Selective plasma exchange therapy
First Claim
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1. A method for removing from a patient'"'"'s blood a specific plasma fraction containing substances within a specific molecular weight range, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) attaching to the blood stream of the patient a blood perfusion means for extracorporeal blood circulation, the blood perfusion means comprising a selective filtration means;
(b) removing blood from the blood stream of the patient, and conveying the blood extracorporeally to the selective filtration means;
(c) filtering the blood with the selective filtration means, the selective filtration means being adapted for removing the specific plasma fraction from the blood, at a first rate of about 1 to about 20 ml/min for a period of about 1 to about 24 hours;
(d) returning the filtered blood to the patient, minus the specific plasma fraction; and
(e) simultaneously infusing the patient with a plasma substitute at a second rate about equal to the first rate.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method for removing from a patient'"'"'s blood a specific plasma fraction containing substances within a specific molecular weight range and a plasma purification apparatus by which the method can be accomplished.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for removing from a patient'"'"'s blood a specific plasma fraction containing substances within a specific molecular weight range, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) attaching to the blood stream of the patient a blood perfusion means for extracorporeal blood circulation, the blood perfusion means comprising a selective filtration means;
(b) removing blood from the blood stream of the patient, and conveying the blood extracorporeally to the selective filtration means;
(c) filtering the blood with the selective filtration means, the selective filtration means being adapted for removing the specific plasma fraction from the blood, at a first rate of about 1 to about 20 ml/min for a period of about 1 to about 24 hours;
(d) returning the filtered blood to the patient, minus the specific plasma fraction; and
(e) simultaneously infusing the patient with a plasma substitute at a second rate about equal to the first rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A plasma purification apparatus, comprising:
a blood perfusion means for extracorporeally circulating a patient'"'"'s blood, said blood perfusion means further comprising (i) a first catheter means adapted to attach the blood perfusion means to the patient'"'"'s blood stream and for providing egress for the patient'"'"'s blood from the blood stream; and
(ii) a second catheter means adapted to attach the blood perfusion means to the blood stream and for returning the patient'"'"'s filtered blood to the blood stream;
(iii) a first tubing means for conveying the patient'"'"'s blood flowing from the first catheter means;
(iv) a first pump for propelling the patient'"'"'s blood through the first tubing means at a first preselected steady flow rate, the first pump being positioned at a location on the first tubing means;
(v) a second tubing means for conveying the patient'"'"' filtered blood to the second catheter means;
(vi) at least one plasma filtration cartridge for filtering the patient'"'"'s blood, the plasma filtration cartridge enclosed by a housing, and having within the housing, an inner compartment and an outer compartment;
the inner compartment and the outer compartment being separated by a semipermeable membrane having a retention coefficient of about 0.50 to about 1.00 for blood plasma constituents with molecular weights greater than a molecular weight of interest, for removing a specific plasma fraction, said plasma filtration cartridge being adapted for filtering at a rate of about 1 to about 20 mL/min for a period of about 1 to about 24 hours, said plasma filtration cartridge comprising;
(a) an inlet port in the housing for receiving blood flowing from the first tubing means and conveying the blood into the inner compartment;
(b) a first outlet port in the housing for conveying filtered blood from the inner compartment to the second tubing means; and
(c) a second outlet port in the housing for conveying a plasma filtrate from the outer compartment (vii) a third tubing means; and
(viii) a second pump for regulating the transmembranous pressure across the semipermeable membrane, the second pump being adapted for pumping at a second preselected steady flow rate and being positioned at a location along the third tubing means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
Specification