US5407581A — Filter medium having a limited surface negative c…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 50 words

A filter medium for treating a blood material selected from the group consisting of a leukocyte-containing suspension and plasma, comprising a polymeric, porous element having, in a surface portion thereof, a negative charge and having a surface electric charge of not smaller than -30 μeq/g of said polymeric, porous element.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 50 words

A filter medium for treating a blood material selected from the group consisting of a leukocyte-containing suspension and plasma, comprising a polymeric, porous element having, in a surface portion thereof, a negative charge and having a surface electric charge of not smaller than -30 μeq/g of said polymeric, porous element.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 109 words

The filter medium according to claim 1, for use in separating at least one substance selected from the group consisting of at least one preselected blood component, a substance foreign to blood components and a mixture thereof from said blood material, wherein said polymeric, porous element has an average pore diameter of from 1 to 100 μm and a total pore volume of from 0.4 to 0.95 ml/ml of said polymeric, porous element, and wherein a sum of respective pore volumes of pores of said polymeric, porous element which have a pore diameter of from 1 to 100 μm is 75% or more, based on said total pore volume.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

The filter medium according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric, porous element comprises a fibrous material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

The filter medium according to claim 2, wherein a surface of said polymeric, porous element exhibits a contact angle of 90° or less against a liquid having a surface tension of 100 dyn/cm, as measured at 25° C.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

The filter medium according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric, porous element comprises a synthetic polyester.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

The filter medium according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric, porous element has a surface electric charge in a quantity of not greater than -0.001 μeq/g of said polymeric, porous element.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 94 words

The filter medium according to claim 1, for use in separating whole blood into a blood cell product and plasma or for use in separating whole blood or plasma, each containing at least one preselected substance, into said at least one preselected substance and a remaining whole blood or plasma product substantially free of said at least one preselected substance, wherein said polymeric, porous element is a porous membrane having an average pore diameter of from 10 Å to 1.0 μm and having a water permeability of from 3.4 to 8,000 ml/hr/m 2 /mmHg.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The filter medium according to claim 7, wherein said porous membrane is a hollow fiber porous membrane having an inner diameter of from 50 to 300 μm.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

The filter medium according to claim 7, wherein said polymeric, porous membrane comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an acrylonitrile polymer, a cellulose polymer and a methyl methacrylate polymer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 104 words

The filter medium according to claim 1, for use in separating whole blood or plasma, each containing at least one preselected substance, into said at least one preselected substance and a remaining whole blood or plasma substantially free of said at least one preselected substance by adsorption-filtration, wherein said polymeric, porous element is an adsorptive composite comprising a polymeric, porous substrate having, on a surface thereof including pore surfaces, functional groups capable of selectively binding said at least one preselected substance thereto, said polymeric, porous substrate having an average pore size of from 10,000 to 10,000,000 in terms of an exclusion limit molecular weight.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 26 words

The filter medium according to claim 10, wherein said substrate has a ligand bonded to a surface of said substrate, said ligand having said functional groups.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 14 words

The filter medium according to claim 11, wherein said ligand exhibits a negative charge.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

The filter medium according to claim 12, wherein said substrate exhibits a positive charge.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

The filter medium according to claim 11, wherein said ligand exhibits a positive charge.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

The filter medium according to claim 14, wherein said substrate exhibits a negative charge.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 34 words

The filter medium according to claim 11, wherein said ligand comprises a chain having at least one portion thereof bonded to said substrate and having a remaining unbonded portion which is flexible and movable.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

The filter medium according to claim 10, wherein said porous element exhibits a contact angle of 20° or more against gas bubbles in water, as measured at 25° C.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 186 words

An apparatus for selectively separating leukocytes from a leukocyte-containing suspension, comprising: a casing having an inlet side and an outlet side, said inlet side having an inlet for a leukocyte-containing suspension selected from the group consisting of whole blood, a leukocyte-containing red cell product, a leukocyte-containing platelet and a leukocyte-containing plasma product, and said outlet side having an outlet for a filtrate; and a main filter medium packed in said casing at a packing density of from 0.05 to 0.5 g/cm 3 , said main filter medium comprising a polymeric, porous element having, in a surface portion thereof, a negative charge and having a surface electric charge of not smaller than -30 μeq/g of said polymeric, porous element, wherein said polymeric, porous element has an average pore diameter of from 1 to 100 μm and a total pore volume of from 0.4 to 0.95 ml/ml of said polymeric, porous element, and wherein a sum of respective pore volumes of pores of said polymeric, porous element which have a pore diameter of from 1 to 100 μm is 75% or more, based on said total pore volume.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 186 words

An apparatus for selectively separating leukocytes from a leukocyte-containing suspension, comprising: a casing having an inlet side and an outlet side, said inlet side having an inlet for a leukocyte-containing suspension selected from the group consisting of whole blood, a leukocyte-containing red cell product, a leukocyte-containing platelet and a leukocyte-containing plasma product, and said outlet side having an outlet for a filtrate; and a main filter medium packed in said casing at a packing density of from 0.05 to 0.5 g/cm 3 , said main filter medium comprising a polymeric, porous element having, in a surface portion thereof, a negative charge and having a surface electric charge of not smaller than -30 μeq/g of said polymeric, porous element, wherein said polymeric, porous element has an average pore diameter of from 1 to 100 μm and a total pore volume of from 0.4 to 0.95 ml/ml of said polymeric, porous element, and wherein a sum of respective pore volumes of pores of said polymeric, porous element which have a pore diameter of from 1 to 100 μm is 75% or more, based on said total pore volume.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 60 words

The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said polymeric, porous element has an inlet portion on said inlet side of the casing and an outlet portion opposite said inlet portion, and has an average pore diameter gradient such that said average pore diameter is substantially continuously or stepwise decreased in a direction from said inlet side to said outlet side.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a surface of said polymeric, porous element exhibits a contact angle of 90° or less against a liquid having a surface tension of 100 dyn/cm, as measured at 25° C.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said polymeric, porous element comprises a non-woven fabric.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 60 words

The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said non-woven fabric has an inlet portion on said inlet side of the casing and an outlet portion opposite said inlet portion, said non-woven fabric comprising fibers having a diameter gradient such that a fiber diameter is substantially continuously or stepwise decreased in a direction from said inlet side to said outlet side.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 46 words

The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said polymeric, porous element has a thickness of from 0.1 to 500 mm, and wherein said casing has a quotient of a horizontal sectional area divided by a vertical length in a range of from 10 to 500 cm.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 127 words

The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a preliminary filter medium disposed upstream of said main filter medium with respect to a direction from said inlet side of the casing to said outlet side of the casing, said preliminary filter medium comprising a preliminary porous element which has, in a surface portion thereof, a negative charge and has a surface electric charge of not smaller than -30 μeq/g of the preliminary porous element, and which has an average pore diameter of from 1 to 400 μm, wherein a sum of respective pore volumes of pores of the preliminary porous element which have a pore diameter of from 100 to 400 μm is 30% or more, based on a total pore volume of the preliminary porous element.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 143 words

An apparatus for separating whole blood into a blood cell product and plasma or for separating whole blood or plasma, each containing at least one preselected substance, into said at least one preselected substance and a remaining whole blood or plasma substantially free of said at least one preselected substance, comprising: a casing having an inlet for whole blood or plasma and an outlet for a filtrate; and a filter medium packed in said casing, said filter medium comprising a polymeric, porous element having, in a surface portion thereof, a negative charge and a surface electric charge of not smaller than -30 μeq/g of said polymeric, porous element, and wherein said polymeric, porous element is a porous membrane having an average pore diameter of from 10 Å to 1.0 μm and having a water permeability of from 3.4 to 8,000 ml/hr/m 2 /mmHg.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 143 words

An apparatus for separating whole blood into a blood cell product and plasma or for separating whole blood or plasma, each containing at least one preselected substance, into said at least one preselected substance and a remaining whole blood or plasma substantially free of said at least one preselected substance, comprising: a casing having an inlet for whole blood or plasma and an outlet for a filtrate; and a filter medium packed in said casing, said filter medium comprising a polymeric, porous element having, in a surface portion thereof, a negative charge and a surface electric charge of not smaller than -30 μeq/g of said polymeric, porous element, and wherein said polymeric, porous element is a porous membrane having an average pore diameter of from 10 Å to 1.0 μm and having a water permeability of from 3.4 to 8,000 ml/hr/m 2 /mmHg.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said porous membrane is a hollow fiber porous membrane having an inner diameter of from 50 to 300 μm.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said membrane comprises a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of an acrylonitrile polymer, a cellulose polymer and a methyl methacrylate polymer.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 73 words

A method for treating a blood selected from the consisting of a leukocyte-containing suspension and plasma, which comprises contacting a blood material with a filter medium comprising a polymeric, porous element having, in a surface portion thereof, a negative charge and having a surface electric charge of not smaller than -30 μeq/g of said polymeric, porous element, thereby controlling a bradykinin concentration of a contacted blood to a level not exceeding 4,000 pg/ml.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 73 words

A method for treating a blood selected from the consisting of a leukocyte-containing suspension and plasma, which comprises contacting a blood material with a filter medium comprising a polymeric, porous element having, in a surface portion thereof, a negative charge and having a surface electric charge of not smaller than -30 μeq/g of said polymeric, porous element, thereby controlling a bradykinin concentration of a contacted blood to a level not exceeding 4,000 pg/ml.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 106 words

The method according to claim 28, for separating at least one substance selected from the group consisting of at least one preselected blood component, a substance foreign to blood components and a mixture thereof from said blood material, wherein said polymeric, porous element has an average pore diameter of from 1 to 100 μm and a total pore volume of from 0.4 to 0.95 ml/ml of said polymeric, porous element, and wherein a sum of respective pore volumes of pores of said polymeric, porous element which have a pore diameter of from 1 to 100 μm is 75% or more, based on said total pore volume

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method according to claim 29, wherein said preselected blood component comprises leukocytes.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 91 words

The method according to claim 28, for use in separating whole blood into a blood cell product and plasma or for separating whole blood or plasma, each containing at least one preselected substance, into said at least one preselected substance and a remaining whole blood or plasma product substantially free of said at least one preselected substance, wherein said polymeric, porous element is a porous membrane having an average pore diameter of from 10 Å to 1.0 μm and having a water permeability of from 3.4 to 8,000 ml/hr/m 2 /mmHg.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 101 words

The method according to claim 28, for separating whole blood or plasma, each containing at least one preselected substance, into said at least one preselected substance and a remaining whole blood or plasma substantially free of said at least one preselected substance by adsorption-filtration, wherein said polymeric, porous element is an adsorptive composite comprising a polymeric, porous substrate having, on a surface thereof including pore surfaces, functional groups capable of selectively binding said at least one preselected substance thereto, said polymeric, porous substrate having an average pore size of from 10,000 to 10,000,000 in terms of an exclusion limit molecular weight.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 215 words

A method for selectively separating leukocytes from a leukocyte-containing suspension, which comprises passing a leukocyte-containing suspension through a filter apparatus, said filter apparatus comprising: a casing having an inlet side and an outlet side, said inlet side having an inlet for a leukocyte-containing suspension selected from the group consisting of whole blood, a leukocyte-containing red cell product, a leukocyte-containing platelet and a leukocyte-containing plasma product, and said outlet side having an outlet for a filtrate; and a main filter medium packed in said casing at a packing density of from 0.05 to 0.5 g/cm 3 , said main filter medium comprising a polymeric, porous element having, in a surface portion thereof, a negative charge and having a surface electric charge of not smaller than -30 μeq/g of said polymeric, porous element, wherein said polymeric, porous element has an average pore diameter of from 1 to 100 μm and a total pore volume of from 0.4 to 0.95 ml/ml of said polymeric, porous element, and wherein a sum of respective pore volumes of pores of said polymeric, porous element which have a pore diameter of from 1 to 100 μm is 75% or more, based on said total pore volume, thereby controlling a bradykinin concentration of a passed blood to a level not exceeding 4,000 pg/ml.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 215 words

A method for selectively separating leukocytes from a leukocyte-containing suspension, which comprises passing a leukocyte-containing suspension through a filter apparatus, said filter apparatus comprising: a casing having an inlet side and an outlet side, said inlet side having an inlet for a leukocyte-containing suspension selected from the group consisting of whole blood, a leukocyte-containing red cell product, a leukocyte-containing platelet and a leukocyte-containing plasma product, and said outlet side having an outlet for a filtrate; and a main filter medium packed in said casing at a packing density of from 0.05 to 0.5 g/cm 3 , said main filter medium comprising a polymeric, porous element having, in a surface portion thereof, a negative charge and having a surface electric charge of not smaller than -30 μeq/g of said polymeric, porous element, wherein said polymeric, porous element has an average pore diameter of from 1 to 100 μm and a total pore volume of from 0.4 to 0.95 ml/ml of said polymeric, porous element, and wherein a sum of respective pore volumes of pores of said polymeric, porous element which have a pore diameter of from 1 to 100 μm is 75% or more, based on said total pore volume, thereby controlling a bradykinin concentration of a passed blood to a level not exceeding 4,000 pg/ml.

Claim 39

Independent Claim 173 words

A method for separating whole blood into a blood cell product and plasma or for separating whole blood or plasma each containing at least one preselected substance into said at least one preselected substance and a remaining whole blood or plasma substantially free of said at least one preselected substance, which comprises passing whole blood or plasma through a separator apparatus, said separator apparatus comprising: a casing having an inlet for whole blood or plasma and an outlet for a filtrate; and a filter medium packed in said casing, said filter medium comprising a polymeric, porous element having, in a surface portion thereof, a negative charge and a surface electric charge of not smaller than -30 μeq/g of said polymeric, porous element, and wherein said polymeric, porous element is a porous membrane having an average pore diameter of from 10 Å to 1.0 μm and having a water permeability of from 3.4 to 8,000 ml/hr/m 2 /mmHg, thereby controlling a bradykinin concentration of a passed blood to a level not exceeding 4,000 pg/ml.

Claim 40

Independent Claim 173 words

A method for separating whole blood into a blood cell product and plasma or for separating whole blood or plasma each containing at least one preselected substance into said at least one preselected substance and a remaining whole blood or plasma substantially free of said at least one preselected substance, which comprises passing whole blood or plasma through a separator apparatus, said separator apparatus comprising: a casing having an inlet for whole blood or plasma and an outlet for a filtrate; and a filter medium packed in said casing, said filter medium comprising a polymeric, porous element having, in a surface portion thereof, a negative charge and a surface electric charge of not smaller than -30 μeq/g of said polymeric, porous element, and wherein said polymeric, porous element is a porous membrane having an average pore diameter of from 10 Å to 1.0 μm and having a water permeability of from 3.4 to 8,000 ml/hr/m 2 /mmHg, thereby controlling a bradykinin concentration of a passed blood to a level not exceeding 4,000 pg/ml.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-04-17	1998-10-17	1999-04-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-04-17	2002-10-17	2003-04-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-04-17	2006-10-17	2007-04-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Filter medium having a limited surface negative charge for treating a blood material

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