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United States Patent 5,188,738
Kaali, et. al. * Feb. 23, 1993
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Alternating current supplied electrically conductive method and system for
treatment of blood and/or other body fluids and/or synthetic fluids with
electric forces
Inventors: Kaali; Steven (88 Ashford Ave., Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522);
Schwolsky; Peter M. (4101 Cathedral Ave., NW., Washington, DC
20016).
[*] Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to Aug. 18,
2009 has been disclaimed.
Appl. No.: 615,437
Filed: Nov. 16, 1990
Related U.S. Application Data
Continuation-in-part of Ser No. 562,721, Aug. 6, 1990, abandoned.
Intl. Cl.: B01D 35//06 A61K 41/00
U.S. Cl.:
210/748; 128/419.R; 128/421; 128/783;
128/784; 204/131; 204/164; 204/186;
204/302; 210/243; 422/ 22; 422/ 44;
604/ 4
Field of Search:
210/243, 748, 764; 128/419 R, 421,
783, 784; 604/4; 422/22, 44; 204/131,
164, 186, 242, 275, 302, 305
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References Cited
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U.S. Patent Documents
592,735 Oct., 1897 Jones 204/242
672,231 Apr., 1901 Lacomme 204/275
2,490,730 Dec., 1949 Dubilier 204/305
3,692,648 Sept., 1972 Matloff et al. 204/129
3,753,886 Aug., 1973 Myers 204/186
3,878,564 Apr., 1975 Yao et al. 210/648
3,965,008 Jun., 1976 Dawson 422/ 22
3,994,799 Nov., 1976 Yao et al. 210/321.64
4,473,449 Sept., 1984 Michaels et al. 204/101
4,616,640 Oct., 1986 Kaali et al. 128/130
4,770,167 Sept., 1988 Kaali et al. 128/788
4,932,421 Jun., 1990 Kaali et al. 128/831
5,049,252 Sept., 1991 Murrell 210/243
5,058,065 Oct., 1991 Slovak 128/783
5,133,932 Jul., 1992 Gunn et al. 210/748
Foreign Patent Documents
995848 Jul., 1983 SU 210/243
Other References
Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology & Medicine, vol.
1, (1979), pp. 204-209, "Inactivation of Herpes Simples Virus with
Methylene Blue, Light and Electricity"--Mitchell R. Swartz et al.
Journal of the Clinical Investigation published by the American
Society for Clinical Investigations, Inc., vol. 65, Feb. 1980, pp.
432-438--"Mechanisms of Photodynamic Inactivation of Herpes Simplex
Viruses"--Lowell E. Schnipper et al.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, vol. 17, No. 2, Feb. 1983, pp.
374-376, "Photodynamic Inactivation of Pseudorabier Virus with
Methylene Blue Dye, Light and Electricity"--Janine A. Badyisk et al.
Primary Examiner: Dawson; Robert A.
Assistant Examiner: Kim; Sun Uk
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Charles W. Helzer
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Abstract
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A new alternating current process and system for treatment of blood and/or
other body fluids and/or synthetic fluids from a donor to a recipient or
storage receptacle or in a recycling system using novel electrically
conductive treatment vessels for treating blood and/or other body fluids
and/or synthetic fluids with electric field forces of appropriate electric
field strength to provide electric current flow through the blood or other
body fluids at a magnitude that is biologically compatible but is
sufficient to render the bacteria, virus, parasites and/or fungus
ineffective to infect or affect normally healthy cells while maintaining
the biological usefulness of the blood or other fluids. For this purpose
low voltage alternating current electric potentials are applied to the
treatment vessel which are of the order of from about 0.2 to 12 volts and
produce current flow densities in the blood or other fluids of from one
microampere per square millimeter of electrode area exposed to the fluid
being treated to about two milliamperes per square millimeter.
31 Claims, 26 Drawing Figures
This invention relates to novel electrically conductive methods and systems
employing electrically conductive vessels provided with electrically
conductive surfaces for use in subjecting blood and/or other body fluids
and/or synthetic fluids such as tissue culture medium to direct treatment
by alternating current electric forces.
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BACKGROUND PROBLEM
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It is now well known in the medical profession and the general public that
blood collected in a blood bank from a large number of donors may be
contaminated by contaminants such as bacteria, virus, parasites and/or
fungus obtained from even a single donor. While screening of donors has
done much to alleviate this problem, the screening of donors can and does
miss occasional donors whose blood is unfit for use. When this occurs and
the unfit blood is mixed with otherwise usable blood, the entire batch must
be discarded for transfusion purposes. Because of this problem, the present
invention has been devised to attenuate any bacteria, virus (including the
AIDS HIV virus) parasites and/or fungus contained in blood contributed by a
donor to the point that any such contaminant is rendered ineffective for
infecting a normally healthy human cell, but does not make the blood
biologically unfit for use in humans. Similar problems exist with respect
to treatment of other body fluids, such as amniotic fluids. The treatment
method and system is also applicable to mammals other than humans.
In addition to the above, there is a need for methods and systems for the
treatment of blood and other body fluids both in in-situ processing wherein
the treated blood and/or other body fluids are withdrawn from the body,
treated and then returned to the body in a closed loop, recirculating
treatment process that is located near but outside the patient's body, or
the treatment can be effected through implanted treatment system
components.
In co-pending United States application serial No. 07/615,800 entitled
"Electrically Conductive Methods and Systems for Treatment of Blood and
Other Body Fluids with Electric Forces"-Steven Kaali and Peter M.
Schwolsky, inventors, filed concurrently and co-pending with this
application, a similar treatment method and system employing direct current
excitation potentials is described and claimed. The disclosure of
co-pending application Ser. No. 07/615,800 hereby is incorporated into this
application in its entirety.
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SUMMARY OF INVENTION
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The present invention provides new electrically conductive methods and
systems using alternating electric current excitation potentials for
treating blood and/or other body fluids, such as amniotic fluids, and/or
synthetic fluids such as tissue culture medium from a donor to a
transfusion recipient or to a storage receptacle, or for recirculating a
single donor's or patient's blood or other body fluids. The treatment can
be accomplished in a treatment system external of the body or by implant
devices for purging contaminants using a novel electrically conductive
vessel for direct electric treatment of blood or other body fluids, such as
amniotic fluids, with alternating current electric field forces of
appropriate electric field strength to attenuate such contaminants to the
extent that bacteria, virus, fungus, and/or parasites contained in the
blood or other body fluids are rendered ineffective to infect and/or affect
normally healthy human cells. The treatment, however, does not render the
blood or other body fluids biologically unfit for use in humans or other
mammals after the treatment. The new methods and systems according to the
invention achieve these ends without requiring time consuming and expensive
processing procedures and equipment in addition to those normally required
in the handling of blood or other body fluids or synthetic fluids. The
invention can be used to achieve the electric field force treatment during
the normally occurring transfer processing from a donor to a recipient or
to a collection receptacle, or recirculation of a single donor's or
patient's blood or other body fluids, such as amniotic fluids.
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BEST MODE OF PRACTICING INVENTION
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FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of one form of a novel blood and other
body fluid treatment system according to the invention. FIG. 1 shows an
electrically conductive blood and/or other body fluid treatment vessel
constructed according to the invention which is in the form of intravenous
tubing 11 interconnected between a hypodermic needle 12 and a blood storage
receptacle 14. The needle 12 is inserted in an artery or vein of the arm 13
of a blood donor and the tubing 11 leads from the arm 13 to the receptacle
14. Alternatively, the system could be set up to transfer blood from the
storage receptacle 14 to the arm of a recipient or could be designed to
recirculate the blood through electrified tubing 11 back to the donor. The
electrically conductive tubing 11 may be of any desired length as indicated
by the break at 15 so that it can be appropriately set up to lead from a
comfortable position for the donor from whose arm 13 the blood is being
taken to a proper storage location for the receptacle 14. The greater the
length of the electrified portion of tubing 11, then the more extended is
the exposure of the blood (or other body fluid) to the electric field force
effects and low level, biologically compatible current flow through the
body fluid being treated thereby assuring adequate electrification
treatment of the fluid without impairing the biological usefulness of the
blood or other body fluid being treated.
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the electrically conductive tubing 11
taken through plane 2--2 of FIG. 1. The tubing 11 may be from 1 to about 20
millimeters in inside diameter, although it may be larger or smaller in
diameter depending upon the intended application. For example, if the blood
transfer system is for the purpose shown in FIG. 6, then the tubing may
have a cross sectional dimension of about 5 millimeters. However, if the
intended use is in an implanted blood treatment system, such as shown in
FIG. 8, then the tubing diameter must be designed to result in a
flow-through rate corresponding to the natural circulatory blood flow rate
of the patient in which the system is implanted, and must be long enough to
assure effective electrification treatment at the flow rate selected. The
tubing 11 is formed from plastic, rubber, medical grade polymer, or other
suitable material which is compatible with human fluids and/or tissue. A
plurality of physically separated, electrically conductive surface segments
form opposed, parallel electrodes shown at 16 and 16A on the inside of
tubing 11 from electrically conductive materials such as platinum, platinum
alloys, silver, silver or platinum covered alloys, or other similar
conductive materials such as conductive polymers, or silver or platinum
covered polymers which are compatible with human fluids and tissue. The
spacing between opposed electrodes 16 and 16A is of the order of 1 to 19
millimeters and perhaps may be more or less dependent upon the application
and the conductivity of the body fluids being treated.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinally extending sectional view along the axis of
tubing 11 taken through staggered section lines 3--3 of FIG. 2. From FIG. 3
of the drawings it will be seen that the electrically conductive surface
segments 16 and 16A all comprise longitudinally extending, zebra-like
stripe or strip electrodes which extend longitudinally in parallel with the
longitudinal axis of the tubing 11. In between each longitudinally
extending conductive stripe electrode 16 or 16A is a longitudinally
extending electric insulating area 17 which electrically isolates the
alternate electrically conductive, zebra-like stripe electrodes 16 and 16A
one from the other.
As best shown in FIG. 3, a first set of alternate electrically conductive
surface stripes 16 are electrically connected in common to a first annular
terminal buss 18 which circumferentially surrounds the tubing 11 and is
embedded within the sidewalls of the tubing 11 at a suitable point along
its length. The design is such that the first annular terminal buss 18 is
electrically isolated from the remaining second set of alternate,
electrically conductive surface stripe electrodes 16A and is electrically
connected through a conductor terminal 19 to an alternating current source
of electric excitation potential. AC source 20 may comprise the output from
an AC to AC voltage converter for converting 110 volt AC potential to the
desired 0.2 volts to 12 volts for use in the invention. For those treatment
systems which are to be implanted as described hereafter, the AC source may
comprise a miniaturized DC to AC converter for converting the DC voltage
from a miniaturized battery to low voltage (0.2 to 12 volts) AC. As best
depicted in FIG. 2, all of the first set of positive electrically
conductive stripes 16 are physically and electrically connected in common
to the first annular terminal buss 18 so that all of the conductive stripes
16 are maintained at a constant, alternating current electric excitation
potential.
A second annular terminal buss 21, which circumferentially surrounds the
tubing 11, is embedded within the tubing 11 at a point along its length
displaced from the position of the first annular terminal buss 18 and is
spaced inwardly towards the inside diameter of the tubing relative to the
first annular buss 18. By this arrangement it is possible to electrically
connect the remaining second set of alternate electrically conductive
surface stripes 16A in common to the second annular terminal buss 21 in a
manner such that the second annular terminal buss is electrically isolated
from the first annular terminal buss 18 as well as the first set of
alternate electrically conductive surface stripes 16. As shown in FIG. 3,
the second annular terminal buss 21 is provided with an outside terminal
conductor connection 22 for connecting the annular buss 21 and annular buss
18 across AC source 20 as shown in the system drawing of FIG. 1. The second
set of alternate electrically conductive surface stripes 16A are all
provided with internal connector studs which physically and electrically
connect all of the 16A stripes in common to the second annular terminal
buss 21 so that all of these conductive stripes will be maintained at a
potential opposite to that from the potential applied to the first set of
electrically conductive stripes 16 by annular buss 18.
As described earlier, the AC source of electric potential 20 may constitute
an AC to AC converter for converting 110 volt AC to 0.2 to 12 volt AC or a
DC to AC converter for converting 12 volt DC to 0.2 to 12 volt AC. The AC
source 20 is connected to the conductor terminals 19 and 22 through
electric supply conductors 23 and 24 preferably by a double pole, double
throw, on-off control switch 25. In preferred embodiments of the invention,
voltage controlling variable resistors 26 and 27 also are included in the
electric supply conductors 23 and 24 in order to control the value of the
excitation voltage developed between the alternate sets of conductive
surface stripes 16, 16A.
In operation, the donor whose blood is to be taken, or the recipient who is
to be given blood, or is to have his or her blood recycled, is made
comfortable on a cot with his or her arm 13 extended and the
interconnecting electrically conductive tubing 11 having the hypodermic
needle 12 for withdrawal, or supplying, or recycling of blood set up as
shown in FIG. 1. When both the donor/recipient and the system is in
readiness, the control switch 25 is closed so that an electric field is
built up across the oppositely disposed electrically conductive zebra-like
stripes 16, 16A, etc. Voltages of the order of from 0.2 to 12 volts are
applied to the conductive surfaces 16, 16A For this purpose it is important
to note that the hypodermic needle should be electrically isolated via
conventional electrically insulating IV tubing from any of the zebra stripe
electrodes 16, 16A so that the donor/recipient does not receive a shock. By
this precaution, he or she will not even be aware of the existence of the
electric field within the electrically conductive tubing 11. With the
treatment system thus conditioned, the hypodermic needle is inserted into a
vein in the donor's/recipient's arm and blood is withdrawn, given, or
recycled through the tubing 11.
As the blood passes through the electric fields produced within the
electric conductive tubing 11 it will be subjected to and treated by
biologically compatible electric current flow through the blood or other
body fluid with a current density of from one microampere per square
millimeter (1 muA/mm(^2)) of electrode cross sectional area exposed to the
fluid to about two milliamperes per square millimeter (2 mA/mm(^2))
dependent upon field strength of the electric field gradient existing
between electrodes 16 and 16A, the space between the electrodes 16, 16A and
the conductivity (resistivity) of the body fluid being treated. Recent
experiments have proven that exposure to electric fields induced by supply
voltages in the range produces electric current flow through blood of the
order of 1 to 100 microamperes. Effectiveness is dependent upon length of
time of treatment in conjunction with the magnitude of the biologically
compatible current flow. For example, treatment of virus in media at 100
microamperes for 3 minutes has been observed to substantially attenuate
(render ineffective) the AIDS virus. Similar treatment at other field
strength values and lengths of time will have a similar attenuating effect
on bacteria, virus, parasites and/or fungus which are present in blood or
other body fluids being treated. By controlling the length of time and
field strength values that blood is subjected to the electric field forces,
undesirable contaminants such as virus, bacteria, fungus and/or parasites
will be adequately attenuated to the point that they are rendered
ineffective by the sustained action of the electric current flow as the
blood travels from the hypodermic needle 12 to the storage bag 14, or vice
versa, or in a recycling mode. The length of travel of the blood through
the sustained electric field induced current flow also can be adjusted so
that the blood is subjected to the electric field force for time periods of
the order of from one to six minutes at least. At the current values noted
above this is believed adequate to attenuate (render ineffective) bacteria,
virus (including the AIDS virus), parasites and/or fungus entrained in
blood or other body fluids, but does not render the fluids unfit for human
use or impair their biological usefulness.
The species of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is advantageous since
it is possible to fabricate the treatment tubing by preforming the
conductive segments 16 and 16A on the tubing walls while it is in a flat
planar condition, and then rolling the walls into tubular form using a
suitable mandrel. The adjoining longitudinal edges of the planar member
after rolling are thereafter heat sealed along a longitudinally extending
seam located within one of the electrically insulating sections 17.
Particular attention must be paid to the juncture of the ends of the
annular terminal busses 18 and 21 during the rolling and heat sealing steps
to assure that good electrical interconnection and continuity at these
junctures of the annular terminal busses is provided in the completed
treatment tubing. The conductive electrode segments 16, 16A may be
electro-deposited, chemically formed, separately formed conductive polymer
surfaces, or conductive foil or wires adhesively secured to the side walls
of the tubing 11 in advance of the rolling and sealing using techniques
well known in the printed circuit and integrated circuit manufacturing
technologies.
FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, elevational view of a modified blood
treatment system using the novel electrically conductive treatment tubing
in accordance with the invention. In the FIG. 6 embodiment of the
invention, a blood pump 28 of conventional, commercially available
construction is inserted in the tubing 11 at some point along its length.
The blood pump 28 is electrically isolated from the zebra striped
conductive surfaces 16, 16A by suitable insulators 29 formed on the blood
input-output connections of pump 28. Provision for electrically bypassing
the blood pump 28 (if need be) is made through the shunt conductors 30, 30A
which maintain electrical continuity of the alternating current excitation
potential applied to the conductive stripes 16, 16A on each side of pump
28. For convenience, the alternating current excitation source 20 and its
connection to the electrically conductive tubing 11 has not been shown in
FIG. 6 but would have to be provided. A separate source of excitation
current for running the blood pump 28 is provided from a conventional 110
volt alternating current source through the input terminals 31, 31A.
In systems employing a blood pump, it may be desirable in some applications
to provide a blood flow regulating valve 37 inserted in the system at the
output of blood pump 28 and within the by-pass loop 30, 30A for the
conductive stripes 16, 16A. By thus controlling blood flow, the electrified
transfer system safely can be employed in a closed loop recycling system
for withdrawing blood from a patient, electrically treating the blood as
described above and then returning the electrically treated blood to the
patient. This procedure is referred to herein as recycling. The system of
FIG. 6 also can be used in those situations where the blood flow of a
donor's blood is not sufficient to assure supply of an adequate amount of
blood to or from the collection receptacle 14 or other recipient. It may
also be desirable to have a blood flow regulating valve such as 37 in
non-pump systems.
FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings show another embodiment of the invention
wherein the electrically conductive treatment tubing 11 includes
electrically conductive electrode segments 32 and 32A which are in the form
of zebra stripes that extend radially around the inside diameter of tubing
11 in spaced-apart, alternating polarity, conductive annular bands 32 and
32A separated by insulating surface bands 11I which serve to electrically
isolate the respective first set of conductive zebra stripes 32 from the
second set of conductive zebra stripes 32A. The first set of alternate ones
of the electrically conductive annular stripes 32 are electrically
connected in common to a first longitudinally extending terminal buss bar
33 that is embedded within tubing 11 in parallel with the longitudinal axis
of the tubing and electrically isolated from the remaining second set of
alternate electrically conductive annular stripes 32A. The first
longitudinally extending terminal buss bar 33 is designed for connection to
one output terminal of a source, such as 20, of alternating current
electric excitation potential through a supply conductor connection 35 on
the exterior surface of the tubing 11.
A second longitudinally extending terminal buss bar 34 is embedded within
the body of tubing 11 and is electrically connected to the remaining second
set of alternate electrically conductive annular stripes 32A. The second
longitudinally extending terminal buss bar 34 is electrically isolated from
the first longitudinally extending terminal buss 33 and the first set of
alternate electrically annular stripes 32. Terminal buss bar 33 is designed
for connection to a second output terminal for the alternating current
source of electric excitation potential. For this purpose an input supply
conductor connection 36 is directly connected through the exterior surface
of tubing 11 and to the second longitudinally treatment extending terminal
buss bar 34.
In operation, the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is
physically arranged in a blood treatment system in the manner illustrated
in FIG. 1 of the drawings with the positive polarity and negative polarity
zebra annular stripes being connected to the respective output terminals of
AC source 20 via control switch 25. If required, a blood pump such as 28
and blood flow regulating valve 37 shown in FIG. 6 can be included in the
blood transfer system employing electrified tubing as shown in FIGS. 4 and
5.
Similar to the system shown in FIG. 1, a blood transfer system employing
the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 would be
electrically excited in advance of injection of the hypodermic needle 12
into the arm of a blood donor so that all blood passing through the tubing
11 will be subjected to electric forces produced between the alternate
polarity annularly formed conductive bands 32 and 32A. Experience with the
invention will establish what length is required for the electrification
field. However, for initial installations the length of the electrified
field as related to the flow of blood through electrified tubing 11 should
correspond to at least the 1-6 minute treatment time mentioned earlier.
This is achieved by using an extended array of the alternate annular zebra
bands 32 and 32A of adequate length to assure thorough subjection of blood
to electric current flow produced between the alternating polarity zebra
stripes 32 and 32A. The electric field force intensity applied to the blood
by means of the electrified tubing is anticipated to be of the order of
from 0.2 to 12 volts similar to the embodiment of the invention shown in
FIGS. 1-3.
In place of supplying continuous alternating current excitation to the
conductive stripes 16, 16A of FIGS. 2 and 3 or 32, 32A of FIGS. 4 and 5, it
also is possible to excite these electrically conductive segments of tubing
11 with pulsed waveform direct current excitation potentials. For use in
this manner, the pulse rate of the pulsed waveform excitation potentials
must be sufficiently high to maintain continuous current flow through blood
being treated. In addition, it may be desirable to couple a bank of storage
capacitors in parallel across respective pairs of opposite polarity
electrically conductive segments 16, 16A and 32, 32A where operation in a
pulsed DC mode is desired.
FIG. 7 of the drawings is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of
the invention which is substantially different from those previously
described. In FIG. 7, the material used for fabrication of the tubing 11 is
one of the new space-age polymer materials which can be either highly
electrically conductive, insulating, or semiconducting and may have values
of conductivity ranging from essentially fully conductive to insulating. In
the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 7, the conductive surface areas on
the inside diameter of the tubing 11 are actually formed into segments,
such as 11C, of the cross sectional area of the tubing 11 fabricated from
the highly conductive polymer material. The intervening segments of the
tubing 11I which separate the conductive segments 11C are integrally formed
from the highly insulating polymer material. Suitable positive polarity and
negative polarity potentials are applied to the exterior surface areas of
alternate ones of the sets of conductive polymer segments 11C from a source
of electric potential via the conductors 23 and 24 as illustrated
schematically in FIG. 7.
It will be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7
is much simpler and hence less expensive to make in that it requires fewer
processing steps than the embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-6.
In other respects, the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7 would be
used in a blood transfer system similar to that shown in FIG. 1 or 6 with
or without a blood pump 28 and blood flow regulating valve 37 to effect
transfer of blood from a donor to a receptacle or recipient in the event of
a transfusion or recycling. During the blood transfer process, again it
would be necessary to provide alternating current excitation potentials
across the spaced-apart, alternate sets of electrically conductive polymer
segments 11C prior to passing blood through the tubing 11. This will assure
that all of the blood being transferred is subjected to the electric field
forces produced between the alternate conductive surfaces 11C. As a
variation of the FIG. 7 embodiment, which visualizes that the segments 11C
and 11I all extend longitudinally and parallel to the longitudinal axis of
tubing 11, it would be possible, but more elaborate to design, to employ
alternate radially surrounding annular conductive segments 11C and
interlacing insulating segments 11I similar to FIG. 5, but such fabrication
would require somewhat more complex terminal buss bar electric supply
connections 23 and 24 than those shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic, elevational view showing a form of
blood treatment system according to the invention wherein a small
electrically conductive vessel 41 in the form of a short piece of
electrified tubing and a combined miniaturized DC to AC converter and
battery power source 42 are implanted in the arm of a human being. The
electrified tubing 41 may be in the form of any of the prior disclosed
electrified tubing structures described with relation to FIGS. 1-7, but
which are fabricated in miniaturized form so that the tubing 41 and power
package 42 can be inserted in a section of or surrounding a vein 44 of the
arm 13 of a patient whose blood is being treated. The implantation is such
that the blood through the patient's vein 44 naturally is pumped through
the short piece of electrified tubing 41 while circulating blood to the
hand of the patient to thereby form a closed loop, recirculating, implanted
treatment system that comprises an integral part of the circulatory system
of the patient being treated. Because the parameters of such an implanted
system are necessarily small, a single passage through the implanted
electrified tube 14 may accomplish relatively little attenuation of
contaminants in the blood. Therefore, it is the repeated passage of small
portions of the patient's blood continuously twenty-four hours a day and
for as many days as are needed which will gradually attenuate the
contaminants to the point where they are rendered ineffective as described
earlier.
FIG. 9 is a partial, fragmentary, sectional view of the upper arm portion
13 of a vein or artery of a patient in which a treatment system according
to the invention has been implanted, and shows in greater detail the
construction of a specialized, miniaturized, electrically conductive
treatment vessel with associated miniaturized battery electric power source
and DC to AC converter for use in an implanted treatment system as shown in
FIG. 8. In FIG. 9, the electrified vessel 41 is in the form of an outer
housing 45 that is in the shape of a football which is implanted within the
interior walls 44 of an artery or a vein. The outer housing 45 is comprised
by a central, cylindrically-shaped portion 45M of solid conductor such as
platinum which is biocompatible with human blood and tissue and has
integrally formed, conically-shaped porous ends 45C which are attached to
and form an electrically conductive screen grid (at the same potential) as
the mid portion 45M. The conical end portions 45C both are perforated and
may be in the nature of a screen or mesh wire and of the same material
composition as the mid portion 45M. Disposed within the outer housing 45 is
a inner housing 46 which is tear-drop shaped and secured within the central
portion 45M of the outer housing by suitable insulating support spider legs
47. The inner housing 46 likewise is formed from platinum or other suitable
biocompatible conductive material and has supported within its interior a
miniaturized AC source comprising a miniaturized battery and AC to DC
converter 42 secured to the conductive walls of inner housing 46 by
conductive support legs 48. The support legs 48 serve as terminal
connectors from one terminal of AC power converter 42 to the inner housing
46 so that it is maintained at one polarity excitation potential. The
remaining opposite polarity terminal of miniaturized AC source 42 is
connected through an insulated conductor 49 to the central portion 45M of
outer housing 45 whereby the entire outer housing including the meshed
conical end portions 45C are maintained at an opposite polarity potential
from the inner housing 46.
Prior to implantation in a patient, the electrified vessel shown in FIG. 9
is activated by connection to AC source 42 so that an electric field
gradient is produced across the space between the inner and outer housings
45 and 46. Following implantation of the activated, electrified treatment
vessel 41, its presence in a vein or artery will cause all blood flowing
through the vein or artery to pass between the side walls of the inner and
outer housings 45 and 46 so as to be subjected to the electric field force
gradient existing in these spaces. The presence of the electric field
forces will induce a current flow through the blood passing between the
interior and outer housings as explained above which will result in
attenuating bacteria, virus, parasites and/or fungus which are present in
the blood as contaminants. Here again, because of the relatively small
portion of the total blood flowing in a patient that will be treated by the
device within a given time period, it is the repeated, recycling process
treatment of the blood over a prolonged period of time that will result in
attenuation of the contaminants in the blood to the point where such
contaminants are rendered ineffective as described earlier.
In order to further assure adequate treatment of the blood of a patient
receiving the implant device, it is recommended that the blood be treated
in an external treatment processing facility such as described earlier in
FIGS. 1 and 6 or to be described hereinafter with relation to FIGS. 18 and
19 in which the total capacity of the treatment system is greater whereby
substantial attenuation effect can be achieved in a comparatively shorter
time period yet to be determined, and then the in vitro implant treatment
system such as shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 can be used to maintain the
attenuated condition and to prevent any subsequent build up of contaminants
after the initial treatment, if determined to be desirable.
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic view of a partial vein or artery 44
showing in greater detail the cylindrical or tubular electrified treatment
vessel 41 originally described with relation to FIG. 8. This implant
treatment vessel 41 is miniaturized so that it is in effect an open-ended
cylinder in shape and has a diameter comparable to that of a large vein or
artery and so that it can be grafted or implanted into the vein or artery
as illustrated in FIG. 10. The tubular treatment vessel 41 may be designed
pursuant to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, for example. For this
application, the battery source of power and interconnected DC to AC
converter 42 are annular in shape and are slipped over the tubular
treatment vessel 41 in the manner shown. In FIG. 10 a longitudinal
sectional view of the hollow annular-shaped treatment vessel 41 and AC
power source 42 is illustrated. At the point where the battery driven AC
power source 42 fits over the tubular treatment vessel 41, the respective
terminals of the AC power source 42 are exposed to engage the corresponding
positive and negative supply terminals 19 and 22 of the tube 41 so that the
resulting structure has a minimum exterior profile to facilitate
implantation. From a comparison of FIG. 10 to FIG. 9 of the drawings, it
will be appreciated that the FIG. 9 treatment vessel introduces some flow
restriction in the vein or artery in which it is implanted and for this
reason the construction shown in FIG. 10 is preferred.
FIGS. 11 and 11A of the drawings illustrate a construction for the
electrified treatment vessel 51 wherein the treatment vessel is in the form
of square or rectangular cross sectionally-shaped open-ended tubing. The
treatment tubing 51 provided with a square or rectangular shape so that
provision of opposed, parallel conductive electrode surfaces 51U and 51L is
greatly simplified as best seen in FIG. 11A of the drawings, which is a
cross sectional view taken through plane 11A--11A of FIG. 11. By
fabricating the upper and lower surfaces of the tubing 11 from electrically
conductive material such as platinum, etc., and separating the upper and
lower surfaces 51U and 51L by electrically insulating side walls 52R and
52L, provision of the electrically isolated, opposed, parallel electrode
surfaces is simplified and the resulting treatment vessel introduces
minimum restriction to flow of blood. By connecting the upper surface 51U
to one terminal of the AC power source 42 and connecting the lower surface
51L to the opposite terminal, AC electrification of the interior area of
the tubing wherein the fluids to be treated flow is readily achieved with a
greatly simplified electrode structure. Variations of this structural
feature wherein the side insulating surfaces 52R and 52L are curved with
their concave surfaces facing each other and the cross sectional area of
the upper and lower conductive surfaces 51U and 51L tailored to provide a
desired current density, tubular treatment vessels such as shown in FIGS.
11 and 11A could be readily provided for use in implantation devices such
as that illustrated in FIG. 8.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a novel, electrified, closed,
octagonally-shaped, flat, box-like treatment vessel 60 according to the
invention which provides an enlarged cross-sectional area relative to the
cross sectional diameter of the inlet and outlet tubing supplying the
interior of the treatment vessel whereby increased through-put of a fluid
being treated can be achieved in a given time period. The treatment vessel
60 shown in FIG. 12 is comprised essentially of upper and lower,
octagonally-shaped, flat insulating plates 61 and 62, respectively, of an
insulating material which is compatible with human blood and/or other body
fluids. Disposed immediately below and above the upper and lower plates 61
and 62 are octagonally-shaped, conductive electrode members 63 and 64,
respectively, which are separated and electrically isolated one from the
other by a surrounding electric insulating gasket member 65. The entire
structure is sandwiched together and held in assembled relation by threaded
thru-pins 66 as best seen in FIG. 12A of the drawings. The insulating
gasket 65 which may be of teflon defines an open space 67 between the two
conductive electrode members 63 and 64 into which the blood or other body
fluid to be treated is introduced via inlet and outlet conduits 68 and 69.
Alternating current electric potentials are applied across the respective
conductive plates 63 and 64 to produce an electric field force across the
intermediate space 67 through which the fluids being treated flow between
electrode plates 63 and 64. By thus structuring the treatment vessel,
increased treatment surface area is provided to the blood or other body
fluid flowing through the space 67 whereby in a given time period an
increased quantity of fluids can be treated.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another form of enlarged cross sectional
area treatment vessel 70 having an exterior shape similar to that of the
treatment vessel shown in FIG. 12. The electrified treatment vessel shown
in FIG. 13 differs from that in FIG. 12, however, in the construction of
its electrically conductive electrodes which comprise a plurality of
interleaved, conductive, flat, electrode plates 71 and 71A. The electrode
plates 71 are secured in and project inwardly from a right hand (RH)
conductive end plate 73R as shown in FIG. 13A. The alternate set of flat
electrode plates 71A are secured to and project inwardly from a
corresponding conductive end plate 73L on the left hand end of the
treatment vessel 70. The conductive end plates 73R and 73L and coacting
insulating side plates 72 which insulate the conducting end plates from one
another, form an octagonally-shaped box frame which is closed by upper and
lower insulating top and bottom insulating plates 74 and 75. The conductive
end plates 73R and 73L have a central opening formed therein into which
inlet and outlet tubes 76 and 77 are secured as best seen in FIG. 13 for
providing inlet and outlet flow through connection to the treatment vessel
70.
The alternate sets of flat electrode plates 71 and 71A extend parallel to
one another and are provided with alternating current electric potentials
supplied across the respective sets of interleaved electrode plates via the
respective conductive end members 73R and 73L. If desired, the respective
flat conductive electrode plates 71 and 71A may be fabricated from a
perforated material as shown in FIG. 13B of the drawings. Also, it may be
desirable that some form of thermal insulation, or a thermally controlled
chamber be provided around the exterior of the treatment vessel 70 as
indicated by the thermal insulation 78 shown in FIG. 13A.
In operation, electrified treatment vessel 70 shown in FIGS. 13, 13A and
13B functions in essentially the same manner as was described earlier with
respect to FIGS. 1-7 to effect attenuation of contaminants such as
bacteria, virus and fungus contained in blood and/or other body fluids
being treated in the flow through treatment vessel of FIG. 13.
FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of still another form of enlarged
cross sectional area, electrified treatment vessel 80. The treatment vessel
80 shown in FIG. 14 is in the form of an open-ended, elongated cylinder 81
whose cylindrical walls are fabricated from an insulating material which is
biocompatible with human blood and/or other body fluids and whose open ends
are closed by circular-shaped conductive end pieces 82 and 83. Inlet and
outlet tubular openings 84 and 85 are provided to the interior of
cylindrical housing 81 through centrally formed apertures in the circular
end plates 82 and 83. Within the interior of the cylindrical, insulating
housing 81 at least two, separate, concentric, perforated,
cylindrically-shaped electrode members 86 and 87 are provided which extend
longitudinally through the interior of the outer cylindrical housing 81.
The first set of concentric, perforated, electrically conductive electrodes
86 is embedded in and supported by the conductive end plate 82 which serves
as an electrical terminal for applying electric potentials to all of the
concentric electrode member 86. Similarly, the concentric, perforated,
conductive electrode member 87 is physically supported by and electrically
connected to the conductive end plate 83 for the supply of alternating
current potentials thereacross. Additionally, if desired, one or more
additional perforated concentric electrode members similar to 86 may be
spaced apart from the inner concentric electrode member 86 outwardly along
the diameter of the circular end member 82 with additional perforated
concentric electrode members 87 being sandwiched between the two electrode
members 86 and spaced apart therefrom so as to provide an electric field
force between all the spaced apart, separated electrically conductive
electrode members 86 and 87. Additionally, if desired, a conductive surface
89 may be formed around the interior walls of the outer, insulating
cylindrical housing member 81 and electrically connected to the conductive
end plate 82 or 83. This will assure that the entire interior of the
treatment 80 vessel cross sectional area is crossed by the electric field
force and all blood or other body fluid passing the cylindrical housing
member 81 is subjected to biologically compatible low electric current flow
as a consequence of the alternating current electric fields produced
between the different concentric electrode members including the coated
surface 89 within the interior insulating housing member 81.
In operation, the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 14 and 14A
operates in substantially the same manner as described with relation to
earlier embodiments of the invention to assure production of biologically
compatible electric current flow through the blood or other body fluid
being treated in the treatment vessel 80.
FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of still another embodiment of an
enlarged cross-sectional area treatment vessel 90. The treatment vessel 90
again comprises an outer, hollow, open-ended cylindrically-shaped,
insulating body member 91 whose open ends are closed by electrically
conductive, circular end plates 92 and 93, respectively. Inlet and outlet
tubular openings 94 and 95 are provided through the central axial opening
in the conductive end plates 92 and 93 for passage of blood and/or other
body fluids being treated into the interior of the treatment vessel 90. The
conductive end plates 92 and 93 have respective sets of opposite polarity
potential needle-like electrodes 96 and 97, respectively, projecting
therefrom inwardly into the interior of the treatment vessel 90.
Alternating current electric potentials are applied to the respective
conductive end plates 92 and 93 through respective AC supply terminals
indicated at 98 and 99. If desired, and in order to assure complete
saturation of the entire volumetric area within treatment vessel 90 with
electric fields, a conductive coating similar to that shown at 89 in FIG.
14 can be provided to the inner surface of the hollow, cylindrically-shaped
outer body member 91 of treatment vessel 90.
FIG. 15A is a cross sectional view taken through plane A-A of FIG. 15 and
shows how the array of needle-like electrodes appear within the interior of
the treatment vessel 90. In operation, the treatment vessel 90 will
function in substantially the same manner as has been described previously
with relation to earlier described embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of still another form of enlarged cross
sectional area treatment vessel 100 according to the invention and FIG. 16A
is a partial cross sectional view taken through plane 16A--16A of FIG. 16.
The treatment vessel 100 comprises a relatively large rectangular-shaped
block 101 of electrical insulating material which is biocompatible with
blood and/or other human body fluids. The insulating block 101 has a
plurality of parallel, longitudinally extending, open-ended, tubular-shaped
openings 102 formed therein through the entire length of the block. The
tubes 102 are provided with electrically isolated, opposed, parallel
extending conductive plate electrodes 109 as best shown in FIG. 16A, which
have alternating current electric potentials applied thereacross. One set
of these electrodes, formed for example by the lower electrode 109 in each
tube, extend out to and engage a conductive surface coating formed on one
end of the insulating block, for example 101R, and the remaining upper
electrodes 109 form a second set which extend out of the left hand end of
the tubes and contact a conductive coating formed on the remaining end 101L
of block 101. Alternating current electric potentials are connected across
the respective conductive surfaces 101R and 101L so that a potential
difference exists between the sets of electrodes 109 within each
longitudinally extending tube in block 101. The ends of the tubes 102 open
into and are supplied from, or supply, respective header reservoirs 103 and
104 formed on the respective opposite ends of the block of insulating
material 101. Each of the reservoirs 103 and 104 has a centrally formed
opening for receiving either an inlet tube 105 applied to header 103 or an
outlet tube 106 secured to header 104 for supply of blood or other body
fluids to be treated to and from the treatment vessel 100. If desired, a
blood pump or other fluid pump can be inserted between the supply tube 105
and header 103, or between outlet tube 106 and the or outlet from the
header reservoir 104, or both. Alternatively, both inlet and outlet pumps
can be used. In operation, the electrified treatment vessel 100 shown in
FIG. 16 functions in the same manner as those species of treatment vessels
described previously.
For some treatment applications, it may be desirable to provide exhaust
vents such as shown at 107 and 108 in FIG. 16 to the inlet reservoir 103
and/or the outlet reservoir 104 with the vents that can be selectively
operated by valves that can be automatically or manually controlled for
venting off gases that might be trapped in the tops of reservoirs and which
otherwise might interfere with the proper operation of the electrified
treatment vessel. In a similar manner, suitable venting apparatus may be
provided to other of the large cross sectional area electrified treatment
vessels described previously.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of still another enlarged cross-sectional
area treatment vessel 110 which is similar in all respects to the treatment
vessel shown in FIG. 16 with the exception that the body or block of
insulating material 101 through which the elongate tubular openings are
made, is cylindrically shaped as illustrated in FIG. 17. In other respects,
the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 17 would be identical to FIG.
16 in the fabrication and operation of its component parts including the
reservoir headers 103 and 104 and would operate in a similar manner.
FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic, sketch of a human blood or other body fluid
treatment system employing one of the larger cross-sectional dimension
fluid treatment vessels 60, such as any one of those shown in FIGS. 12-17
of the drawings. The particular fluid treatment system shown in FIG. 18 is
for a continuous flow-through recirculating body fluid treatment wherein
blood is withdrawn from the arm 13 of a patient and supplied through IV
tubing 111 to a commercially available blood pump 28 and thence to an
electrified treatment vessel 60. The treatment vessel 60 may be like any of
the treatment vessels described with relation to FIGS. 12-17 of the
drawings wherein the blood or other body fluid being treated is exposed to
a low voltage, low current electric current flow for attenuating to the
point of rendering them ineffective, any contaminants entrained in the
blood, such as bacteria, virus and fungus. The treated blood appearing at
the output of the treatment vessel 60 then is recirculated back through IV
tubing 112 to the arm 13 of the patient whose blood or other body fluid is
being treated. If desired, IV tubing 111 and 112 could also be treatment
tubing such as described in FIGS. 1-7 and 11. This could provide double
treatment for the fluid if that were desirable. In the event that the
entire treatment does not take place in an air conditioned, temperature
controlled room, then it may be desirable to provide a temperature
controlled enclosure indicated by dotted lines 78 around at least the pump
28, electrified treatment vessel 60 and the interconnecting IV tubing
sections 111 and 112 in order to assure maintaining a substantially
constant viscosity of the blood or body fluid being treated.
Normally, the system of FIG. 18 would be used in a continuous flow-through
recirculating treatment system wherein blood from the patient's arm 13 is
supplied through pump 28 to the treatment vessel 60 where it is treated and
then discharged back through tubing section 112 to the arm of the patient.
The flow rate of the blood thus processed would be adjusted to correspond
substantially to the natural flow rate of blood circulated through the
patient's body to the extent possible.
In addition to operation in the above manner, it would also be possible to
operate the system of FIG. 18 in a stopped-flow, batch treatment manner
wherein the blood pump is intermittently stopped to allow for more extended
electrical treatment of the blood or other body fluid contained in the
treatment vessel 60 during the period of time (referred to as the dwell
time) that the blood pump is stopped thereby assuring fuller
electrification treatment and the greater attenuation of the bacteria,
virus, parasites and/or fungus entrained in the blood.
FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic sketch of a form of closed loop, flow-through
recirculating treatment system according to the invention that is somewhat
similar to the system shown in FIG. 18. FIG. 19 differs from FIG. 18 in
that an inlet pump 28 and an outlet pump 28' are connected to,
respectively, the intake to and outlet from the electrified treatment
vessel 60. If desired, an inlet control valve 113 and an outlet control
valve 114 also can be interconnected between the inlet pump 28 and the
intake to the treatment vessel 60 and between the output from the treatment
vessel 60 and the intake to the outlet blood pump 28'. These inlet and
outlet control valves indicated at 113 and 114 preferably are automatically
operated in a time sequence which allows the system of FIG. 19 to be
operated as a two pump, start-stop flow through system. When operated in
this manner, the first pump 28 is allowed to operate and discharge blood
from the arm 13 of the patient to be pumped into the treatment vessel 60
and thereafter is closed off with both the inlet and outlet valves 113 and
114 in their closed condition. At this point electrification treatment of
the blood or other body fluid takes place for a predetermined, scheduled
time period to assure adequate attenuation to the point of rendering
ineffective the contaminant bacteria, virus, parasites or fungus. Upon
completion of the pre-scheduled treatment period, the outlet valve 114 is
opened and outlet pump 28' actuated to return the treated blood to the arm
of the patient 13. Operation in this semi-continuous, start-stop, batch
fashion will assure that adequate electrified treatment of the blood has
been accomplished while achieving this end in a somewhat continuous manner
suitable for use in a closed loop, recycling blood treatment process.
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PRACTICAL USES OF INVENTION
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While the disclosure herein presented has been directed to principally the
electrical treatment of blood, it is believed obvious to those skilled in
the art that the invention can be applied with corresponding effect to
other body fluids which are electrically conductive for the treatment of
contaminants such as bacteria, virus, parasites and/or fungus contained
therein. Further, while voltages of the order of from about 0.2 volts to 12
volts AC have been indicated as preferable, it is possible that certain
virus may be attenuated (or attenuated at a faster rate) if they are
subjected to greater electric current magnitudes of the order of 500
microamperes for shorter time periods. Acceptable current magnitudes
normally would require an excitation voltage of from 0.2 to 12 volts.
However, in certain cases where faster or more complete attenuation of the
contaminants in body fluids may be desired under certain circumstances and
conditions, the excitation voltage supplied to the conductive tubing may in
fact exceed the 0.2 to 12 volt range indicated for most treatments.
Although it is uncertain what is specifically causing the attenuation of
the contaminants (virus, bacteria, parasites and/or fungus), some possible
explanations have been put forward. One is that the attenuation is caused
simply by the direct affect of the electric current and voltage. Another
entails the following. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes, a small
current will flow through the electrically conductive medium. The applied
voltage and ensuing current will induce changes in the complex biologically
active fluid. Current can flow through the media if positive and/or
negative charges are transported through said media. The transport might
induce changes in the charge distribution of the biologically active
molecules thus changing their biological activity. Furthermore, the voltage
and current can induce the production or elimination of different ions,
radicals, gases and/or PH levels which may affect, alone or in combination,
the biologically active molecules and/or cells. The above products of the
electrical processes may either be very short lived and stay in the close
proximity of the electrodes or can diffuse or mix in the bulk of the media
and react with the biologically active molecules or cells to result in
their attenuation.
Having described several embodiments of new and improved electrically
conductive treatment methods and vessels for use in practicing the novel
method for the treatment of blood and/or other body fluids with electric
field forces and treatment systems employing the same, it is believed
obvious that other modifications and variations of the invention will be
suggested to those skilled in the art in the light of the above teachings.
It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular
embodiments of the invention described which are within the full intended
scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
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Claims
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What is claimed is:
1. An electrically conductive vessel for direct electric treatment of
bacteria, and/or virus, and/or parasites and/or fungus entrained in blood
and/or other body fluids and/or synthetic fluids contained within or
flowing through the vessel in the presence of electric field forces, said
electrically conductive vessel being fabricated with only biologically
compatible material contacting the fluid being treated and with an array of
at least two or more spaced-apart, opposed electrically conductive
electrode segments formed of biologically compatible conductive material on
or in the interior surface of the vessel and exposed to blood or other
fluids contained in or flowing through the vessel, said electrically
conductive electrode segments being electrically isolated from each other
and extending over or through a portion of the length of the vessel, and
means for applying low voltage alternating current non-biologically
damaging electric potentials to the electrically conductive electrode
segments whereby electrical field forces are produced between the
electrically conductive electrode segments that induce biologically
compatible current flow through the blood and/or other fluids contained in
or flowing through the vessel so as to attenuate bacteria, virus, parasites
and/or fungus contained in the blood and/or other fluids by the action of
the electric current flow therethrough to thereby render the bacteria,
virus, parasites and/or fungus ineffective while not impairing and
maintaining the biological usefulness of the fluids.
2. An electrically conductive vessel according to claim 1 wherein the low
voltage alternating current electric potentials are in the range from about
0.2 volts to 12 volts and induce electric current flow densities in the
blood or other fluids of from one microampere per square millimeter (1
muA/mm(^2)) to about two milliamperes per square millimeter (2 mA/mm(^2)).
3. An electrically conductive vessel according to claim 2 wherein the
vessel is in the form of tubing and is inserted in a flow-thru blood
treatment system between a hypodermic needle employed to withdraw and/or
supply blood from a donor and/or to a recipient and/or a blood storage
receptacle or to a patient in a blood recycling system.
4. An electrically conductive vessel according to claim 2 wherein the
vessel is part of a system and is in the form of tubing and a blood pump is
inserted in the tubing between a donor and a recipient or a receptacle, and
the system further includes means for electrically isolating the blood pump
from the electrically conductive vessel, means for regulating blood flow
rate from the blood pump output and means for maintaining electrical
continuity throughout a desired length of the conductive vessel.
5. An electrically conductive vessel according to claim 2 wherein the
vessel is in the form of tubing and the electrically conductive electrode
segments are in the form zebra stripes which extend longitudinally parallel
with the longitudinal axis of the tubing with the alternate electrically
conductive electrode stripes being separated by alternate electrically
insulating stripes for electrically isolating the alternate electrically
conductive electrode stripes one from the other, a first set of alternate
ones of the electrically conductive electrode stripes being electrically
connected in common to a first annular terminal buss formed on and
circumferentially surrounding the tubing and electrically isolated from the
remaining second set of alternate electrically conductive electrode
stripes, said first annular terminal buss being designed for connection to
one supply terminal of a source of alternating current electric excitation
potential, and a second annular terminal buss circumferentially surrounding
the tubing and electrically connected to the remaining second set of
alternate electrically conductive electrode stripes, said second annular
terminal buss being electrically isolated from the first annular terminal
buss and the first set of alternate electrically conductive electrode
stripes and being designed for connection to a second supply terminal of a
source of alternating current electric excitation potential.
6. Electrically conductive tubing according to claim 5 wherein the tubing
is inserted in a flow-thru blood treatment system between a hypodermic
needle employed to withdraw and/or supply blood from a donor and/or to a
recipient and/or a blood storage receptacle or to a patient in a blood
recycling system.
7. Electrically conductive tubing according to claim 5 wherein a blood pump
is inserted in the tubing between a donor and a recipient and/or a
receptacle, and the tubing is a part of a system which further includes
means for electrically isolating the blood pump from the electrically
conductive tubing, means for regulating blood flow rate from the blood pump
output, and means for electrically interconnecting the input and output
sides of the tubing around the blood pump and the blood flow regulating
means whereby electrical continuity is maintained throughout a desired
length of the tubing.
8. An electrically conductive tubing according to claim 2 wherein the
vessel is in the form of tubing and the electrically conductive electrode
segments are in the form of zebra stripes which extend radially around the
inside diameter of the tubing in alternating conductive and insulating
annular bands whereby alternate conductive bands are electrically isolated
one from the other by respective insulating bands, a first set of alternate
ones of the electrically conductive annular electrode stripes being
electrically connected in common to a first longitudinally extending
terminal buss that is formed on the tubing in parallel with the
longitudinal axis thereof and electrically isolated from the remaining
second set of alternate electrically conductive annular electrode stripes,
said first longitudinally ext ending terminal buss being designed for
connection to a first supply terminal of a source of alternating current
electric excitation potential, and a second longitudinally extending
terminal buss electrically connected to the remaining second set of
alternate electrically conductive annular electrode stripes, said second
longitudinally extending terminal buss being electrically isolated from the
first longitudinally extending terminal buss and the first set of alternate
electrically conductive annular electrode stripes and being designed for
connection to a second supply terminal of a source of alternating current
electric excitation potential.
9. Electrically conductive tubing according to claim 8 wherein the tubing
is inserted in a flow-thru blood treatment system between a hypodermic
needle employed to withdraw and/or supply blood from a donor and/or to a
recipient and/or a blood storage receptacle or to a patient in a blood
recycling system.
10. Electrically conductive tubing according to claim 9 wherein a blood
pump is inserted in the tubing between a donor and a recipient and/or a
receptacle, and the tubing is part of a system that further includes means
for electrically isolating the blood pump from the electrically conductive
tubing, means for regulating blood flow from the output of the blood pump,
and means for electrically interconnecting the input and output sides of
the tubing around the blood pump and blood flow regulating means whereby
electrical continuity is maintained through a desired length of the tubing.
11. An electrically conductive vessel according to claim 2 wherein the
walls of the vessel itself are formed from electrically conductive polymer
material that is compatible with human tissue and blood and/or other body
fluids with the electrically conductive portions being formed into desired
patterns of spaced apart electrically conductive electrode segments
physically interconnected by integrally formed electrically insulating
tubing walls portions which electrically isolate a first array of electrode
segments from a second array of electrode segments.
12. An electrically conductive vessel according to claim 11 wherein the
vessel is in the form of tubing and the electrically conductive electrode
segments are in the form of zebra stripes which extend longitudinally
parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tubing with the alternate
electrically conductive electrode stripes being separated by alternate
electrically insulating stripes for electrically isolating the alternate
electrically conductive electrode stripes one from the other, a first set
of alternate ones of the electrically conductive electrode stripes being
electrically connected in common to a first annular terminal buss formed on
and circumferentially surrounding the tubing and electrically isolated from
the remaining second set of alternate electrically conductive electrode
stripes, said first annular terminal buss being designed for connection to
one supply terminal of a source of alternating current electric excitation
potential, and a second annular terminal buss circumferentially surrounding
the tubing and electrically connected to the remaining second set of
alternate electrically conductive electrode stripes, said second annular
terminal buss being electrically isolated from the first annular terminal
buss and the first set of alternate electrically conductive electrode
stripes and being designed for connection to a second supply terminal of a
source of alternating current electric excitation potential.
13. Electrically conductive tubing according to claim 12 wherein the tubing
is inserted in a flow-thru blood treatment system between a hypodermic
needle employed to withdraw and/or supply blood from a donor and/or to a
recipient and/or a blood storage receptacle or to a patient in a blood
recycling system.
14. Electrically conductive tubing according to claim 13 wherein a blood
pump is inserted in the tubing between a donor and a recipient and/or a
receptacle, and the tubing is part of a system which further includes means
for electrically isolating the blood pump from the electrically conductive
tubing, means for regulating blood flow from the output of the blood pump,
and means for electrically interconnecting the input and output sides of
the tubing around the blood pump and blood flow regulating means whereby
electrical continuity is maintained throughout a desired length of the
tubing.
15. An electrically conductive vessel according to claim 11 wherein the
vessel is in the form of tubing and the electrically conductive electrode
segments are in the form of zebra stripes which extend radially around the
inside diameter of the tubing in alternating conductive and insulating
annular bands whereby alternate conductive bands are electrically isolated
one from the other by respective insulating bands, a first set of alternate
ones of the electrically conductive annular electrode stripes being
electrically connected in common to a first longitudinally extending
terminal buss that is formed on the tubing in parallel with the
longitudinal axis thereof and electrically isolated from the remaining
second set of alternate electrically conductive annular electrode stripes,
said first longitudinally extending terminal buss being designed for
connection to a first supply terminal of a source of alternating current
electric excitation potential, and a second longitudinally extending
terminal buss electrically connected to the remaining second set of
alternate electrically conductive annular electrode stripes, said second
longitudinally extending terminal buss being electrically isolated from the
first longitudinally extending terminal buss and the first set of alternate
electrically conductive annular electrode stripes and being designed for
connection to a second supply terminal of a source of alternating current
electric excitation potential.
16. Electrically conductive tubing according to claim 15 wherein the tubing
is inserted in a flow-thru blood treatment system between a hypodermic
needle employed to withdraw and/or supply blood from a donor and/or to a
recipient and/or a blood storage receptacle or a patient in a blood
recycling system.
17. Electrically conductive tubing according to claim 16 wherein a blood
pump is inserted in the tubing between a donor and a recipient and/or a
receptacle, and the tubing is part of a system that further includes means
for electrically isolating the blood pump from the electrically conductive
tubing, means for regulating blood flow from the output of the blood pump,
and means for electrically interconnecting the input and output sides of
the tubing around the blood pump and the blood flow regulating means
whereby electrical continuity is maintained throughout a desired length of
the tubing.
18. A fluid treatment process for attentuating bacteria, and/or virus,
and/or parasites, and/or fungus, existing in blood and/or other body fluids
and/or synthetic fluids within a treatment vessel having only biologically
compatible internal and conductive electrode surfaces therein contacting
fluid being treated thereby maintaining the biological usefulness of the
blood or other fluids being treated comprising subjecting the fluid within
the treatment vessel to low voltage, low alternating current electric field
forces within non-biologically damaging electric field forces for producing
a biologically compatible current flow through the blood or other fluids
for a predetermined period of time sufficient to attenuate bacteria and/or
virus, and/or parasites and/or fungus contained in the blood or other
fluids to thereby render them ineffective while maintaining the biological
usefulness of the fluids being treated.
19. The product of the process according to claim 18.
20. A fluid treatment process according to claim 18 wherein the low voltage
alternating current electric potentials are in the range from about 0.2 to
12 volts and induce electric current flow densities in the blood or other
fluids of from one microampere per square millimeter (1 muA/mm(^2)) to
about two milliamperes per square millimeter (2 mA/mm(^2)).
21. The product of the process according to claim 20.
22. A fluid treatment system for attentuating bacteria, and/or virus,
and/or parasites, and/or fungus existing in blood and/or other body fluids
and/or synthetic fluids being treated without biological damage to the
blood or other fluids comprising an electrically conductive vessel formed
at least in part of biologically compatible conductive material for
contacting blood or other fluids to be treated, means for subjecting the
blood or other fluids within the conductive vessel to low voltage, low
alternating current electric field forces for producing biologically
compatible current flow through the blood or other fluids for a
predetermined period of time sufficient to attenuate bacteria and/or virus,
and/or parasites, and/or fungus contained in the blood or other fluids to
thereby render such contaminants ineffective while maintaining the
biological usefulness of the blood or other fluids.
23. A fluid treatment system according to claim 22 wherein the low voltage
alternating current electric potentials are in the range from about 0.2 to
12 volts and produce electric current flow densities in the blood or other
body fluids of from one microampere per square millimeter (1 muA/mm(^2)) to
about two milliamperes per square millimeter (2 A/mm(^2)).
24. A fluid treatment system according to claim 22 wherein the system
comprises a plurality of components including an electric power source all
of which the miniaturized and implanted in the body of a patient being
treated to form a closed loop, continuous recirculating body fluid
treatment system.
25. A fluid treatment system according to claim 22 wherein the conductive
vessel is in the form of an open ended tube to allow flow-thru treatment of
blood and other fluids and is miniaturized along with an electric power
source for supply of alternating current electric potentials thereto
whereby the system may be implanted in human beings and other mammals to
operate as a continuous recirculating fluid treatment process.
26. A fluid treatment system according to claim 22 wherein the conductive
vessel in the vicinity of the spaced-apart opposed electrically conductive
electrode segments is provided with an enlarged cross sectional area
wherein enlarged electrically conductive electrode segment surface areas
are provided to act on the blood or other fluids flowing through the vessel
thereby increasing the through-put and/or effectiveness of the treatment
accomplished within the vessel for a given dwell time.
27. A body fluid treatment system according to claim 26 wherein the
electrically conductive vessel comprises an enlarged rectangular-shaped
body of electrical insulating material having a plurality of parallel,
longitudinally extending tubular openings formed all the way through the
insulating material from one end to the other and having spaced-apart
electrically conductive metal strips secured to respective opposite sides
of all of the tubes in opposed, parallel relationship, one set of
corresponding conductive strips of all of the tubes extending out of the
ends of each tube on one side or end of the body of electrical insulating
material and contacting a conductive surface forming a terminal buss for
all conductive strips of the set, and the remaining set of conductive
strips projecting out of the opposite ends of the respective tubes on the
opposite end of the insulating block to engage a conductive terminal
surface, and header reservoirs formed on each of the ends of the body of
electrical insulating material into which the ends of the tubular openings
are connected, each header having a respective inlet or outlet opening for
supply of blood and/or other fluids for treatment thereto.
28. A fluid treatment system according to claim 27 wherein the enlarged
insulating clock member is cylindrically shaped and the header reservoirs
at each end of the block member are correspondingly cylindrically shaped.
29. A fluid treatment system according to claim 27 wherein selectively
operated gas vents are provided in the top of the respective header
reservoirs of the electrically conductive vessel.
30. A fluid treatment system according to claim 26 wherein the electrically
conductive vessel is in the form of an enlarged cross sectional area
treatment vessel of substantially greater cross sectional area than the
inlet and outlet conduits supplying body fluids to be treated to the vessel
and wherein the enlarged cross sectional area vessel is included in a blood
transfer system between a hypodermic needle employed to withdraw and/or
supply blood from a donor and/or to a recipient and/or a blood storage
receptacle or to a patient in a continuous flow-thru blood recycling
system.
31. A fluid treatment system according to claim 30 wherein a blood pump is
inserted in the flow path of the blood or other fluid either to or from the
enlarged cross sectional area vessel, or both, and are located in a tubing
system between the donor and recipient or receptacle, and the system
further includes means for regulating blood flow rate from or to the
enlarged cross sectional area treatment vessel via the inlet or outlet
pumps or both.
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