Biological artificial liver
First Claim
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1. A hepatocyte bioreactor, which comprises:
- a containment vessel having an inlet which allows hepatocytes or aggregates thereof to ingress into said containment vessel and an outlet which allows hepatocytes or aggregates thereof to egress;
a matrix within said containment vessel into which said hepatocytes or aggregates thereof can ingress, said matrix being in fluid communication with said inlet and said outlet; and
a plurality of hepatocyte aggregates entrapped within said matrix wherein said hepatocyte aggregates are interconnected within said matrix by cell-cell contact.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a hepatocyte bioreactor or bioartificial liver which comprises a containment vessel having a perfusion inlet and a perfusion outlet; a matrix within the containment vessel so as to entrap hepatocyte aggregates within the containment vessel while allowing perfusion of the matrix. The invention is useful as an artificial liver.
70 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A hepatocyte bioreactor, which comprises:
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a containment vessel having an inlet which allows hepatocytes or aggregates thereof to ingress into said containment vessel and an outlet which allows hepatocytes or aggregates thereof to egress; a matrix within said containment vessel into which said hepatocytes or aggregates thereof can ingress, said matrix being in fluid communication with said inlet and said outlet; and a plurality of hepatocyte aggregates entrapped within said matrix wherein said hepatocyte aggregates are interconnected within said matrix by cell-cell contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for making a bioreactor, which comprises the steps of:
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providing a containment vessel having an inlet which allows hepatocytes or aggregates thereof to ingress into said containment vessel and an outlet which allows hepatocytes or aggregates thereof to egress; providing a matrix within said containment vessel into which said hepatocytes or aggregates thereof can ingress, said matrix being in fluid communication with said inlet and said outlet; and entrapping a plurality of hepatocyte aggregates within said matrix wherein said hepatocyte aggregates are interconnected within said matrix by cell-cell contact. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for using a hepatocyte bioreactor, which comprises the steps of:
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providing a containment vessel having an inlet which allows hepatocytes or aggregates thereof to ingress into said containment vessel and an outlet which allows hepatocytes or aggregates thereof to egress; providing a matrix within said containment vessel into which said hepatocytes or aggregates thereof can ingress, said matrix being in fluid communication with said inlet and said outlet; entrapping a plurality of hepatocyte aggregates within said containment vessel wherein said hepatocyte aggregates are interconnected within said matrix by cell-cell contact; and causing medium to be perfused through said inlet, said containment vessel and said outlet. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A hepatocyte bioreactor liver assist system for treating a mammal in need of liver assistance, which comprises;
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means for extracting blood from the mammal in need of liver assistance; means for separating the blood of the mammal which is to be treated into cellular and non-cellular components; a hepatocyte bioreactor comprising;
a containment vessel having an inlet which allows hepatocytes or aggregates thereof to ingress into said containment vessel and an outlet which allows hepatocytes or aggregates thereof to egress;
a matrix within said containment vessel into which said hepatocytes or aggregates thereof can ingress;
said matrix being in fluid communication with said inlet and aid outlet; and
a plurality of hepatocyte aggregates entrapped within said matrix wherein said hepatocyte aggregates are interconnected within said matrix by cell-cell contact;means causing said noncellular blood components of the mammal which is to be treated to be perfused through said inlet, said matrix and said outlet; and means to return said treated noncellular blood components and cellular blood components to said mammal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification