Claims
- 1. Apparatus for treating segmented edema comprising:
a plasma extraction device comprising a filter element for being inserted in a patient's major vein having a plurality of elongated hollow microporous fiber membranes capable of separating plasma including plasma proteins from blood in-vivo within said vein, a plasma extraction catheter extending therefrom in fluid communication with an ultrafiltration apparatus, and a first pump cooperating with said plasma extraction catheter for pumping plasma and plasma proteins to the ultrafiltration apparatus; an ultrafiltration apparatus for separating plasma water from plasma proteins; a plasma water line in fluid communication with the ultrafiltration apparatus for directing separated plasma water from the ultrafiltration apparatus; and a plasma protein return line in fluid communication with the ultrafiltration apparatus including a protein return catheter for directing plasma proteins to a major artery in the body segment from which plasma is extracted.
- 2. Apparatus of claim 1 including a second pump cooperating with said plasma water line.
- 3. Apparatus of claim 2 including a third pump cooperating with said return line for pumping plasma proteins therein.
- 4. Apparatus of claim 1, 2 or 3 including a first pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the plasma extraction catheter.
- 5. Apparatus of claim 2 or 3 including a second pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the plasma water line.
- 6. Apparatus of claim 3 including a third pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the return line.
- 7. Apparatus of claim 4 including a microprocessor-controller cooperating with said first pressure sensor and said first pump for controlling said pump in response to pressure sensed by said pressure sensor.
- 8. Apparatus of claim 5 including a microprocessor-controller cooperating with said first and second pressure sensors and said first and second pumps for controlling said pumps in response to pressure sensed by said pressure sensors.
- 9. Apparatus of claim 6 including a microprocessor-controller cooperating with said first, second and third pressure sensors and said first, second and third pumps for controlling said pumps in response to pressure sensed by said pressure sensor.
- 10. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plasma protein return line is operatively connected to said ultrafiltration apparatus.
- 11. Apparatus of claim 10 including a protein collection container operatively connected to said plasma protein return line.
- 12. Apparatus of claim 10 or 11 including a protein sampler device operatively connected to said plasma protein return line.
- 13. Apparatus of claim 10 or 11 including a fluid injection device operatively connected to said plasma protein return line.
- 14. Apparatus of claim 10 or 11 including one or more fluid leak detection devices operatively connected to one or more of said plasma extraction catheter, plasma water line or plasma return line.
- 15. Apparatus of claim 1 including a pump cooperating with said return line for pumping plasma proteins therein.
- 16. Apparatus for treating edema comprising:
a plasma extraction filter device capable of being inserted in a patient's major vein comprising a filter membrane capable of separating blood plasma including plasma proteins from whole blood in-vivo within said vein, a plasma extraction catheter communicating with said filter device for directing said separated blood plasma to an ultrafiltration apparatus, an ultrafiltration apparatus communicating with said plasma extraction catheter for separating plasma water from plasma proteins directed thereto by said plasma extraction catheter, a plasma water line for directing separated plasma water from the ultrafiltration apparatus, and a plasma protein return line communicating with said ultrafiltration apparatus including a protein return catheter for directing plasma proteins from the ultrafiltration apparatus to a major artery in the body segment from which plasma is extracted.
- 17. Apparatus of claim 16 wherein said filter device comprises a plurality of elongated hollow microporous fibers.
- 18. Apparatus of claim 16 including one or more pumps cooperating with said plasma extraction catheter.
- 19. Apparatus of claim 16 including one or more pumps cooperating with said plasma water line.
- 20. Apparatus of claim 16 including one or more pumps cooperating with said return line for pumping plasma proteins therein.
- 21. Apparatus of claim 16, 19 or 20 including one or more pressure sensors for sensing the pressure in the plasma extraction catheter, and/or said plasma water line, and/or said return line.
- 22. Apparatus of claim 20 including a microprocessor-controller cooperating with said one or more pressure sensors and said one or more pumps for controlling said one or more pumps in response to pressure sensed by said one or more pressure sensors.
- 23. Apparatus for treating segmental edema comprising:
a plasma water extraction device for being inserted in a major vein proximal to the body segment containing edemic tissue, said plasma water extraction device comprising an ultrafiltration membrane capable of separating plasma water from blood and plasma protein in-vivo within said vein, a plasma water extraction circuit including a plasma water extraction catheter for directing the separated plasma water from the plasma water extraction device, a siphon tube connected ex-vivo to said plasma water extraction catheter for directing separated plasma water to a container, a collection container in fluid communication with said syphon tube for receiving separated plasma water therefrom, and means for monitoring the amount of separated water plasma and/or the rate of plasma water extraction.
- 24. Apparatus of claim 23 wherein said collection container includes graduations for observing the amount of separated plasma water.
- 25. Apparatus of claim 23 or 24 including a vacuum gauge cooperating with said plasma water extraction circuit for monitoring extraction rates.
- 26. Apparatus of claim 23 wherein said ultrafiltration membrane comprises a plurality of elongated hollow microporous fibers.
- 27. Apparatus of claim 23 or 26 wherein said membrane has a permeability cutoff of about 2,000-3,000 daltons.
- 28. Plasma treatment apparatus comprising:
a plasma extraction device comprising a filter element for being inserted in a patient's blood vessel at a first body location having a plurality of elongated hollow microporous fiber membranes capable of separating plasma including plasma proteins from blood in-vivo within said vein, a first catheter extending from said filter element and in fluid communication with an ultrafiltration apparatus, and a first pump cooperating with said plasma extraction catheter for pumping plasma from the filter element to the ultrafiltration apparatus; an ultrafiltration apparatus for separating plasma water from the plasma directed thereto; a plasma water line in fluid communication with the ultrafiltration apparatus for directing separated plasma water from the ultrafiltration apparatus; and a return line in fluid communication with the ultrafiltration apparatus comprising a second catheter for directing plasma proteins to a patient's blood vessel at a second body location.
- 29. Apparatus of claim 28 including one or more pumps cooperating with said first catheter.
- 30. Apparatus of claim 28 including one or more pumps cooperating with said plasma water line.
- 31. Apparatus of claim 28 including one or more pumps cooperating with said return line.
- 32. Apparatus of claim 28, 29, 30 or 31 including one or more pressure sensors for sensing the pressure in the first catheter, and/or said plasma water line, and/or said return line.
- 33. Apparatus of claim 32 including a microprocessor-controller cooperating with said one or more pressure sensors and said one or more pumps for controlling said one or more pumps in response to pressure sensed by said one or more pressure sensors.
- 34. Apparatus of claim 28 including a fluid injection device operatively connected to said return line.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 09/799,466 filed Mar. 5, 2001.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09799466 |
Mar 2001 |
US |
Child |
10357068 |
Jan 2003 |
US |