Method for collecting a desired blood component and performing a photopheresis treatment

• US 7,479,123 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt Critical Care Finance Inc (Mallinckrodt plc), Mallinckrodt Pharma Ip Trading DAC (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Therakos, Inc (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Briggs, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Deak; Leslie R
• Application Number:
  US10/654,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20040127841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4.01, 604/5.01, 604/6.01, 604/6.08, 600/9, 210/645, 210739-746, 210/781, 210/782
• US Class Current: 604/6.08
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0066 Psoralene-activated UV-A photochemotherapy (PUVA-therapy), e.g. for treatment of psoriasis or eczema, extracorporeal photopheresis with psoralens or fucocoumarins
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0227 and means for securing the filter against damage, e.g. during centrifugation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3603 in the same direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/361 before treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36224 with sensing means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36225 with blood pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362264 the filter being a blood filter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362266 Means for adding solutions or substances to the blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3681 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3683 using photoactive agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3686 by removing photoactive agents after irradiation
• 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 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0092 starting product created by centrifuging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0427 Platelets; Thrombocytes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/051 with radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/053 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/125 : with incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/35 : Communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 : sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 : with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/75 : with filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0201 : Cassettes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2005/0464 : with hollow or massive core in centrifuge bowl
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2005/0492 : with fluid conveying umbilicus between stationary and rotary centrifuge parts
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 5/0442 : with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1253 : by using two or more rollers as squeezing elements, the rollers moving on an arc of a circle during squeezing
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2260/02 : having microchannels

Abstract

An improved method for separating whole blood into components and collecting a desired blood component. The method allows a desired blood component to be subjected to centrifugal forces within a separator for prolonged periods of time, yielding a cleaner cut and higher yield of the desired blood component. Whole blood is drawn from a source and pumped into a separator, the undesired blood components are removed from the separator at rates so as to build up the desired blood component in the separator. The desired blood component is only removed after a predetermined amount of the desired blood component has built up in the separator. It is preferred that the desired blood component be buffy coat and that the method be used to perform photopheresis treatments. In another aspect, the invention is a method of performing a full photopheresis treatment to treat diseases in a reduced time, preferably less than about 70 minutes, and more preferably less than about 45 minutes.

Claims

1. A method of performing a photopheresis treatment for diseases on a patient comprising:

drawing whole blood from a source;

adding an anticoagulant fluid to the whole blood in a predetermined ratio to form a mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant fluid;

separating the mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant into a plurality of blood components according to density;

mixing a photoactivation chemical with at least one of the blood components to form a mixture of the photoactivation chemical and the at least one blood component;

irradiating the combination of the at least one blood component and photoactivation chemical; and

returning the irradiated combination to a patient;

wherein blood components are pumped and cycled at a controlled rate so that the entire photopheresis treatment is completed in less than about 70 minutes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the entire photopheresis treatment is completed in less than about 45 minutes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one blood component is buffy coat, a leukocyte, or platelets.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one blood component is buffy coat.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of separating the mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant fluid comprises:

providing a separator having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;

pumping the mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant fluid into the separator via the inlet at a selected inlet rate; and

withdrawing plasma and red blood cells from the separator while continuing to pump the mixture of whole blood and anticoagulant fluid into the separator, the plasma and red blood cells being withdrawn at rates so as to build up buffy coat in the separator, the plasma being withdrawn via the first outlet and the red blood cells being withdrawn via the second outlet; and

upon a predetermined amount of buffy coat building up in the separator, collecting the buffy coat from the separator.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of collecting the buffy coat from the separator comprises discontinuing the withdrawal of red blood cells from the second outlet, thereby causing the red blood cells to push the buffy coat out of the separator via the first outlet;

and discontinuing the collecting of buffy coat when red blood cells are detected in an outlet line fluidly connected to the first outlet.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of withdrawing plasma and red blood cells from the separator comprises:

withdrawing only the plasma from the separator via the first outlet until a predetermined amount of red blood cells are detected in the separator; and

upon the predetermined amount of red blood cells being detected in the separator, withdrawing red blood cells from the separator at a rate so as to maintain the amount of red blood cells present in the separator at approximately the predetermined amount.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising irradiating the collected buffy coat within an irradiation chamber until a predetermined amount of energy has been transferred to the collected buffy coat, the predetermined amount of energy being sufficient to induce apoptosis.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the source is the patient, the photopheresis treatment being performed in a closed-loop system.