Japan Foundation for Artificial Organs

Takeda Chemical Industries, Inc.

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Asahi Medical Co., Ltd.

Yukihiko Nose

Paul S Malchesky

Takashi Horiuchi

A method for more selectively removing macromolecules from a plasma solution, whereby plasma containing the macromolecules to be removed is provided and heated to a temperature near or above normal body temperature but below the boiling point of the plasma solution. The heated plasma solution is filtered while at a temperature near or above normal body temperature but below its boiling point with a membrane filter to remove selectively macromolecules from the plasma solution. An apparatus for accomplishing the foregoing is also provided.

Thermofiltration of plasma

A method and apparatus for carrying out separation of plasma from whole blood, in which whole blood is passed through a filtration membrane means of a material suitable for separating plasma from whole blood and having a pore size from 0.1 to 0.6 microns at positive pressure differential across the membrane in a range up to just below 50 mm Hg. This provides an increased flow as compared to the flow obtained with higher pressures.

Method and apparatus for low pressure filtration of plasma from blood

An on-line filtration system for the removal of macromolecules greater than 70,000 mol. wt. from a physiological solution, such as blood, in the therapeutic treatment of various disease states. For blood, the plasma (which contains the macromolecules) is separated continuously from the blood using a first membrane filter with a membrane porosity of nominally 0.2 to 1.0 micron. The separated plasma is then continuously filtered in a physiological temperature state or a cooled state through a second membrane filter with a membrane porosity of nominally 0.01 to 0.2 micron, which retains the macromolecules. In the cooled state, separation of the macromolecules is effected more efficiently than could be done in the non-cooled state. The treated plasma (macromolecules removed) is then reunited with the blood flow coming from the first plasma filter and returned to the patient. The blood flow and filtration processes are generally continuous. Suitable agent(s) may be added to the separated plasma to promote formation of macromolecules.

Method and apparatus for on-line filtration removal of macromolecules

A filter connection for peritoneal dialysis is presented including, in a flow line from a source of fresh dialysate solution carried on the patient's body, and under pressure, through a bacteria filter of sub-micron porosity for removing microorganisms generally greater than about 0.2 microns (nominal size) together with tubular connections leading from the filter toward a catheter inserted in the patient's peritoneum including in order from the filter, a first check valve permitting flow only away from the filter, then an outflow port with check valve permitting used dialysis flow only away from the patient, and finally the connection to the catheter tube.

Filter arrangement denying bacteria entry to peritoneum

A unit is presented for the transfer of a gaseous component in one stream to or from a liquid component in another stream, in which a membrane assembly is wound spirally around a central rigid cylindrical core. The membrane assembly comprises a continuous length of flattened tubular membrane with a gas net passing through the intermediate portion of the membrane from end to end thereof and substantially the width of the interior of the tubular membrane. In forming the coil, a net separator is wound between the membrane layers of the coil. An inlet tube for one of the components communicates with one end of the membrane and an outlet tube for the same component communicates with the other end of the membrane. Means is provided for passing another of the components longitudinally of the coil between the membrane layers from one end of the coil to the other end. The specific embodiment of a blood oxygenator is described.

Blood-gas exchanger

Extracorporeal and implantable blood interchange devices used in providing interchange function of predetermined components with a fluid, such as for instance the removal of undesirable components from the bloodstream of a human and, characterized by capillary tubing having a reactor or sorbent material, such as activated charcoal, disposed within the lumens thereof, with the tubing being semi-permeable and with blood, or other fluid, being perfused over the capillary tubing in close physical contact with the exterior surfaces thereof, for accomplishing interchange coaction between the sorbent in the tubing and the perfusing fluid. Such tubing is arranged in rectangular configuration, with tangential entry and exit of perfused fluid.

Device and method for effecting fluid interchange functions

A combined dialyzer and adsorber unit in one disposable package. The dialyzer is integral with the adsorber which contains a chemical adsorbent to regenerate a dialysate solution. In a preferred embodiment the dialyzer is mounted in the form of a sleeve around the adsorber container as a core. Dialysate is introduced into the dialyzer, then immediately circulated through the chemical adsorbent contained in the adsorber. There the major components of the impurities dialyzed out from the dialyzer can be adsorbed, whereby the dialysate is regenerated. The sleeve can be the adsorber and the core the dialyzer. In addition, the adsorber can have included therein, either mixed in with the adsorbent material or in a separate compartment, a water soluble dialysate material which can be dissolved by circulating water through the unit prior to starting to dialyze the patient.

Combined dialyzer and adsorber unit

A multipurpose metabolic assist system has an inlet passageway, an outlet passageway, a treated blood component passageway spaced from the inlet passageway and extending to the outlet passageway. The system has at least one space between at least a portion of the inlet passageway and a portion of the treated blood component passageway, and a particulate treatment agent for treating a component of the blood is packed in said space. At least a portion of the inlet passageway and the treated blood collection passageway which face the space are constituted by a porous membrane having pores of a size smaller than the size of the particles of the treatment agent and of a size for passing a component of the blood to be treated, and blocking passage of the remainder of the blood. A flow obstructor for producing an increased pressure is provided in the inlet passageway. When blood is supplied to the inlet passageway, the component of the blood to be treated is passed through the membranes and the treatment agent and the component is treated and the treated component is collected in the treated blood component passageway and supplied to the outlet passageway.

Growing community of inventors

Cleveland Heights, OH, United States of America

Yukihiko Nose