Filter medium for leukocyte removal, method of making, and method of using thereof

摘要

PCT No. PCT/JP96/03814 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 14, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 14, 1997 PCT Filed Dec. 26, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97/23266 PCT Pub. Date Jul. 3, 1997A leukocyte-removing filter material is described, which includes a porous element having fine pores of an average pore diameter of not less than 1.0 mu m but less than 100 mu m and a fiber structure composed of a plurality of fibers having an average fiber diameter of not less than 0.01 mu m but less than 1.0 mu m kept on the porous element. The porosity of the filter material is not less than 50% but less than 95%, and the proportion of the fiber structure to the filter material is not less than 0.01% by weight but less than 30% by weight. The ratio between the average pore diameter of the porous element and the average fiber diameter of the fiber structure is not less than 2 but less than 2,000 and the above fiber structure forms a reticulate structure. A process for producing the leukocyte-removing fiber material and an apparatus for removing leukocyte using the above fiber material are also described.