System for treating tissue swelling
First Claim
1. A method of treating tissue swelling, the method comprising the step of employing one or more semipermeable membranes in combination with a hydratable medium in order to remove substantially only water through the semipermeable membrane(s) and from a biological fluid associated with the swelling, wherein the hydratable medium comprises a hydratable gas, and further comprising the use of one or more semipermeable membranes in order to perform ultrafiltration on the same or different biological fluid, in order to remove both water and permeable solutes from the biological fluid, and either in series or parallel with the water removal step.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and related methods and components for treating tissue swelling, and particularly swelling associated with cerebral edema, compartment syndrome, and congestive heart failure, by the use of water removal therapy, in order to remove only water from biological fluids. Included also is a system for such use that incorporates one or more monitors, optionally in addition to the use of water removal therapy. By removing only water, all other biologic agents, including essentially all solutes and formed blood elements (such as cells) are increased in concentration in the remaining bodily fluid(s). WRT can be applied to several clinical conditions in which there is an excess of water, and is ideally used in an extracorporeal fashion, in combination with other functions and related components as well, including ultrafiltration.
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Citations
42 Claims
- 1. A method of treating tissue swelling, the method comprising the step of employing one or more semipermeable membranes in combination with a hydratable medium in order to remove substantially only water through the semipermeable membrane(s) and from a biological fluid associated with the swelling, wherein the hydratable medium comprises a hydratable gas, and further comprising the use of one or more semipermeable membranes in order to perform ultrafiltration on the same or different biological fluid, in order to remove both water and permeable solutes from the biological fluid, and either in series or parallel with the water removal step.
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12. A method of treating tissue swelling, the method comprising the step of employing one or more semipermeable membranes in combination with a hydratable medium in order to remove substantially only water through the semipermeable membrane(s) and from a biological fluid associated with the swelling wherein the method comprises a venovenous method based upon the pumping action of vaporization itself.
- 13. A method of treating tissue swelling, the method comprising the step of employing one or more semipermeable membranes in combination with a hydratable gas in order to remove substantially only water through the semipermeable membrane(s) and from a biological fluid associated with the swelling.
- 40. An apparatus for treating tissue swelling, comprising one or more semipermeable membranes in combination with a hydratable gas in order to remove substantially only water through the semipermeable membrane(s) and from a biological fluid associated with swelling in the heart.
Specification