Method and apparatus for inactivation of biological contaminants using photosensitizers
First Claim
1. A method for treating a fluid to inactivate microorganisms which may be present therein, said fluid containing one or more components selected from the group consisting of protein, blood and blood constituents, said method comprising:
- (a) adjusting the percentage of plasma in said fluid to a desired value;
(b) mixing an inactivation-effective, substantially non-toxic amount of an endogenous photosensitizer or endogenously-based derivative photosensitizer with said fluid;
(c) exposing said fluid to photoradiation of sufficient wavelength and energy to activate the photosensitizer, whereby said microorganisms are inactivated.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for treating fluids to inactivate microorganisms which may be present therein, said fluid containing one or more components selected from the group consisting of protein, blood and blood constituents are provided. The methods comprise adjusting the percentage of plasma in said fluid to a desired value; mixing an inactivation-effective, substantially non-toxic amount of an endogenous photosensitizer or endogenously-based derivative photosensitizer to said fluid; exposing said fluid to photoradiation of sufficient wavelength and energy to activate the photosensitizer, whereby said microorganisms are inactivated.
249 Citations
108 Claims
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1. A method for treating a fluid to inactivate microorganisms which may be present therein, said fluid containing one or more components selected from the group consisting of protein, blood and blood constituents, said method comprising:
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(a) adjusting the percentage of plasma in said fluid to a desired value; (b) mixing an inactivation-effective, substantially non-toxic amount of an endogenous photosensitizer or endogenously-based derivative photosensitizer with said fluid; (c) exposing said fluid to photoradiation of sufficient wavelength and energy to activate the photosensitizer, whereby said microorganisms are inactivated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method for treating a fluid containing platelets to inactivate microorganisms which may be present therein, said method comprising:
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(a) mixing an inactivation-effective, substantially non-toxic amount of an endogenous photosensitizer with a fluid which contains platelets and a plasma content of between about 0% to about 50% of the total volume of the fluid; (b) exposing said fluid to photoradiation of sufficient wavelength and energy to activate the photosensitizer, whereby said microorganisms are inactivated. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method for treating a fluid containing red blood cells to inactivate microorganisms which may be present therein, said method comprising:
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(a) adding an inactivation-effective, substantially non-toxic amount of an endogenous photosensitizer to a fluid which contains red blood cells and a plasma content of between about 0% to about 50% of the total volume of said fluid; (b) exposing said fluid to photoradiation of sufficient wavelength and energy to activate the photosensitizer, whereby said microorganisms are inactivated. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A method for treating a fluid containing plasma to inactivate microorganisms which may be present therein, said method comprising:
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(a) adding an inactivation-effective, substantially non-toxic amount of an endogenous photosensitizer to a fluid having a plasma content of between about 60% to about 100% of the total volume of said fluid; (b) exposing said fluid to photoradiation of sufficient wavelength and energy to activate the photosensitizer, whereby said microorganisms are inactivated. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. An apparatus for inactivating microorganisms which may be present in a fluid, said fluid having a portion of the plasma removed, with an endogenous or endogenously-based derivative photosensitizer, comprising:
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(a) a source of light that emits light of a suitable wavelength and intensity to activate the endogenous or endogenously-based derivative photosensitizer; (b) means for maintaining the fluid and an effective amount of an endogenous or endogenously-based derivative photosensitizer in the light path for a sufficient time to achieve the desired level of inactivation. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. A system for treating a fluid to inactivate microorganisms which may be present therein with an endogenous or endogenously based photosensitizer comprising:
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(a) a container comprising said fluid having a reduced level of plasma, at least an effective amount of an endogenous photosensitizer or endogenously-based derivative photosensitizer, and optionally one or more additives, said container having a surface sufficiently photopermeable to allow exposure of the fluid therein to an amount of photoradiation sufficient to activate the photosensitizer; (b) at least one photoradiation source in light communication with said container, said source capable of generating a suitable wavelength and intensity to activate the endogenous photosensitizer or endogenously-based derivative photosensitizer whereby microorganisms present are inactivated. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97)
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98. A system for inactivation of microorganisms in a fluid containing such microorganisms comprising:
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(a) means for adjusting the plasma content of said fluid; (b) means for mixing an effective amount of an endogenous photosensitizer or endogenously-based derivative photosensitizer with said fluid in fluid communication with said means for adjusting the plasma content of said fluid; (c) a photopermeable container for said fluid in fluid communication with said means for adding photosensitizer and said means for adjusting the plasma content having a depth and length selected to allow exposure of the fluid of step (b) therein to an amount of photoradiation sufficient to activate the photosensitizer at a selected flow rate; (d) means for producing said selected flow rate of said fluid through said container; and (e) at least one photoradiation source in light communication with said container, said source capable of providing sufficient photoradiation to the fluid in said container of a type and amount selected to activate the photosensitizer.
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99. A system for treating a fluid to inactivate microorganisms which may be present therein comprising:
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(a) means for adjusting the percentage of plasma in said fluid; (b) means for adding an effective amount of endogenous or endogenously-based photosensitizer to said fluid; (c) a photopermeable container for said fluid of depth which allows exposure of the fluid to an amount of photoradiation sufficient to activate the photosensitizer; (d) means for agitating said container; (e) at least one photoradiation source for providing sufficient photoradiation to the fluid in said container of a type and amount selected to activate the photosensitizer. - View Dependent Claims (100, 101, 102, 103, 104)
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105. A method for collecting a fluid with reduced levels of microorganisms that may be present therein, said fluid containing one or more members of the group consisting of:
- blood and blood components, comprising;
(a) placing said fluid in a photopermeable container; (b) adding an endogenous or endogenously-based derivative photoactive material to said container; (c) adjusting the level of plasma in said fluid to a desired level; (d) exposing said fluid to radiation of a sufficient wavelength and intensity to activate said photoactive material, whereby microorganisms are inactivated. - View Dependent Claims (106)
- blood and blood components, comprising;
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107. An apparatus for collecting a fluid with reduced levels of microorganisms that may be present therein, said fluid containing one or more members of the group consisting of:
- blood and blood components, comprising;
(a) a photopermeable container containing an endogenous or endogenously-based derivative photoactive material and a suitable volume of a solution for adjusting the level of plasma in the fluid to a desired level; (b) a light source in light communication with said container that emits light of a suitable wavelength and intensity to inactivate microorganisms which may be present in said fluid.
- blood and blood components, comprising;
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108. A method for treating a fluid to inactivate microorganisms which may be present therein, said fluid containing one or more components selected from the group consisting of protein, blood and blood constituents, said method comprising:
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(a) removing a desired amount of the bilirubin present in the fluid; (b) adding an inactivation-effective, substantially non-toxic amount of an endogenous photosensitizer or endogenously-based derivative photosensitizer to said fluid; (c) exposing said fluid to photoradiation of sufficient wavelength and energy to activate the photosensitizer, whereby said microorganisms are inactivated.
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Specification