Claims
- 1. A device for removing at least one lipid from a fluid containing lipids or from a lipid-containing organism, comprising:
at least one homogenizer for mixing the fluid with a single extraction solvent to form a mixture of the fluid and the single extraction solvent and causing at least a portion of the at least one lipid to separate from the fluid; and at least one solvent removal device for removing at least a portion of the single extraction solvent from the mixture.
- 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a fluid supply for supplying a fluid to the homogenizer.
- 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the fluid supply for supplying a fluid to the homogenizer comprises a device for removing plasma from blood.
- 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one solvent removal device is comprised of at least one hollow fiber contactor.
- 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one hollow fiber contactor is comprised of at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in parallel.
- 6. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one hollow fiber contactor comprises at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in series.
- 7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a solvent removal subsystem for removing the extraction solvent from a material used in the at least one solvent removal device to remove the extraction solvent from the fluid.
- 8. A device for removing at least one lipid from a fluid containing lipids or from a lipid-containing organism, comprising:
at least one homogenizer for mixing the fluid with an extraction solvent to form a mixture of the fluid and the extraction solvent and causing at least a portion of the at least one lipid to separate from the fluid; and at least one hollow fiber contactor for removing at least a portion of the extraction solvent from the mixture.
- 9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a fluid supply for supplying a fluid to the homogenizer.
- 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the fluid supply for supplying a fluid to the homogenizer comprises a device for removing plasma from blood.
- 11. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one hollow fiber contactor is comprised of at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in parallel.
- 12. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one hollow fiber contactor comprises at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in series.
- 13. The device of claim 8, further comprising a solvent removal subsystem for removing the extraction solvent from a material used to remove the extraction solvent from fluid in the at least one hollow fiber contactor.
- 14. A device for removing at least one lipid from a fluid containing lipids or from lipid-containing organisms, comprising:
means for mixing the fluid with a single extraction solvent forming a mixture and causing at least a portion of the at least one lipid to separate from the fluid; and solvent removal means for removing at least a portion of the single extraction solvent from the fluid.
- 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the means for mixing the fluid with a single extraction solvent comprises at least one homogenizer.
- 16. The device of claim 14, wherein the solvent removal means comprises at least one hollow fiber contactor.
- 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the solvent removal means comprises at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in parallel.
- 18. The device of claim 16, wherein the solvent removal means comprises at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in series.
- 19. A method for removing at least one lipid from a fluid containing lipids or from lipid-containing organisms, comprising:
mixing the fluid with a single extraction solvent forming a mixture of the fluid and the single extraction solvent and causing at least a portion of the at least one lipid to separate from the fluid; and removing at least a portion of the single extraction solvent from the mixture.
- 20. The method of claim 19, wherein mixing the fluid with the single extraction solvent comprises mixing the fluid using a homogenizer.
- 21. The method of claim 19, wherein removing at least a portion of the single extraction solvent from the mixture comprises removing at least a portion of the extraction solvent using at least one hollow fiber contactor.
- 22. The method of claim 19, wherein removing at least a portion of the single extraction solvent from the mixture comprises removing at least a portion of the extraction solvent using at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in series.
- 23. The method of claim 19, wherein removing at least a portion of the single extraction solvent from the mixture comprises removing at least a portion of the extraction solvent using at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in parallel.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/301,159, filed Jun. 25, 2001, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/346,094, filed Jan. 2, 2002, which are incorporated by reference herein.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60301159 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
|
60346094 |
Jan 2002 |
US |