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 lipids from a fluid containing lipids or lipid-containing organisms, comprising: 
 an extraction solvent source containing an extraction solvent;    a delipidation device that mixes the fluid and the extraction solvent to form a mixture and dissolves at least a portion of the lipids; and    a solvent removal subsystem coupled to the delipidation device such that the solvent removal subsystem receives a portion of the mixture from the delipidation device, the solvent removal subsystem comprising: 
 a vessel with at least two inlet ports and an outlet port;  
 an output buffer container; and  
 at least one valve positioned downstream of the outlet port to direct the portion of the mixture (i) to the output buffer container when a level of extraction solvent in the exiting portion is below a predetermined threshold or (ii) back through the solvent removal subsystem when a level of extraction solvent level in the exiting portion is above the predetermined threshold.  
   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the solvent removal subsystem further comprises two hollow fiber contactors positioned such that any of the portion of the mixture directed back through the solvent removal subsystem goes through at least one of the hollow fiber contactors.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the solvent removal subsystem further comprises a sensor coupled to a conduit adjacent the outlet port of the vessel and configured to detect a level of the extraction solvent within the portion of the mixture.  
     
     
         27 . A system for removing lipids from a fluid containing lipids or lipid-containing organisms, comprising: 
 a first stage subsystem comprising: 
 an extraction solvent source; and  
 a delipidation device coupled to the extraction solvent source and configured to mix an extraction solvent received from the extraction solvent source with the fluid to form a mixture and separate 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; and  
   a second stage subsystem coupled to the delipidation device and configured to receive the first layer from the delipidation device, the second stage subsystem comprising: 
 a solvent removal device;  
 an output buffer container; and  
 at least one valve positioned between the solvent removal device and the output buffer container and configured to direct the first layer (i) to the output buffer container when a level of extraction solvent in the first layer is below a predetermined threshold or (ii) to the solvent removal device when a level of extraction solvent in the first layer is above the predetermined threshold.  
   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the delipidation device comprises at least one of the following: a homogenizer, a centrifuge, a vortexer, a glass frit disperser or separator; a rotating flask, a high shear tube, a sonicated flask, a blender, or a centrifugal pump.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the delipidation device comprises a centrifuge coupled to one of a vortexer and a homogenizer.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the second stage subsystem further comprises a solvent vapor detector coupled to a conduit upstream of the at least one valve and configured to detect a level of the extraction solvent in the first layer.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the solvent removal device comprises at least two hollow fiber contactors coupled together.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one valve comprises two two-way valves.  
     
     
         33 . A method for removing lipids from a fluid containing lipids or from lipid-containing organisms, comprising: 
 mixing the fluid with an extraction solvent to form a mixture;    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;    passing the first layer to a solvent removal subsystem that circulates the first layer therethrough, the solvent removal subsystem comprising at least one valve and an output buffer container;    the at least one valve recirculating through the solvent removal subsystem any portion of the first layer having a level of extraction solvent above a predetermined threshold; and    the at least one valve directing any portion of the first layer having a level of extraction solvent below a predetermined threshold to the output buffer container.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising a sensor of the solvent removal subsystem determining a level of extraction solvent in the first layer.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein recirculating through the solvent removal subsystem any portion of the first layer having a level of extraction solvent above a predetermined threshold comprises directing the portion of the first layer to at least one hollow fiber contactor to remove extraction solvent from the portion of the first layer.