Method and system for treating tissue swelling
First Claim
1. A method of treating tissue swelling, the method comprising the step of employing one or more semipermeable membranes in combination with a hydratable medium in order to remove substantially only water through the semipermeable membrane(s) and from a biological fluid associated with the tissue swelling.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and related methods and components for treating a tissue site exhibiting interstitial hypertension, including tissue swelling, and particularly swelling associated with cerebral edema, compartment syndrome, and congestive heart failure, by the use of water removal therapy, in order to remove only water from biological fluids. Included also is a system for such use that incorporates one or more monitors, optionally in addition to the use of water removal therapy. By removing only water, all other biologic agents, including essentially all solutes and formed blood elements (such as cells) are increased in concentration in the remaining bodily fluid(s). WRT can be applied to several clinical conditions in which there is an excess of water, and is ideally used in an extracorporeal fashion, in combination with other functions and related components as well, including ultrafiltration.
-
Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A method of treating tissue swelling, the method comprising the step of employing one or more semipermeable membranes in combination with a hydratable medium in order to remove substantially only water through the semipermeable membrane(s) and from a biological fluid associated with the tissue swelling.
- 13. An apparatus for treating a tissue site exhibiting interstitial hypertension, comprising one or more semipermeable membranes adapted to be used in combination with a hydratable medium in order to remove substantially only water through the semipermeable membrane(s) and from a biological fluid associated with the hypertension.
-
20. An apparatus for treating tissue swelling, comprising one or more semipermeable membranes adapted to be used in combination with a hydratable medium in order to remove substantially only water from a biological fluid associated with the swelling, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of hollow fibers positioned within a cartridge in order to provide corresponding intraluminal and extraluminal flow paths within the cartridge, the flow paths being adapted to position both a biological fluid and a hydratable medium, respectively, on opposite surfaces of the fibers, under conditions suitable to remove substantially only water from the biological fluid.
Specification