Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A blood circulation and filtration system for the selective removal of targeted plasma components from blood by means of convective and diffusive transport of plasma from said blood across a filter membrane into a plasma chamber solution where the selective removal of targeted plasma components from non-targeted plasma components using sorbents in the plasma chamber solution is accomplished followed by the subsequent transport of the non-targeted plasma components across the filter membrane back into the blood which comprises: (a) a closed plasma chamber filled with an electrolyte plasma chamber solution containing one or more sorbents which have an affinity for and bind said targeted plasma components said closed plasma chamber being configured to freely circulate, equilibrate, mix and interact plasma components with said sorbents in said plasma chamber solution under relatively uniform pressure, (b) a "U" shaped hollow fiber membrane plasma filter having an inlet arm and an outlet arm immersed in said plasma chamber solution in said closed plasma chamber, (c) means for securing said inlet arm and outlet arm of said fiber filter in said plasma chamber and losing said chamber to maintain relatively uniform plasma chamber solution pressure, (d) circulation means for directing said blood into said inlet arm, through said filter and out through said outlet arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A blood circulation and filtration system for the selective removal of targeted plasma components from blood by means of convective and diffusive transport of plasma from said blood across a filter membrane into a plasma chamber solution where the selective removal of targeted plasma components from non-targeted plasma components using sorbents in the plasma chamber solution is accomplished followed by the subsequent transport of the non-targeted plasma components across the filter membrane back into the blood which comprises: (a) a closed plasma chamber filled with an electrolyte plasma chamber solution containing one or more sorbents which have an affinity for and bind said targeted plasma components said closed plasma chamber being configured to freely circulate, equilibrate, mix and interact plasma components with said sorbents in said plasma chamber solution under relatively uniform pressure, (b) a "U" shaped hollow fiber membrane plasma filter having an inlet arm and an outlet arm immersed in said plasma chamber solution in said closed plasma chamber, (c) means for securing said inlet arm and outlet arm of said fiber filter in said plasma chamber and losing said chamber to maintain relatively uniform plasma chamber solution pressure, (d) circulation means for directing said blood into said inlet arm, through said filter and out through said outlet arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said hollow fiber membrane plasma filter consists of a bundle of parallel hollow fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said sorbents are of a size and configuration that said sorbents are not permeable to the filter membrane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein the hollow fibers making up said filter membrane are constructed of a blood compatible material having a suitable pore size to allow passage of plasma into the plasma chamber solution while retaining blood cells and platelets from the blood within the hollow fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein the pore sizes in said membrane range between about 0.01μ to 1.0μ.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein hollow fibers are made from a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, cellulose diacetate, polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylalcohol, polymethylmethacrylate, polyethylene and polyethylenevinylalcohol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein the hollow fibers making up the filter must have a lumen diameter and overall length to allow appropriate amounts of blood to be directed through the filter for a length of time to allow sufficient amounts of plasma to pass from the inlet arm of the filter into the plasma chamber solution and the non-targeted plasma components to pass back into the outlet arm of the filter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said hollow fibers have inside diameters of between about 150 and 500μ and wall thicknesses of between about 50 to 400μ.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 8 wherein the internal surface area of said filter membrane is between about 0.1 and 5.0 m 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 8 wherein the length of the filter is between about 10 and 100 cm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein the sorbent in said plasma chamber is in the form of particles, filaments, strands or sheets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 11 wherein the sorbent is a member selected from the group consisting of enzymes, living tissue, fragments of tissue, cells, and immobilized enzymes or antibodies.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 11 wherein the sorbent is in the form of particles and has affinity for heparin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system according to claim 13 wherein the sorbent is agarose.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 14 wherein the sorbent is a poly-L-lysine derivatized agarose.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
208 words
A blood circulation and filtration system for the selective removal of targeted plasma components from blood by means of convective and diffusive transport of plasma from said blood across a sorbent containing filter membrane into a plasma chamber solution where the selective removal of targeted plasma components from non-targeted plasma components using sorbents in said filter membrane is accomplished followed by the subsequent transport of the non-targeted plasma components across the filter membrane back into the blood which comprises: (a) a closed plasma chamber filled with an electrolyte plasma chamber solution, said closed plasma chamber being configured to freely circulate, equilibrate and interact plasma components in said plasma chamber solution under relatively uniform pressure, (b) a "U" shaped hollow fiber membrane plasma filter containing one or more sorbents which have an affinity for and bind said targeted plasma components having an inlet arm and an outlet arm immersed in said plasma chamber solution in said closed plasma chamber, (c) means for securing said inlet arm and outlet arm of said fiber filter in said plasma chamber and closing said chamber to maintain relatively uniform plasma chamber solution pressure, (d) circulation means for directing said blood into said inlet arm, through said filter and out through said outlet arm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
208 words
A blood circulation and filtration system for the selective removal of targeted plasma components from blood by means of convective and diffusive transport of plasma from said blood across a sorbent containing filter membrane into a plasma chamber solution where the selective removal of targeted plasma components from non-targeted plasma components using sorbents in said filter membrane is accomplished followed by the subsequent transport of the non-targeted plasma components across the filter membrane back into the blood which comprises: (a) a closed plasma chamber filled with an electrolyte plasma chamber solution, said closed plasma chamber being configured to freely circulate, equilibrate and interact plasma components in said plasma chamber solution under relatively uniform pressure, (b) a "U" shaped hollow fiber membrane plasma filter containing one or more sorbents which have an affinity for and bind said targeted plasma components having an inlet arm and an outlet arm immersed in said plasma chamber solution in said closed plasma chamber, (c) means for securing said inlet arm and outlet arm of said fiber filter in said plasma chamber and closing said chamber to maintain relatively uniform plasma chamber solution pressure, (d) circulation means for directing said blood into said inlet arm, through said filter and out through said outlet arm.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
242 words
A method for the selective removal of targeted plasma components from blood which comprises (a) providing a blood circulation and filtration system having (1) a closed plasma chamber filled with an electrolyte plasma chamber solution containing one or more sorbents which have an affinity for and bind said targeted plasma components, (2) a "U" shaped hollow fiber membrane plasma filter having an inlet arm and an outlet arm and immersed in said plasma chamber solution in said closed plasma chamber, (3) means for securing said inlet arm and outlet arm of said fiber filter in said plasma chamber and closing said chamber, (4) circulation means for directing blood into said inlet arm, through said filter and out through said outlet arm; (b) directing blood by said circulation means from a source into said inlet arm, through said filter and out said exit arm at a volume and velocity which permits the convective and diffusive transport of plasma from said blood across said filter membrane along the inlet arm of said filter into said plasma chamber solution, (c) causing said plasma in said plasma chamber solution to come into contact with said sorbents where said targeted plasma components are selectively bound to said sorbents; and (d) causing said non-targeted plasma components to pass by diffusive and convective transport from said plasma chamber solution across the filter membrane back into the blood along the outlet arm of said filter and out of said system.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
242 words
A method for the selective removal of targeted plasma components from blood which comprises (a) providing a blood circulation and filtration system having (1) a closed plasma chamber filled with an electrolyte plasma chamber solution containing one or more sorbents which have an affinity for and bind said targeted plasma components, (2) a "U" shaped hollow fiber membrane plasma filter having an inlet arm and an outlet arm and immersed in said plasma chamber solution in said closed plasma chamber, (3) means for securing said inlet arm and outlet arm of said fiber filter in said plasma chamber and closing said chamber, (4) circulation means for directing blood into said inlet arm, through said filter and out through said outlet arm; (b) directing blood by said circulation means from a source into said inlet arm, through said filter and out said exit arm at a volume and velocity which permits the convective and diffusive transport of plasma from said blood across said filter membrane along the inlet arm of said filter into said plasma chamber solution, (c) causing said plasma in said plasma chamber solution to come into contact with said sorbents where said targeted plasma components are selectively bound to said sorbents; and (d) causing said non-targeted plasma components to pass by diffusive and convective transport from said plasma chamber solution across the filter membrane back into the blood along the outlet arm of said filter and out of said system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein cellular components of the blood do not enter the plasma chamber solution or come into contact with the sorbents and wherein the passage of plasma components through said filter membrane is accomplished by convective and diffusive transport in the absence of extraneous pressure control means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the transmembrane pressure difference of the blood in the entry arm of the filter is greater than pressure in the plasma chamber and wherein the plasma entering the plasma chamber from said inlet arm causes a pressure increase in the plasma chamber which does not exceed the pressure in said entry arm of filter but wherein the increase in pressure in the plasma chamber exceeds the transmembrane pressure in the outlet arm of the filter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein the blood source contains heparin which is a targeted plasma component.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein the sorbent in said plasma chamber has a binding affinity for heparin.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method according to claim 21 wherein the sorbent is agarose.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 22 wherein the sorbent is a poly-L-lysine derivatized agarose.