METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING CONTAMINANT CLEARANCE RATES DURING EXTRACORPOREAL FLUID TREATMENT

摘要

An extracorporeal fluid treatment apparatus includes a separator comprising a cartridge surrounding a porous separation membrane. The membrane separates a main flow path of a cellular component of the blood from a plasma flow path. An affinity medium is disposed within the plasma flow path to bind contaminants such as viral pathogens or toxins contained within the plasma. A pump pumps the plasma through the affinity medium at an assisted flow rate preferably between 10% and 40% of the whole blood flow rate. The assisted flow rate is selected to reduce a T90% of the apparatus by at least 50% as compared to a T90% of the apparatus without the plasma pump. A method of treating blood containing contaminants includes supplying infected blood to a separator and pumping the plasma component through an affinity medium at an assisted flow rate to increase contaminant clearance.