Low hydraulic resistance cartridge

• US 20040147900A1
• Filed: 01/23/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: National Quality Care Inc. (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Gura, Victor, Polaschegg, Hans-Dietrich
• Granted Patent: US 7,276,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/406
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3679 by absorption A61M1/3675 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/00 Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor separation of gases or vapours by diffusion B01D53/22
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/2805 Sorbents inside a permeable or porous casing, e.g. inside a container, bag or membrane

Abstract

A cartridge for treating medical or biological fluid includes a first cap having an inlet for the fluid, a container including a plurality of compartments and a second cap including an outlet for the fluid, wherein each compartment contains a plurality of particles, wherein the fluid is adapted to flow through the compartments and react with the plurality of particles.

Claims

1. A cartridge for treating medical or biological fluid, comprising:

a first cap including an inlet for the fluid;

a container including a plurality of compartments; and

a second cap including an outlet for the fluid;

wherein the compartments contain a plurality of particles;

wherein the fluid can flow through the compartments and react with the plurality of particles.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

a first filter located between the first cap and the container; and

a second filter located between the second cap and the container.

3. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the second filter is adapted to prevent particles from exiting the cartridge.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the use of a plurality of compartments prevents channeling within the container.

5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the plurality of compartments are aligned in parallel.

6. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein:

the fluid contains impurities; and

the fluid reacts with the particles such that at least some of the impurities are adsorbed by the particles.

7. The cartridge of claim 6, wherein the particles are porous.

8. The cartridge of claim 6, wherein:

the fluid is blood.

9. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein:

a beneficial or benign substance is loaded onto the particles;

the fluid contains impurities;

the fluid reacts with the particles such that at least some of the impurities diffuse to the particles and replace at least some of the beneficial or benign substance; and

at least some of the beneficial or benign substance is diffused into the fluid.

10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein:

a beneficial or benign substance is loaded onto the particles; and

the fluid reacts with the particles such that at least some of the beneficial or benign substance is diffused into the fluid.

11. The cartridge of claim 10, wherein:

the fluid contains impurities; and

the beneficial or benign substance modifies the impurities by enzymatic reactions.

12. The cartridge of claim 11, wherein the beneficial or benign substance is urease.

13. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising at least one cartridge inlet and at least one cartridge outlet.

14. An apparatus for treating medical or biological fluid, comprising:

a plurality of cartridges, each cartridge comprising;

a first cap including an inlet for the fluid;

a container including a plurality of compartments; and

a second cap including an outlet for the fluid;

wherein the compartments contain a plurality of particles;

wherein the fluid can flow through the compartments and react with the plurality of particles.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of cartridges are connected in parallel.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of cartridges are connected in series.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each cartridge further comprises a first filter located between the first cap and the container.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each cartridge further comprises a second filter located between the second cap and the container, wherein the first and second filters are adapted to prevent particles from exiting the cartridge.