Plasma concentrate apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A plasma concentrator for producing plasma concentrate from a plasma from which erythrocytes have been substantially removed, comprising a concentrating chamber having an inlet port and a concentrate outlet, the concentrating chamber containing hydrogel beads and at least one inert agitator;
- and a concentrate chamber having an inlet communicating with the concentrator outlet through a filter, and having a plasma concentrate outlet port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plasma concentrator for producing plasma concentrate from a plasma from which erythrocytes have been substantially removed. The device comprises a concentrating chamber having an inlet port and an concentrate outlet, the concentrating chamber containing hydrogel beads and at least one inert agitator; and a concentrate chamber having an inlet communicating with the concentrator outlet through a filter, and having an plasma concentrate outlet port. A process for producing plasma concentrate from plasma from which erythrocytes have been substantially removed, comprising the steps of a) moving the plasma into a concentrating chamber containing hydrogel beads and an agitator to form a hydrogel bead-plasma mixture; b) causing the agitator to stir the hydrogel bead-plasma mixture, facilitating absorption of water by the beads from the plasma, until a hydrogel bead-plasma concentrate is formed; and c) separating the plasma concentrate from the hydrogel beads by passing the plasma concentrate through a filter. The concentrator can be one or more syringe devices coupled for multiple concentrations.
387 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A plasma concentrator for producing plasma concentrate from a plasma from which erythrocytes have been substantially removed, comprising a concentrating chamber having an inlet port and a concentrate outlet, the concentrating chamber containing hydrogel beads and at least one inert agitator;
- and a concentrate chamber having an inlet communicating with the concentrator outlet through a filter, and having a plasma concentrate outlet port.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A process for producing plasma concentrate from plasma from which erythrocytes have been substantially removed, comprising the steps of
a) moving the plasma into a concentrating chamber containing hydrogel beads and an agitator to form a hydrogel bead-plasma mixture; -
b) causing the agitator to stir the hydrogel bead-plasma mixture, facilitating absorption of water by the beads from the plasma, until a hydrogel bead-plasma concentrate is formed; and
c) separating the plasma concentrate from the hydrogel beads by passing the plasma concentrate through a filter. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A process for producing plasma concentrate with a plasma concentrator using a syringe device, the syringe device including a syringe barrel with a proximal concentrating zone and a distal concentrate zone with an inlet/outlet port;
- a filter separating a plunger zone from the concentrate zone;
a plunger positioned for axial movement in the proximal portion of the concentrating zone;
hydrogel beads and at least one agitator positioned in the concentrating zone between the plunger and the filter, the process comprisinga) moving plasma from which erythrocytes have been substantially removed through the inlet/outlet port and the filter, by axial movement of the plunger in the proximal direction away from the filter;
b) moving the syringe in alternative distal and proximal directions along the central axis to stir the hydrogel bead-plasma mixture, facilitating absorption of water by the beads from the plasma, until a hydrogel bead-plasma concentrate is formed; and
c) separating plasma concentrate from hydrogel beads by moving the plasma concentrate through the filter and into the concentrate chamber. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- a filter separating a plunger zone from the concentrate zone;
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26. A process for producing plasma concentrate from whole blood comprising the steps of
a) removing erythrocytes from whole blood to form a plasma which is substantially free from erythrocytes; -
b) moving the plasma into a concentrating chamber containing hydrogel beads and an agitator to form a hydrogel bead-plasma mixture;
c) causing the agitator to stir the hydrogel bead-plasma mixture, facilitating absorption of water by the beads from the plasma, until a hydrogel bead-plasma concentrate is formed; and
d) separating the plasma concentrate from the hydrogel beads by passing the plasma concentrate through the filter.
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27. A process for producing plasma concentrate from whole blood using a syringe device, the syringe device including a syringe barrel with a proximal concentrating zone and a distal concentrate zone with an inlet/outlet port;
- a filter separating a plunger zone from the concentrate zone;
a plunger positioned for axial movement in the proximal portion of the concentrating zone;
hydrogel beads and at least one agitator positioned in the concentrating zone between the plunger and the filter, the process comprisinga) removing erythrocytes from whole blood to form a plasma which is substantially free from erythrocytes;
b) drawing plasma from which erythrocytes have been substantially removed through the inlet/outlet port and the filter, by axial movement of the plunger in the proximal direction away from the filter;
c) moving the syringe in alternative distal and proximal directions along the central axis to stir the hydrogel bead-plasma mixture, facilitating absorption of water by the beads from the plasma, until a hydrogel bead-plasma concentrate is formed;
d) separating plasma concentrate from hydrogel beads by moving the plasma concentrate through the filter and into the concentrate chamber. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
- a filter separating a plunger zone from the concentrate zone;
Specification