Patent · US Expired

Membrane plasmapheresis apparatus and process which utilize a flexible wall to variably restrict the flow of plasma filtrate and thereby stabilize transmembrane pressure

US4746436A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
46References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 15, 1986
Grant dateMay 24, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 15, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M1/3623
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A membrane plasmapheresis system introduces a flow of whole blood subject to a predetermined inlet pressure into a fluid path across a membrane which is suited for filtering the plasma from the whole blood and across which a predetermined pressure drop occurs. The plasma-poor blood is conducted from the membrane subject to a determinable plasma-poor blood pressure. Likewise, plasma filtrate is conducted from the membrane subject to a determinable plasma-filtrate pressure. The conduction of plasma filtrate is metered in response to the existent plasma-poor blood pressure to achieve and thereafter maintain substantial equilibrium between the plasma-poor blood pressure and the plasma filtrate pressure. A substantially constant transmembrane pressure can thereby be maintained at a level below which hemolysis occurs.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.