Circe Biomedical, Inc.

W. R. Grace Co.-Conn.

M.i.t.

Claudy Jean Mullon

Linda M Custer

Karen E Dunleavy

Kerry Ann Gagnon

Roger Butterworth

Robert Samuel Langer

Robert S Lees

Hugo O Jauregui

Timothy Jon Perlman

John J O'Neil

Jan Philip Stegemann

Christine Marie Tosone

Regine Labeque

The invention relates to a container having astrocytes for use in removing toxins from a biological fluid. The container includes a first port for receiving the biological fluid and a second port through which the biological fluid exits the container. The invention also relates to a method of treating a biological fluid by contacting it with astrocytes.

Astrocyte apparatus for bioprocessing a circulating fluid

The invention features an empty device for receiving a bioactive agent. The device includes a biocompatible and semi-permeable membrane that defines an enclosed space; the membrane also has at least one end that defines an opening for introducing the bioactive agent into the enclosed space. The device is configured to be placed in an animal. In one embodiment of the invention, the membrane has an inner surface and an outer surface, where the inner surface defines the inner surface, and includes a biocompatible adhesive in the general region of the opening to allow sealing of the opening after the introduction of the bioactive agent into the enclosed space. Another embodiment of the invention includes a biocompatible frame mounted in supporting relationship to the membrane and defining an opening for introducing the bioactive agent into the enclosed space. The frame has greater porosity than the membrane.

Encapsulation device

An artificial pancreas is described herein which comprises one or more viable and physiologically active pancreatic islet cells capable of producing insulin, encapsulated within a semipermeable spheroidal membrane comprising agar gel. Further disclosed are a method for producing agar microbeads, a tissue implantation method and a reseeding method for the artificial pancreas.

Artificial pancreas

An artifical pancreatic perfusion device comprising a hollow fiber having a porosity ranging from about 25 Kd to about 200 Kd. The hollow fiber has one end connected to a blood vessel for receiving blood and a second end connected to a blood vessel for returning said blood. Islets of Langerhans surround the hollow fiber. The hollow fiber and islets are surrounded by a housing comprising a semipermeable membrane having a pore size small enough to offer protection to the islets and host from immune reactive substances. Further disclosed is a method for providing and regulating insulin to insulin deficient individuals.

Artificial pancreatic perfusion device

A cell culture unit is disclosed herewith comprising a shell having two ends with an elongated chamber them between. A liquid and a gas perfusion port are located on each end. Liquid perfusion fibers are connected to the liquid perfusion ports and gas perfusion fibers are connected to the gas perfusion ports. These fibers thereby define an extracapillary and intracapillary space. The cell culture unit further comprises means for communicating with the intracapillary space of the gas perfusion fibers, means for communicating with the intracapillary space of the liquid perfusion fibers, and means for communicating with the extracapillary space.

Dual fiber bioreactor

A therapeutically effective amount of soluble phospholipase A.sub.2 is administered into a subject for lowering the low density lipoproteins ('LDL') in the blood. Phospholipase A.sub.2 modifies the plasma LDL by hydrolyzing the phospholipids present in LDL. As a result, the modified LDL is rapidly removed from the bloodstream by the catabolic processes.

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Framingham, MA, United States of America

Claudy Jean Mullon