High Capacity BIological Fluid Filtration Apparatus

Abstract

A biological fluid filtration device, system, and method, for filtering a biological fluid, the device comprising a housing having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, with a first fluid flow path defined between the inlet and the first outlet, with a second fluid flow path defined between the inlet and the second outlet, with a first biological fluid filtration media interposed between the inlet and the first outlet and across the first fluid flow path, with a second biological fluid filtration media interposed between the inlet and the second outlet and across the second fluid flow path, the housing essentially lacking a solid partition wall between the first biological fluid filtration media and the second biological fluid filtration media, a first flow restriction may be added downstream of the first biological fluid filtration media, and a second flow restriction may be added downstream of the second biological fluid filtration media, in another embodiment, the device comprises a housing having an inlet an outlet with a flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet, with a biological fluid filtration media interposed between the inlet and the outlet and across the fluid flow path, the device further including a flow restriction downstream of the biological fluid filtration media.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A biological fluid filtration device comprising:
 a housing having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, and defining a first fluid flow path between the inlet and the first outlet, and a second fluid flow path between the inlet and the second outlet, wherein the housing essentially lacks a solid partition wall between the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path,   a first biological fluid filtration media, having an upstream surface and a downstream surface, interposed between the inlet and the first outlet and across the first fluid flow path,   a second biological fluid filtration media, having an upstream surface and a downstream surface, interposed between the inlet and the second outlet and across the second fluid flow path,   an upstream chamber including a space between the first biological fluid filtration media and the second biological fluid filtration media, with the upstream surface of the first biological fluid filtration media opposing the upstream surface of the second biological fluid filtration media.   
     
     
         2 . The biological fluid filtration device of  claim 1  wherein the first biological fluid filtration media and the second biological fluid filtration media are capable of removing leukocytes from a biological fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The biological fluid filtration device of  claim 1  wherein a first flow restriction is located downstream of the first biological fluid filtration media, and wherein a second flow restriction is located downstream of the second biological fluid filtration media. 
     
     
         4 . The biological fluid filtration device of  claim 3  wherein the first flow restriction is disposed within the first outlet, and wherein the second flow restriction is disposed within the second outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The biological fluid filtration device of  claim 1  wherein the housing includes a baffle disposed within said upstream chamber, and interposed between the first biological fluid filtration media and the second biological fluid filtration media, and wherein said baffle includes at least one aperture, with the cross-sectional area of said aperture being sufficiently large to prevent said upstream chamber from being divided into two distinct and separate chambers, said baffle thereby reducing the volume of said upstream chamber. 
     
     
         6 . A method for processing a biological fluid comprising:
 passing a biological fluid into a filter device comprising a housing having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, and defining a first fluid flow path between the inlet and the first outlet, and defining a second fluid flow path between the inlet and the second outlet, wherein the housing essentially lacks a solid partition wall between the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path;   passing a portion of the biological fluid along the first fluid flow path through a first biological fluid filtration media, the first biological fluid filtration media having an upstream surface and a downstream surface, with the first biological fluid filtration media being interposed between the inlet and the first outlet and across the first fluid flow path,   passing another portion of the biological fluid along the second fluid flow path through a second biological fluid filtration media, the second biological fluid filtration media having an upstream surface and a downstream surface, with the second biological fluid filtration media being interposed between the inlet and the second outlet and across the second fluid flow path.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first biological fluid filtration media and the second biological fluid filtration media are capable of removing leukocytes from a biological fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 15  wherein a first flow restriction is located downstream of the first biological fluid filtration media, and wherein a second flow restriction is located downstream of the second biological fluid filtration media. 
     
     
         9 . The biological fluid filtration device of  claim 15  wherein the housing includes a baffle disposed within said upstream chamber, and interposed between the first biological fluid filtration media and the second biological fluid filtration media, and wherein said baffle includes at least one aperture, with the cross-sectional area of said aperture being sufficiently large to prevent said upstream chamber from being divided into two distinct and separate chambers, said baffle thereby reducing the volume of said upstream chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said baffle includes at least one filter support rib on its first surface, and at least one filter support rib on its second surface. 
     
     
         11 . A biological fluid filtration system comprising:
 a feed blood bag,   a biological fluid filtration device located downstream of said feed blood bag, having an inlet and an outlet, and defining a fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet, with a biological fluid filtration media having an upstream surface and a downstream surface interposed between the inlet and the outlet and across the fluid flow path,   a receiving blood bag,   a length of tubing in fluid flow communication with the outlet of said biological fluid filtration device, and in fluid flow communication with said receiving blood bag,   a flow restriction located downstream of said biological fluid filtration media.   
     
     
         12 . The biological fluid filtration system of  claim 11  wherein said flow restriction is located within said biological fluid filtration device. 
     
     
         13 . The biological fluid filtration system of  claim 11  wherein said flow restriction is located downstream of said outlet of said biological fluid filtration device, and upstream of said receiving blood bag. 
     
     
         14 . The biological fluid filtration system of  claim 11  wherein said biological fluid filtration device further includes a second outlet, with a second a fluid flow path defined between the inlet and the second outlet, with a second biological fluid filtration media having an upstream surface and a downstream surface interposed between the inlet and the second outlet and across the second fluid flow path,
 with the biological fluid filtration system further including a second receiving blood bag, 
 a second length of tubing in fluid flow communication with the second outlet of said biological fluid filtration device, and in fluid flow communication with said second receiving blood bag, 
 and a second flow restriction located downstream of said second biological fluid filtration media. 
 
     
     
         15 . The biological fluid filtration system of  claim 14  wherein said biological fluid filtration device further includes a partition wall with the first outlet located on a first side of said partition wall, and with the second outlet located on a second side of said partition wall. 
     
     
         16 . The biological fluid filtration system of  claim 14  wherein said biological fluid filtration device essentially lacks a solid partition wall between the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path. 
     
     
         17 . The biological fluid filtration system of  claim 11  wherein said biological fluid filtration device further includes a second inlet and a second outlet, with a second a fluid flow path defined between the second inlet and the second outlet, with a second biological fluid filtration media having an upstream surface and a downstream surface interposed between the second inlet and the second outlet and across the second fluid flow path,
 with the biological fluid filtration system further including a second receiving blood bag, 
 a second length of tubing in fluid flow communication with the second outlet of said biological fluid filtration device, and in fluid flow communication with said second receiving blood bag, 
 and a second flow restriction located downstream of said second biological fluid filtration media. 
 
     
     
         18 . The biological fluid filtration system of  claim 17  wherein said biological fluid filtration device further includes a solid partition wall between the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path, thereby making the first fluid flow path independent of the second fluid flow path.