Plasmapheresis filter device and apparatus for therapeutic apheresis

摘要

A filter device (10) for being implanted in a blood vessel for carrying out in-vivo plasma separation comprises one or more elongated hollow tubes (14, 16) and a plurality of elongated hollow microporous fibers (12), each fiber (12) having a first and second end secured to one or more of the elongated hollow tubes (14, 16) with the interior lumen of each of the fibers communicating with the interior of the one or more of the hollow tubes (14, 16), and wherein the fiber wall has a higher mass density zone adjacent to the outer wall surface and a lower mass density zone adjacent to the inner wall surface. Apparatus for carrying out therapeutic apheresis includes the filter device (10), a multiple lumen catheter (20) secured to the proximal end of the filter device (10) having one or more lumens in fluid communication with the interior of said one or more hollow tubes (14, 16) and a plasma return lumen (52), and therapeutic apheresis apparatus (40) for removing and/or separating selected disease-related components from the separated plasma and means for directing plasma between said catheter and the selective component removal apparatus.