Patent ID: 6241886
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B01D,G01N

Abstract:
A plasma separation filter comprising a micro fiber medium in a container having an inlet and an outlet and a disk shape, wherein(1) the micro fiber medium is made of polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, or polyethylene, and is in a form of a single- or multi-layered nonwoven fabric shaped like a disk,wherein the micro fiber medium comprises a central portion and has plane faces,wherein the micro fiber medium is placed in the container with a space between the outer peripheral surface of the micro fiber medium and the inner peripheral surface of the container, and blood flows substantially in parallel to the plane faces, andwherein the inlet is formed to communicate with the space such that blood is supplied across the entire plane face of the perimeter of the micro fiber medium, and the outlet is formed such that separated plasma is discharged from the central portion of the micro fiber medium;(2) a ratio (L/D) of a blood flow passage length (L) to a blood flow passage diameter (D) of the micro fiber medium is 0.15 to 6;(3) an average hydraulic radius of the micro fiber medium is 0.5 to 3.0 .mu.m; and(4) when fresh bovine blood having an erythrocyte concentration of 6 to 8.times.10.sup.9 /ml is separated at a pressure of 0.2 to 0.4 kg/cm.sup.2 and plasma filtrate is collected in an amount equivalent to 10% of a pore volume of the micro fiber medium,(a) a ratio of an erythrocyte concentration in the plasma to the erythrocyte concentration in the blood before the separation is 0.1% or less; and(b) erythrocytes are not substantially hemolyzed.