Patent ID: 6045701
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A method of filtering a fluid suspension having at least one biological cellular component that is characterized by having a nonrigid cell membrane free of a rigid outer cell wall, the cellular component being thereby subject to trauma when stressed, the method comprising the steps of:conveying the fluid suspension from a source into a gap defined between a first surface that is located about an axis and a second surface that is concentric with the first surface and that has an attached filter membrane having a coating thereon comprising an insitu condensation product of a first electrophilically active, high molecular weight polyalkylene oxide and a second high molecular weight bifunctional diamninopolyalkylene oxide derivative, wherein the polyalkylene oxides can comprise up to polybutylene oxide; andholding the first surface stationary while rotating the second surface and, with it, the filter membrane relative to the first surface about the axis at a selected surface velocity, taking into account the size of the gap, to create movement of the fluid suspension within the gap without substantial trauma to the cellular component for inducing transport of the cellular component from the membrane while the fluid suspension is transported to the membrane.