Systems and methods using multiple solvents for the removal of lipids from fluids

• US 7,402,246 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company
• Original Assignee: Lipid Sciences, Inc.
• Inventors: Garcia, Pablo E., Chavez, Bryan, Hegwer, Eric, Malhotra, Ripudaman, Low, Thomas P., Shimon, Jeffrey J., Bomberger, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Menon; Krishnan S
• Application Number:
  US11/769,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20070246423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 210/257.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/34 Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3403 Regulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/341 by measuring the filtrate rate or volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/342 Adding solutions to the blood, e.g. substitution solutions for preventing coagulation A61M1/3672
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3468 using treated filtrate as substitution fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3472 with treatment of the filtrate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3482 by filtrating the filtrate using another cross-flow filter, e.g. a membrane filter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3486 Biological, chemical treatment, e.g. chemical precipitation; treatment by absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3496 Plasmapheresis; Leucopheresis; Lymphopheresis A61M1/3472 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3603 in the same direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3616 Batch-type treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3693 using separation based on different densities of components, e.g. centrifuging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0456 Lipoprotein
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/08 Lipoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/203 Bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/206 Viruses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 11/043 with stationary contacting elements, sieve plates or loose contacting elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 11/0492 Applications, solvents used
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/50 Specific extra tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/246 : Membrane extraction
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/362 : Pervaporation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/02 : Hollow fibre modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/046 : in separate housings

Abstract

This invention is directed to systems and methods for removing lipids from a fluid or from lipid-containing organisms from a fluid, such as plasma. These systems combine a fluid with at least one extraction solvent, which causes the lipids to separate from the fluid or from the lipid-containing organisms. The separated lipids are removed from the fluid. The at least one extraction solvent is removed from the fluid or at least reduced to a concentration enabling the fluid to be administered to a patient without undesirable consequences. Once the fluid has been processed, the fluid may be administered to a patient who donated the fluid or to a different patient for therapy.

Claims

1. A system for removing lipids from a fluid containing lipids or lipid-containing organisms, the system comprising:

a first extraction solvent source;

a vortexer coupled to the first extraction solvent source and configured to receive the fluid and a first extraction solvent from the first extraction solvent source to form a first mixture and dissolve at least a portion of the lipids;

a centrifuge coupled to the vortexer and configured to receive the first mixture from the vortexer;

a second extraction solvent source;

a first solvent removal device coupled to the second extraction solvent source and the centrifuge and configured to receive at least a portion of the first mixture from the centrifuge and the second extraction solvent from the second extraction solvent source to form a second mixture and dissolve at least a portion of the first extraction solvent; and

a second solvent removal device coupled to the first solvent removal device and configured to receive the second mixture and remove at least a portion of any remaining solvents from the second mixture.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first solvent removal device comprises a hollow fiber contactor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first solvent removal device comprises at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in parallel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second solvent removal device comprises a hollow fiber contactor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second solvent removal device comprises two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in series.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a solvent waste receptacle coupled to the centrifuge and configured to receive at least a second portion of the first extraction solvent that is separated from the first mixture by the centrifuge.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vortexer is a continuous vortexer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the vortexer is a batch vortexer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the centrifuge comprises a ring-shaped discontinuous flow-through channel.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second solvent removal device comprises at least one hollow fiber contactor configured to contact the second mixture with a gas or mineral oil.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a carbon bed coupled to the at least one hollow fiber contactor for receiving gases having first and second extraction solvents.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a sensor that detects levels of the first extraction solvent, the second extraction solvent, or both, the sensor coupled to a conduit downstream of the at least one hollow fiber contactor.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a recirculating system configured to recirculate the second mixture through the second solvent removal device until solvent levels are below a predetermined threshold.

14. A method for removing lipids from a fluid containing lipids or from lipid-containing organisms, the method comprising:

supplying a first extraction solvent from a first extraction solvent source;

mixing the fluid and the first extraction solvent in a vortexer to form a first mixture;

passing the first mixture to a centrifuge;

spinning the first mixture;

passing at least a portion of the first mixture to a first solvent removal device;

supplying a second extraction solvent from a second extraction solvent source;

mixing the portion of the first mixture and a second extraction solvent to form a second mixture; and

passing the second mixture to a second solvent removal device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein spinning the first mixture further comprises separating the first mixture into three layers comprising a first layer of the portion of the first mixture with at least some lipids therein, a second layer of free lipids, and a third layer of a portion of the first extraction solvent with dissolved lipids.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising passing the second and third layers to a waste receptacle.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein passing the second mixture to a second solvent removal device comprises contacting the second mixture with a gas or mineral oil using at least one hollow fiber contactor to remove any remaining solvents.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein mixing the fluid and the first extraction solvent in a vortexer to form a first mixture further comprises dissolving at least a portion of the lipids.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein mixing the portion of the first mixture and a second extraction solvent to form a second mixture further comprises dissolving at least a portion of the first extraction solvent and additional lipids.