US5300019A — Systems and methods for eradicating contaminants …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 169 words

A device for treating a fluid carrying a contaminant to which a photoactive material has been bound, the material being activated by exposure to radiation within a prescribed wavelenght range to eradicate the contaminant, the device comprising an outer wall defining an interior area, the outer wall being essentially transparent to radiation within the prescribed wavelenght to pass the radiation into the interior area, an inner wall located within the interior area spaced from the outer wall, a treatment chamber formed in the interior area between the outer wall and the inner wall for receiving the fluid to be treated, the treatment chamber having an outer region adjacent the outer wall and an inner region adjacent the inner wall, and circulation means rotating the inner and outer walls relative to each other to create vortices in the fluid present within the treatment chamber that circulate the contaminant within the treatment chamber from the inner region toward the outer region for exposure to the radiation passing through the outer wall.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 169 words

A device for treating a fluid carrying a contaminant to which a photoactive material has been bound, the material being activated by exposure to radiation within a prescribed wavelenght range to eradicate the contaminant, the device comprising an outer wall defining an interior area, the outer wall being essentially transparent to radiation within the prescribed wavelenght to pass the radiation into the interior area, an inner wall located within the interior area spaced from the outer wall, a treatment chamber formed in the interior area between the outer wall and the inner wall for receiving the fluid to be treated, the treatment chamber having an outer region adjacent the outer wall and an inner region adjacent the inner wall, and circulation means rotating the inner and outer walls relative to each other to create vortices in the fluid present within the treatment chamber that circulate the contaminant within the treatment chamber from the inner region toward the outer region for exposure to the radiation passing through the outer wall.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

A device according to claim 1 wherein the inner wall forms a rotor, and wherein the circulation means includes means for rotating the rotor within the interior area relative to the outer wall.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 91 words

A device according to claim 1 wherein the outer wall forms a generally tubular housing that peripherally defines the interior area, wherein the inner wall forms a generally cylindrical member located within the housing, the space between the inner wall and the outer wall forming an annular gap that comprises the treatment chamber, and wherein the circulation means includes means for rotating the cylindrical member and outer wall relative to each other to create vortices within the annular gap to circulate the contaminant toward the outer region of the annular gap.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

A device according to claim 1 wherein the annular gap includes an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging fluid, the inlet and outlet being spaced relative to the axis of rotation.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

A device according to claim 4 wherein the cylindrical member comprises a rotor, and wherein the circulation means includes means for rotating the rotor within the interior area relative to the outer wall.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 172 words

A system for treating a fluid carrying a contaminant to which a photoactive material has been bound, the material being activated by exposure to radiation within a prescribed wavelenght range to eradicate the contaminant, the system comprising a treatment device including an outer housing wall defining an interior area, the outer wall being essentially transparent to radiation within the prescribed wavelenght to pass the radiation into the interior area, an inner wall in the interior area spaced from the outer wall, the space between the inner and outer wall defining a treatment chamber for receiving the fluid to be treated for exposure to radiation passing through the outer wall, and circulation means for rotating the inner and outer walls relative to each other to create vortices that circulate the contaminant present within the treatment chamber from the inner wall toward the outer wall, and means for emitting radiation within the prescribed wavelenght range through the outer housing wall and into the treatment chamber to activate the photoactive material bound to the contaminant.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 172 words

A system for treating a fluid carrying a contaminant to which a photoactive material has been bound, the material being activated by exposure to radiation within a prescribed wavelenght range to eradicate the contaminant, the system comprising a treatment device including an outer housing wall defining an interior area, the outer wall being essentially transparent to radiation within the prescribed wavelenght to pass the radiation into the interior area, an inner wall in the interior area spaced from the outer wall, the space between the inner and outer wall defining a treatment chamber for receiving the fluid to be treated for exposure to radiation passing through the outer wall, and circulation means for rotating the inner and outer walls relative to each other to create vortices that circulate the contaminant present within the treatment chamber from the inner wall toward the outer wall, and means for emitting radiation within the prescribed wavelenght range through the outer housing wall and into the treatment chamber to activate the photoactive material bound to the contaminant.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

A system according to claim 6 wherein the radiation emission means is spaced from the treatment device and includes means for focusing the emitted radiation through the outer housing wall.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 48 words

A system according to claim 6 wherein the inner wall forms a rotor, and wherein the circulation means includes means for rotating the rotor within the interior area to create vortices that circulate the contaminant present within the treatment chamber from the inner wall toward the outer wall.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 90 words

A system according to claim 6 wherein the outer wall forms a generally tubular housing that peripherally defines the interior area, wherein the inner wall forms a generally cylindrical rotor located within the housing, the treatment chamber comprising an annular gap in the space between the inner wall and the outer wall, and wherein the circulation means includes means for rotating the rotor and the outer wall relative to each other to create vortices within the annular gap that circulate the contaminant from the inner wall toward the outer wall.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

A system according to claim 9 wherein the circulation means includes means for rotating the rotor within the interior area to create the vortices within the annular gap.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 53 words

A system according to claim 9 wherein the gap includes an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging fluid, the inlet and outlet being spaced apart relative to the axis of rotor rotation, and further including means for conveying fluid through the gap from the gap inlet to the gap outlet.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

A system according to claim 6 wherein the radiation emission means includes a single source of radiation.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 16 words

A system according to claim 6 wherein the radiation emission means includes multiple sources of radiation.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 13 words

A system according to claim 13 wherein each multiple radiation source is discrete.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 14 words

A system according to claim 6 wherein the radiation emission means includes a photodiode.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

A system according to claim 6 wherein the radiation emission means includes a source of radiation and a reflective surface that surrounds at least a portion of the treatment device.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 14 words

A system according to claim 16 wherein the reflective surface is elliptical in shape.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 44 words

A system according to claim 17 wherein the elliptical reflective surface includes diametrically spaced first and second focal points, wherein the source of radiation is located at one of the focal points, and wherein the treatment device is located at the other focal point.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 70 words

A system according to claim 17 wherein the elliptical reflective surface includes an open end extending along its minor axis and closed end spaced from the open end and including a focal point, wherein the source of radiation is located at the open end of the ellipse and faces in the direction of the closed end, and wherein the treatment device is located in the closed end at focal point.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

A system according to claim 6 wherein the radiation emission means includes multiple sources of radiation that peripherally surround the treatment device.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 14 words

A system according to claim 20 wherein the multiple sources of radiation include photodiodes.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 117 words

A method for treating a fluid carrying a contaminant to which a photoactive material has been bound, the material being activated by exposure to radiation within a prescribed wavelenght range to eradicate the contaminant, the method comprising the steps of conveying the fluid through a gap formed between an outer wall and an inner wall, the outer wall being essentially transparent to radiation within the prescribed wavelength, and exposing the fluid, as it transits the gap, to a source of radiation that passes through the outer wall while rotating the inner and outer walls relative to each other to create vortices that circulate the contaminant within the gap toward the outer wall for exposure to the radiation.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 117 words

A method for treating a fluid carrying a contaminant to which a photoactive material has been bound, the material being activated by exposure to radiation within a prescribed wavelenght range to eradicate the contaminant, the method comprising the steps of conveying the fluid through a gap formed between an outer wall and an inner wall, the outer wall being essentially transparent to radiation within the prescribed wavelength, and exposing the fluid, as it transits the gap, to a source of radiation that passes through the outer wall while rotating the inner and outer walls relative to each other to create vortices that circulate the contaminant within the gap toward the outer wall for exposure to the radiation.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method according to claim 22 wherein, during the radiation exposure step, the inner wall is rotated relative to the outer wall.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 125 words

A method for treating a fluid containing a blood component and a biological contaminant comprising the steps of adding a photoactive material to the fluid that binds itself to the contaminant, the material being activated by exposure to radiation within a prescribed wavelength range to eradicate the contaminant, conveying the fluid through a gap formed between an outer wall and an inner wall, the outer wall being essentially transparent to radiation within the prescribed wavelength, and exposing the fluid, as it transits the gap, to a source of radiation that passes through the outer wall while rotating the inner and outer walls relative to each other to create vortices that circulate the contaminant within the gap toward the outer wall for exposure to the radiation.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 125 words

A method for treating a fluid containing a blood component and a biological contaminant comprising the steps of adding a photoactive material to the fluid that binds itself to the contaminant, the material being activated by exposure to radiation within a prescribed wavelength range to eradicate the contaminant, conveying the fluid through a gap formed between an outer wall and an inner wall, the outer wall being essentially transparent to radiation within the prescribed wavelength, and exposing the fluid, as it transits the gap, to a source of radiation that passes through the outer wall while rotating the inner and outer walls relative to each other to create vortices that circulate the contaminant within the gap toward the outer wall for exposure to the radiation.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method according to claim 28 wherein, during the radiation exposure step, the inner wall is rotated relative to the outer wall.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-04-04	1997-10-04	1998-04-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-04-04	2001-10-04	2002-04-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-04-04	2005-10-04	2006-04-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Systems and methods for eradicating contaminants using photoactive materials in fluids like blood

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