Biological Fluid Filtration System

Abstract

A biological fluid filtration system for scanning a biological fluid so as to filter potentially undesirable constituents from the biological fluid for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. The biological fluid filtration system generally includes a fluid receiving device adapted to receive a biological fluid. A valve including an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet is fluidly connected to the fluid receiving device. The biological fluid within the fluid receiving device is scanned by a scanner to produce scanned data relating to the biological fluid. A control unit in communication with the scanner and the valve receives the scanned data and controls the valve based on the scanned data. The valve is controlled to direct the biological fluid through either the first or second outlet of the valve depending upon the constituents of the biological fluid identified by the control unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system, comprising:
 a housing including an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet of the housing is adapted to be fluidly connected to a patient to receive a biological fluid from the patient;   a fluid filtration device including an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein the inlet of the fluid filtration device is fluidly connected to the inlet of the housing, wherein the fluid filtration device is adapted to receive the biological fluid, and wherein the second outlet of the fluid filtration device is fluidly connected to the outlet of the housing;   wherein the fluid filtration device is adapted to (a) direct the biological fluid through the first outlet if the fluid filtration device determines that the biological fluid includes an undesirable constituent or (b) direct the biological fluid through the second outlet if the fluid filtration device determines that the biological fluid does not include an undesirable constituent;   a return channel fluidly connected to the outlet of the housing, wherein the return channel is adapted to be fluidly connected to the patient, and wherein the return channel is adapted to return the biological fluid to the patient if the fluid filtration device determines that the biological fluid does not include an undesirable constituent; and   a cartridge removably attached to the housing, wherein the cartridge is fluidly connected to the first outlet of the fluid filtration device, wherein the cartridge is adapted to receive the biological fluid if the fluid filtration device determines that the biological fluid includes an undesirable constituent.   
     
     
         2 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fluid filtration device includes a valve, wherein the valve is comprised of an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein the inlet of the valve is fluidly connected to the inlet of the fluid filtration device, wherein the first outlet of the valve is fluidly connected to the first outlet of the fluid filtration device, and wherein the second outlet of the valve is fluidly connected to the second outlet of the fluid filtration device.   
     
     
         3 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid filtration device includes a scanner configured to scan the biological fluid within the fluid filtration device to produce a scanned data relating to the biological fluid within the fluid filtration device. 
     
     
         4 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid filtration device includes a control unit in communication with the scanner and the valve, wherein the control unit is configured to receive the scanned data from the scanner, and wherein the control unit is configured to control the valve based on the scanned data from the scanner. 
     
     
         5 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 4 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the valve to (a) direct the biological fluid through the first outlet if the control unit determines that the scanned data indicates a presence of an undesirable constituent within the biological fluid or (b) direct the biological fluid through the second outlet if the control unit determines that the scanned data does not indicate a presence of an undesirable constituent within the biological fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid filtration device includes an anti-coagulant insert, wherein the anti-coagulant insert is configured to apply an anti-coagulant to the biological fluid within the fluid filtration device. 
     
     
         7 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a power source. 
     
     
         8 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes at least one indicator configured to convey an operational status of the fluid filtration device. 
     
     
         9 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid filtration device includes a buffer fluid insert, wherein the buffer fluid insert is adapted to apply a buffer fluid to the biological fluid within the fluid filtration device. 
     
     
         10 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a presorting device fluidly connected between the inlet of the housing and the inlet of the fluid filtration device. 
     
     
         11 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 10 , wherein the presorting device is comprised of a centrifuge. 
     
     
         12 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 10 , wherein the presorting device is adapted to apply a chemical agent to the biological fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 12 , wherein the chemical agent is comprised of a red blood cell lysis buffer. 
     
     
         14 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 10 , wherein the presorting device is comprised of a microfluidic separation device. 
     
     
         15 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 14 , wherein the microfluidic separation device is adapted to apply inertial focusing to the biological fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a drug infuser device fluidly connected between the second outlet of the fluid filtration device and the outlet of the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 1 , wherein the return channel is comprised of a catheter. 
     
     
         18 . A method of filtering a biological fluid using the aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 receiving the biological fluid by the fluid filtration device;   directing the biological fluid through the first outlet and into the cartridge if the fluid filtration device determines that the biological fluid includes an undesirable constituent; and   directing the biological fluid through the second outlet and into the return channel if the fluid filtration device determines that the biological fluid does not include an undesirable constituent.   
     
     
         19 . The aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is adapted to be worn on a body of the patient. 
     
     
         20 . An aphaeretic portable biological fluid filtration system, comprising:
 a housing including an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet of the housing is adapted to be fluidly connected to a patient to receive a biological fluid from the patient, wherein the housing is adapted to be worn on a body of the patient, wherein the housing includes a power source, and wherein the housing includes at least one indicator configured to convey an operational status of the fluid filtration device;   a fluid filtration device including an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein the inlet of the fluid filtration device is fluidly connected to the inlet of the housing, wherein the fluid filtration device is adapted to receive the biological fluid, wherein the second outlet of the fluid filtration device is fluidly connected to the outlet of the housing, and wherein the fluid filtration device includes a buffer fluid insert, wherein the buffer fluid insert is adapted to apply a buffer fluid to the biological fluid within the fluid filtration device;   a presorting device fluidly connected between the inlet of the housing and the inlet of the fluid filtration device, wherein the presorting device is adapted to remove a first constituent from the biological fluid;   a drug infuser device fluidly connected between the second outlet of the fluid filtration device and the outlet of the housing;   wherein the fluid filtration device is adapted to (a) direct the biological fluid through the first outlet if the fluid filtration device determines that the biological fluid includes an undesirable constituent or (b) direct the biological fluid through the second outlet if the fluid filtration device determines that the biological fluid does not include an undesirable constituent;   a return channel fluidly connected to the outlet of the housing, wherein the return channel is adapted to be fluidly connected to the patient, and wherein the return channel is adapted to return the biological fluid to the patient if the fluid filtration device determines that the biological fluid does not include an undesirable constituent; and   a cartridge removably attached to the housing, wherein the cartridge is fluidly connected to the first outlet of the fluid filtration device, wherein the cartridge is adapted to receive the biological fluid if the fluid filtration device determines that the biological fluid includes an undesirable constituent.