Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of removing a constituent of a biological fluid including a blood component, said method comprising flowing said biological fluid past one side of a first semipermeable membrane; flowing solution containing a first precipitation agent past a second side of said membrane so as to cause transfer of said precipitation agent through said membrane to said biological fluid so as to improve precipitation characteristics of said fluid; and precipitating said constituent from said biological fluid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of removing a constituent of a biological fluid including a blood component, said method comprising flowing said biological fluid past one side of a first semipermeable membrane; flowing solution containing a first precipitation agent past a second side of said membrane so as to cause transfer of said precipitation agent through said membrane to said biological fluid so as to improve precipitation characteristics of said fluid; and precipitating said constituent from said biological fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said biological fluid comprises plasma.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said precipitation agent comprises a divalent metal cation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said divalent metal cation is Mg +2 or Ca +2 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said flowing solution includes transfer of Na + and K + from said biological fluid to said first precipitation agent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said constituent comprises LDL's.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said constituent comprises VLDL's.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 6 or 7, further comprising adding a second precipitation agent comprising a sulfonated polyanion to said biological fluid to cause the precipitation of said LDL's and VLDL's.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said sulfonated polyanion is a sulfonated polysaccharide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said sulfonated polysaccharide is DxS.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 wherein an aqueous solution of a second precipitation agent is added continuously at a first flow rate to a stream of said biological fluid continuously flowing at a second flow rate, said first flow rate being equal to or less than 50% of said second flow rate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising removing said precipitate from said biological fluid; flowing said biological fluid past one side of a second semipermeable membrane; and flowing dialysate past a second side of said second membrane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising maintaining a lower pressure in said biological fluid than in said dialysate at all portions of said second membrane so that any ultrafiltrate flows from said dialysate to said biological fluid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising removing said precipitate from said biological fluid; flowing said biological fluid past one side of a second semipermeable membrane; and flowing dialysate past a second side of said second membrane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising maintaining a lower pressure in said biological fluid than in said dialysate at all portions of said second membrane so that any ultrafiltrate flows from said dialysate to said biological fluid.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of removing a constituent of a biological fluid including a blood component, said method comprising continuously adding an aqueous solution comprising a precipitation agent at a first flow rate to a stream of said biological fluid that is continuously flowing at a second flow rate, said first flow rate being equal to or less than 50% of said second flow rate, inducing the precipitation of said constituent by said precipitating agent so as to cause a precipitate, filtering said precipitate, flowing said biological fluid from said filtering past one side of a semipermeable membrane, flowing dialysate past a second side of said membrane; further comprising maintaining a lower pressure in said biological fluid than in said dialysate at all portions of said membrane so that any ultrafiltrate flows from said dialysate to said biological fluid.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of removing a constituent of a biological fluid including a blood component, said method comprising continuously adding an aqueous solution comprising a precipitation agent at a first flow rate to a stream of said biological fluid that is continuously flowing at a second flow rate, said first flow rate being equal to or less than 50% of said second flow rate, inducing the precipitation of said constituent by said precipitating agent so as to cause a precipitate, filtering said precipitate, flowing said biological fluid from said filtering past one side of a semipermeable membrane, flowing dialysate past a second side of said membrane; further comprising maintaining a lower pressure in said biological fluid than in said dialysate at all portions of said membrane so that any ultrafiltrate flows from said dialysate to said biological fluid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
136 words
Apparatus for removing a constituent of a biological fluid including a blood component, comprising a first membrane device providing a first flow path for a first precipitation agent solution, a second flow path for said biological fluid, and a semipermeable membrane separating said flow paths; a first precipitation agent source connected to said first flow path; a biological fluid source connected to said second flow path; and a separator to remove precipitate from said biological fluid connected to said second flow path downstream of said membrane device, said precipitation agent source, said biological fluid source and said membrane comprising means for causing passage of said precipitation agent from said first flow path through said membrane to said second flow path and to cause precipitation of a constituent of said biological fluid in said second flow path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
136 words
Apparatus for removing a constituent of a biological fluid including a blood component, comprising a first membrane device providing a first flow path for a first precipitation agent solution, a second flow path for said biological fluid, and a semipermeable membrane separating said flow paths; a first precipitation agent source connected to said first flow path; a biological fluid source connected to said second flow path; and a separator to remove precipitate from said biological fluid connected to said second flow path downstream of said membrane device, said precipitation agent source, said biological fluid source and said membrane comprising means for causing passage of said precipitation agent from said first flow path through said membrane to said second flow path and to cause precipitation of a constituent of said biological fluid in said second flow path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said source of biological fluid comprises a source of plasma.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said source of plasma comprises a plasma exchange system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said source of precipitation agent comprises a source of divalent metal cation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a source of a second precipitating agent comprising a sulfonated polyanion connected to be added to said biological fluid to cause the precipitation of said LDL's and VLDL's.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said sulfonated polyanion is DxS.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising means for adding an aqueous solution of said second precipitating agent continuously at a first flow rate to a stream of said biological fluid continuously flowing in said second flow path at a second flow rate, said first flow rate being equal to or less than 50% of said second flow rate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a second membrane device comprising a first flow path for dialysate, a second flow path for said biological fluid from said separator, and a second semipermeable membrane separating said flow paths.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for maintaining a lower pressure in said biological fluid than in said dialysate at all portions of said second membrane so that any ultrafiltrate flows from said dialysate to said biological fluid.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a second membrane device comprising a first flow path for dialysate, a second flow path for said biological fluid from said separator, and a second semipermeable membrane separating said flow paths.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for maintaining a lower pressure in said biological fluid than in said dialysate at all portions of said second membrane so that any ultrafiltrate flows from said dialysate to said biological fluid.