US5595909A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Filter device
Assignee: University of Minnesota System
•
Filing: 1995-03-31
•
Granted: 1997-01-21
•
Expires: 2015-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A filter device containing cell masses and single cells is described. The device contains porous hollow fibers and hepatocytes entrapped within a contracted gel matrix.
Inventors
- 👤 Wei-Shou Hu
- 👤 Frank B. Cerra
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 04:20
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M21/00; C12M21/08; A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/022; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/14; A61M1/16; A61M1/1621; A61M1/1623; A61M1/1625; A61M1/34; A61M1/3472; A61M1/3475; A61M1/3486; A61M1/3489; C12M25/00; C12M25/10; C12M29/00; C12M29/16; C12N; C12N5/00; C12N5/06; C12N5/0602; C12N5/067; C12N5/0671; A61K; A61K35/00; A61K35/12; A61K2035/126; C12N2500/00; C12N2500/02; C12N2500/90; C12N2510/00; C12N2533/00; C12N2533/30; C12N2533/50; C12N2533/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A filter device comprising: a housing having first inlet and outlet ports defining a fluid flow cavity therebetween for flowing through said housing blood, serum or plasma; said cavity also enclosing a plurality of hollow fibers having porous walls and a partially occluded lumen; said porous walls comprising pores smaller than a hepatocyte; said lumen of said hollow fibers are in fluid flow communication with second inlet and outlet ports in said housing for flowing through said lumen a medium to support hepatocyte function and viability; and said lumen of said hollow fibers are partially occluded with an aqueous matrix comprising viable hepatocytes, wherein said hepatocytes are a mixture of unaggregated cells and aggregated cell masses; such that communication between said cavity and inside said hollow fibers is exclusively though the porous fiber walls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A filter device comprising: a housing having first inlet and outlet ports defining a fluid flow cavity therebetween for flowing through said housing blood, serum or plasma; said cavity also enclosing a plurality of hollow fibers having porous walls and a partially occluded lumen; said porous walls comprising pores smaller than a hepatocyte; said lumen of said hollow fibers are in fluid flow communication with second inlet and outlet ports in said housing for flowing through said lumen a medium to support hepatocyte function and viability; and said lumen of said hollow fibers are partially occluded with an aqueous matrix comprising viable hepatocytes, wherein said hepatocytes are a mixture of unaggregated cells and aggregated cell masses; such that communication between said cavity and inside said hollow fibers is exclusively though the porous fiber walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said hollow fibers have an inside diameter of 100-1000 μm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said inside diameter is 150-400 μm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 3, wherein said inside diameter is 200-250 μm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said pores allow passage of molecules with a molecular weight of up to 100,000.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said medium is a serum-free medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said matrix is selected from the group consisting of collagen, alginate, chitosan and fibrin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 7, wherein said matrix is collagen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said cell masses are 30-300 μm in diameter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 9, wherein said cell masses are 35-150 μm in diameter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 10, wherein the cell masses are 40-70 μm in diameter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said aqueous matrix is introduced into said fiber as a liquid and allowed to gel in situ, wherein said matrix gel contracts in the presence of said viable hepatocytes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 12, wherein said liquid contains hepatocytes at a concentration of 5-40×10 6 cells per milliliter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 13, wherein said concentration is 20-40×10 6 cells per milliliter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 14, wherein said concentration is 30-35×10 6 cells per milliliter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 13 wherein a half of the cells are in cell masses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 13 wherein two-thirds of the cells are in cell masses.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said lumen is occluded 25-90% by said matrix.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 18, wherein said lumen is occluded 33-75%.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said hepatocytes are porcine hepatocytes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
WO1989011529A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-21 | 2000-07-22 | 2001-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-21 | 2004-07-22 | 2005-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-21 | 2008-07-22 | 2009-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |