Hemofiltration and plasmafiltration devices and methods

• US 5,536,412 A
• Filed: 01/11/1994
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HemoCleanse Technologies LLC (HemoCleanse, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: HemoCleanse, Inc.
• Inventors: Ash, Stephen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, SUN U
• Application Number:
  US08/180,080
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 210/644, 210/645, 210/646, 210/650, 210/651, 210/660, 210/767, 210/805, 210/195.1, 210/638, 210/195.2, 210/205, 210/321.78, 210/257.1, 210/257.2, 210/258 , 210/321.72, 210/321.6, 210/433.1, 210/435, 210/321.87, 210/500.23, 604/4, 604/5, 604/6, 436/178, 422/101
• US Class Current: 210/645
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/155 with treatment-fluid pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1562 Details of incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/15632 the filter being a dialyser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1627 Dialyser of the inside perfusion type, i.e. blood flow inside hollow membrane fibres or tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1643 with weighing of fresh and used dialysis fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1649 with pulsatile dialysis fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1692 Detection of blood traces in dialysate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1696 with dialysate regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/26 and internal elements which are moving
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/267 used for pumping
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/30 Single needle dialysis ; Reciprocating systems, alternately withdrawing blood from and returning it to the patient, e.g. single-lumen-needle dialysis or single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/304 Treatment chamber used as reservoir, e.g. centrifuge bowl or filter with movable membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/308 Volume control, e.g. with open or flexible containers, by counting the number of pump revolutions, weighing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3401 Cassettes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3417 using distinct filters for dialysis and ultra-filtration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3427 back through the membrane, e.g. by inverted trans-membrane pressure [TMP]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3431 upstream of the filter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3458 having electrolytes not present in the dialysate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3472 with treatment of the filtrate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3475 with filtrate treatment agent in the same enclosure as the membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3493 : using treatment agents in suspension
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36222 : Details related to the interface between cassette and machine
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36224 : with sensing means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36225 : with blood pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362262 : Details of incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362265 : Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 : with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7563 : with means preventing clogging of filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/113 : in other functional devices, e.g. dialysers or heart-lung machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/279 : Peristaltic pumps, e.g. roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/37 : Haemodialysis, haemofiltration or diafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/43 : using vacuum at the blood pump, e.g. to accelerate filling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/546 : of blood flow, e.g. by adapting rotor speed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/585 : User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/2066 : Pulsated flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/2083 : By reversing the flow
• 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: B01D 61/145 : Ultrafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/243 : Dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/58 : Multistep processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/16 : Rotary, reciprocated or vibrated modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/08 : Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation

Abstract

Disclosed are preferred devices and methods which provide extracorporeal treatment of blood or other fluids for effective plasmafiltration or hemofiltration alone or in combination with dialysis.

Claims

1. A filtration process for removing blood toxins, comprising:

passing a fluid containing protein bound and/or middle molecular weight blood toxins through the interior of a hollow fiber membrane;

during said passing, circulating a sorbent suspension against exterior surfaces of the hollow fiber membrane;

during said passing and circulating, applying intermittent pulses of positive pressure to said sorbent suspension so that the fluid or a fraction thereof alternately exits and re-enters the interior of the hollow fiber membrane, wherein said fluid or fraction which exits the interior of the hollow fiber membrane contains the protein bound and/or middle molecular weight toxins which contact said sorbent suspension so as to effectuate removal of said toxins from said fluid and delivery of said toxins into said sorbent suspension.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein said hollow fiber membrane is a hemofiltration membrane, whereby middle molecular weight toxins are removed from said fluid.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein said hollow fiber membrane is a plasmafiltration membrane, whereby middle molecular weight toxins and protein-bound toxins are removed from said fluid.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein said plasmafiltration membrane transmits albumin with selectivity over larger proteins.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein said fluid is blood.

6. A blood dialysis device which comprises:

a hollow fiber membrane;

a pump fluidly connected to the interior of said hollow fiber membrane and adapted to pass a fluid containing middle molecular weight and/or protein-bound blood toxins through the interior of said hollow fiber membrane;

a chamber surrounding said hollow fiber membrane, said chamber further being fluidly connected to a supply of sorbent suspension;

a pump adapted to circulate said sorbent suspension through said chamber and against exterior surfaces of said hollow fiber membrane; and

means for causing said fluid or fractions thereof passing through the interior of the follow fiber membrane to alternately exit and re-enter said interior.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said hollow fiber membrane is a hemofiltration membrane.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said hollow fiber membrane is a plasmafiltration membrane.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said plasmafiltration membrane transmits albumin with selectivity over larger proteins.

10. The device of claim 6, further comprising a dialysis instrument adapted to dialyze said fluid fluidly connected in series with the interior of said hollow fiber membrane.