Use of nitric oxide gas in an extracorporeal circuitry to treat blood plasma

Abstract

A method of reducing pathogens in blood by exposure to a nitric oxide containing gas in an extracorporeal circuitry is provided. The method includes: obtaining blood from a mammal or a blood source, separating the blood into plasma and blood cells, exposing the plasma to nitric oxide containing gas, combining the exposed plasma with the blood cells, reducing nitric oxide content in the recombined blood, and returning the blood to the mammal or blood source.

Description

FIELD

The present invention is directed to providing nitric oxide containing gas to mammals for medical applications.

BACKGROUND

Numerous techniques have been developed for circulating the blood of a patient outside the body in an “extracorporeal” circuit and then returning it to the patient. For example, in dialysis for patients with kidney failure, blood is circulated extracorporeally and contacted with a large membrane surface separating the blood from a dialysate solution, and urea and other blood chemicals are migrated across the membrane to cleanse the blood, which is then returned to the patient. Another example of extracorporeal circulation is cardiopulmonary bypass (“CPB”), the procedure of mechanically bypassing both the heart and lungs to allow the whole heart to be isolated for surgical repair.

Several complications may arise in circulating blood outside of the patient's body. For example, contact of the blood with the foreign surfaces of the extracorporeal circuit triggers a massive defense reaction in blood proteins and cells that has been called “the whole body inflammatory response.” U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,880, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes an improvement in extracorporeal circulation that employs contacting nitric oxide gas with the circulating blood. The nitric oxide gas was found to inhibit activation of blood platelets, thereby effecting a reduction or prevention of the whole body inflammation response heretofore associated with use of such apparatus.

In the 1980's, it was discovered by researchers that the endothelium tissue of the human body produced nitric oxide (NO), and that NO is an endogenous vasodilator, namely, an agent that widens the internal diameter of blood vessels. Since this discovery, numerous medical applications of NO have developed. Researchers have discovered that inhaled NO may be used to treat various pulmonary diseases in patients. For example, NO has been investigated for the treatment of patients with increased airway resistance as a result of emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

NO has also been investigated for its use as a sterilizing agent. It has been discovered that NO will interfere with or kill the growth of bacteria grown in vitro. PCT International Application No. PCT/CA99/01123 published Jun. 2, 2000 discloses a method and apparatus for the treatment of respiratory infections by NO inhalation. NO has been found to have either an inhibitory and/or a cidal effect on pathogenic cells. Delivery of the nitric oxide in the gaseous phase is preferably through a device having a specially designed nasal-cannula or a mask having a modified Fruman valve. Nitric oxide containing gas has been administered topically to treat infected tissue on the skin surface. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,432,077, Stenzler teaches that topical application of nitric oxide to wounds and/or skin of mammals is beneficial to wound healing because the nitric oxide decreases further infection. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,793,644, Stenzler describes a method of bathing the infected tissue with nitric oxide containing gas, while providing for effective evacuation of the nitric oxide containing gas from the area surrounding the infected tissue.

NO has been investigated as an agent against pathogens and microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, mycobateria, parasites, and fungi. Nitric oxide has found utility as a bactericidal agent. Additionally, several researchers have documented the antiviral effects of NO. Cells infected with influenza virus A/Netherlands/18/94 were treated with NO, an experiment described in Rimmelzwaan, et. al., “Inhibition of Influenza Virus Replication by Nitric Oxide,” J. Virol. 1999; 73:8880-83, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Results show the effectiveness of NO as a preventive therapy to viral agents. Additionally, a study by Sanders, et. al. demonstrates the effectiveness of NO as an antiviral agent, particularly against human rhinovirus. See Sanders, et. al., “Role of Nasal Nitric Oxide in the Resolution of Experimental Rhinovirus Infection,” J. Allergy Clin, Immunol. 2004 April; 113(4):697-702, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/658,655 describes a method for systematic delivery of the nitric oxide moiety in an extracorporeal circuit to reduce whole body contamination by pathogenic or toxic substances. Specific applications of the Ser. No. 10/658,655 application focus on managing bacteremia (blood poisoning) and/or septicemia in mammals. The Ser. No. 10/658,655 application describes the method of reducing pathogens in the mammal's blood stream to include the steps of: (1) providing an extracorporeal blood circuit; (2) circulating the mammal's blood through the extracorporeal blood circuit; and (3) exposing the blood in the circuit with nitric oxide gas in a concentration sufficient to reduce pathogenic content in the blood.

Accordingly, there is a need for a device and method for the extracorporeal treatment of the blood by the administration of nitric oxide containing gas. The exposure to NO containing gas could be used in combination with other extracorporeal procedures such as dialysis to provide for a defense against infections or as a stand alone method for decontamination and/or treatment of the blood. The treatment serves to effectively contact the blood with the nitric oxide containing gas so as to reduce the concentration of pathogens in the blood. The methods consider how to best contact the pathogens in the blood. The methods consider how to remove dissolved nitric oxide gas from the treated blood so that the blood returned to the patient has a safe concentration of dissolved nitric oxide gas therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is a method of reducing pathogens in the blood of a mammal. The method includes the steps of: (1) obtaining blood from a mammal or a blood source; (2) separating the blood into plasma and blood cells; (3) exposing the plasma to nitric oxide containing gas; (4) combining the exposed plasma with the blood cells; (5) reducing nitric oxide content in the recombined blood; and (6) returning the blood to the mammal or blood source.

The content of nitric oxide in the recombined blood may be reduced by contacting the combined blood with a gaseous source, wherein the gaseous source has a nitric oxide content that is less than the combined blood. Such a gas source is ambient air. The content of nitric oxide in the combined blood may be reduced by providing a semipermeable membrane selectively permeable to nitric oxide gas in between the combined blood and a gaseous source. The content of nitric oxide in the combined blood may be reduced by exposing the blood to a composition comprising a free radical scavenger.

The methods of the present invention may also include the step of exposing the blood to oxygen.

The separation step may be accomplished with known plasmapheresis techniques. These techniques include a filter, a centrifuge, and dialysis to separate the blood cells from the plasma or serum.

The methods of the present invention may use a nitric oxide containing gas having a nitric oxide concentration of about 120 ppm to about 400 ppm, preferably, about 160 ppm to about 220 ppm. These concentrations combined with sufficient time and contact with the plasma reduce pathogen concentration in the plasma. Exposure of the plasma to the nitric oxide containing gas effectively kills viruses, bacteria, mycobateria, parasites, and fungi found in the plasma.

The plasma absorbs nitric oxide gas through an effective exposure system. One such system includes providing a semipermeable membrane selectively permeable to nitric oxide gas and impermeable to nitrogen gas. The plasma contacts the outside membrane. The nitric oxide containing gas is delivered to the inside of the membrane under pressure sufficient to drive the nitric oxide across the membrane for contact with the plasma on the outside of the membrane.

Another embodiment of the invention is an extracorporeal blood circuit capable of completing the method steps outlined above. The extracorporeal blood circuit includes: (1) an inlet line adapted to receive blood from a mammal or a blood source; (2) an outlet line adapted to return blood to the mammal or blood source; (3) a fluid circuit for fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet line, wherein the fluid circuit comprises: (a) at least one pump acting on the fluid circuit to circulate the blood therethrough; (b) a separation unit in fluid communication with the inlet line, wherein the separation unit is adapted to separate the blood received from the mammal or source into plasma and blood cells; (c) a nitric oxide unit that exposes the plasma with a nitric oxide gas containing gas; (d) a mixer for combining the exposed plasma with the blood cells; and (e) a reduction unit for reducing the nitric oxide content in the combined blood, wherein the reduction unit is in fluid communication with the outlet line.

Other units in the circuitry may include one or more of a reservoir to collect the blood from the mammal or source, an oxygenator, a dialysis component, an organ perfusion component, a heat exchange component, and an oxygenation component.

Thus, the exposure of the blood to nitric oxide containing gas provides a modality in the medical management of bacteremia (blood poisoning) and/or septicemia in mammals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method of reducing pathogens in blood, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a diffusion conduit through which the nitric oxide containing gas may contact the plasma, according one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a reduction unit, wherein the level of nitric oxide gas is reduced from the recombined blood.

FIG. 4 is a schematic showing the nitric oxide source and delivery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present compositions and methods are described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular devices, compositions, methodologies or protocols described, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims.

Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated by reference. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the invention is not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention. As used herein, terms such as “subject,” “patient,” and “mammal” may be used interchangeable.

FIG. 1 represents a flow chart for a method of extracorporeal treatment of the blood. At step 12, blood is extracted from a patient 10 or blood source. For ease of description, the Applicants have focused on extraction from a human patient. However, the methods and devices are applicable to other mammals and may also be used to treat blood from any source, such as a blood bank. Any appropriate inlet line may be used to extract blood from a patient. For example, extraction may include inserting one or more venous catheter into the patient, either in a limb or central vein. Blood may be collected into an optional reservoir and then routed to the separator or blood may flow directly into the separator.

Next, at step 15, the extracted blood is separated into blood's two main components, i.e., the plasma or serum and the blood cells, including both red and white blood cells. This step may also be thought of as the removal of blood cells from the plasma. Several techniques may be used to separate blood into plasma 20 and blood cells 22. Such techniques may be borrowed from plasmapheresis techniques. Plasmapheresis is a blood purification procedure also known as plasma exchange. In plasmapheresis, blood is removed from a patient, blood cells are separated from plasma, fresh plasma is substituted for the extracted plasma, and the fresh plasma and blood cells are returned the patient. The present methods thus rely on the principles of separation exhibited in plasmapheresis techniques. These separation techniques include filtration, dialysis and centrifugation.

For example, in discontinuous flow centrifugation, about 300 mL of blood is centrifuged at a time to separate plasma from blood cells. In discontinuous flow, only one venous catheter line is required. Blood may be routed from the patient to a collection reservoir before batch configuration. A continuous flow centrifugation may also be practiced using two or more venous lines. This continuous procedure requires slightly less blood volume to be out of the patient at any one time. In plasma filtration, two venous line are used. The plasma is filtered out of the blood using standard hemodialysis equipment. Less than 100 mL of blood are required to be outside the patient at one time using this filtering technique.

Once plasma has been isolated from the blood, it may be exposed to nitric oxide containing gas, at step 25. As described in the background section, nitric oxide gas has been used against pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, mycobateria, parasites, and fungi. These pathogens, if blood borne, may be found in the patient's plasma or serum. To more effectively target the destruction of pathogens in a patient's blood, the isolated plasma is exposed to nitric oxide containing gas. This direct exposure of the plasma to a nitric oxide containing gas, as compared to blood (plasma and blood cells) is a highly effective decontamination technique.

At step 25, exposing the plasma to a nitric oxide containing gas may be accomplished using the techniques described in the parent application, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/658,665, herein incorporated in its entirety. The nitric oxide containing gas may be supplied at step 30. Appropriate techniques for diluting nitric oxide gas to usable concentrations may be employed, such as appropriate blending of pure nitric oxide with other carrier gases. Carrier gases may include air, nitrogen, and oxygen. The methods of the present invention may use a nitric oxide containing gas having a nitric oxide concentration of about 120 ppm to about 400 ppm, preferably, about 160 ppm to about 220 ppm.

The nitric oxide containing gas may be dosed and delivered using known delivery techniques. See FIG. 4, wherein a schematic is shown demonstrating one manner of delivery of NO gas. The nitric oxide (NO) source 7, can be a pressurized cylinder containing nitric oxide (NO) gas, and a nitric oxide flow control valve/pressure regulator 8, delivering nitric oxide (NO) to the gaseous nitric oxide delivery device 1 through supply tubing 9 and an optional gas blender 15. In FIG. 4, the nitric oxide (NO) gas source 7 is a pressurized cylinder containing nitric oxide (NO) gas. While the use of a pressurized cylinder is the preferable method of storing the nitric oxide (NO) containing gas source 7, other storage and delivery means, such as a dedicated feed line can also be used. Typically the nitric oxide (NO) gas source 7 is a mixture of N₂ and NO. While N₂ is typically used to dilute the concentration of NO within the pressurized cylinder, any inert gas can also be used.

When the NO gas source 7 is stored in a pressurized cylinder, it is preferable that the concentration of NO in the pressurized cylinder fall within the range of about 800 ppm to about 1200 ppm. Commercial nitric oxide manufacturers typically produce nitric oxide mixtures for medical use at around the 1000 ppm range. Extremely high concentrations of NO are undesirable because accidental leakage of NO gas is more hazardous, and high partial pressures of NO tends to cause the spontaneous degradation of NO into nitrogen. Pressurized cylinders containing low concentrations of NO (i.e., less than 100 ppm NO) can also be used in accordance the device and method disclosed herein. Of course, the lower the concentration of NO used, the more often the pressurized cylinders will need replacement.

FIG. 4 also shows source of diluent gas 11 as part of the NO delivery device 1 that is used to dilute the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) for delivery to the gaseous nitric oxide (NO) delivery device 1 through line 13. The source of diluent gas 11 can contain N₂, O₂, air, an inert gas, or a mixture of these gases. It is preferable to use a gas such as N₂ or an inert gas to dilute the NO concentration since these gases will not oxidize the nitric oxide (NO) into NO₂, as would O₂ or air. The source of diluent gas 11 is shown as being stored within a pressurized cylinder. While the use of a pressurized cylinder is shown in FIG. 4 as the means for storing the source of diluent gas 11, other storage and delivery means, such as a dedicated feed line can also be used. The nitric oxide (NO) gas from the nitric oxide (NO) gas source 7 and the diluent gas from the diluent gas source 11 preferably pass through flow control valve/pressure regulators 8, 120, to reduce the pressure of gas that is admitted to the gaseous nitric oxide (NO) delivery device 1.

The respective gas streams pass via tubing 9, 13, to an optional gas blender 15. The gas blender 15 mixes the nitric oxide (NO) gas and the diluent gas to produce a nitric oxide (NO)-containing gas that has a reduced concentration of nitric oxide (NO). Preferably, the nitric oxide (NO)-containing gas that is output from the gas blender 15 has a concentration that is greater than about 100 ppm. The nitric oxide (NO)-containing gas that is output from the gas blender 15 travels via tubing 160 to a flow control valve 17. The flow control valve 17 can include, for example, a proportional control valve that opens (or closes) in a progressively increasing (or decreasing if closing) manner. As another example, the flow control valve 17 can include a mass flow controller. The flow control valve 17 controls the flow rate of the nitric oxide (No)-containing gas that is input to the gaseous nitric oxide (NO) delivery device 1. The nitric oxide (NO)-containing gas leaves the flow control valve 17 via flexible tubing 180. The flexible tubing 180 attaches to an inlet of the gaseous nitric oxide (NO) delivery device 1. The inlet for 1 might include an optional one-way valve that prevents the backflow of gas. From flexible tubing 6, the NO containing gas is routed to unit 25 (FIG. 1), wherein the plasma is exposed to the gas.

An effective amount, i.e., an amount sufficient to reduce the content of pathogens in the plasma, is generally greater than about 100 ppm nitric oxide gas. A flowrate of about 1 liter per minute of about 160 ppm nitric oxide to about 400 ppm nitric oxide may be delivered to the exposure unit. The nitric oxide containing gas is controllably delivered in relation to the amount of plasma being treated.

A semipermeable membrane selectively permeable to nitric oxide gas and impermeable to nitrogen gas may provide an effective exposure technique at step 25 (FIG. 1). The outside of the membrane contacts the plasma, while the inside of the membrane provides the interface for the nitric oxide containing gas. The nitric oxide containing gas is delivered to the inside of the membrane under pressure sufficient to drive the nitric oxide across the membrane, contacting the plasma of the other side. Such contact may be accomplished with the diffusion device illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the gas permeable membrane 60 is elongated and tubular in form and is disposed longitudinally within conduit 62 adapted to come into contact with plasma flowing through the diffusion conduit 62. The nitric oxide containing gas is supplied through tubing 64 and flows into the interior of gas permeable membrane 60. Due to the permeability of this membrane 60 to nitric oxide gas, the gas will diffuse through the membrane and dissolve in the plasma where it will come in contact with pathogens. The membrane 60 is selected to be impermeable to the carrier gas, such as nitrogen or air and thus the carrier gas will not diffuse through the membrane. The nitric oxide containing gas flows into the membrane 60 at location 70. As the gas pressure inside the gas permeable membrane 60 exceeds the pressure of the plasma within conduit 62, nitric oxide gas will diffuse from the membrane into the plasma as indicated by arrows 74. The plasma flows through the diffusion conduit 62 as illustrated by arrows 72.

Before recombining the treated plasma and the blood cells at step 32, the treated plasma may optionally be run through a bacterial particulate filter to remove lipopolysaccharide (LPS) material, at step 31. LPS is a result of dead bacteria as their cell walls are made up of this material. Excessive levels of LPS may cause an inflammatory response once the recombined blood is returned to the body, even if the bacteria in the plasma are dead. The line before the filter step 31 may also have a LPS monitor (not illustrated) to determine if the removal through filter step 31 is necessary. Thus, LPS is preferably removed before combining the treated plasma with the blood cells.

At step 32, the treated plasma and the blood cells are recombined in any suitable manner. Plasmapheresis techniques of recombining plasma and blood cells may be specifically employed. Therefore, the blood after the recombining step 32 contains dissolved nitric oxide gas. As explained in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/658,665, it may be desirable to remove some of the dissolve nitric gas in the blood before returning the blood to the patient. This removal of dissolved nitric oxide gas would specifically remove freely available (excess) nitric oxide gas remaining in the blood after treatment step 25. Much of the nitric oxide gas absorbed by the plasma at step 25 specifically binds to the pathogens to effectuate their destruction. However, excess dissolved nitric oxide gas may remain.

Such removal at step 35 may be accomplished through the use of a free radical scavenger, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/658,665. An example of a free radical scavenger is citric acid. Removal of some of the nitric oxide gas in the blood counteracts the formation of methemoglobin in the blood. Sufficient quantities of methemoglobin may cause patient injury or death. When blood is exposed to such levels of nitric oxide gas that may reduce pathogens in the blood, the blood is ripe for the formation of methemoglobin. To counteract the formation of methemoglobin in the blood due to extracorporeal treatment, removal of some dissolved nitric oxide gas in the blood 35 is critical before its return to the patient. This removal step preferably results in treating the recombined blood to obtain levels of methemoglobin of less than about 5% and preferably less than about 2%. Methemogloblin may be measured by removing blood samples and analyzing them on a blood coximeter (spectrophotometeric techniques) or directly in the patient by using non-invasive methemoglobiomitry.

Therefore, unit 35 (FIG. 1) may be a free-radical scavenger unit containing any conventional free-radical scavenger. An example of such a conventional free-radical scavenger includes and is not limited to citric acid. In any case, the free-radical scavenger is exposed to the treated blood and cleanses the blood of residual nitric oxide, obviously, the nitric oxide is not entirely removed from the blood but it is sufficiently removed that it should not pose an obstacle to the patient's health.

Other removal techniques are possible. For example, the blood containing dissolved nitric oxide gas may be exposed to a gaseous source, wherein the gaseous source is substantially free of nitric oxide. The gaseous source has a concentration of nitric oxide that is less than the concentration of nitric oxide in the blood. Therefore, a partial pressure separation may occur. The pressure differential between the blood and the gaseous source will drive the nitric oxide gas from the blood to the gaseous source until an equilibrium of partial pressure is reached. The gaseous source may be simply ambient air. A semipermeable membrane selectively permeable to nitric oxide gas may be provided in between the blood containing the dissolved nitric oxide and gaseous source. Through passive diffusion, the higher concentration or partial pressure of nitric oxide in the liquid (blood) will pass from a region of higher concentration (blood) to a region of lower concentration (gaseous source) until a balanced partial pressure is achieved. After the diffusion of the dissolved nitric oxide gas through the membrane, the post-treatment blood would contain very little dissolved nitric oxide gas. The blood may then be safely returned to the patient, at step 50, the returned blood having this reduced nitric oxide level. The blood returned at step 50 has a reduced pathogen concentration as compared to the extracted blood 12.

As another example of the removal step 35, see FIG. 3 which is a NO reduction device with an inlet 34 for the recombined and NO-rich blood and an outlet 36 for the blood with reduced levels of NO. Essentially, it is a mixing chamber wherein citric acid or methelyne blue is titrated (feed back based on result of methemoglobin level) into the blood and mixed (spiral line 37 indicates mixing) to remove NO from plasma and/or hemoglobin. Successful removal of NO is indirectly assessed by sampling the resulting mixture (after sufficient time and mixing) from the valve 33 and measuring methmoglobin level with cooximetry inline or offline sampling.

The extracorporeal circuitry may include one or more pumps 40 necessary to transport the blood from one step to the next, before return to the patient. Additionally illustrated in FIG. 1 at step 45 is an optional oxygenator, such as the one described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/658,665 used to expose the blood to oxygen gas. The oxygenator may treat the blood before it has been separated into the plasma and blood cells. Alternatively, the oxygenator may be downstream from the separation unit, such as located after the recombination of the treated plasma and the blood cells.

The extracorporeal circuitry may include: (1) an inlet line adapted to receive blood from a mammal or a blood source; (2) an outlet line adapted to return blood to the mammal or blood source; and (3) a fluid circuit for fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet line. Other components of the fluid circuit include: (1) at least one pump to circulate the blood; (2) a separation unit in fluid communication with the inlet line, wherein the separation unit is adapted to separate the blood received from the mammal or source into plasma and blood cells; (3) a nitric oxide unit that exposes the plasma with a nitric oxide gas containing gas; (4) a mixer for combining the exposed plasma with the blood cells; and (5) a reduction unit for reducing the nitric oxide content in the combined blood, wherein the reduction unit is in fluid communication with the outlet line.

Several optional components may be included into the circuitry. For example, a reservoir may be used to collect the blood from the mammal or source and thus monitor the amount of blood entering the separation unit. Additionally, in accordance with traditional uses of extracorporeal equipment and procedures, an oxygenator, a dialysis component, an organ perfusion component, a heat exchange component, and/or an oxygenation component may be incorporated into the circuitry. Such devices are known in the art. Optionally, blood circulating through the circuitry may be treated with an anticlotting agent to prevent clotting. Furthermore, the circuitry includes the necessary flexible tubing and pump devices for circulating the fluids.

While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The invention, therefore, should not be limited, except to the following claims, and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method of reducing pathogens in blood, the method comprising: obtaining blood from a mammal or a blood source;separating the blood into plasma and blood cells;exposing the plasma to nitric oxide containing gas;combining the exposed plasma with the blood cells;reducing nitric oxide gas content in the recombined blood by contacting the recombined blood with a gaseous source having a nitric oxide content that is less than the recombined blood; andreturning the recombined blood to the mammal or blood source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaseous source is ambient air.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising exposing the blood to oxygen, wherein the exposing to oxygen step occurs before the separation step or after the recombining step.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the separating is through one or more of a filter, a centrifuge, or dialysis.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plasma is exposed to a concentration of nitric oxide over a period of time sufficient to reduce pathogen concentration in the blood.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pathogens are selected from viruses, bacteria, mycobateria, parasites, and fungi.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the nitric oxide containing gas is controllably introduced in relation to an amount of plasma separated from the blood.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the exposing step comprises: providing a semipermeable membrane selectively permeable to nitric oxide gas and impermeable to nitrogen gas adapted to allow contact of an outside of the membrane with the plasma; anddelivering nitric oxide containing gas to an inside of the membrane under pressure sufficient to drive the nitric oxide across the membrane for contact with the plasma on the outside of the membrane within a desired concentration range sufficient to reduce pathogen concentration in the plasma.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of nitric oxide in the nitric oxide containing gas is about 120 ppm to about 400 ppm.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the concentration is about 160 ppm to about 220 ppm.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of nitric oxide in the nitric oxide containing gas is less than about 120 ppm and more than 0.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein before the combining the exposed plasma with the blood cells step, the exposed plasma is treated by a bacterial particulate filter to reduce levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the plasma.

13. An extracorporeal blood circuit comprising: an inlet line adapted to obtain blood from a mammal or a blood source;an outlet line adapted to return blood to the mammal or blood source;a fluid circuit for fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet line, wherein the fluid circuit comprises:at least one pump acting on the fluid circuit to circulate the blood therethrough;a separation unit in fluid communication with the inlet line, wherein the separation unit is adapted to separate the blood received from the mammal or source into plasma and blood cells;a nitric oxide unit that exposes the plasma with a nitric oxide containing gas;a mixer for combining the exposed plasma with the blood cells; anda reduction unit for reducing the nitric oxide content in the recombined blood, wherein the reduction unit is in fluid communication with the outlet line and contacts the recombined blood with a gaseous source having a nitric oxide content that is less than the recombined blood.

14. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 13, further comprising one or more of a reservoir to collect the blood from the mammal or source, an oxygenator, a dialysis component, an organ perfusion component, a heat exchange component, and an oxygenation component.

15. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 13, wherein the gaseous source is ambient air.

16. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 13, wherein the separation unit comprises one or more of a filter, a centrifuge, and dialysis.

17. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 13, wherein the nitric oxide unit comprises: a semipermeable membrane selectively permeable to nitric oxide gas and impermeable to nitrogen gas adapted to allow contact of an outside of the membrane with the plasma; andnitric oxide containing gas deliverable to an inside of the membrane under pressure sufficient to drive the nitric oxide across the membrane for contact with the plasma on the outside of the membrane within a desired concentration range sufficient to reduce pathogen concentration in the plasma.

18. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 13, wherein the concentration of nitric oxide in the nitric oxide containing gas is about 120 ppm to about 400 ppm.

19. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 18, wherein the concentration is about 160 ppm to about 220 ppm.

20. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 13, wherein the concentration of nitric oxide in the nitric oxide containing gas is less than about 120 ppm and more than 0.

21. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 13, further comprising a bacterial particulate filter to reduce levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the plasma.

22. A method of reducing pathogens in blood, the method comprising: obtaining blood from a mammal or a blood source;separating the blood into plasma and blood cells;exposing the plasma to nitric oxide containing gas;combining the exposed plasma with the blood cells;reducing nitric oxide gas content in the recombined blood by providing a semipermeable membrane selectively permeable to nitric oxide gas in between the recombined blood and a gaseous source; andreturning the recombined blood to the mammal or blood source.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the gaseous source is ambient air.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising exposing the blood to oxygen, wherein the exposing to oxygen step occurs before the separation step or after the recombining step.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the separating is through one or more of a filter, a centrifuge, or dialysis.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the plasma is exposed to a concentration of nitric oxide over a period of time sufficient to reduce pathogen concentration in the blood.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the pathogens are selected from viruses, bacteria, mycobateria, parasites, and fungi.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the nitric oxide containing gas is controllably introduced in relation to an amount of plasma separated from the blood.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the exposing step comprises: providing a semipermeable membrane selectively permeable to nitric oxide gas and impermeable to nitrogen gas adapted to allow contact of an outside of the membrane with the plasma; anddelivering nitric oxide containing gas to an inside of the membrane under pressure sufficient to drive the nitric oxide across the membrane for contact with the plasma on the outside of the membrane within a desired concentration range sufficient to reduce pathogen concentration in the plasma.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the concentration of nitric oxide in the nitric oxide containing gas is about 120 ppm to about 400 ppm.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the concentration is about 160 ppm to about 220 ppm.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein the concentration of nitric oxide in the nitric oxide containing gas is less than about 120 ppm and more than 0.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein before the combining the exposed plasma with the blood cells step, the exposed plasma is treated by a bacterial particulate filter to reduce levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the plasma.

34. An extracorporeal blood circuit comprising: an inlet line adapted to obtain blood from a mammal or a blood source;an outlet line adapted to return blood to the mammal or blood source;a fluid circuit for fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet line, wherein the fluid circuit comprises:at least one pump acting on the fluid circuit to circulate the blood therethrough;a separation unit in fluid communication with the inlet line, wherein the separation unit is adapted to separate the blood received from the mammal or source into plasma and blood cells;a nitric oxide unit that exposes the plasma with a nitric oxide gas containing gas;a mixer for combining the exposed plasma with the blood cells; anda reduction unit for reducing the nitric oxide content in the recombined blood, wherein the reduction unit is in fluid communication with the outlet line and comprises a semipermeable membrane selectively permeable to nitric oxide gas operably fitted in between the combined blood and a gaseous source.

35. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 34, further comprising one or more of a reservoir to collect the blood from the mammal or source, an oxygenator, a dialysis component, an organ perfusion component, a heat exchange component, and an oxygenation component.

36. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 34, wherein the gaseous source is ambient air.

37. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 34, wherein the separation unit comprises one or more of a filter, a centrifuge, and dialysis.

38. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 34, wherein the nitric oxide unit comprises: a semipermeable membrane selectively permeable to nitric oxide gas and impermeable to nitrogen gas adapted to allow contact of an outside of the membrane with the plasma; andnitric oxide containing gas deliverable to an inside of the membrane under pressure sufficient to drive the nitric oxide across the membrane for contact with the plasma on the outside of the membrane within a desired concentration range sufficient to reduce pathogen concentration in the plasma.

39. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 34, wherein the concentration of nitric oxide in the nitric oxide containing gas is about 120 ppm to about 400 ppm.

40. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 39, wherein the concentration is about 160 ppm to about 220 ppm.

41. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 34, wherein the concentration of nitric oxide in the nitric oxide containing gas is less than about 120 ppm and more than 0.

42. The extracorporeal blood circuit of claim 34, further comprising a bacterial particulate filter to reduce levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the plasma.