Blood processing systems and methods that alternate flow of blood component and additive solution through an in-line leukofilter

• US 7,357,897 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fenwal Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Fenwal Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Kast, Michael, Vandlik, Mark, Smith, Kelly B
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva; Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIEST, PHILIP R
• Application Number:
  US11/032,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20050124927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4.01, 604/5.01, 604 601- 607, 604/6.09, 604/6.11, 604/6.1, 604 615- 616, 422 44- 48, 128/898, 128/905, 128/920, 128/923, 128/DIG.3, 494/36, 494/37, 494 43- 45, 494 60- 63, 210645-647, 210/650, 210/651, 210739-741, 210/744, 210/745
• US Class Current: 422/44
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/00 Medicinal preparations containing materials or reaction products thereof with undetermined constitution
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0209 Multiple bag systems for separating or storing blood components
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0218 with filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/30 Single needle dialysis ; Reciprocating systems, alternately withdrawing blood from and returning it to the patient, e.g. single-lumen-needle dialysis or single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/302 having a reservoir for withdrawn untreated blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/303 having a reservoir for treated blood to be returned
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/308 Volume control, e.g. with open or flexible containers, by counting the number of pump revolutions, weighing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362227 the interface providing means for actuating on functional elements of the cassette, e.g. plungers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36225 with blood pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362261 at least one cassette surface or portion thereof being flexible, e.g. the cassette having a rigid base portion with preformed channels and being covered with a foil
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362265 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362266 Means for adding solutions or substances to the blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3633 Blood component filters, e.g. leukocyte filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3636 having a flexible housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3693 using separation based on different densities of components, e.g. centrifuging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3696 with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/331 used as turbidity change detectors, e.g. for priming-blood or plasma-hemoglubine-interface detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3393 by weighing the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/00 : Drugs for disorders of the blood or the extracellular fluid

Abstract

Blood processing systems and methods convey blood cells from a blood cell source into a blood component collection flow channel that includes a blood cell storage container and an in-line filter to remove leukocytes from blood cells before entering the blood cell storage container. The systems and methods also convey additive solution from an additive solution source into the blood component collection flow channel. The systems and methods alternate the conveyance of blood cells through the filter with the conveyance of additive solution through the filter.

Claims

1. A blood processing system comprising

a source of blood cells,

a blood cell storage container,

a source of an additive solution for blood cells,

a blood component collection flow channel communicating with the blood cell storage container and including an in-line filter to remove leukocytes from blood cells before entering the blood cell storage container,

a pumping mechanism communicating with the blood component collection flow channel and operable in different modes, and

a controller is programmed to operate the pumping mechanism in such different modes, including a first mode to convey blood cells from the blood cell source into the blood component collection flow channel and a second mode for conveying additive solution from the additive solution source directly into the blood component collection flow channel, the controller is programmed to alternate the pumping mechanism between the first and second modes.

2. A system according to claim 1

wherein the controller is operable to alternate the pumping mechanism between the first and second modes to achieve a desired ratio between blood cell volume and additive solution volume in the blood cell storage container.

3. A system according to claim 1

wherein the controller is operable to terminate the first mode when a desired volume of blood cells has been conveyed from the blood cell source and operates the pumping mechanism in the second mode to flush residual blood cells from the filter into the red blood cell storage container.

4. A system according to claim 1

wherein the pumping mechanism includes a fluid pressure actuated pump and an actuator to apply fluid pressure to the pump.

5. A system according to claim 1

wherein the pumping mechanism includes a fluid pressure actuated pump housed within a cassette and an external actuator to receive the cassette and operate the fluid pressure actuated pump, and

wherein the controller is coupled to the external actuator.

6. A system according to claim 1

wherein the filter includes a fibrous filter medium.

7. A system according to claim 1

wherein the filter includes a filter medium and a housing enclosing the filter medium.

8. A system according to claim 7

wherein the housing comprises a flexible material.

9. A system according to claim 8

further including a fixture to restrain expansion of the housing during operation of the pumping mechanism.

10. A system according to claim 1

wherein the controller includes a function to derive a value reflecting volume of blood cells present in the blood cell collection container after passage through the filter as a percentage of volume of blood cells conveyed from the red blood cell source to the filter.

11. A system according to claim 1

wherein the blood cells comprise red blood cells.