SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF BLOOD-BASED THERAPIES HAVING A MICROFLUIDIC MEMBRANELESS EXCHANGE DEVICE
First Claim
1. A method of performing a blood treatment, comprising:
- placing blood from a patient in direct contact with an extraction fluid such that blood proteins and uremic toxins move from the blood into the extraction fluid;
passing water and uremic toxins in the extraction fluid through a membrane to concentrate the blood proteins in a fraction of the extraction fluid and repeating the placing the resulting fraction in direct contact with the blood such that blood proteins are returned to the blood.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to devices, systems and methods for removing undesirable materials from a sample fluid by contact with a second fluid. The sample fluid flows as a thin layer adjacent to, or between, concurrently flowing layers of the second fluid, without an intervening membrane. In various embodiments, a secondary separator is used to restrict the removal of desirable substances and effect the removal of undesirable substances from blood. The invention is useful in a variety of situations where a sample fluid is to be purified via a diffusion mechanism against an extractor fluid. Moreover, the invention may be used for the removal of components from a sample fluid that vary in size. When blood is the sample fluid, for example, this may include the removal of ‘small’ molecules, ‘middle’ molecules, macromolecules, macromolecular aggregates, and cells, from the blood sample to the extractor fluid.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of performing a blood treatment, comprising:
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placing blood from a patient in direct contact with an extraction fluid such that blood proteins and uremic toxins move from the blood into the extraction fluid;
passing water and uremic toxins in the extraction fluid through a membrane to concentrate the blood proteins in a fraction of the extraction fluid and repeating the placing the resulting fraction in direct contact with the blood such that blood proteins are returned to the blood. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of performing a blood treatment, comprising:
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establishing a flow of blood and extraction fluid in a channel such that the blood and extraction fluid are in direct contact and such that entering and exiting flows of each of the blood and extraction fluid into and from the channel are established, respectively, at opposing ends of the channel;
conveying a portion of the extraction fluid in the extraction fluid exiting flow to the extraction fluid entering flow such that a quantity of blood proteins leaving the channel in the extraction fluid exiting flow is substantially equal to the quantity of blood proteins returned to the channel entering flow. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of performing a blood treatment, comprising:
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flowing blood and dialysate into a microfluidic channel such that the blood and dialysate are in direct contact but remain in separate layers in the channel;
the channel having a width to height ratio of more than 10;
the flowing being such that a lower shear rate is maintained in the blood layer than a shear rate maintained in one or more dialysate layers, the difference in shear rate being sufficient to cause blood cells to be retained in the blood layer while permitting blood proteins and uremic toxins to diffuse into the one or more dialysate layers;
passing dialysate exiting the channel across one side of a membrane such that water and uremic toxins flow through the membrane and out of the dialysate while preventing blood proteins from passing through the membrane thereby retaining the blood proteins in the dialysate and thereafter returning the dialysate and blood proteins back to the channel.
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Specification