摘要 |
A process for the treating of and/or removal of substances from a liquid, especially whole blood, via a semipermeable microporous membrane (13, 14, 15) through adsorption and/or biological reaction by means of a biologically active material. Said whole blood is exposed to pressure variations at the membrane surface in a way such that a penetrating fraction of said whole blood is flowing in an alternating flow path through the membrane walls for contacting said biologically active material. Said biologically active material is asymmetrically immobilized in and on the surface of the side of said membrane that faces away from said whole blood. Alternatively, said biologically active material may be bound to an unsoluble matrix behind said membrane. Said membrane is for example provided within a casing (7, 8, 9) comprising inlet (10) and outlet (11) for said whole blood. The space between said casing and said membrane is via a connecting nipple (12) in communication with for example an expansion chamber for the provision of pressure variations. By means of the device (3) it is possible to perform said process in one and the same step and by means of one and the same pumping system. Example of suitable materials for said membrane are regenerated cellulose, cellulose acetate, non-woven acrylic copolymer, polysulphone, polyether sulphone, polyacrylonitrile, polyamide and the like. The pores of said membrane are usually of the order of magnitude of 0.01 - 0.8 microns, preferably 0.15 - 0.45 microns. The choice of biologically active material is determined primarily by the type of substance that is to be removed. |