Apparatus for enhanced plasmapheresis and methods thereof
First Claim
1. A method of treating autoimmune conditions of a patient comprising filtering the patient'"'"'s blood through a blood filtration apparatus in an orbital motion having a filter membrane means for separating a plasma constituent from the blood and returning cellular components of the patient'"'"'s blood back to said patient, wherein the filtering step is carried out with the blood filtration apparatus comprising a chamber having a hollow interior enclosed by a first plate, a second plate, and a flexible seal element between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the first plate is either essentially parallel to or at an acute angle to the second plate so as to form a chamber gap for the hollow interior;
- means for directing blood into the chamber gap;
a non-rotational drive structure;
said second plate comprising the filter membrane means for separating plasma constituent from the blood, wherein the second plate is detachably coupled to said non-rotational drive structure that controls the second plate in an orbital motion in reference to a center axis of the first plate;
a collecting means;
means for directing the plasma constituent passing through said filter membrane means to said collecting means; and
means for directing from the chamber gap a remaining constituent of the blood out of the chamber.
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Abstract
An apparatus and methods for enhanced plasmapheresis comprising a filter membrane under an orbital motion or movement that has optimal local shear forces and maximum plasma flow output. The methods for biological separation and therapies comprise platelet collection, viral particle removal, cell washing and processing for stem cell selection, bone marrow purging, red blood cell collection, auto-transfusion, auto-immune disease treatment, selective macro-molecule removal, toxin removal, LDL removal, extracorporeal plasma delipidation, and the like.
37 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of treating autoimmune conditions of a patient comprising filtering the patient'"'"'s blood through a blood filtration apparatus in an orbital motion having a filter membrane means for separating a plasma constituent from the blood and returning cellular components of the patient'"'"'s blood back to said patient, wherein the filtering step is carried out with the blood filtration apparatus comprising a chamber having a hollow interior enclosed by a first plate, a second plate, and a flexible seal element between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the first plate is either essentially parallel to or at an acute angle to the second plate so as to form a chamber gap for the hollow interior;
- means for directing blood into the chamber gap;
a non-rotational drive structure;
said second plate comprising the filter membrane means for separating plasma constituent from the blood, wherein the second plate is detachably coupled to said non-rotational drive structure that controls the second plate in an orbital motion in reference to a center axis of the first plate;
a collecting means;
means for directing the plasma constituent passing through said filter membrane means to said collecting means; and
means for directing from the chamber gap a remaining constituent of the blood out of the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- means for directing blood into the chamber gap;
- 4. A method of plasma purification, wherein said plasma comprises at least one unwanted element, the method comprising treating said plasma through a plasma filtration apparatus with a filtering membrane effective for separating the at least one unwanted element from the plasma, wherein the filtration apparatus is operated in an orbital motion.
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16. A method of cell washing for a patient comprising:
- introducing a fluid supply into a filtration apparatus with a proper filtering membrane, wherein the filtration apparatus is operated in an orbital motion, wherein the fluid supply comprises cellular components and filtrate;
treating the fluid supply through said filtration apparatus;
separating cellular components from filtrate; and
collecting purified filtrate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
- introducing a fluid supply into a filtration apparatus with a proper filtering membrane, wherein the filtration apparatus is operated in an orbital motion, wherein the fluid supply comprises cellular components and filtrate;
Specification