The present disclosure describes a novel therapeutic apheresis system and, more specifically, methods and an apparatus for performing therapeutic apheresis. The present disclosure provides highly efficient methods for therapeutic apheresis that modulate the immune system, thereby resulting in treatment of one or more underlying immunological disease processes. In some embodiments, the disclosed methods return at least a portion of blood from an extracorporeal circuit to a patient in pulsatile flow, where the portion of blood that is returned is augmented. In other embodiments, the disclosed methods and apparatus use the central arterial system to exchange volumes of plasma to immunomodulate disease processes.

A device and method for purifying blood. The method includes the steps of separating the blood plasma from the blood cells, adjusting the pH of the blood plasma to a pH close to an isoelectric point of at least one predetermined protein, treating the blood plasma by ion-exchange chromatography, neutralizing the pH of the blood plasma, and pooling of the blood plasma and blood cells.

A device and method for purifying blood. The method includes the steps of separating the blood plasma from the blood cells, adjusting the pH of the blood plasma to a pH close to an isoelectric point of at least one predetermined protein, treating the blood plasma by ion-exchange chromatography, neutralizing the pH of the blood plasma, and pooling of the blood plasma and blood cells.

In embodiments of the invention, there is provided a dialyzer or filter comprising hollow fibers, in which blood flows on the exterior of the hollow fibers, and dialysate or filtrate may flow on the inside. The external surfaces of the hollow fibers may have properties of smoothness and hemocompatibility. The fiber bundle may have appropriate packing fraction and may have wavy fibers. Optimum shear rates and blood velocities are identified. Geometric features of the cartridge, such as pertaining to flow distribution of the blood, may be different for different ends of the cartridge. Air bleed and emboli traps may be provided. Lengthened service life may be achieved by combinations of these features, which may permit additional therapies and applications or better economics.

In embodiments of the invention, there is provided a dialyzer or filter comprising hollow fibers, in which blood flows on the exterior of the hollow fibers, and dialysate or filtrate may flow on the inside. The external surfaces of the hollow fibers may have properties of smoothness and hemocompatibility. The fiber bundle may have appropriate packing fraction and may have wavy fibers. Optimum shear rates and blood velocities are identified. Geometric features of the cartridge, such as pertaining to flow distribution of the blood, may be different for different ends of the cartridge. Air bleed and emboli traps may be provided. Lengthened service life may be achieved by combinations of these features, which may permit additional therapies and applications or better economics.

Biological filters for removing target components from biological fluids such as removal of pathogenic cells from whole blood, are described. The filters may include a medium comprising an inert surface, with capture material disposed on the inert surface. The filter may be configured to selectively recognize, capture, and remove target cells such as pathogenic cells associated with a disease, such as an autoimmune disease or cancer. Devices, systems, apparatuses, computer readable media, and methods associated with biological filtering are also provided.

The present invention relates to the use of alkali hydroxide for the regeneration of apheresis columns for the affinity chromatographic removal of CRP and a method for the simplified regeneration of apheresis columns for the affinity chromatographic removal of CRP with the use of an alkali hydroxide solution and apheresis devices which are designed in such a manner as to be resistant to alkali hydroxide solutions and to allow the regeneration of apheresis columns for the affinity chromatographic removal of CRP in continuous operation.

The present invention relates to the use of alkali hydroxide for the regeneration of apheresis columns for the affinity chromatographic removal of CRP and a method for the simplified regeneration of apheresis columns for the affinity chromatographic removal of CRP with the use of an alkali hydroxide solution and apheresis devices which are designed in such a manner as to be resistant to alkali hydroxide solutions and to allow the regeneration of apheresis columns for the affinity chromatographic removal of CRP in continuous operation.

Systems and methods are disclosed for performing online extracorporeal photopheresis in which the needs of a particular patient as to the fluid balance to be achieved and the time allotted to perform the procedure can be prioritized. Whole blood is removed from a patient and introduced through a processing set into a separation chamber to separate the desired cell population from the blood. The separated cell population is processed through the set which is associated with a treatment chamber where the cells are treated. Once treated, the cells are returned to the patient.

A medical device for extracorporeal blood treatment having a housing section that is designed such that is can reversibly change between two transparency states by applying an electrical voltage.