The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 22, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 28, 2000
Lecon Woo, Libertyville, IL (US);
Daniel R. Boggs, Lake Bluff, IL (US);
Shmuel Sternberg, Palatine, IL (US);
Craig Sandford, Wheeling, IL (US);
Atul Khare, Crystal Lake, IL (US);
Julian Breillatt, Mundelein, IL (US);
Baxter International Inc., Deerfield, IL (US);
Abstract
A device and method for inactivating pathogens in therapeutic fluids with sterilizing radiation in a continuous thin fluid flow arrangement that exhibits radiation dose uniformity for fluids having high optical densities. Radiation dose uniformity is achieved in part through a “carrying” mechanism that moves or carries the fluid, thereby eliminating a channel flow velocity profile where flow volumes near the channel walls run the risk of overexposure to the radiation due to very large residence times within the channel. The device comprises a relatively flat belt chamber ( ) connected to a fluid flow through an inlet ( ) and an outlet ( ) on the belt chamber ( ). The belt chamber ( ) has a top surface ( ) and a bottom surface ( ). A radiation permeable plate ( ) is disposed adjacent the top surface ( ) of the belt chamber ( ) and is in contact with the belt chamber ( ). A radiation source ( ) is provided adjacent to the plate ( ) adjacent to a side opposite the belt chamber ( ). A belt ( ) having a plurality of flexible vanes ( ) is disposed adjacent the bottom surface ( ) of the belt chamber ( ) such that the vanes ( ) make contact with the belt chamber ( ). The belt is driven by a roller mechanism ( ) in the direction of the fluid flow. As the fluid flows through the belt chamber ( ), the flexible vanes ( ) provide a squeegee-like mechanism to move the fluid through the belt chamber ( ) in discrete packets ( ) defined by a pair of vanes ( ). As the packets of fluid move through the belt chamber, they are exposed to sterilizing radiation passing through the plate ( ).