Systems and methods using a solvent for the removal of lipids from fluids

Abstract

Systems and methods for removing lipids from a fluid, such as plasma, or from lipid-containing organisms. A fluid is combined with at least one extraction solvent, which causes the lipids to separate from the fluid or from lipid-containing organisms. The separated lipids are removed from the fluid. The extraction solvent is removed from the fluid or at least reduced to an acceptable concentration enabling the delipidated fluid to be administered to a patient without the patient experiencing undesirable consequences. Once the fluid has been processed, the fluid may be administered to a patient who donated the fluid, to a different patient, or stored for later use.

1 - 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . A system for removing at least one lipid from a fluid containing lipids or lipid-containing organisms, comprising: 
 a fluid source containing the fluid;    an extraction solvent source containing an extraction solvent;    a delipidation device comprising at least one homogenizer and that receives a mixture of the fluid and the extraction solvent and dissolves at least a portion of the lipids; and    a solvent removal subsystem coupled to the delipidation device, wherein the solvent removal subsystem receives a portion of the mixture from the delipidation device and removes at least a portion of the extraction solvent therefrom.    
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the fluid source comprises a device for removing plasma from blood.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the delipidation device further comprises a centrifuge coupled to the at least one homogenizer.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the solvent removal subsystem comprises at least one hollow fiber contactor.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one hollow fiber contactor comprises at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in parallel.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one hollow fiber contactor comprises at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together in series.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 a first pump disposed between the fluid source and the delipidation device that transfers the fluid to a location to mix with the extraction solvent; and    a second pump disposed between the extraction solvent source and the delipidation device that transfers the first extraction solvent to a location to mix with the fluid.    
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the location is upstream from an input of the delipidation device.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the location is the delipidation device.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the solvent removal subsystem further comprises a pervaporation buffer coupled to a conduit that receives the portion of the mixture from the delipidation device.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the solvent removal subsystem further comprises a sensor that detects a level of the extraction solvent within the portion of the mixture received from the delipidation device.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the solvent removal subsystem further comprises a sensor that detects a level of the extraction solvent, the sensor coupled to a conduit disposed adjacent an output of the solvent removal subsystem.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein solvent removal subsystem comprises a recirculating subsystem that recirculates the portion of the mixture until the extraction solvent level therein is below a predetermined threshold.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the recirculating subsystem further comprises a recirculating vessel with at least two input ports and an output port and at least one hollow fiber contactor.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the recirculating subsystem further comprises a sensor that detects a level of the extraction solvent in the portion of the mixture circulating therethrough, the sensor coupled to a conduit disposed adjacent the outlet port of the recirculating vessel.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the recirculating subsystem further comprises at least one valve that directs the portion of the mixture circulating therethrough from the conduit adjacent the outlet port of the recirculating vessel (i) to an output buffer when the extraction solvent level is below the predetermined threshold or (ii) to the at least one hollow fiber contactor when the extraction solvent level is above the predetermined threshold.  
   
   
       40 . A method for removing at least one lipid from a fluid containing lipids or from lipid-containing organisms, comprising: 
 supplying the fluid from a fluid source;    supplying an extraction solvent from an extraction solvent source;    mixing the fluid and the extraction solvent to form a mixture;    dissolving at least a portion of the lipids from the mixture; and    removing at least a portion of the extraction solvent from the mixture.    
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein mixing the fluid and the extraction solvent to form a mixture comprises mixing the fluid and the extraction solvent at a location upstream an input of a delipidation device.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising separating the mixture into three layers comprising a first layer of the fluid with a first portion of the extraction solvent and at least some lipids therein, a second layer of free lipids, and a third layer of a second portion of the extraction solvent with dissolved lipids.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein removing at least a portion of the extraction solvent from the mixture comprises recirculating the first layer through a solvent removal subsystem until a level of the extraction solvent in the fluid is below a predetermined threshold.