U.S. patent application number 16/181885 was filed with the patent office on 2019-05-30 for blood treatment filter device, priming method, and blood treatment method.
The applicant listed for this patent is Nipro Corporation. Invention is credited to Hiroshi Fukushima, Kimihiko Nakamura, Toshinari Takahashi, Masashi Yokota.
Application Number | 20190160215 16/181885 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53681368 |
Filed Date | 2019-05-30 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190160215 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Takahashi; Toshinari ; et
al. |
May 30, 2019 |
BLOOD TREATMENT FILTER DEVICE, PRIMING METHOD, AND BLOOD TREATMENT
METHOD
Abstract
To provide a blood treatment filter device capable of
efficiently utilizing a blood treatment filter. A blood treatment
filter device 20 has a filter sheet 26 through which a specific
component among components forming blood is harder to pass than
other components and a spacer sheet 27 through which the specific
component is easier to pass than through the filter sheet 26. The
filter sheet 26 has filter through-holes 39 disposed at intervals.
The filter sheet 26 and the spacer sheet 27 are spirally wound in
an overlapped state. The filter device 20 has seals 31 sealing both
end portions in the longitudinal direction of a wound body 25
formed by the filter sheet 26 and the spacer sheet 27 which are
spirally wound in a fluid-tight manner. The outer peripheral
surface of the wound body 25 is formed by the filter sheet 26.
Inventors: |
Takahashi; Toshinari;
(Osaka, JP) ; Yokota; Masashi; (Osaka, JP)
; Fukushima; Hiroshi; (Osaka, JP) ; Nakamura;
Kimihiko; (Osaka, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nipro Corporation |
Osaka |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
53681368 |
Appl. No.: |
16/181885 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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15111843 |
Jul 15, 2016 |
10155079 |
|
|
PCT/JP2015/051337 |
Jan 20, 2015 |
|
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16181885 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 2205/3331 20130101;
B01D 29/216 20130101; A61M 2205/7563 20130101; B01D 2313/18
20130101; B01D 2313/143 20130101; A61M 1/1631 20140204; A61M 1/3496
20130101; A61M 1/3643 20130101; B01D 65/08 20130101; A61M 1/3633
20130101; A61M 1/3652 20140204; B01D 2313/083 20130101; B01D 63/10
20130101; A61M 39/22 20130101; A61M 1/3644 20140204 |
International
Class: |
A61M 1/16 20060101
A61M001/16; B01D 63/10 20060101 B01D063/10; A61M 1/36 20060101
A61M001/36; B01D 65/08 20060101 B01D065/08; A61M 39/22 20060101
A61M039/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 22, 2014 |
JP |
2014-009058 |
Jan 23, 2014 |
JP |
2014-010214 |
Claims
1-7. (canceled)
8. A priming method for a blood treatment filter device having: a
body container which has a first port and a second port which are
continuous to an internal space and which is disposed with the
first port located above the second port in a gravity direction; a
blood treatment filter in a dry state placed in the internal space
of the body container; a first blood circuit which is connected to
the first port and through which liquid flows; a second blood
circuit which is connected to the second port and through which
liquid flows; a first bypass circuit which is connected to the
first blood circuit and the second blood circuit and through which
liquid flows; and a second bypass circuit which is connected to a
side closer to the first port relative to a connection position of
the first bypass circuit in the first blood circuit and is
connected to a side further from the second port relative to a
connection position of the first bypass circuit in the second blood
circuit and through which liquid flows, the priming method
comprising: individually closing the circuit between a connection
position of the first bypass circuit and a connection position of
the second bypass circuit in each of the first blood circuit and
the second blood circuit to cause a priming liquid to flow into the
internal space of the body container from the first blood circuit
through the first bypass circuit, the second blood circuit, and the
second port, and then to cause the priming liquid to flow out of
the internal space of the body container to the second blood
circuit through the first port, the first blood circuit, and the
second bypass circuit.
9. The priming method for the blood treatment filter device
according to claim 8, wherein the blood treatment filter has a
sheet shape and is placed in the body container in a cylindrically
wound state, and the body container has a liquid flow passage which
causes the first port and an internal space on an outer peripheral
surface side of the cylindrical-shaped blood treatment filter to be
continuous to each other and a liquid flow passage which causes an
internal space on an inner peripheral surface side of the
cylindrical-shaped blood treatment filter and the second port to be
continuous to each other.
10. A blood treatment method employing the priming method according
to claim 8, and further comprising the step of: closing the first
bypass circuit and the second bypass circuit and individually
opening the circuit between the connection position of the first
bypass circuit and the connection position of the second bypass
circuit in each of the first blood circuit and the second blood
circuit to cause the blood to flow into the body container through
the first port from the first blood circuit, and then to cause the
blood to flow out to the second blood circuit through the second
port from the body container.
11. A blood treatment filter device comprising: a body container
which has a first port and a second port which are continuous to an
internal space and which is disposed with the first port located
above the second port in a gravity direction; a blood treatment
filter in a dry state placed in the internal space of the body
container; a first blood circuit which is connected to the first
port and through which liquid flows; a second blood circuit which
is connected to the second port and through which liquid flows; a
first bypass circuit which is connected to the first blood circuit
and the second blood circuit and through which liquid flows; a
second bypass circuit which is connected to a side closer to the
first port relative to a connection position of the first bypass
circuit in the first blood circuit and is connected to a side
further from the second port relative to a connection position of
the first bypass circuit in the second blood circuit and through
which liquid flows; a valve which opens/closes the circuit between
a connection position of the first bypass circuit and a connection
position of the second bypass circuit in the first blood circuit; a
valve which opens/closes the circuit between a connection position
of the first bypass circuit and a connection position of the second
bypass circuit in the second blood circuit; a valve which
opens/closes the first bypass circuit; and a valve which
opens/closes the second bypass circuit.
12. The blood treatment filter device according to claim 11,
wherein the blood treatment filter has a sheet shape and is placed
in the body container in a cylindrically wound state, the body
container has a liquid flow passage which causes the first port and
an internal space on an outer peripheral surface side of the
cylindrical-shaped blood treatment filter to be continuous to each
other and a liquid flow passage which causes an internal space on
an inner peripheral surface side of the cylindrical-shaped blood
treatment filter and the second port to be continuous to each
other.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is divisional application of co-pending application
Ser. No. 15/111,843 filed on Jul. 15, 2016, which is the U.S.
national phase of international application no. PCT/JP2015/051337,
filed Jan. 20, 2015, which claims the benefit of Japanese patent
application nos. 2014-009058, filed Jan. 22, 2014, and 2014-010214,
filed Jan. 23, 2014, incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a blood treatment filter
device which removes specific components in blood, a priming method
for the blood treatment filter device, and a blood treatment method
using the blood treatment filter device.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Heretofore, a blood treatment filter device is known which
removes specific components (typically leukocytes) in blood. The
blood treatment filter device is a device which filters blood
through a filter filled with nonwoven fabric and the like to remove
specific components in the blood. Since the operation of the blood
treatment filter device of the configuration described above is
simple and the removal ratio of specific components in blood is
high, the blood treatment filter device has been widely used
heretofore.
[0004] Most of such blood treatment filter devices are configured
by a wound body in which a filter sheet is cylindrically wound and
in which specific components in blood are captured by the filter in
a process in which the blood flows from the outer peripheral
surface to the inner peripheral surface of the wound body. Such a
blood treatment filter device has had a problem that, when the
filter sheet is clogged on the outer peripheral surface side of the
wound body, the blood becomes difficult to flow to the inside of
the clogged portion, so that the pressure required for flowing the
blood through the wound body becomes high.
[0005] To address such a problem, a configuration has been devised
in which, in a blood treatment filter device having a
cylindrical-shaped filter material in which a blood treatment
filter layer and a spacer layer, through which blood more easily
flows as compared with the blood treatment filter layer, are wound
in a laminated state, an end portion of the spacer layer is exposed
to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical-shaped filter
material. According to this configuration, even when the blood
treatment filter layer on the outermost periphery of the
cylindrical-shaped filter material is clogged, blood flows into the
inner peripheral surface side in a spiral shape along the spacer
layer from the end portion of the spacer layer exposed to the outer
peripheral surface, whereby the blood can reach the blood treatment
filter layer on the inner peripheral surface side, so that specific
components of the blood can be captured in the filter layer on the
inner peripheral surface side (Patent Literature 1).
[0006] The blood treatment filter device needs to be subjected to
priming treatment of introducing a priming liquid (for example,
physiological saline) to remove foreign substance and air
(hereinafter referred to as "air and the like") in a circuit before
use. For example, Patent Literature 2 describes an example of
priming treatment including a first process of charging a priming
liquid into a retransfusion-side circuit from the outside and,
simultaneously therewith, discharging an initial charged-liquid
from the retransfusion-side circuit of a blood treatment unit and a
second process of introducing the priming liquid to the blood
treatment unit through the retransfusion-side circuit.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0007] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 5164241
[0008] Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2010-125208
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problems
[0009] However, according to the blood treatment filter device
described in Patent Literature 1, when the blood treatment filter
layer on the outermost periphery is clogged, an entry port through
which blood flows to the inner peripheral surface side relative to
the spacer layer serves as space between the clogged blood
treatment filter layer and the blood treatment filter layer located
on the inner side with the spacer layer interposed between the
filter layers. The blood flowing into the inner peripheral surface
side of the clogged blood treatment filter device along the spacer
layer from the entry port enters the blood treatment filter layer
on the inner peripheral surface side which is not clogged in the
vicinity of the entry port. Then, in the blood treatment filter
layer on the inner peripheral surface side in the vicinity of the
entry port, clogging is likely to occur. Due to the fact a chain of
such clogging occurs, the entry port through which blood flows to
the inner peripheral surface side of the clogged blood treatment
filter layer extends in a long and narrow shape in the spiral
direction, so that the pressure for flowing a large amount of blood
to the long and narrow entry port may gradually become high.
Moreover, the blood preferentially enters the blood treatment
filter layer in the vicinity of the entry port, so that the use
efficiency of the other blood treatment filter layers may become
low.
[0010] Moreover, the priming treatment described in Patent
Literature 2 has necessity of appropriately controlling the fluid
flowing capability of a pump, the flow amount of the priming liquid
flowing through each circuit and the initial charged-liquid, the
timing at which the process proceeds to the second process from the
first process, and the like. More specifically, the priming
treatment described in Patent Literature 2 requires complicated
operation of users, and thus, when the priming treatment is
performed by unskilled workers, air and the like in the circuit may
not be able to be completely removed.
[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the
circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide
a blood treatment filter device capable of efficiently utilizing a
blood treatment filter layer.
[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
blood treatment filter device capable of performing priming easily
and certainly, a priming method for the blood treatment filter
device, and a blood treatment method employing the blood treatment
filter device.
Solution to Problems
[0013] (1) A blood treatment filter device according to the present
invention has a filter sheet through which a specific component
among components forming blood is harder to pass than other
components and in which a filter through-hole is formed in the
thickness direction, a spacer sheet through which the specific
component is easier to pass than through the filter sheet, a wound
body in which the filter sheet and the spacer sheet are laminated
in the radial direction and are wound in a spiral shape in such a
manner that the filter through-hole is located at least on the
outer peripheral surface, seals of sealing both ends in the axial
direction of the wound body in a fluid-tight manner, and a
container having an internal space accommodating the wound body and
having a blood inflow port connected in such a manner that blood
can flow between the blood inflow port and the outer peripheral
surface side of the wound body in the internal space and a blood
outlet port connected in such a manner that blood can flow between
the blood outlet port and the inner peripheral surface side of the
wound body in the internal space.
[0014] According to the configuration described above, the blood
flowing to the inner peripheral surface side from the outer
peripheral surface side of the wound body can enter the filter
sheet on the inner peripheral surface side through the filter
through-hole formed in the filter sheet. Thus, the use efficiency
of the filter sheet can be increased.
[0015] Moreover, by forming the filter through-hole in a wide range
of the outer peripheral surface of the wound body, the number of
entry routes through which the blood enters the filter sheet on the
inner peripheral surface side can be increased.
[0016] Moreover, when filtration is performed, the blood can enter
not only the filter sheet on the outer peripheral surface side but
the filter sheet on the inner peripheral surface side through the
filter through-hole, and therefore the volume of the filter sheet
which the blood can enter can be increased. Thus, the size of the
blood treatment filter device can be reduced in the axial direction
of the wound body while maintaining the filtration capability equal
to the filtration capability of former blood treatment filter
devices in which no through-holes are formed.
[0017] (2) The spacer sheet has a spacer through-hole superimposed
on the filter through-hole.
[0018] According to the configuration described above, when the
inner peripheral surface side is viewed through the filter
through-hole formed in the filter sheet of the outer peripheral
surface, the filter sheet on the inner peripheral surface side is
exposed through the filter through-hole and the spacer through-hole
superimposed on the filter through-hole. Therefore, the blood can
flow into the filter sheet on the inner peripheral surface side
through the filter through-hole and the spacer through-hole which
are formed in the wound body without passing through the spacer
sheet.
[0019] (3) The spacer through-hole on the inner peripheral side by
one turn relative to the filter through-hole located on the outer
peripheral surface is larger than the filter through-hole located
on the outer peripheral surface.
[0020] According to the configuration described above, the spacer
through-hole on the inner peripheral side by one turn relative to
the through-hole located on the outer peripheral surface is larger
than the filter through-hole located on the outer peripheral
surface. Therefore, due to the fact that the filter sheet and the
spacer sheet are wound, even in the case where the positions in the
circumferential direction of the filter through-hole and the spacer
through-hole are deviated from each other, a possibility that the
superposition in the circumferential direction of both the
through-holes can be maintained can be made high.
[0021] (4) The filter through-hole is not superimposed on other
filter through-holes disposed on the outer peripheral side and the
inner peripheral side by one turn of the wound body relative to the
through-hole in the wound body.
[0022] According to the configuration described above, when the
blood flows from the outer peripheral surface side to the inner
peripheral surface side of the wound body along the radial
direction of the wound body, for example, the blood flowing into
the filter sheet on the inner peripheral surface side by one turn
through the filter through-hole formed in the filter sheet of a
certain peripheral surface reaches a region which is not the filter
through-hole of the filter sheet to enter the filter sheet. More
specifically, by not overlapping the filter through-holes as in the
configuration above, the surface area of the filter sheet which the
blood can enter can be enlarged. Thus, the use efficiency of the
filter sheet can be increased.
[0023] (5) The wound body has a laminated sheet spirally wound in a
state where an end portion of the side opposite to a fold of the
filter sheet is located on the inner peripheral surface side,
and
[0024] the laminated sheet is configured so that the spacer sheet
is sandwiched between the filter sheet folded in half.
[0025] According to the configuration described above, since the
filter sheet is disposed on both the back-and-front surface sides
of the spacer sheet, the proportion of the filter sheet in the
wound body can be increased. Moreover, since the spacer sheet is
made to abut on the filter sheet on both sides, the deviation of
the spacer sheet to the filter sheet can be reduced.
[0026] (6) At least one part of the inner peripheral surface of the
wound body is formed by the spacer sheet.
[0027] According to the configuration described above, even when a
situation that the filter sheet is clogged, so that the blood
cannot enter the filter sheet occurs, the blood can reach the inner
peripheral surface of the wound body through the spacer sheet from
the filter through-hole formed in the filter sheet on the outer
peripheral surface. Thus, the occurrence of the situation that the
blood cannot pass through the wound body can be prevented.
[0028] (7) The inner peripheral surface of the wound body is formed
by the filter sheet. The wound body is a spirally wound one in such
a manner that the filter through-hole is also located on the inner
peripheral surface. The spacer through-hole located on the outer
peripheral side by one turn relative to the inner peripheral
surface is larger than the filter through-hole located on the inner
peripheral surface.
[0029] According to the configuration described above, even in the
case where a portion forming the inner peripheral surface of the
wound body in the filter sheet is clogged, the blood can pass
through the inner peripheral surface through the filter
through-hole and the spacer through-hole which are formed in the
portion.
[0030] Moreover, according to the configuration described above,
the spacer through-hole on the outer peripheral side by one turn
relative to the filter through-hole located on the inner peripheral
surface is larger than the filter through-hole located on the inner
peripheral surface. Therefore, due to the fact that the filter
sheet and the spacer sheet are wound, even in the case where the
positions in the circumferential direction of the filter
through-hole and the spacer through-hole are deviated from each
other, a possibility that the superposition in the circumferential
direction of both the through-holes can be maintained can be made
high as in the case of (3) above.
[0031] (8) A priming method according to the present invention is
performed to a blood treatment filter device having a body
container which has a first port and a second port which are
continuous to the internal space and which is disposed with the
first port located above the second port in the gravity direction,
a blood treatment filter in a dry state placed in the internal
space of the body container, a first blood circuit which is
connected to the first port and through which liquid flows, a
second blood circuit which is connected to the second port and
through which liquid flows, a first bypass circuit which is
connected to the first blood circuit and the second blood circuit
and through which liquid flows, and a second bypass circuit which
is connected to the side closer to the first port relative to the
connection position of the first bypass circuit in the first blood
circuit and is connected to the side further from the second port
relative to the connection position of the first bypass circuit in
the second blood circuit and through which liquid flows. The
priming method includes individually closing the circuit between
the connection position of the first bypass circuit and the
connection position of the second bypass circuit in each of the
first blood circuit and the second blood circuit to cause a priming
liquid to flow into the internal space of the body container from
the first blood circuit through the first bypass circuit, the
second blood circuit, and the second port, and then to cause the
priming liquid to flow out of the internal space of the body
container to the second blood circuit through the first port, the
first blood circuit, and the second bypass circuit.
[0032] According to the configuration described above, the priming
treatment can be performed only by supplying the priming liquid
through the first blood circuit in the state where the first blood
circuit and the second blood circuit are closed in the circuits
between the connection positions of the first bypass circuit and
the second bypass circuit. Moreover, since the priming liquid is
caused to flow into the body container through the second port
located below in the gravity direction, and then the priming liquid
is caused to flow out of the body container through the first port
located above in the gravity direction, air and the like in the
body container can be certainly pressed out. More specifically,
priming can be performed easily and certainly.
[0033] (9) The blood treatment filter has a sheet shape and is
placed in the body container in a cylindrically wound state. The
body container has a liquid flow passage which causes the first
port and the internal space on the outer peripheral surface side of
the cylindrical-shaped blood treatment filter to be continuous to
each other and a liquid flow passage which causes the internal
space on the inner peripheral surface side of the
cylindrical-shaped blood treatment filter and the second port to be
continuous to each other.
[0034] According to the configuration described above, the priming
liquid flowing into the body container through the second port
passes through the blood treatment filter outwardly in the radial
direction through the flow passage on the inner peripheral surface
side, and then flows out of the first port through the flow passage
on the outer peripheral surface side. On the other hand, the blood
flowing into the body container through the first port described
later passes through the blood treatment filter inwardly in the
radial direction through the flow passage on the outer peripheral
surface side, and then flows out of the second port through the
flow passage on the inner peripheral surface side.
[0035] (10) A blood treatment method according to the present
invention includes, in the blood treatment filter device subjected
to the priming method described above, closing the first bypass
circuit and the second bypass circuit, and then individually
opening the circuit between the connection position of the first
bypass circuit and the connection position of the second bypass
circuit in each of the first blood circuit and the second blood
circuit to cause the blood to flow into the body container through
the first port from the first blood circuit, and then to cause the
blood to flow out to the second blood circuit through the second
port from the body container.
[0036] According to the configuration described above, blood filter
treatment can be performed using the blood treatment filter device
only by opening the first blood circuit and the second blood
circuit which are closed in the priming treatment and opening the
first bypass circuit and the second bypass circuit.
[0037] (11) A blood treatment filter device according to the
present invention has a body container which has a first port and a
second port which are continuous to the internal space and which is
disposed with the first port located above the second port in the
gravity direction, a blood treatment filter in a dry state placed
in the internal space of the body container, a first blood circuit
which is connected to the first port and through which liquid
flows, a second blood circuit which is connected to the second port
and through which liquid flows, a first bypass circuit which is
connected to the first blood circuit and the second blood circuit
and through which liquid flows, a second bypass circuit which is
connected to the side closer to the first port relative to the
connection position of the first bypass circuit in the first blood
circuit and is connected to the side further from the second port
relative to the connection position of the first bypass circuit in
the second blood circuit and through which liquid flows, a valve
which opens/closes the circuit between the connection position of
the first bypass circuit and the connection position of the second
bypass circuit in the first blood circuit, a valve which
opens/closes the circuit between the connection position of the
first bypass circuit and the connection position of the second
bypass circuit in the second blood circuit, a valve which
opens/closes the first bypass circuit, and a valve which
opens/closes the second bypass circuit.
[0038] (12) The blood treatment filter has a sheet shape and placed
in the body container in a cylindrically wound state. The body
container has a liquid flow passage which causes the first port and
the internal space on the outer peripheral surface side of the
cylindrical-shaped blood treatment filter to be continuous to each
other and a liquid flow passage which causes the internal space on
the inner peripheral surface side of the cylindrical-shaped blood
treatment filter and the second port to be continuous to each
other.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0039] According to the present invention, the blood which flows
from the outer peripheral surface side into the inner peripheral
surface side of the wound body can enter the filter sheet on the
inner peripheral surface side through the filter through-hole
formed in the filter sheet, and therefore the filter sheet can be
efficiently utilized.
[0040] Moreover, according to the present invention, the priming
treatment can be performed only by supplying the priming liquid
through the first blood circuit in the state where the first blood
circuit and the second blood circuit are closed between the
connection positions of the first bypass circuit and the second
bypass circuit. Moreover, since the priming liquid is caused to
flow into the body container through the second port located below
in the gravity direction, and then the priming liquid is caused to
flow out of the body container through the first port located above
in the gravity direction, air and the like in the body container
can be certainly pressed out. More specifically, the priming can be
performed easily and certainly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0041] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a filter device 20 in
this embodiment.
[0042] FIGS. 2(A), (B), and (C) are views illustrating a blood cell
removal filter 24 in this embodiment, in which FIG. 2(A) is a
schematic cross sectional view of the blood cell removal filter 24
and FIG. 2(B) is a view illustrating the structure in a state where
a wound body 25 forming the blood cell removal filter 24 is in a
non-winding state. FIG. 2(C) is an enlarged view of a portion of
the wound body seen in FIG. 2(B).
[0043] FIG. 3 is a front view of the wound body 25.
[0044] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the wound body 25.
[0045] FIGS. 5(A) and (B) are front views two alternative
arrangements of a wound body 25 in modification 2.
[0046] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the wound body 25 in the
modification 2.
[0047] FIGS. 7(A), (B), and (C) are views illustrating three
alternative arrangements of the structure in a state where the
wound body 25 is in a non-winding state in modification 4.
[0048] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the wound body 25 in the
modification 4.
[0049] FIG. 9 is a graph showing the pressure differences to the
elapsed time of Example and Comparative Example.
[0050] FIG. 10(A) is a view illustrating the structure in a state
where the wound body 25 is in a non-winding state in the
modifications 3 and 5 and FIG. 10(B) is a cross sectional view of
the wound body 25 in the modifications 3 and 5.
[0051] FIG. 11(A) is a view illustrating the structure in a state
where the wound body 25 is in a non-winding state in the
modifications 4 and 5 and FIG. 11(B) is a cross sectional view of
the wound body 25 in the modifications 4 and 5.
[0052] FIG. 12(A) is a view illustrating the structure in a state
where the wound body 25 is in a non-winding state in the
modification 6 and FIG. 12(B) is a cross sectional view of the
wound body 25 in modification 6.
[0053] FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a blood treatment filter
device 100 in the embodiments and illustrates the state of valves
141 to 144 when priming treatment is performed.
[0054] FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the blood treatment filter
device 100 in the embodiments and illustrates the state of the
valves 141 to 144 when blood filter treatment is performed.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0055] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are
described with reference to the drawings. It is a matter of course
that the embodiments describe only one example of the present
invention and the embodiments may be altered as appropriate insofar
as the scope of the present invention is not altered.
First Embodiment
[0056] A filter device 20 (an example of the blood treatment filter
device of the present invention) in this embodiment is configured
by a cylindrical-shaped body container 21 (an example of the
container of the present invention) having internal space and a
blood cell removal filter 24 which is placed in the internal space
of the body container 21 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The filter
device 20 is a device which performs blood cell removal treatment
of removing blood cells (typically leukocytes but other components
may be acceptable) from supplied blood, i.e., filtering blood, and
then discharging the filtered blood. The details of the blood cell
removal treatment are described later. The blood is usually human
blood but blood of animals other than human beings may be
acceptable.
[0057] The body container 21 is formed with a thermoplastic resin,
such as polycarbonate, for example. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the
body container 21 has a first port 22 (an example of the blood
inflow port of the present invention) and a second port 23 (an
example of the blood outlet port of the present invention) which
are continuous to the internal space. The first port 22 is provided
on the end surface of one side of the body container 21 and is
connected to a first blood circuit 131 (refer to FIG. 14). Herein,
the first blood circuit 131 is a circuit in which one end is
connected to a patient and the other end is connected to the first
port 22 and which flows blood from the patient to the first port
22. The first blood circuit 131 is provided with a pump 151, a
pressure sensor 152, and a chamber 153.
[0058] The second port 23 is provided on the end surface of the
other side of the body container 21 and is connected to a second
blood circuit 132 (refer to FIG. 14). Herein, the second blood
circuit 132 is a circuit in which one end is connected to the
second port 23 and the other end is connected to a patient and
which flows blood from the second port 23 to the patient. The
second blood circuit 132 may be provided with a pressure sensor and
a chamber. It is a matter of course that, in the first embodiment,
the first blood circuit 131 and the second blood circuit 132 are
only examples and the configurations of these blood circuits may be
altered as appropriate.
[0059] The body container 21 during the use of the blood cell
removal device 10 is disposed in a state where the first port 22 is
located above the second port 23 in the gravity direction.
[0060] The blood cell removal filter 24 is configured by a
cylindrical-shaped wound body 25 in which a filter sheet 26 and a
spacer sheet 27 (refer to FIG. 2(B)) are spirally wound in an
overlapped state as illustrated in FIG. 2(A), a cylindrical-shaped
exterior sheet 28 covering the outer peripheral surface of the
wound body 25, and seals 31 provided at both end portions in the
longitudinal direction of the wound body 25. More specifically, the
blood cell removal filter 24 presents a cylindrical shape as a
whole. The wound body 25 is a long sheet formed by overlapping the
filter sheet 26 and the spacer sheet 27 as illustrated in FIG.
2(B).
[0061] The filter sheet 26 is formed with a porous material which
adsorbs specific components among the components forming blood and,
for example, nonwoven fabric containing polyester, polypropylene,
polyethylene terephthalate, polytetrafluoroethylene, and the like
is mentioned. These materials may be subjected to various kinds of
surface treatment for controlling the blood cell component
permeability for use. For example, these materials may be subjected
to hydrophilization treatment for use. The average pore size of the
filter sheet 26 containing the porous material is preferably set to
be large in such a manner as not to impair the blood fluidity and
not to increase the pressure loss of the filter and to be small in
such a manner as to be able to secure a moderate leukocyte removal
ratio.
[0062] As described above, the specific components (leukocytes in
this embodiment) are harder to pass through the filter sheet 26
than the other components (for example, erythrocytes) among the
components contained in the blood. Although the cells to be removed
from blood are leukocytes in this embodiment, the cells to be
removed from blood may be cells other than the leukocytes.
[0063] The spacer sheet 27 is a net-like sheet. The average pore
size of the spacer sheet 27 is set to be larger than the average
pore size of the filter sheet 26. Thus, the specific components
described above are easier to pass through the spacer sheet 27 than
through the filter sheet 26.
[0064] The wound body 25 is formed as illustrated in FIG. 3 and
FIG. 4 by spirally winding one in which the spacer sheet 27 is
sandwiched between the filter sheet 26 folded in half illustrated
in FIG. 2(B). More specifically, the wound body 25 is formed by
spirally winding the filter sheet 26 and the spacer sheet 27 in an
overlapped state.
[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 2(B), the spacer sheet 27 is
partially exposed from an open side end portion 26A of the filter
sheet 26 in the state where the spacer sheet 27 is sandwiched
between the filter sheets 26. For example, the length in the
longitudinal direction of the filter sheet 26 is about 1600 mm and
the length in the longitudinal direction of the spacer sheet 27 is
about 850 mm. The spacer sheet 27 is disposed in a state where the
spacer sheet 27 is 20 mm deviated to the open side of the filter
sheet 26. Thus, the length of the spacer sheet 27 exposed from the
open side end portion 26A of the filter sheet 26 is about 70 mm. It
is a matter of course that the spacer sheet 27 may not be deviated
to the open side of the filter sheet 26. In this case, the length
of the spacer sheet 27 exposed from the open side end portion 26A
of the filter sheet 26 is about 50 mm. The wound body 25 is formed
into a cylindrical shape illustrated in FIG. 2(A), FIG. 3, and FIG.
4 by spirally winding the filter sheet 26 with the open side end
portion 26A of the filter sheet 26, i.e., an end portion on the
side opposite to the fold of the filter sheet 26 located on the
inside and with a fold side end portion 26B located on the
outside.
[0066] In FIG. 2(A), since the wound body 25 is illustrated in a
simplified manner, the filter sheet 26 and the spacer sheet 27 are
not distinguished but the filter sheet 26 and the spacer sheet 27
are distinguished in FIG. 4.
[0067] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the spacer sheet 27 exposed from
an open side end portion 26A of the filter sheet 26 forms the
entire inner peripheral surface of the wound body 25. More
specifically, the inner peripheral surface of the wound body 25 is
formed only by the spacer sheet 27.
[0068] The spacer sheet 27 exposed from the open side end portion
26A of the filter sheet 26 does not always need to form the entire
inner peripheral surface of the wound body 25. For example, the
spacer sheet 27 may forma part of the inner peripheral surface of
the wound body 25 by being slightly exposed from the open side end
portion 26A of the filter sheet 26. More specifically, the inner
peripheral surface of the wound body 25 may be formed by the spacer
sheet 27 and the filter sheet 26.
[0069] As illustrated in FIG. 2(B), the spacer sheet 27 is
sandwiched between the filter sheets 26 in a portion other than the
open side end portion 26A (end portion located on the inner
peripheral surface side in the wound state). Thus, the outer
peripheral surface of the wound body 25 is formed by the filter
sheet 26 as illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0070] As illustrated in FIG. 2(B), FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, a plurality
of filter through-holes 39 are formed in the filter sheet 26. The
plurality of filter through-holes 39 are disposed at equal
intervals along the axial direction 101 of the wound body 25 as
illustrated in FIG. 3. Moreover, the plurality of filter
through-holes 39 are disposed at equal intervals along the
circumferential direction 102 of the wound body 25 as illustrated
in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The number of the filter through-holes 39 may
be only one.
[0071] The filter through-holes 39 are formed in a circular shape.
The diameter of the filter through-holes 39 is set to a length in
such a manner as not to block the blood flow. The diameter of the
filter through-holes 39 is preferably 1 mm to 10 mm and more
preferably 3 mm to 7 mm. In this embodiment, the diameter of the
filter through-holes 39 is 5 mm.
[0072] Although the intervals in the axial direction 101 of the
plurality of filter through-holes 39 have the same length and the
intervals in the circumferential direction 102 of the plurality of
filter through-holes 39 have the same length in this embodiment,
the length of each interval may vary. In this embodiment, although
the filter through-holes 39 have a circular shape but may have a
shape other than the circular shape. For example, the filter
through-holes 39 may have an oval shape.
[0073] As illustrated in FIG. 2(B), the plurality of filter
through-holes 39 are formed only on one side (upper side relative
to the fold in FIG. 2(B)) with respect to the fold in the spacer
sheet 27. Moreover, the plurality of filter through-holes 39 are
formed only on the fold side (in detail, a range of a predetermined
length from the fold to the open side end portion 26A side) in the
spacer sheet 27. The plurality of filter through-holes 39 are
formed only in the filter sheet 26 on the outer peripheral surface
of the wound body 25 as illustrated in FIG. 4. More specifically,
the range of the predetermined length is the range of the length
along the circumferential direction 102 of the filter sheet 26 on
the outer peripheral surface of the wound body 25. The filter
through-holes 39 may be formed also in the filter sheet 26 other
than the filter sheet 26 on the outer peripheral surface of the
wound body 25.
[0074] The exterior sheet 28 illustrated in FIG. 2(A) is a net-like
sheet formed with a material harder than a material of the wound
body 25. The exterior sheet 28 is a tricot material obtained by
knitting fibers, for example. The average pore size of the exterior
sheet 28 is desirably set to be larger than the average pore size
of the filter sheet 26. The exterior sheet 28 is formed into a
cylindrical shape having an outer diameter size larger than the
outer diameter size of the wound body 25 and holds the wound body
25 thereinside. By attaching the fold side end portion 26B of the
filter sheet 26 to the inner peripheral surface of the exterior
sheet 28, the shape of the wound body 25 is maintained.
[0075] As illustrated in FIG. 1, seals 31 hardened by an adhesive
or the like are provided at both end portions in the longitudinal
direction (axial direction 101 illustrated in FIG. 1) of the wound
body 25. The seals 31 do not allow the passage of liquid by being
hardened by an adhesive or the like. More specifically, the seals
31 seal both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the
wound body 25 in a fluid-tight manner. The seals 31 are not limited
to the configuration in which the seals 31 are hardened by an
adhesive or the like insofar as both the end portions in the
longitudinal direction of the wound body 25 can be sealed in a
fluid-tight manner. For example, the seals 31 may be members formed
with rubber or the like which do not allow the passage of liquid
and the member may be attached to both the end portions in the
longitudinal direction of the wound body 25.
[0076] A through-hole 33 is formed in the central portion of one of
the seals 31 provided at both the end portions of the wound body
25. The through-hole 33 is continuous to the internal space of the
blood cell removal filter 24 defined by the inner peripheral
surface and the seals 31 of the wound body 25.
[0077] The blood cell removal filter 24 is attached to the wall
surface (wall surface serving as the bottom surface during use) of
the body container 21 in which the second port 23 is formed as
illustrated in FIG. 1. The length in the axial direction 101
(height in FIG. 1) of the blood cell removal filter 24 is shorter
than the length in the axial direction 101 of the internal space of
the body container 21. The outer diameter size of the blood cell
removal filter 24 is smaller than the internal diameter size (i.e.,
diameter of the internal space) of the body container 21. As a
result, a gap is formed between the wall surface (wall surface
serving as the top surface during use) of the body container 21 in
which the first port 22 is formed and the blood cell removal filter
24 and a gap is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the
body container 21 and the outer peripheral surface of the blood
cell removal filter 24. The gaps serve as a flow passage 29 leading
to the first port 22. More specifically, in the body container 21,
the first port 22 and the internal space on the outer peripheral
surface side of the blood cell removal filter 24 are continuous to
each other by the flow passage 29.
[0078] The blood cell removal filter 24 is attached to the wall
surface of the body container 21 by bonding the seal 31 in which
the through-hole 33 is formed and the wall surface (wall surface
serving as the bottom surface during use) of the body container 21.
In this case, the blood cell removal filter 24 is attached to the
wall surface of the body container 21 in such a manner that the
through-hole 33 and the second port 23 provided in the wall surface
of the body container 21 are superimposed on each other. Thus, the
internal space of the blood cell removal filter 24 is continuous to
the second port 23 through the through-hole 33. The internal space
of the blood cell removal filter 24 serves as a flow passage 30
leading to the second port 23. More specifically, the internal
space on the inner peripheral surface side of the blood cell
removal filter 24 and the second port 23 are continuous to each
other by the flow passage 30 in the body container 21.
[0079] The blood cell removal filter 24 is attached to the wall
surface of the body container 21 in such a manner as to completely
cover the through-hole 33. Thus, the joint between the through-hole
33 and the flow passage 29 is sealed in a fluid-tight manner by the
seal 31 and the wall surface of the body container 21 bonded to
each other.
[0080] As described above, in the state where the blood cell
removal filter 24 is attached to the body container 21, the first
port 22 is continuous to the internal space on the outer peripheral
surface side of the blood cell removal filter 24. The second port
23 is continuous to the internal space on the inner peripheral
surface side of the blood cell removal filter 24.
[0081] Next, blood cell removal treatment using the filter device
20 in this embodiment is described. First, the filter device 20 is
connected to a first blood circuit 131 and a second blood circuit
132. Thus, the flow of blood from the first blood circuit 131 to
the first port 22 is permitted and the flow of blood from the
second port 23 to the second blood circuit 132 is permitted. Next,
a pump 151 of the first blood circuit 131 is driven under the
control by the controller 154 (refer to FIG. 14), whereby blood is
caused to flow out of a patient into the first blood circuit
131.
[0082] The blood which flows into the internal space of the body
container 21 through the first port 22 from the first blood circuit
131 does not flow into the seal 31. Therefore, as illustrated in
FIG. 1, the blood flows to the outer peripheral surface side of the
blood cell removal filter 24 along the flow passage 29 to pass
through the blood cell removal filter 24 from the outer peripheral
surface side to the inner peripheral surface side (i.e., inwardly
in the radial direction). In this process, leukocytes contained in
the blood are captured by the blood cell removal filter 24 (mainly
filter sheet 26). More specifically, the blood is filtered. This
process is described later in more detail.
[0083] The filtered blood flows out of the flow passage 30 into the
second blood circuit 132 through the through-hole 33 and the second
port 23, and then returned to the patient. In FIG. 1, the blood
flow in the flow passages 29 and 30 is indicated by the arrow and
the blood flow in the blood cell removal filter 24 is indicated by
the white arrow.
[0084] Next, the process in which the blood passes through the
blood cell removal filter 24 from the outer peripheral surface side
to the inner peripheral surface side is described in detail.
[0085] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the blood flowing to the outer
peripheral surface side of the blood cell removal filter 24 along
the flow passage 29 first passes through the exterior sheet 28
(refer to FIG. 2(A)). In this process, leukocytes contained in the
blood are hardly captured by the exterior sheet 28.
[0086] The blood passing through the exterior sheet 28 passes
through the filter sheet 26 forming the outer peripheral surface of
the wound body 25 illustrated in FIG. 4. In this process, a larger
number of leukocytes contained in the blood are captured by the
filter sheet 26 than the number of leukocytes captured when the
blood passing through the exterior sheet 28. The blood passing
through the exterior sheet 28 partially passes through the filter
through-holes 39 formed in the filter sheet 26 forming the outer
peripheral surface of the wound body 25 without leukocytes being
captured.
[0087] The blood passing through the filter sheet 26 forming the
outer peripheral surface of the wound body 25 or the filter
through-holes 39 formed in the filter sheet 26 passes through the
spacer sheet 27 adjacent to the filter sheet 26 on the inner
peripheral surface side of the filter sheet 26. In this process,
leukocytes contained in the blood are hardly captured by the
exterior sheet 28 in the same manner as in the case where the blood
passes through the exterior sheet 28.
[0088] Thereafter, the blood flows to the flow passage 30 while
alternately passing through the filter sheet 26 and the spacer
sheet 27. In this process, leukocytes contained in the blood are
captured by the filter sheet 26 whenever the blood passes through
the filter sheet 26. Since the blood is filtered by the filter
sheet 26 as described above, the number of the leukocytes contained
in the blood reaching the flow passage 30 becomes smaller than the
number of the leukocytes before the blood is filtered by the filter
sheet 26.
[0089] The filtration capability of the filter sheet 26 decreases
with an increase in the accumulation amount of the blood passing
through the filter sheet 26. This is because blood cell components,
such as leukocytes and blood platelets, are captured by a large
number of the holes formed in the filter sheet 26, so that the
holes capturing the leukocytes are closed. This may cause so-called
clogging in which the flow of the blood in the filter sheet 26 is
blocked, so that the blood cannot pass through the filter sheet
26.
[0090] Then, the reduction in the filtration capability of the
filter sheet 26 described above occurs from the outer peripheral
surface side of the wound body 25. More specifically, the
filtration capability of the filter sheet 26 of the outer
peripheral surface of the wound body 25 decreases first.
[0091] However, even when the filtration capability of the filter
sheet 26 on the outer peripheral surface of the wound body 25
decreases, the blood can flow to the inner peripheral surface side
of the wound body 25 through the filter through-holes 39 formed in
the filter sheet 26 on the outer peripheral surface of the wound
body 25. Thus, the blood reaches the spacer sheet 27 adjacent to
the filter sheet 26 on the inner peripheral surface side of the
filter sheet 26. Thereafter, the blood passes through the spacer
sheet 27 to reach the filter sheet 26 adjacent to the spacer sheet
27 on the inner peripheral surface side of the spacer sheet 27,
i.e., the second filter sheet 26 from the outer peripheral surface
of the wound body 26. Then, leukocytes contained in the blood are
captured within the second filter sheet 26.
[0092] As described above, in this embodiment, even when the
filtration capability of the filter sheet 26 on the outer
peripheral surface of the wound body 25 decreases, a large amount
of blood can reach the second filter sheet 26 from the outer
peripheral surface of the wound body 26 through the filter
through-holes 39 disposed throughout the outer peripheral surface
of the wound body 25.
[0093] When the filtration capability of the filter sheets 26 other
than the filter sheet 26 on the outer peripheral surface of the
wound body 25 decrease, so that the blood cannot pass through the
filter sheets 26, the blood can move from the outer peripheral
surface side to the inner peripheral surface side of the wound body
25 while moving in the circumferential direction 102 of the wound
body 25 along the spacer sheet 27. Moreover, since the spacer sheet
27 forms a part of the inner peripheral surface of the wound body
25 as described above, the blood can reach the internal space of
the wound body 25 while moving in the circumferential direction 102
of the wound body 25 along the spacer sheet 27. More specifically,
the blood can reach the flow passage 30. As described above, even
when the filter sheet 26 is clogged, the blood is prevented from
being completely unmovable in the wound body 25.
[0094] The pressure differences (mmHg) to the elapsed time (minute)
when blood is continuously caused to flow into filter devices of
Example and Comparative Example are measured. Herein, the pressure
difference is the pressure loss of the blood cell removal filter
24. In Example, the filter device 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 was used
and one illustrated in FIG. 4 was used as the wound body 25. In
Comparative Example, the filter device 20 having a wound body
different from the wound body used in Example was used. In
Comparative Example, one having no filter through-holes 39 was used
as the wound body.
[0095] The measurement results are shown in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, the
pressure difference of Comparative Example rapidly increases at the
elapsed time of about 60 minutes as compared with the pressure
difference of Example. This shows that when 60 minutes has passed,
the fluidity of the blood of Comparative Example further
deteriorates than the fluidity of the blood of Example. More
specifically, the Example can maintain good blood fluidity over a
longer period of time than Comparative Example.
[Operational Effects of this Embodiment]
[0096] According to this embodiment, the blood flowing from the
outer peripheral surface side into the inner peripheral surface
side of the wound body 25 can enter the filter sheet 26 on the
inner peripheral surface side through the filter through-holes 39
formed in the filter sheet 26. Thus, the use efficiency of the
filter sheet 26 can be increased.
[0097] Moreover, by providing the filter through-holes 39 in a wide
range of the outer peripheral surface of the wound body 25, entry
routes through which the blood enters the filter sheet 26 on the
inner peripheral surface side can be increased.
[0098] Moreover, when the filtration is performed, the blood can
enter not only the filter sheet 26 on the outer peripheral surface
side but the filter sheet 26 on the inner peripheral surface side
through the filter through-holes 39, and therefore the volume of
the filter sheet 26 which the blood can enter can be increased.
Thus, the size of the filter device 20 can be reduced in the axial
direction 101 of the wound body 25 while maintaining the filtration
capability equal to the filtration capability of a former filter
device 20 having no filter through-holes 39.
[0099] Moreover, the surface area on the outer peripheral surface
side of the wound body 25 is larger than the surface area on the
inner peripheral surface side thereof, which is desirable because
the filter sheet 26 on the outer peripheral surface side of the
wound body 25 can be efficiently utilized. According to this
embodiment, blood can enter the filter sheet 26 on the inner
peripheral surface side by one turn relative to the filter sheet 26
on the outer peripheral surface side in the radial direction of the
wound body 25 through the filter through-holes 39 formed in the
filter sheet 26 of the outer peripheral surface. Therefore, the
filter sheet 26 on the outer peripheral surface of the wound body
25 having a large surface area and the filter sheet 26 on the inner
side by one turn relative to the outer peripheral surface can be
utilized.
[0100] Moreover, according to this embodiment, since the filter
sheet 26 is disposed on both the back-and-front surface sides of
the spacer sheet 27, the proportion of the filter sheet 26 in the
wound body 25 can be increased. Moreover, since the spacer sheet 27
is caused to abut on the filter sheet 26 on both surfaces, the
deviation of the spacer sheet 27 to the filter sheet 26 can be
reduced.
[0101] Moreover, according to this embodiment, even when the
situation that the filter sheet 26 is clogged, so that the blood
cannot enter the filter sheet 26 occurs, the blood can reach the
inner peripheral surface of the wound body through the spacer sheet
27 from the filter through-holes 39 formed in the filter sheet 26
on the outer peripheral surface. Thus, the occurrence of the
situation that the blood cannot pass through the wound body 25 can
be prevented.
[Modification 1]
[0102] In the embodiment described above, although the filter
through-holes 39 are formed only on one side (upper side relative
to the fold in FIG. 2(B)) with respect to the fold in the spacer
sheet 27, the filter through-holes 39 may be formed in both sides
with respect to the fold in the spacer sheet 27.
[Modification 2]
[0103] In the embodiment described above, although the filter
through-holes 39 are formed only in the outer peripheral surface of
the wound body 25 as illustrated in FIG. 4, the filter
through-holes 39 may be formed also in the peripheral surfaces
other than the outer peripheral surface of the wound body 25.
[0104] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the filter
through-holes 39 may be formed in the outer peripheral surface of
the wound body 25 and the second peripheral surface from the outer
peripheral surface. In FIG. 5, the filter through-holes 39 formed
in the second peripheral surface from the outer peripheral surface
are illustrated by the dotted lines. In this case, filter
through-holes 39A formed in the outer peripheral surface of the
wound body 25 and filter through-holes 39B formed in the second
peripheral surface from the outer peripheral surface of the wound
body 25 are desirably disposed at different positions in at least
one of the circumferential direction 102 or the axial direction
101. More specifically, it is desirable that the filter
through-holes 39A formed in the outer peripheral surface of the
wound body 25 and the filter through-holes 39B formed in the second
peripheral surface from the outer peripheral surface of the wound
body 25 are disposed at positions which are not overlapped.
[0105] FIG. 5(A) and FIG. 6 illustrate an example in which the
filter through-holes 39A formed in the outer peripheral surface of
the wound body 25 and the filter through-holes 39B formed in the
second circumferential side from the outer peripheral surface of
the wound body 25 are disposed at different positions in the
circumferential direction 102 and at the same positions in the
axial direction 101. On the other hand, FIG. 5(B) illustrates an
example in which the filter through-holes 39A formed in the outer
peripheral surface of the wound body 25 and the filter
through-holes 39B formed in the second peripheral surface from the
outer peripheral surface of the wound body 25 are disposed at
different positions both in the circumferential direction 102 and
in the axial direction 101.
[0106] The filter through-holes 39 may be formed also in peripheral
surfaces other than the outer peripheral surface and the second
peripheral surface from the outer peripheral surface. In this case,
the filter through-holes 39 of the filter sheet 26 are desirably
disposed at positions which are not overlapped with the other
filter through-holes 39 formed in the peripheral surface on the
outer peripheral surface side by one turn and on the inner
peripheral surface side by one turn in the radial direction of the
wound body 25 relative to the filter through-holes 39.
[0107] According to the modification 2, when the blood flows from
the outer peripheral surface side to the inner peripheral surface
side of the wound body 25 along the radial direction of the wound
body 25, for example, the blood flowing into the filter sheet 26 on
the inner peripheral surface side by one turn through the filter
through-holes 39 formed in the filter sheet 26 of a certain
peripheral surface reaches regions which are not the filter
through-holes 39 of the filter sheet 26 to enter the filter sheet
26. More specifically, by not overlapping the filter through-holes
39 as in the configuration described above, the surface area of the
filter sheet 26 which blood can enter can be enlarged. Thus, the
use efficiency of the filter sheet 26 can be increased.
[Modification 3]
[0108] As illustrated in FIG. 10(A), spacer through-holes 40 may be
formed in the spacer sheet 27. The number of the spacer
through-holes 40 may be one or two or more.
[0109] The spacer through-holes 40 are formed at positions
superimposed on the filter through-holes 39. Herein, the
"superimpose" has the following meaning. More specifically, the
spacer through-holes 40 are formed on the inner peripheral side or
the outer peripheral side by one turn in the radial direction
relative to the filter through-holes 39 and formed in such a manner
that the spacer through-holes 40 are at least partially located at
the same positions both in the axial direction 101 and in the
circumferential direction 102 as the positions of the filter
through-holes 39.
[0110] It is preferable for the spacer through-holes 40 formed on
the inner peripheral side by one turn relative to the filter
through-holes 39 located on the outer peripheral surface to
completely contain the filter through-holes 39 located on the outer
peripheral surface thereinside when viewed along the radial
direction. However, the spacer through-holes 40 formed on the inner
peripheral side by one turn relative to the filter through-holes 39
located on the outer peripheral surface may be completely in
agreement with the filter through-holes 39 located on the outer
peripheral surface when viewed along the radial direction.
Alternatively, the spacer through-holes 40 formed on the inner
peripheral side by one turn relative to the filter through-holes 39
located on the outer peripheral surface may be only partially
overlapped with the filter through-holes 39 located on the outer
peripheral surface when viewed along the radial direction.
[0111] In the wound body 25 illustrated in FIG. 10(B) in which the
filter sheet 26 and the spacer sheet 27 of the configuration
illustrated in FIG. 10(A) are wound, the spacer through-holes 40
formed on the inner peripheral side by one turn relative to the
filter through-holes 39 located on the outer peripheral surface are
larger than the filter through-holes 39 located on the outer
peripheral surface.
[0112] Herein, the size of the spacer through-holes 40 and the
filter through-holes 39 is the size along the peripheral surface of
the wound body 25 and is not the length (depth of each of the
through-holes 40 and 39) along the radial direction of the wound
body 25. The fact that the spacer through-holes 40 are larger than
the filter through-holes 39 means that, when the center of the
filter through-hole 39 is aligned with the position of any one of
the spacer through-holes 40, the filter through-hole 39 is
completely contained in a region inside the spacer through-hole
40.
[0113] In this case, when the spacer through-holes 40 and the
filter through-holes 39 have a circular shape, for example, the
diameter of the spacer through-holes 40 is equal to or larger than
the diameter of the filter through-holes 39. When the spacer
through-holes 40 and the filter through-holes 39 have an oval
shape, the major axis of the spacer through-holes 40 is equal to or
larger than the major axis of the filter through-holes 39 and the
minor axis of the spacer through-holes 40 is equal to or larger the
minor axis of the filter through-holes 39. When the spacer
through-holes 40 and the filter through-holes 39 have a rectangular
shape, the length of the longer side of the spacer through-holes 40
is equal to or larger than the length of the longer side of the
filter through-holes 39 and the length of the shorter side of the
spacer through-holes 40 is equal to or larger than the length of
the shorter side of the filter through-holes 39.
[0114] In the wound body 25 illustrated in FIG. 10(B), the filter
through-holes 39 and the spacer through-holes 40 form concave
portions, which are deeper than those illustrated in FIG. 4, on the
outermost periphery of the wound body 25. The bottom surface of the
concave portions is the filter sheet 26 formed on the inner
peripheral surface side relative to the outer peripheral surface of
the wound body 25. More specifically, one exposed to the outside
through the concave portions is the filter sheet 26.
[0115] According to the modification 3, when the inner peripheral
surface side is viewed through the filter through-holes 39 formed
in the filter sheet 26 on the outer peripheral surface, the filter
sheet 26 on the inner peripheral surface side is exposed through
the filter through-holes 39 and the spacer through-holes 40
superimposed on the filter through-hole 39. Therefore, blood can
flow into the filter sheet 26 on the inner peripheral surface side
through the filter through-holes 39 and the spacer through-holes 40
formed in the wound body 25 without passing through the spacer
sheet 27.
[0116] Moreover, according to the modification 3, the spacer
through-holes 40 on the inner peripheral side by one turn relative
to the filter through-holes 39 located on the outer peripheral
surface are larger than the filter through-holes 39 located on the
outer peripheral surface. Therefore, even when the positions in the
circumferential direction of the filter through-holes 39 and the
spacer through-holes 40 are deviated from each other by winding the
filter sheet 26 and the spacer sheet 27, a possibility that the
superposition in the circumferential direction of both the
through-holes can be maintained can be made high.
[Modification 4]
[0117] In the embodiments described above, although the wound body
25 is formed by spirally winding one in which the spacer sheet 27
is sandwiched between the filter sheet 26 folded in half but the
configuration of the wound body 25 is not limited to such a
configuration. For example, the wound body 25 may be formed as
illustrated in FIG. 8 by spirally winding one in which one filter
sheet 26 and one spacer sheet 27 are laminated (refer to FIG. 7(A))
in such a manner that the filter sheet 26 is located on the outer
peripheral surface side in the radial direction.
[0118] The wound body 25 may be formed by spirally winding one in
which the spacer sheet 27 is sandwiched between two filter sheets
26, for example (refer to FIG. 7(B)). In this case, the two filter
sheets 26 are disposed in the state where one side (right side in
FIG. 7(B)) extends beyond the spacer sheet 27 as illustrated in
FIG. 7(B). The wound body 25 is formed by spirally winding the same
in such a manner that the one side is located on the outer
peripheral surface side.
[0119] When the wound body 25 is formed by spirally winding one in
which the spacer sheet 27 is sandwiched between two filter sheets
26, one of the two filter sheets 26 (the filter sheet 26 on the
lower side in FIG. 7(C)) may be disposed in the state where one
side (right side in FIG. 7(C)) does not extend beyond the spacer
sheet 27 as illustrated in FIG. 7(C). In this case, the wound body
25 is formed by spirally winding the same in such a manner that a
longer one of the two filter sheets 26, i.e., the filter sheet
disposed in such a manner that one side extends beyond the spacer
sheet 27, is located on the outside in the radial direction.
[0120] Also in the configuration in which the spacer through-holes
40 are formed in the spacer sheet 27, i.e., the configuration of
the modification 3, the wound body 25 may be configured as
illustrated in FIG. 11(B) by spirally winding one in which one
filter sheet 26 and one spacer sheet 27 are laminated (refer to
FIG. 11(A)) in such a manner that the filter sheet 26 is located on
the outer peripheral surface side in the radial direction.
[Modification 5]
[0121] In the embodiments described above, although the spacer
sheet 27 forms at least one part of the inner peripheral surface of
the wound body 25, the filter sheet 26 may form the entire inner
peripheral surface of the wound body 25 as illustrated in FIG. 10
and FIG. 11.
[0122] In this case, blood needs to pass through the filter sheet
26 forming the inner peripheral surface in order to reach the
internal space of the wound body 25. When the filter sheet 26
forming the inner peripheral surface is clogged, the blood cannot
reach the internal space of the wound body 25. However, by
increasing the number of turns of the wound body 25, a possibility
that the filter sheet 26 forming the inner peripheral surface is
clogged can be made low.
[Modification 6]
[0123] As described above, when the number of turns of the wound
body 25 is increased in the modification 5, a possibility that the
filter sheet 26 forming the inner peripheral surface is clogged can
be made low but the possibility cannot be reduced to zero. There is
a case where the number of turns of the wound body 25 cannot be
increased, such as a case where the size of the wound body 25 is to
be reduced, for example.
[0124] In the case described above, this modification 6 is
effective. In the wound body 25 in the modification 6, the filter
sheet 26 forms the entire inner peripheral surface of the wound
body 25 as illustrated in FIG. 12 as in the wound body 25 in the
modification 5. In the wound body 25 in the modification 6, the
filter through-holes 39 and the spacer through-holes 40, which are
formed in the modification 3, are formed in not only a portion
forming the outer peripheral surface of the wound body 25 but a
portion forming the inner peripheral surface thereof in the filter
sheet 26. More specifically, the wound body 25 is one in which the
filter sheet 26 is wound in a spiral shape in such a manner that
the filter through-holes 39 are located on the outer peripheral
surface and the inner peripheral surface.
[0125] In the wound body 25 illustrated in FIG. 12, the spacer
through-holes 40 on the outer peripheral side by one turn relative
to the filter through-holes 39 located on the inner peripheral
surface are superimposed on the filter through-holes 39 located on
the inner peripheral surface and are larger than the filter
through-holes 39 located on the inner peripheral surface. Herein,
the "superpose" and the "large" have the same meanings as the
meanings described in the modification 3.
[0126] According to the modification 6, even when the portion
forming the inner peripheral surface of the wound body 25 in the
filter sheet 26 is clogged, blood can pass through the inner
peripheral surface through the filter through-holes 39 and the
spacer through-holes 40 formed in the portion.
[0127] According to the modification 6, the spacer through-holes 40
on the outer peripheral side by one turn relative to the filter
through-holes 39 located on the inner peripheral surface are larger
than the filter through-holes 39 located on the inner peripheral
surface. Therefore, even when the positions in the circumferential
direction of the filter through-holes 39 and the spacer
through-holes 40 are deviated from each other by winding the filter
sheet 26 and the spacer sheet 40 as in the modification 3, a
possibility that the superposition in the circumferential direction
of both through-holes can be maintained can be made high.
Second Embodiment
[0128] A blood treatment filter device 100 in this embodiment at
least has a filter device 20, a first blood circuit 131 and a
second blood circuit 132, a first bypass circuit 133 and a second
bypass circuit 134, and four valves 141, 142, 143, and 144 as
illustrated in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14. Furthermore, the blood
treatment filter device 100 in this embodiment may further have a
pump 151, a pressure sensor 152, a chamber 153, and a controller
154 illustrated in FIG. 13.
[0129] The filter device 20 is configured by a cylindrical-shaped
body container 21 having internal space and a blood cell removal
filter 24 which is placed in the internal space of the body
container 21 as described in the first embodiment. The filter
device 20 is a device which performs blood treatment of filtering
specific components (typically leukocytes) from blood supplied
through the first blood circuit 131, and then discharging the
filtered blood to the second blood circuit 132. Prior to the blood
treatment, priming treatment of removing air and the like in the
filter device 20 is performed. The details of the priming treatment
and the blood treatment are described later.
[0130] The body container 21 is formed with a thermoplastic resin,
such as polycarbonate, for example. The body container 21 has a
first port 22 and a second port 23 which are continuous to the
internal space as illustrated in FIG. 13. The first port 22 is
provided on the end surface of one side of the body container 21
and is connected to the first blood circuit 131. The second port 23
is provided on the end surface of the other side of the body
container 21 and is connected to the second blood circuit 132. The
body container 21 during the use of the blood treatment filter
device 100 is disposed with the first port 22 located above the
second port 23 in the gravity direction.
[0131] The blood cell removal filter 24 is formed by a filter sheet
26 wound in a cylindrical shape, a cylindrical-shaped exterior
sheet 28 covering the outer peripheral surface of the filter sheet
26, and seals 31 provided at both end portions in the axial
direction. More specifically, the blood cell removal filter 24
presents a cylindrical shape as a whole. A spacer sheet 27 may be
provided between the wound filter sheet 26. However, the specific
configuration of the blood cell removal filter 24 is not limited
thereto in the second embodiment. For example, the blood cell
removal filter 24 may be configured only by the filter sheet 26 and
filter through-holes 39 or spacer through-holes 40 described later
may not be always provided.
[0132] The filter sheet 26 is formed with a porous material which
adsorbs specific components among the components forming blood and,
for example, nonwoven fabric containing polyester, polypropylene,
polyethylene terephthalate, polytetrafluoroethylene, and the like
is mentioned. These materials may be subjected to various kinds of
surface treatment for controlling the blood cell component
permeability for use. For example, these materials may be subjected
to hydrophilization treatment for use. The average pore size of the
filter sheet 26 containing the porous material is preferably set to
be large in such a manner as not to impair the blood fluidity and
not to increase the pressure loss of the filter and to be small in
such a manner as to be able to secure a moderate leukocyte removal
ratio.
[0133] The spacer sheet 27 is a net-like sheet. The average pore
size of the spacer sheet 27 is desirably set to be larger than the
average pore size of the filter sheet 26. Thus, the specific
components described above are easier to pass through the spacer
sheet 27 than through the filter sheet 26.
[0134] The filter sheet 26 is formed by sandwiching the spacer
sheet 27 between the filter sheet 26 folded in half. Then, the
filter sheet 26 is formed into a cylindrical shape by being
spirally wound with an open side end portion 26A of the filter
sheet 26 located on the inside and with a fold side end portion 26B
located on the outside. In the filter sheet 26, the length of each
of one side and the other side of the fold side end portion 26B is
longer than that of the spacer sheet 27. As a result, the outermost
peripheral surface and the innermost peripheral surface of the
filter sheet 26 wound in the cylindrical shape are covered with the
filter sheet 26.
[0135] The filter through-holes 39 are formed in the filter sheet
26. The filter through-holes 39 are formed at equidistant positions
from the fold side end portion 26B on one side and the other side
of the fold side end portion 26B. Moreover, the spacer sheet 27 has
the spacer through-holes 40 at the positions corresponding to the
filter through-holes 39 of the filter sheet 26. More specifically,
the corresponding through-holes 30 and 40 are caused to communicate
with each other in the filter sheet 26 wound in the cylindrical
shape. The diameter of the spacer through-holes 40 in this
embodiment is larger than the diameter of the filter through-holes
39. In the filter sheet 26 wound in the cylindrical shape, the
filter through-holes 39 are disposed at positions included in the
corresponding spacer through-holes 40. As a result, the spacer
sheet 27 is not exposed to the outermost peripheral surface of the
filter sheet 26 wound in the cylindrical shape.
[0136] The filter through-holes 39 and the spacer through-holes 40
in this embodiment are formed at the positions forming the
outermost peripheral surface of the filter sheet 26 wound in the
cylindrical shape. The filter through-holes 39 and the spacer
through-holes 40 in this embodiment are formed at a plurality of
positions spaced from each other in the circumferential direction
102 of the filter sheet 26 wound in the cylindrical shape. The
filter through-holes 39 and the spacer through-holes 40 may be
formed at a plurality of positions spaced from each other in the
axial direction 101 of the filter sheet 26. Furthermore, the filter
through-holes 39 and the spacer through-holes 40 may be formed at
positions forming the innermost peripheral surface of the filter
sheet 26 wound in the cylindrical shape. However, the positions
where the filter through-holes 39 and the spacer through-holes 40
are formed are not limited thereto.
[0137] The exterior sheet 28 is a net-like sheet formed with a
material harder than the filter sheet 26. The exterior sheet 28 is
a tricot material obtained by knitting fibers, for example. The
average pore size of the exterior sheet 28 is desirably set to be
larger than the average pore size of the filter sheet 26. The
exterior sheet 28 is formed into a cylindrical shape having an
outer diameter size larger than the outer diameter size of the
filter sheet 26 and holds the filter sheet 26 thereinside. By
attaching the fold side end portion 26B of the filter sheet 26 to
the inner peripheral surface of the exterior sheet 28, the shape of
the filter sheet 26 is maintained. The blood cell removal filter 24
in an unused state (in other words, a state before priming
treatment is performed) is in a dry state where liquid is not
contained. More specifically, the internal space of the body
container 21 in the unused state is filled with air or the
like.
[0138] The seals 31 are provided at both end portions in the axial
direction of the blood cell removal filter 24. The seals 31 do not
allow the passage of liquid by being hardened by an adhesive or the
like. More specifically, the seals 31 seal both end portions in the
axial direction of the blood cell removal filter 24 in a
fluid-tight manner. The seals 31 are not limited to the structure
in which the seals 31 are hardened by an adhesive or the like
insofar as both the end portions in the axial direction of the
blood cell removal filter 24 can be sealed in a fluid-tight manner.
For example, the seals 31 may be members formed with rubber or the
like which do not allow the passage of liquid. A through-hole 33 is
formed in the central portion of the seal provided at a lower end
portion of the blood cell removal filter 24. With respect to the
through-hole 33, the inside and the outside of the blood cell
removal filter 24 are caused to communicate with each other through
the through-hole 33.
[0139] The blood cell removal filter 24 is attached to the wall
surface (wall surface serving as the bottom surface during use) of
the body container 21 in which the second port 23 is formed. The
length in the axial direction 101 (length along the vertical
direction in FIG. 1) of the blood cell removal filter 24 is shorter
than the length in the axial direction 101 of the internal space of
the body container 21. The outer diameter size of the blood cell
removal filter 24 is smaller than the internal diameter size (i.e.,
diameter of the internal space) of the body container 21. As a
result, a gap is formed between the wall surface (wall surface
serving as the top surface during use) of the body container 21 in
which the first port 22 is formed and the blood cell removal filter
24 and a gap is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the
body container 21 and the outer peripheral surface of the blood
cell removal filter 24. The gaps serve as a flow passage 29 leading
to the first port 22. More specifically, in the body container 21,
the first port 22 and the internal space on the outer peripheral
surface side of the blood cell removal filter 24 are continuous to
each other by the flow passage 29. The internal space of the
cylindrical-shaped blood cell removal filter 24 is continuous to
the second port 23 through the through-hole 33. The internal space
of the blood cell removal filter 24 serves as a flow passage 30
leading to the second port 23. More specifically, the internal
space on the inner peripheral surface side of the blood cell
removal filter 24 and the second port 23 are continuous to each
other by the flow passage 30 in the body container 21.
[0140] In the first blood circuit 13, one end is connected to a
container 155 (refer to FIG. 13) charged with a priming liquid or a
patient (refer to FIG. 14) and the other end is connected to the
first port 22 of the filter device 20 as illustrated in FIG. 13 and
FIG. 14. The first blood circuit 131 is provided with the pump 151,
the pressure sensor 152, and the chamber 153 on the way to the
filter device 20. The pump 151 supplies a priming liquid or blood
(hereinafter referred to as "liquid") to the filter device 20
through the first blood circuit 131. The pressure sensor 152
measures the pressure of the liquid flowing through the first blood
circuit 131. The chamber 153 is an air reservoir collecting air
bubbles mixed in the liquid flowing through the first blood circuit
131. The controller 154 controls the drive of the pump 151 and
collects the pressure values measured by the pressure sensor 152.
The pressure sensor 152 may measure the pressure of the liquid at
the position of the chamber 153, and then output the measured
pressure values to the controller 154.
[0141] In the second blood circuit 132, one end is connected to the
second port 23 of the filter device 20 and the other end is
connected to a waste liquid tank 156 (refer to FIG. 13) or a
patient (refer to FIG. 14) as illustrated in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14.
Although not illustrated, a pressure sensor and a chamber may be
provided on the way to the waste liquid tank 156 from the filter
device 20 of the second blood circuit 132.
[0142] The first bypass circuit 133 and the second bypass circuit
134 are flow passages which guide the liquid flowing through the
first blood circuit 131 to the second blood circuit 132 without
passing through the filter device 20. In detail, the first bypass
circuit 133 is connected to the first blood circuit 131 at a
connection position 135 and is connected to the second blood
circuit 132 at a connection position 136. The second bypass circuit
134 is connected to the first blood circuit 131 at a connection
position 137 and is connected to the second blood circuit 132 at a
connection position 138. In the first blood circuit 131, the
connection position 137 is located closer to the first port 22 than
the connection position 135. In the second blood circuit 132, the
connection position 138 is located further from the second port 23
than the connection position 136.
[0143] The valve 141 is provided in the first blood circuit 131
between the connection positions 135 and 37. More specifically, the
valve 141 permits or regulates the flow of the liquid in the first
blood circuit 131 (i.e., opens/closes the first blood circuit 131)
between the connection positions 135 and 37. The valve 142 is
provided in the second blood circuit 132 between the connection
positions 136 and 38. More specifically, the valve 142 permits or
regulates the flow of the liquid in the second blood circuit 132
(i.e., opens/closes the second blood circuit 132) between the
connection positions 136 and 38. The valve 143 is provided in the
first bypass circuit 133 and permits or regulates the flow of the
liquid in the first bypass circuit 133 (i.e., opens/closes the
first bypass circuit 133). The valve 144 is provided in the second
bypass circuit 134 and permits or regulates the flow of the liquid
in the second bypass circuit 134 (i.e., opens/closes the second
bypass circuit 134).
[0144] Next, the priming treatment to the blood treatment filter
device 100 in this embodiment is described with reference to FIG.
13. First, the valves 141 and 142 are closed and the valves 143 and
144 are opened. Thus, the flow of the priming liquid in the first
blood circuit 131 is regulated between the connection positions 135
and 137, the flow of the priming liquid in the second blood circuit
132 is regulated between the connection positions 136 and 138, and
then the flow of the priming liquid in the first bypass circuit 133
and the second bypass circuit 134 is permitted. Next, by driving
the pump 151 under the control by the controller 154, the priming
liquid is caused to flow out of the container 155 into the first
blood circuit 131. The container 155 is charged with the priming
liquid having the quantity which exceeds the internal volume of the
filter device 20, the first blood circuit 131, the second blood
circuit 132, the first bypass circuit 133, and the second bypass
circuit 134.
[0145] Thus, the priming liquid flowing into the first blood
circuit 131 flows toward the closed valve 141 while pressing out
air and the like in the first blood circuit 131, and then flows
into the first bypass circuit 133 at the connection position 135.
The priming liquid flowing into the first bypass circuit 133 flows
into the second blood circuit 132 through the connection position
136 while pressing out air and the like in the first bypass circuit
133. Furthermore, the priming liquid flowing into the second blood
circuit 132 flows into the filter device 20 through the second port
23 while pressing out air and the like between the closed valve 142
and the second port 23.
[0146] The priming liquid flowing into the internal space of the
filter device 20 through the second port 23 is accumulated on a
lower portion of the internal space of the body container 21 while
entering pores of the blood cell removal filter 24, so that the
liquid surface gradually rises with the progress of time. Thus, air
and the like present in the internal space of the body container 21
are discharged through the first port 22. The priming liquid
filling the internal space of the body container 21 flows out to
the first blood circuit 131 through the first port 22. The priming
liquid flowing into the first blood circuit 131 flows into the
second bypass circuit 134 through the connection position 137 while
pressing out air and the like between the first port 22 and the
closed valve 141, flows into the second blood circuit 132 through
the connection position 138 while pressing out air and the like in
the second bypass circuit 134, and then is discharged into the
waste liquid tank 156 while pressing out air and the like between
the valve 142 and the waste liquid tank 156.
[0147] Due to the fact that the priming liquid is discharged into
the waste liquid tank 156 through the second blood circuit 132, air
and the like are removed from the inside of the blood treatment
filter device 100. Then, the pump 151 is stopped under the control
by the controller 154, whereby the priming treatment to the blood
treatment filter device 100 is completed. More specifically, the
blood treatment filter device 100 after the priming treatment is
completed, the internal space (internal space of the body container
21, the first blood circuit 131, the second blood circuit 132, the
first bypass circuit 133, and the second bypass circuit 134) is
filled with the priming liquid.
[0148] Next, blood treatment employing the blood treatment filter
device 100 in this embodiment is described with reference to FIG.
14. First, in the blood treatment filter device 100 in the state
where the above-described priming treatment is performed (i.e., the
internal space is filled with the priming liquid), the valves 141
and 142 are opened and the valves 143 and 144 are closed. Thus, the
flow of the blood from the first blood circuit 131 to the first
port 22 is permitted, the flow of the blood from the second port 23
to the second blood circuit 132 is permitted, and the flow of the
blood in the first bypass circuit 133 and the second bypass circuit
134 is regulated. Next, by driving the pump 151 under the control
by the controller 154, the blood is caused to flow out of a patient
into the first blood circuit 131.
[0149] The blood which flows into the internal space of the body
container 21 through the first port 22 from the first blood circuit
131 flows to the outer peripheral surface side of the blood cell
removal filter 24 along the flow passage 29 to pass through the
blood cell removal filter 24 from the outer peripheral surface side
to the inner peripheral surface side (i.e., inwardly in the radial
direction) as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this process, leukocytes
contained in the blood are captured by the blood cell removal
filter 24 (mainly filter sheet 26). Furthermore, the blood from
which leukocytes are filtered flows out of the flow passage 30 into
the second blood circuit 132 through the second port 23, and then
returned to a patient. In FIG. 1, the blood flow in the flow
passages 29 and 30 is indicated by the arrow and the blood flow in
the blood cell removal filter 24 is indicated by the white
arrow.
[0150] The controller 154 monitors the pressure values measured by
the pressure sensor 152 during the execution of the blood filter
treatment. Then, when the pressure value exceeds a threshold value,
the controller 154 performs the following treatment, for example.
The case where the pressure value measured by the pressure sensor
152 exceeds a threshold value shows that the blood cell removal
filter 24 is clogged, so that the blood flow in the blood treatment
filter device 100 is stagnant. Then, the controller 154 may open at
least one of the valves 143 and 144. Thus, the blood is returned to
a patient without passing through the filter device 20. The
controller 154 may report abnormalities to an administrator. A
specific report method is not particularly limited and a beep sound
may be output or a warning may be displayed on a management
terminal.
[Operational Effects of this Embodiment]
[0151] According to this embodiment, when the priming treatment is
performed, the valves 141 and 142 may be closed and the valves 143
and 144 may be opened and when the blood filter treatment is
performed, the valves 141 and 142 may be opened and the valves 143
and 144 may be closed. More specifically, the priming treatment and
the blood treatment can be easily performed only by switching the
state of the valves 141 to 144 without switching the drive
direction and the like of the pump 151.
[0152] According to this embodiment, the priming liquid is caused
to flow into the body container 21 from the second port 23. Thus,
in the priming treatment, the internal space of the body container
21 is gradually filled with the priming liquid from the lower side
in the gravity direction, so that the liquid surface gradually
increases with the progress of time. Thus, air and the like present
in the internal space of the body container 21 can be certainly
discharged from the first port 22.
[0153] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the blood flowing
into the internal space of the body container 21 in the blood
treatment passes through the blood cell removal filter 24 from the
outer peripheral surface side to the inner peripheral surface side.
Thus, components having a relatively large size (impurities and the
like) in the blood are first filtered by the exterior sheet 28.
Thus, by filtering first the blood flowing into the body container
21 by the exterior sheet 28, the clogging of the filter sheet 26
caused by the large-sized components can be suppressed.
[0154] Next, according to this embodiment, by causing blood to pass
through the blood cell removal filter 24 from the outer peripheral
surface side to the inner peripheral surface side, leukocytes
contained in the blood are filtered by the filter sheet 26. Thus,
the contact surface of the blood in the state where a large number
of leukocytes are contained before being filtered and the blood
cell removal filter 24 can be enlarged. Then, due to the fact that
the blood flows to the inside in the radial direction of the blood
cell removal filter 24, the contact surface of the blood in which
the filtration of leukocytes is advanced and the blood cell removal
filter 24 becomes gradually small. As a result, the clogging speed
is equalized in the entire region of the filter sheet 26, and
therefore the filter sheet 26 can be prevented from being unusable
due to the concentration of the clogging on a part of the filter
sheet 26.
[0155] Moreover, according to this embodiment, the filter sheet 26
and the spacer sheet 27 are overlapped to form the wound body 25,
and therefore, a gap is formed between the filter sheets 26
adjacent to each other in the radial direction in the spirally
wound filter sheet 26. Moreover, the average pore size of the
spacer sheet 27 is made larger than the average pore size of the
wound body 25, and therefore, even when clogging of the filter
sheet 26 is advanced, the blood can be caused to smoothly flow
without passing through the clogged portion.
[0156] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the blood flows
to the inner peripheral surface side of the blood cell removal
filter 24 through the filter through-holes 39 and the spacer
through-holes 40 formed in the filter sheet 26 and the spacer sheet
27. Thus, even when the clogging of the filter sheet 26 is
advanced, the blood can be caused to smoothly flow without passing
through the clogged portion.
[0157] This embodiment describes the example of permitting or
regulating the flow of the liquid in each circuit by providing the
valves 141 to 144 in the first blood circuit 131, the second blood
circuit 132, the first bypass circuit 133, and the second bypass
circuit 134, respectively. However, the present invention is not
limited thereto and a clamp and the like may be used in place of
the valves 141 to 144. More specifically, a specific structure of
the "valve" in the present invention is not particularly limited
insofar as the flow of the liquid in each circuit can be permitted
or regulated.
[0158] Moreover, this embodiment describes the example of removing
leukocytes in the blood treatment. However, the present invention
is not limited thereto, and other components in blood can be
removed by changing the blood cell removal filter 24 as
appropriate.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0159] 20 Filter device [0160] 21 Body container [0161] 22 First
port [0162] 23 Second port [0163] 24 Blood treatment filter [0164]
25 Wound body [0165] 26 Filter sheet [0166] 27 Spacer sheet [0167]
31 Seal [0168] 39 Filter through-hole [0169] 400 Spacer
through-hole [0170] 100 Blood treatment filter device [0171] 131
First blood circuit [0172] 132 Second blood circuit [0173] 133
First bypass circuit [0174] 134 Second bypass circuit [0175] 135,
136, 137, 138 Connection position [0176] 141, 142, 143, 144
Valve
* * * * *