M. Brandl, M. Mayer, T. Posnicek, C. Fabian, and D. Falkenhagen (Austria)
Ferromagnetic microparticles, Particle sedimentation, Particle trap, Magnetic separation
For extracorporeal blood purification, we have designed a microsphere based detoxification system (MDS) for highly specific toxin removal. The patient’s blood enters an extracorporeal circuit where in a plasma filter the blood is separated into a cell and a filtrate (plasma) fraction. The filtrate is directed and recirculated with high flow rate in a closed loop circuit (secondary MDS circuit). In the secondary circuit, the filtrate is suspended with high specific adsorbent microspheres having a mean diameter below 7µm. The hollow fiber plasma filter represents the sole barrier for microparticle blood contact. Medical safety regulations prescribe a double fault safety to protect the patient against microparticle infusion. This enforces an additional safety device. We have designed a high sensitive fluorescence based microparticle detector placed downstream the plasma filter along the venous blood line. For detection of a particle leakage and therefore a particle release from the plasma circuit into the blood circuit, we add ferromagnetic and fluorescently labeled microspheres to the adsorbent particle suspension into the secondary MDS circuit. In case of a membrane rupture, the labeled particles are released together with the adsorbent particles and can be detected in the blood line.
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