Solvent extraction methods for delipidating plasma

Abstract

A separating device for extracting cholesterol from plasma uses a spinner to disperse plasma into an extracting solvent in the form of fine droplets to improve separation efficiency, thereby making it suitable for delipidating blood plasma. Blood plasma is delipidated by providing the plasma to the spinner and dispersing the plasma into the extracting solvent in fine droplets. A de-emulsification step removes residual solvent from the plasma. Blood is removed from an animal and the blood plasma is delipidated. Delipidated plasma is de-emulsified and combined with the animal blood, which is then reintroduced into the animal.

I claim:  
     
       1. A method for delipidating plasma comprising subjecting the plasma to a solvent extraction step and a de-emulsification step, the solvent extraction step being carried out in a first container containing extracting solvent, the first container having a spinning container associated therewith, the solvent extraction step including the steps of passing the plasma into the spinning container, dispersing the plasma into fine droplets by spinning the spinning container, and passing the fine droplets through the extracting solvent to produce delipidated plasma, the de-emulsification step being carried out in a second container, the second container having an inlet and a homogenizer and containing a de-emulsifying medium, the de-emulsification step including the steps of passing the delipidated plasma into the second container through the inlet and homogenizing the delipidated plasma and the de-emulsifying medium to produce delipidated and de- emulsified plasma.    
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the homogenizer is adjacent the inlet of the second container. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the de-emulsifying medium comprises di-ethyl ether. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spinning container contains a packing material which assists in dispersing the plasma. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the packing material comprises a plurality of spheres. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the plasma is dispersed laterally into the extracting solvent. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the spinning container is cylindrical and has an outlet comprising a perforated side wall and wherein the step of dispersing the plasma comprises passing the plasma through the side wall and into the extracting solvent. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extracting solvent comprises 20-40% of a lower alcohol and 80-60% of a lower ether. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the lower alcohol comprises butanol and the ether comprises di-isopropyl ether. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spinning container comprises an inlet having a lumen in communication with the interior of the spinning container, whereby plasma is supplied to the spinning container through the inlet. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extracting solvent comprises a C 1 -C 4  ether and an alcohol which is not appreciably miscible with the plasma. 
     
     
       12. A method for clinically reducing cholesterol in blood of an animal, the method comprising extracting the blood from the animal, separating plasma from cells in the blood, subjecting plasma of the blood to solvent extraction to produce delipidated plasma, subjecting the delipidated plasma to a de-emulsification step to produce de-emulsified plasma, recombining the de-emulsified plasma with the removed blood  cells to produce blood having reduced cholesterol, and reintroducing the blood having reduced cholesterol into the animal, 
       the solvent extraction step being carried out in a first container containing extracting solvent, the first container having a spinning container associated therewith, the solvent extraction step including the steps of passing the plasma into the spinning container, dispersing the plasma into fine droplets by spinning the spinning container, and passing the fine droplets through the extracting solvent to produce delipidated plasma, and  
       the de-emulsification step being carried out in a second container, the second container having an inlet and a homogenizer and containing a de-emulsifying medium, the de-emulsification step including the steps of passing the delipidated plasma into the second container through the inlet and homogenizing the delipidated plasma and the de-emulsification step including the steps of passing the delipidated plasma into the second container through the inlet and homogenizing the delipidated plasma and the de-emulsifying medium to produce delipidated and de-emulsified plasma.  
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the di- isopropyl ether and butanol are present in a mixture of  60 : 40 .   
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a lipid extracted from the delipidated plasma is cholesterol. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delipidated and de- emulsified plasma is subjected to an additional solvent removal step.   
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extracting solvent is an amine, ester, hydrocarbon or mixture thereof. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the delipidated and de- emulsified plasma is subjected to an additional solvent removal step.   
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the extracting solvent is an amine, ester, hydrocarbon or mixture thereof. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the animal is a human. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method is performed in a continuous or semi- continuous manner.   
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 12 , wherein replacement fluid is added to the de- emulsified plasma before recombining the de - emulsified plasma with the cells.   
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the de- emulsification step includes a de - emulsifying medium comprising ether or di - ethyl ether.   
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the spinning container contains a packing material which assists in dispersing the plasma. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the packing material comprises a plurality of spheres. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plasma is dispersed laterally into the extracting solvent. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the spinning container is cylindrical and has an outlet comprising a perforated side wall and wherein the step of dispersing the plasma comprises passing the plasma through the side wall and into the extracting solvent. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the extracting solvent comprises  20 - 40 %  of a lower alcohol and  80 - 60   %  of a lower ether.   
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the lower alcohol comprises butanol and the ether comprises di- isopropyl ether.   
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the spinning container comprises an inlet having a lumen in communication with the interior of the spinning container, whereby plasma is supplied to the spinning container through the inlet. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the extracting solvent comprises a C 1   -C   4    ether and an alcohol which is not appreciably miscible with the plasma.   
     
     
       31. A method for clinically reducing lipid in blood of an animal, the method comprising removing the blood from the animal, separating plasma from cells in the blood, subjecting the plasma to solvent extraction to produce delipidated plasma, subjecting the delipidated plasma to a de- emulsification step to produce de - emulsified plasma, and reintroducing the plasma having reduced lipid into the animal;    
         wherein the solvent extraction step is carried out in a first vessel containing extracting solvent, the first vessel having a spinning container associated therewith, the solvent extraction step including the steps of passing the plasma into the spinning container, dispersing the plasma into fine droplets by spinning the spinning container, and passing the fine droplets through the extracting solvent to produce delipidated plasma, and the de - emulsification step being carried out in a second vessel, the second vessel having an inlet and a homogenizer and containing a de - emulsifying medium, the de - emulsification step including the steps of passing the delipidated plasma into the second vessel through the inlet and homogenizing the delipidated plasma and the de - emulsifying medium to produce delipidated and de - emulsified plasma.   
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the lipid is cholesterol. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the method is performed in a continuous or semi- continuous manner.   
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 31 , wherein replacement fluid is added to the de- emulsified plasma before recombining the de - emulsified plasma with the cells.   
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the de- emulsification step includes a de - emulsifying medium comprising ether or di - ethyl ether.   
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the spinning container contains a packing material which assists in dispersing the plasma. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 36 , wherein the packing material comprises a plurality of spheres. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the plasma is dispersed laterally into the extracting solvent. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the spinning container is cylindrical and has an outlet comprising a perforated side wall and wherein the step of dispersing the plasma comprises passing the plasma through the side wall and into the extracting solvent. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the extracting solvent comprises  20 - 40 %  of a lower alcohol and  80 - 60   %  of a lower ether.   
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 40 , wherein the lower alcohol comprises butanol and the ether comprises di- isopropyl ether.   
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 41 , wherein the di- isopropyl ether and butanol are present in a mixture of  60 : 40 .   
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the spinning container comprises an inlet having a lumen in communication with the interior of the spinning container, whereby plasma is supplied to the spinning container through the inlet. 
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the extracting solvent comprises a C 1   -C   4    ether and an alcohol which is not appreciably miscible with the plasma.   
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the delipidated and de- emulsified plasma is subjected to an additional solvent removal step.   
     
     
       46. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the extracting solvent is an amine, ester, hydrocarbon or mixture thereof. 
     
     
       47. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the animal is a human. 
     
     
       48. The method of  claim 31 , further comprising recombining the de- emulsified plasma with the cells before reintroducing the cells and the plasma having reduced lipid into the animal.