Systems and methods for removing viral agents from blood

• US 6,855,489 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2000
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fenwal Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Mathias, Jean M., Chapman, John, Mayaudon, Veronique, Sun, Chong-Son, Bischof, Daniel F., de Gheldere, Serge, Herman, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponnaluri, Padmashri
• Application Number:
  US09/688,079
• Time in Patent Office: 1,586 Days
• Field of Search: 435/2, 435/975, 424/526, 424/530, 424/532, 424/529, 424/534, 422/44, 210/782, 210/749
• US Class Current: 435/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/16 Blood plasma; Blood serum umbilical cord blood A61K35/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0011 using physical methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/022 Filtration
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/975 Kit

Abstract

Systems and methods treat plasma carrying contaminants and cellular matter that are capable of entraining contaminants. The systems and methods separate cellular matter from the plasma by filtration, thereby removing contaminants entrained within the cellular matter. The system and methods add to the plasma a photoactive material. The systems and methods emit radiation at a selected wavelength into the plasma to activate the photoactive material and thereby eradicate the contaminant that is free of entrainment by cellular matter.

Claims

1. A kit comprising

tubing adapted to be coupled to a blood constituent source to convey blood constituent,

a source of photoactive material to be mixed with the blood constituent,

a transfer container coupled to the tubing, the transfer container including a wall made of a material that is transparent to light that activates the photoactive material, and

a removable overwrap separate from the wall of the container, the overwrap enveloping the source of photoactive material within the kit said overwrap including a light filtering material that is not transparent to light in the activating spectrum for said photoactive material thereby preventing degradation of the photoactive material prior to removal of the overwrap.

2. A kit according to claim 1

wherein the photoactive material includes methylene blue.

3. A kit according to claim 2

wherein the light filtering material includes a blue material.

4. A kit according to claim 3

wherein the blue material includes phtalocyanine pigments.

5. A kit according to claim 1

wherein the photoactive material includes psoralen.

6. A kit according to claim 5

wherein the light filtering material includes a red material.

7. A kit according to claim 1

wherein the overwrap envelops the entire kit.

8. A kit according to claim 1 further including

wherein the tubing includes a first filtration media to separate a first cellular blood species from the blood constituent conveyed from the blood constituent source, and

wherein the tubing also includes a second filtration media in series with the first filtration media to second cellular blood species from the blood constituent conveyed from the blood constituent source, to thereby produce a filtered blood constituent that is essentially free of the first and second cellular blood species.