| 主权项 |
1. A method of treating cancer cells in a patient's blood ex vivo and in line, said method comprising the steps of
(a) providing a device having a chamber including a plurality of tubular passageways within an interior of the chamber, said tubular passageways having an interior wall with a plurality of wells therein having open mouths of predetermined dimensions that enable immune cells and cancer cells in a patient's blood flowing through the passageways to pass through the open mouths and enter the wells, said wells including antibodies and a porous membrane portion with a predetermined pore size that enables an activating agent in a carrier fluid flowing through the interior of the chamber to pass through a well's porous membrane and enter said well yet prevents immune cells and cancer cells in a well to flow through said porous membrane into said interior of the chamber, (b) establishing an intravenous connection between the patient and the device so that blood from the patient flows through the passageways in one direction and is returned to the patient after treatment in the device, (c) establishing a connection between a source of the carrier fluid containing the activating agent and the interior of the chamber so that said carrier fluid flows in a direction opposite said one direction of blood flow through said passageways, (d) first introducing into the carrier fluid as the activating agent a chemotaxin with at least some of said chemotaxin passing through the membrane into wells, (e) subsequently introducing into said carrier fluid as the activating agent a lymphokine, and (f) circulating the patient's blood through the passageways for a predetermined period sufficient to enhance an immune response and then terminating the connection between the patient and the device. |
