EP0354061A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus for in vivo plasma separation
Assignee: Healthdyne Inc
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Filing: 1989-08-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-08-04
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for the continuous in vivo separation of plasma from other blood components comprising a bundle of microporous hollow fibers inserted into the vena cava. The fibers are sized to permit diffusion of plasma through the fiber pores but not cellular or other larger blood components. The fibers are in fluid communication with a dual lumen catheter which removes plasma from the hollow fibers to a treatment system and returns treated plasma to the bloodstream. The apparatus can be incorporated into an ambulatory plasmapheresis system for providing continuous plasma treatment while the user is mobile.
Inventors
- 👤 Reynolds George Francis Gorsuch
- 👤 John Atkin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/145; A61B5/14525; A61B5/14528; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/14; A61M1/16; A61M1/1621; A61M1/1643; A61M1/1678; A61M1/34; A61M1/3403; A61M1/3406; A61M1/3472; A61M1/3479; A61M1/3486; A61B5/1455; A61B5/14551; A61B5/14557; A61M1/1694; A61M1/1696; A61M2202/00; A61M2202/04; A61M2202/0413; A61M2202/0456; A61M2202/046; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/33; A61M2205/3331; A61M2205/35; A61M2205/3546; A61M2205/3553; A61M2205/3576; A61M2205/3584; A61M2205/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for continuous in vivo plasma separation, comprising: at least one elongated microporous fiber having a hollow interior, said fiber being dimensioned to be received within a blood vessel without significantly obstructing fluid flow through said blood vessel, the pores of said fiber being dimensioned such that plasma can diffuse through said pores into said hollow interior of said fiber, said pores further being dimensioned such that cellular components larger than plasma are restricted from diffusing therethrough; and said hollow interior of said elongated fiber being in fluid communication with a means for conducting plasma comprising a pair of discrete hollow tubes which permits passage of plasma from said hollow interior of said fiber such that plasma being removed from said fiber is kept separated from plasma being returned to said blood vessel, whereby a first tube is in fluid communication with said fiber and receives plasma from said fiber and a second tube returns plasma to said blood vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for continuous in vivo plasma separation, comprising: at least one elongated microporous fiber having a hollow interior, said fiber being dimensioned to be received within a blood vessel without significantly obstructing fluid flow through said blood vessel, the pores of said fiber being dimensioned such that plasma can diffuse through said pores into said hollow interior of said fiber, said pores further being dimensioned such that cellular components larger than plasma are restricted from diffusing therethrough; and said hollow interior of said elongated fiber being in fluid communication with a means for conducting plasma comprising a pair of discrete hollow tubes which permits passage of plasma from said hollow interior of said fiber such that plasma being removed from said fiber is kept separated from plasma being returned to said blood vessel, whereby a first tube is in fluid communication with said fiber and receives plasma from said fiber and a second tube returns plasma to said blood vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said at least one elongated microporous hollow fiber comprises a plurality of elongated microporous hollow fibers, said plurality of fibers being dimensioned to be received within a blood vessel without significantly obstructing fluid flow through said blood vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said fiber is composed of a polymeric material, for example polypropylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said fiber has a pore size of from about 0.1 to 1.0µm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein said plasma is returned to said blood vessel downstream from said fibers, such that said returned plasma does not immediately diffuse back into said fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of Claim 5, wherein said pair of tubes comprises a dual lumen catheter in which said tubes are preferably disposed co-axially relative to one another, such that the inner passage defines a central lumen and the outer passage defines an outer lumen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of Claim 6, wherein said central lumen returns plasma from said plasma receiving means to said blood vessel through an opening in said central lumen which extends downstream in said fluid flow from said fibers, whereby said returned plasma is not immediately diffused back into said fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of Claim 1, further comprising a treatment system in fluid communication with said fiber, whereby selected subcomponents of said plasma removed from said blood vessel are treated and the treated plasma returned to said blood vessel.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
200 words
A method for continuous in vivo plasmapheresis, comprising steps of: (a) implanting in a blood vessel at least one elongated microporous fiber having a hollow interior, said elongated fiber being dimensioned to be received within a blood vessel without significantly obstructing fluid flow through said blood vessel, the pores of said elongated microporous fiber being dimensioned such that plasma can diffuse through said pores into said hollow interior of said fiber, said pores further being dimensioned such that cellular components larger than plasma are restricted from diffusing therethrough; (b) placing said hollow interior of said elongated fiber in fluid communication with a means for conducting plasma comprising a pair of discrete hollow tubes which permits passage of plasma from said hollow interior of said fiber such that plasma being removed from said fiber is kept separated from plasma being returned to said blood vessel whereby a first tube is in fluid communication with said fiber and receives plasma from said fiber and a second tube returns plasma to said blood vessel; (c) removing plasma from said blood vessel; (d) treating said plasma to remove or treat selected subcomponents of said plasma; and (e) re-infusing said plasma into said blood vessel.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
200 words
A method for continuous in vivo plasmapheresis, comprising steps of: (a) implanting in a blood vessel at least one elongated microporous fiber having a hollow interior, said elongated fiber being dimensioned to be received within a blood vessel without significantly obstructing fluid flow through said blood vessel, the pores of said elongated microporous fiber being dimensioned such that plasma can diffuse through said pores into said hollow interior of said fiber, said pores further being dimensioned such that cellular components larger than plasma are restricted from diffusing therethrough; (b) placing said hollow interior of said elongated fiber in fluid communication with a means for conducting plasma comprising a pair of discrete hollow tubes which permits passage of plasma from said hollow interior of said fiber such that plasma being removed from said fiber is kept separated from plasma being returned to said blood vessel whereby a first tube is in fluid communication with said fiber and receives plasma from said fiber and a second tube returns plasma to said blood vessel; (c) removing plasma from said blood vessel; (d) treating said plasma to remove or treat selected subcomponents of said plasma; and (e) re-infusing said plasma into said blood vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of Claim 9, further comprising the step of admixing a volume of replacement fluid with said treated plasma prior to re-infusion into said blood vessel, said blood vessel preferably being the vena cava.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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