Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
311 words
Apparatus for processing of body fluids, comprising (i) means for withdrawing and returning body fluid from and to a living patient; (ii) a body fluid separating module which comprises a first compartment, a second compartment and a semi-permeable membrane disposed between said first and second compartments, said semi-permeable membrane being permeable to a liquid fraction of the body fluid, said second compartment being adapted to receive liquid fraction which permeates through said semi-permeable membrane from said first compartment; (iii) first passage means communicating said withdrawal and return means (i) with the upstream first compartment of said separating module (ii); (iv) first pumping means provided at a location along said first passage means (iii) for pumping body fluid in either direction through said first passage means; (v) first sensor means controlling said first pumping means (iv), said first sensor means adapted to monitor pressure of body fluid passing through said first passage means (iii), said first sensor means operatively provided between said withdrawal and return means (i) and said first pumping means (iv); (vi) means for collecting from the second compartment the liquid fraction received by the second compartment; (vii) second passage means communicating an end of the first compartment (viii) with container means, (ix) third passage means communicating said container means (viii) with another end of said first compartment so that said second and third passage means and said first compartment define a circulation path, said first passage means communicated with said circulation path at a juncture with said third passage means; (x) second pumping means on said circulation path for pumping body fluid through said circulation path, whereby a pressure may be maintained in said first upstream compartment greater than that in said second downstream compartment; and (xi) means for controlling said second pumping means so that the pressure difference across said semi-permeable membrane does not exceed a predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
311 words
Apparatus for processing of body fluids, comprising (i) means for withdrawing and returning body fluid from and to a living patient; (ii) a body fluid separating module which comprises a first compartment, a second compartment and a semi-permeable membrane disposed between said first and second compartments, said semi-permeable membrane being permeable to a liquid fraction of the body fluid, said second compartment being adapted to receive liquid fraction which permeates through said semi-permeable membrane from said first compartment; (iii) first passage means communicating said withdrawal and return means (i) with the upstream first compartment of said separating module (ii); (iv) first pumping means provided at a location along said first passage means (iii) for pumping body fluid in either direction through said first passage means; (v) first sensor means controlling said first pumping means (iv), said first sensor means adapted to monitor pressure of body fluid passing through said first passage means (iii), said first sensor means operatively provided between said withdrawal and return means (i) and said first pumping means (iv); (vi) means for collecting from the second compartment the liquid fraction received by the second compartment; (vii) second passage means communicating an end of the first compartment (viii) with container means, (ix) third passage means communicating said container means (viii) with another end of said first compartment so that said second and third passage means and said first compartment define a circulation path, said first passage means communicated with said circulation path at a juncture with said third passage means; (x) second pumping means on said circulation path for pumping body fluid through said circulation path, whereby a pressure may be maintained in said first upstream compartment greater than that in said second downstream compartment; and (xi) means for controlling said second pumping means so that the pressure difference across said semi-permeable membrane does not exceed a predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an inflatable tourniquet, inflating means adapted to inflate said tourniquet upon withdrawal of body fluid from the patient, and deflating means adapted to deflate said tourniquet upon the return of body fluid to the patient.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for monitoring the volume of body fluid in said container means, and means for reversing said first pumping means (iv) when the body fluid in said containing means (viii) equals a predetermined volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said container monitoring means also monitors completion of a phase of return of body fluid to the patient.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for monitoring the amount of liquid fraction collected in said collection means (vi).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a body fluid bubble trap at a location along said first passage means (iii) between said first pump means (iv) and said withdrawing and returning means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for introducing an anticoagulant in to the body fluid during a phase of withdrawal of body fluid from said patient.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising logic circuitry for the automatic control and monitoring of said apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
A plasmapheresis process comprising operating a first pump to withdraw body fluid from a living patient through a first passage, operating a second pump to continuously circulate withdrawn body fluid along a circulation path connected to said first passage and passing by a semi-permeable membrane, whereby a fraction of said circulating body fluid permeates through said semi-permeable membrane and is collected and when the recirculating blood equals a predetermined maximum quantity, operating said first pump in reverse to return to the patient the recirculating body fluid through said first passage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
90 words
A plasmapheresis process comprising operating a first pump to withdraw body fluid from a living patient through a first passage, operating a second pump to continuously circulate withdrawn body fluid along a circulation path connected to said first passage and passing by a semi-permeable membrane, whereby a fraction of said circulating body fluid permeates through said semi-permeable membrane and is collected and when the recirculating blood equals a predetermined maximum quantity, operating said first pump in reverse to return to the patient the recirculating body fluid through said first passage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process as defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of repeating the steps of the process until a preselected quantity of the fraction is collected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
267 words
A plasmapheresis process comprising the steps of: inflating a tourniquet on a living patient and operating a first pump in a first direction to withdraw blood at a first speed from the living patient through a first passage, said first passage provided with a device for dispensing anticoagulant and a bubble trap, said blood being withdrawn to a first container; upon said first container receiving a predetermined minimum quantity, operating a second pump to circulate blood at a second speed greater than said first speed along a circulation path from said first container through a first compartment of a separating module and back to said first container, said circulation path including second and third passages each communicating said first container with said first compartment, said first passage communicating with one of said second and third passages, said circulating step including passing the blood along a membrane of said first compartment so that a plasma fraction of the blood permeates through the membrane and controlling the second pump with a pressure sensor to prevent pressure difference across the membrane from exceeding a predetermined value; collecting in a second container the plasma fraction which permeates through said membrane; when a predetermined maximum quantity of blood is withdrawn to said first container, performing a return phase comprising the steps of deflating said tourniquet and operating said first pump in a reverse direction to return blood from the first container to the living patient through the first passage while maintaining operation of said second pump; terminating said return phase when the blood in said first chamber equals said predetermined miminum quantity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
267 words
A plasmapheresis process comprising the steps of: inflating a tourniquet on a living patient and operating a first pump in a first direction to withdraw blood at a first speed from the living patient through a first passage, said first passage provided with a device for dispensing anticoagulant and a bubble trap, said blood being withdrawn to a first container; upon said first container receiving a predetermined minimum quantity, operating a second pump to circulate blood at a second speed greater than said first speed along a circulation path from said first container through a first compartment of a separating module and back to said first container, said circulation path including second and third passages each communicating said first container with said first compartment, said first passage communicating with one of said second and third passages, said circulating step including passing the blood along a membrane of said first compartment so that a plasma fraction of the blood permeates through the membrane and controlling the second pump with a pressure sensor to prevent pressure difference across the membrane from exceeding a predetermined value; collecting in a second container the plasma fraction which permeates through said membrane; when a predetermined maximum quantity of blood is withdrawn to said first container, performing a return phase comprising the steps of deflating said tourniquet and operating said first pump in a reverse direction to return blood from the first container to the living patient through the first passage while maintaining operation of said second pump; terminating said return phase when the blood in said first chamber equals said predetermined miminum quantity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 11, further comprising the step of repeating the process until a preselected quantity of plasma is collected in the second container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process as defined by claim 9, wherein said body fluid comprises human blood.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process as defined by claim 9, wherein the speed of circulation of body fluid exceeds the speed of withdrawal of body fluid through the first passage.