effective amount of electromagnetic energy comprises selecting a predetermined power density of energy to deliver to the blood of at least about 0.01 mW/cm².

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the predetermined power density is selected from the range of about 1 mW/cm² to about 100 mW/cm².

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wavelength of about 630 nm to about 904 mm.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wavelength of about 810 mm to about 830 nm.

6. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wavelength of about 670 nm to about 690 nm.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein delivering the electromagnetic energy comprises delivering the electromagnetic energy to the blood in a hypothermic environment.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein the blood is placed into a container prior to delivering the energy.

9. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the container is a transparent or translucent bag which allows for the passage of the electromagnetic energy.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising providing for physiologic gas-exchange for the blood and delivering the electromagnetic energy to the blood in a normothermic environment.

11. A method for treating extracorporeal blood, comprising:

delivering to at least a portion of cellular components of extracorporeal blood electromagnetic energy in a quantity sufficient to prevent or retard damage to cellular components of the blood, said electromagnetic energy having a wavelength of about 630 nm to about 904 nm.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the electromagnetic energy has a power density of at least about 0.01 mW/cm².

14. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wavelength of about 630 nm to about 904 nm.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wavelength of about 810 nm to about 830 nm.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wavelength of about 670 nm to about 690 nm.

17. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein during treatment the blood resides in a container having a hypothermic environment.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the container is a transparent or translucent bag which allows for the passage of the electromagnetic energy.

19. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic energy is pulsed during treatment.

13. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the power density is selected from the range of about 1 mW/cm² to about 100 mW/cm².

20. A method for treating extracorporeal blood, comprising:

delivering to at least a portion of cellular components of extracorporeal blood electromagnetic energy having a wavelength of about 670 nm to about 690 nm and/or about 810 nm to about 830 nm and a power density of at least about 0.01 mW/cm²

wherein the electromagnetic energy is sufficient to increase the useable shelf life of treated blood as compared to untreated blood.