Devices and methods for on-line whole blood treatment

Abstract

A whole blood treatment device includes a first conduit, a second conduit, and a rotating or reciprocating element having a channel. The first and second conduits are fluidly coupled to the rotating or reciprocating element such that the channel is fluidly continuous with the first conduit when the channel is fluidly discontinuous with the second conduit, and such that the channel is fluidly discontinuous with the first conduit when the channel is fluidly continuous with the second conduit. The first conduit is configured to receive whole blood, and the second conduit is configured to receive a regeneration fluid. The channel comprises a surface that is modified with an affinity agent at a concentration effective to allow removal of a target compound from whole blood.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of removing a target compound from whole blood of a mammal in a whole blood treatment device, comprising:
 (a) moving the whole blood through a channel in a rotating or reciprocating element while the channel is fluidly coupled to a first conduit that contains the whole blood;   wherein the channel comprises a surface that is modified with an affinity agent at a concentration effective to allow removal of a target compound from whole blood;   (b) moving the rotating or reciprocating element in a position such that the channel is fluidly disconnected from the first conduit and fluidly connected with a second conduit;   (c) eluting the target compound from the surface while the channel is fluidly connected with the second conduit; and   (d) further moving the rotating or reciprocating element in a position such that the channel is fluidly connected with the first conduit and fluidly disconnected with the second conduit,   wherein the rotating or reciprocating element is selected from the group consisting of a wheel, an Archimedean screw and a reciprocating piston.   
     
     
         15 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the rotating or reciprocating element further comprises a third conduit that is fluidly coupled to an analyzer, and further comprising a step of using the analyzer to measure a quantity of an analyte in the whole blood or eluate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the rotating or reciprocating element further comprises a fourth conduit that is fluidly coupled to a dispensing device, and further comprising a step of using the dispensing device to dispense a measured quantity of a pharmaceutical agent into the whole blood. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the steps (a)-(d) are performed while the mammal wears the device on the body. 
     
     
         21 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of palliative treatment of a patient, comprising:
 ascertaining that at least one of an IL-8 level and a CRP level is elevated above normal as a consequence of a disorder or pharmaceutical intervention; and   continuously reducing at least one of IL-8 and CRP in whole blood of the patient using the device of claim  1  that is configured to bind at least one of IL-8 and CRP.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the IL-8 level and the CRP level are elevated. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the at least one of the IL-8 level and the CRP are elevated as a consequence of pharmaceutical intervention. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the pharmaceutical intervention is a chemotherapy for treatment of a neoplastic disease. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the disorder is a chronic inflammatory disease. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the at least one of the IL-8 and the CRP are reduced to normal reference level. 
     
     
         29 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the affinity agent is selected from the group consisting of antibodies, aptamers and small molecules. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the target compound is IL-8. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the affinity agent is selected from the group consisting of: HuMab 10F8, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) heparin, protease inhibitor alpha2-macroglobulin and Cyclosporin A. 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the target compound is CRP. 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the target compound is selected from the group consisting of: cellular components, extracellular components, and cells. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the target compound is an inhibitory checkpoint molecule. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the target compound is an inflammatory factor. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the target compound is cancerous cells. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the affinity agent is an anti-nucleolin antibody. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the target compound is selected from the group consisting of: viruses, bacteria and toxins. 
     
     
         54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . (canceled)