The present invention relates to systems and devices to treat and/or prevent inflammatory conditions within a subject and to related methods. More particularly, the invention relates to systems, devices, and related methods that sequester leukocytes and/or platelets and then inhibit their inflammatory action.

Systems and methods for the removal of carbon dioxide from circulating blood via the use of microbubbles within a body cavity, optionally including the simultaneous provision of oxygen to the circulatory system. Through placement of microbubbles within a body cavity and the use of a carbon dioxide scavenging catheter, carbon dioxide and/or oxygen exchange may occur. Overall improvement in extending survival rate time during emergency situations caused by pulmonary or similar ventilation restricting injury and/or failure may be achieved.

A method of collecting mononuclear cells includes separating whole blood into plasma and cellular components, purifying the plasma through a plasma adsorption column to create purified plasma, combining the cellular components with the purified plasma to form a first mixture, and separating the first mixture into mononuclear cells and at least one component. Alternatively, whole blood may be flowed through an adsorption column to create purified whole blood, with the purified whole blood then being separated into mononuclear cells and at least one component.

The invention concerns biocompatible polymer systems comprising at least one polymer with a plurality of pores, said polymer comprising either polyol or zwitterionic groups designed to adsorb endotoxins and other inflammatory mediator molecules. The inventions are in the field of porous polymeric sorbents, also in the field of broadly reducing endotoxins in blood and blood products that can cause endotoxemia, additionally, in the field of broadly removing endotoxins by perfusion or hemoperfusion.

An airtrap for a medical or physiological fluid in one embodiment includes a conical housing having a radius that increases from its top to its bottom when the housing is positioned for operation; a medical or physiological fluid inlet located at an upper portion of the conical housing; a medical or physiological fluid outlet located at a lower portion of the conical housing, the inlet and the outlet positioned and arranged so that medical or physiological fluid spirals in an increasing arc around an inside of the conical housing downwardly from the inlet to the outlet; and a gas collection area located at an upper portion of the conical housing. In another embodiment, the airtrap is shaped like a seahorse having a head section and a tail section. Any of the airtraps herein may be used for example in blood sets, peritoneal dialysis cassette tubing, and drug delivery sets.

Provided herein are materials and methods of reducing contamination in a biological substance or treating contamination in a subject by one or more toxins comprising contacting the biological substance with an effective amount of a sorbent capable of sorbing the toxin, wherein the sorbent comprises a plurality of pores ranging from 50 Å to 40,000 Å with a pore volume of 0.5 cc/g to 5.0 cc/g and a size of 0.05 mm to 2 cm and sorbing the toxin. Also provided are kits to reduce contamination by one or more toxins in a biological substance comprising a sorbent capable of sorbing a toxin, wherein the sorbent comprises a plurality of pores ranging from 50 Å to 40,000 Å with a pore volume of 0.5 cc/g to 5.0 cc/g and a size of 0.05 mm to 2 cm and a vessel to store said sorbent when not in use together with packaging for same.

A method of diagnosing, monitoring progression of, or monitoring treatment of inflammatory bowel disease comprises determining the levels of CD14.sup.+HLA-DR.sup.hi monocytes or monocytes expressing CCR7 or CCR9 or both CCR7 and CCR9 in a sample obtained from a subject, wherein high levels of CD14.sup.+HLA-DR.sup.hi monocytes or monocytes expressing CCR7 or CCR9 or both CCR7 and CCR9, or increased levels of CD14.sup.+HLA-DR.sup.hi monocytes or monocytes expressing CCR7 or CCR9 or both CCR7 and CCR9 compared to control, indicate the presence or progression of inflammatory bowel disease. Similar methods for diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome are also described. Various companion therapeutic methods and useful binding reagents are also described.

An improved system and methods for treatment of cancer and other diseases including complications from late-stage viral infections by inducing hyperthermia in a patient relying on withdrawing blood from the patient and returning the withdrawn blood to the patient to establish an extracorporeal flow circuit. Blood is heated by passing through the extracorporeal circuit at a controlled rate until a target body core temperature in is achieved. Usually, the blood will be subjected to a continuously re-circulating dialysis to balance electrolytes. Additionally, the blood will be subjected to a continuously recirculating regeneration through a carbon sorbent column where toxins and contaminants are removed. The blood temperature is maintained at the target blood temperature for a treatment period, and the blood is cooled after the treatment period has been completed. The method can also be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, hepatitis, sepsis, the Epstein-Barr virus, and patients with life threatening complications from other viruses, including the COVID-19 virus. A method for removing viruses from the blood supply in an external circuit is also presented. An adjunct of the present invention is enhanced production of stem cells as a result of employing the HEATT process. A further adjunct is production of transgenic swine with extant viral infections.

A process includes removing air bubbles from extracorporeal blood via chemical entrapment of nitrogen (N.sub.2) gas.

Provided are methods for preparing pathogen-inactivated platelet compositions, as well as processing sets and compositions related thereto.