Systems and methods of controlling fouling during a filtration procedure

摘要

Systems and methods of controlling fouling during a filtration procedure are described. A plasmapheresis method includes accepting a selection of a plasma flow rate and predicting an estimated procedure end time based at least partially on a plasma collection target volume. The method also includes flowing blood past a membrane and changing a plasma flow rate until the selected plasma flow rate through the membrane is achieved. The method also includes determining an acceptable rate of pressure change with time for respective times to the estimated procedure end time, the acceptable fouling rate limit being associated with a system pressure and adjusting the plasma flow rate based on the determined acceptable rate of pressure change with time.

主权项

1. A method of controlling fouling of a membrane during a fluid filtering process, comprising:
accepting a selected filtrate flow rate; selecting a maximum transmembrane pressure; predicting an estimated procedure end time to separate at least a portion of a filtrate fluid from a bulk fluid; calculating a control point corresponding to the maximum transmembrane pressure and the estimated procedure end time; flowing the bulk fluid past the membrane; achieving the selected filtrate flow rate through the membrane; determining a transmembrane pressure and time elapsed when the selected filtrate flow rate is achieved; determining an acceptable fouling rate, as defined by a slope of a plot of a current transmembrane pressure and the control point, and a slope of a plot of periodically-measured transmembrane pressures versus time; comparing the two slopes to determine an acceptable rate of change with time of the transmembrane pressure; and adjusting the filtrate flow rate based on the determined acceptable rate of change with time of the transmembrane pressure to cause the plot of periodically-measured transmembrane pressures versus time to approximate the plot of the acceptable fouling rate.