Methods of blood-based therapies having a microfluidic membraneless exchange device
First Claim
1. A method of performing a blood treatment on a patient, the method comprising:
- attaching blood lines of a blood tubing set to a microfluidic channel;
attaching a membrane-based filter device to the microfluidic channel so as to define a recirculating flowpath uninterrupted by a membrane;
at a treatment time;
attaching a source of dialysate to the membrane-based filter device such that the dialysate flows on one side of a membrane of the filter device;
permitting toxins and water to pass from the microfluidic channel through the membrane of the filter device into the dialysate flow; and
returning components of the patient'"'"'s blood passing in the recirculating flowpath back to the patient'"'"'s blood; and
after the treatment time, disconnecting the source of dialysate while leaving the blood lines attached to the microfluidic channel.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to devices, systems and methods for removing undesirable materials from a sample fluid by contact with a second fluid. The sample fluid flows as a thin layer adjacent to, or between, concurrently flowing layers of the second fluid, without an intervening membrane. In various embodiments, a secondary separator is used to restrict the removal of desirable substances and effect the removal of undesirable substances from blood. The invention is useful in a variety of situations where a sample fluid is to be purified via a diffusion mechanism against an extractor fluid. Moreover, the invention may be used for the removal of components from a sample fluid that vary in size. When blood is the sample fluid, for example, this may include the removal of ‘small’ molecules, ‘middle’ molecules, macromolecules, macromolecular aggregates, and cells, from the blood sample to the extractor fluid.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of performing a blood treatment on a patient, the method comprising:
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attaching blood lines of a blood tubing set to a microfluidic channel; attaching a membrane-based filter device to the microfluidic channel so as to define a recirculating flowpath uninterrupted by a membrane; at a treatment time; attaching a source of dialysate to the membrane-based filter device such that the dialysate flows on one side of a membrane of the filter device; permitting toxins and water to pass from the microfluidic channel through the membrane of the filter device into the dialysate flow; and returning components of the patient'"'"'s blood passing in the recirculating flowpath back to the patient'"'"'s blood; and after the treatment time, disconnecting the source of dialysate while leaving the blood lines attached to the microfluidic channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of performing a blood treatment on a patient, the method comprising:
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co-flowing blood from the patient and recirculating fluid from a membrane-based filter device through a microfluidic channel such that toxins, water, and blood components are transferred from the blood flow into the recirculating fluid flow without passing through a membrane, the recirculating fluid flow with the toxins, water, and blood components exiting the microfluidic channel at an outlet thereof and returning to the membrane-based filter device; at a treatment time; connecting the membrane-based filter device to a source of dialysate; and flowing the dialysate from the source along a side of a membrane in the membrane-based filter device such that toxins and water in the recirculating fluid flow move across the membrane into the dialysate flow; and after the treatment time, disconnecting the membrane-based filter device from the source of dialysate. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of performing a blood treatment on a patient, the method comprising:
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flowing blood from the patient and recirculating fluid from a secondary processing device together along a microfluidic channel in a primary processing device such that toxins, water, and blood components are removed from the blood flow without passing through a membrane, conveying fluid with the removed toxins, water, and blood components therein from an outlet of the primary processing device to an upstream inlet of the primary processing device via a flowpath through the secondary processing device; and periodically using the secondary processing device to eliminate water and toxins from the fluid in the flowpath through the secondary processing device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification