The invention is directed to the treatment of COVID-19 patients by withdrawing SARS-CoV-2 viral particles from the patient's circulation by apheresis using a binding agent in either a fixed bed, or in a form easily removed, such as by being complexed with magnetic particles. The reduction in viral particles may be combined by reduction of active gal-3 levels in the patient which may provide further relief of conditions associated with COVID-19 that may include symptoms associated with the cytokine storm that is associated with COVID-19 infection. Both SARS-CoV-2 viral particles and gal-3 may be bound by modified citrus pectin of less than sixty thousand Daltons. The process may be combined with the administration of supportive agents like antivirals, anti-inflammatories, immune based inhibitors, vitamins and modified citrus pectin.

The present invention pertains to present invention relates to a device comprising conjugate/s, and uses thereof in depleting at least one amine, specifically ammonia from body fluids. The present disclosure further provides systems, apparatus, conjugates, plurality of conjugates, and methods. More specifically, the conjugate comprising a particle bonded to at least one linker comprising a chain of n carbon atoms covalently bonded to m carbonyl groups, and at least one trapping agent A covalently bonded to the m.sup.th carbonyl group, (Formula I) wherein, n is an integer within the range of 5 to 15, and m is an integer within the range of 5 to 10, wherein trapping agent A is characterized by having the ability to capture or bind amine. In some optional embodiments, the amine is at least one of methylamine, dimethylamine or trimethylamine. In some embodiments, the linker of the conjugate of the disclosed device comprises a straight chain alkane and m carbonyl groups

Plasma/cell concentrator apparatus and methods are described herein for concentrating constituents from a fluid. Generally, a volume of the fluid may be urged from a first reservoir to a second reservoir through a fluid channel and a volume of desiccant for mixing with the fluid may be introduced to create a mixture. This fluid and desiccant mixture may be passed between the first and second reservoirs until one or more components from the fluid are absorbed by the desiccant. After mixing, the fluid may be withdrawn through a withdrawal channel which is in fluid communication with the fluid channel while preventing the desiccant from passing into the withdrawal channel.

Generally, a blood plasma immunomodulating agent rebalancing system. In particular, a blood plasma sTNFR and cytokine rebalancing system and methods of rebalancing sTNFR and cytokines in the blood plasma of a subject during plasmapheresis.

A system for measuring at least one fluid characteristic at various stages within a sorbent system that has a sorbent cartridge that has at least one material layer and at least one fluid passageway in at least one location in the sorbent system to provide a diverted sample stream from the various stages. At least one fluid characteristic of the diverted sample stream is measured.

The present invention relates to an apheresis device (1) for the extracorporeal removal of C-reactive protein from blood of a patient, wherein the apheresis device is connectable to the blood circulation of the patient. The blood is pumped via a part of the extracorporeal circulation system (2) of the apheresis device (1) according to the invention to a cell separator (7) for separation of the blood into blood plasma and cellular components. Via a first outlet of the cell separator (7), the separated blood plasma is directed by means of a plasma line (8A) to an apheresis column (4) for affinity chromatographic removal of C-reactive protein from the blood plasma. After removal of the C-reactive protein from the blood plasma of the patient, said now treated blood plasma is combined with the cellular components of the blood via a plasma line (8B). Furthermore, the apheresis device (1) according to the invention comprises a bypass line (12), which leads from the plasma line (8A) into the plasma line (8B) while bypassing the apheresis column (4). The apheresis device (1) according to the invention also comprises a regeneration line (14), which runs into the plasma line (8A) or directly into the apheresis column (4).

The present invention provides: a porous fiber that exhibits both improved adsorption capacity, and suppressed exposure and detachment of particulates; an adsorption column filled with said porous fiber; and a blood purification system in which an adsorption column is connected to a water removal column. The porous fiber according to the present invention has a three-dimensional pore structure formed by a solid fiber, and satisfies all of the following conditions. (1) The porous fiber has particulates having a diameter of not more than 200 μm, and the percentage of area occupied by said particulates having a diameter of not more than 200 μm in a horizontal cross section of the three-dimensional pore structure is at least 3.0%. (2) The porous fiber does not contain said particulates having a diameter of not more than 200 μm in the region within 1.0 μm in the depth direction from the outermost surface.

The present invention is directed to a method for removing cytokines and/or pathogens from blood or blood serum (blood) by contacting the blood with a solid, essentially non microporous substrate which has been surface treated with heparin, heparan sulfate and/or other molecules or chemical groups (the adsorbent media or media) having a binding affinity for the cytokine or pathogen(s) to be removed (the adsorbates), and wherein the size of the interstitial channels within said media is balanced with the amount of media surface area and the surface concentration of binding sites on the media in order to provide adequate adsorptive capacity while also allowing relatively high flow rates of blood through the adsorbent media.

The present disclosure is directed to methods of removing proteins, including cytokines, from blood and blood products, the methods comprising contacting the blood or blood product with a form of carbon having high graphitic contents and slit-shaped mesopores and macropores, the pore size dimensions chosen to be comparable to the size of the proteins, wherein the contacting results in the removal of high levels of the protein from the blood or blood product in minutes or hours.

Dialysis is enhanced by using nanoclay sorbents to better absorb body wastes in a flow-through system. The nanoclay sorbents, using montmorillonite, bentonite, and other clays, absorb significantly more ammonium, phosphate, and creatinine, and the like, than conventional sorbents. The montmorillonite, the bentonite, and the other clays may be used in wearable systems, in which a dialysis fluid is circulated through a filter with the nanoclay sorbents. Waste products are absorbed by the montmorillonite, the bentonite, and the other clays and the dialysis fluid is recycled to a patient's peritoneum. Using an ion-exchange capability of the montmorillonite, the bentonite, and the other clays, waste ions in the dialysis fluid are replaced with desirable ions, such as calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate. The nanoclay sorbents are also useful for refreshing a dialysis fluid used in hemodialysis and thus reducing a quantity of the dialysis fluid needed for the hemodialysis.