Extracorporeal blood disinfection systems and methods
Inventors
Petti, Stephen J. • Lalicki, Jorel • RAFFANIELLO PETTI, Samn • TRIBBLE, Ronald
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12544499-B2
Publication Date
2026-02-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
Selective extracorporeal blood disinfection systems and related methods are disclosed. The systems comprise an input tube forming a flowpath for the flow of infected blood. The systems further comprise a disinfection unit comprising a microbicidal light emitting device configured to emit visible light within the range of about 380-425 nm and/or about 500-700 nm, and a treatment flowpath in communication with the input tube that is substantially transparent to the emitted light of the microbicidal light emitting device for receiving at least a portion of the flow of the infected blood therethrough. The microbicidal light emitting device effectuates a dose of the emitted light to the infected blood flowing through the treatment flowpath to disinfect the blood. The systems also comprise an output tube in fluid communication with the treatment flowpath forming a flowpath for the flow of the disinfected blood from the disinfection unit.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an extracorporeal blood disinfection system for treating and/or preventing sepsis, including severe sepsis and septic shock, by disinfection of infected blood outside the patient and return of disinfected blood to the patient. The system includes an input tube that withdraws infected blood from a mammalian patient, a disinfection unit that exposes at least a portion of the blood to microbicidal visible light, and an output tube that returns disinfected blood to the patient.
The disinfection unit uses a microbicidal light emitting device configured to emit visible light, and the treatment flowpath is in communication with the input tube and is substantially transparent to the emitted light for receiving at least a portion of the flow of infected blood therethrough. The dose of visible light consists essentially of visible light within the range of about 380 nm to about 425 nm and visible light within the range of about 500 nm to about 700 nm, and is effective to at least one of eliminate pathogenic microorganisms, reduce the number of pathogenic microorganisms, or reduce the rate of proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms in the infected blood.
Thermal management is incorporated to prevent overheating of the blood within the treatment pathway above a predefined temperature, using at least one thermal management device configured to dissipate heat. The disclosed concepts and embodiments also include supporting components and geometries for delivering the visible light through the treatment flowpath, including optical diffusers and reflectors, and treatment flowpaths that can be transparent or translucent, including coils, folded channels, planar coiled channels, and light-delivery structures such as emitter shafts or light pipes.
Claims Coverage
The document provides one independent claim. It covers an extracorporeal blood disinfection system with a microbicidal visible-light dose delivered through a light-transparent treatment flowpath and includes at least one thermal management device to prevent overheating, with disinfection effectiveness targeted to pathogenic microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and yeast.
Extracorporeal blood disinfection system with input and output tubes
An extracorporeal blood disinfection system comprising an input tube forming a flowpath for the flow of infected blood from a mammalian patient and an output tube in fluid communication with the treatment flowpath forming a flowpath for the flow of the disinfected blood from the disinfection unit back to the patient, and a pump configured to provide the flow of infected blood through the input tube, pass the blood through the treatment flowpath, and provide the flow of disinfected blood to the patient through the output tube.
Microbicidal visible light delivered through substantially transparent treatment flowpath
A disinfection unit comprising a microbicidal light emitting device configured to emit visible light and a treatment flowpath in communication with the input tube that is substantially transparent to the emitted light for receiving at least a portion of the flow of infected blood therethrough, wherein the microbicidal light emitting device effectuates a dose of the emitted visible light to the infected blood flowing through the treatment flowpath to disinfect the blood, the dose consisting essentially of visible light within about 380 nm to about 425 nm and visible light within about 500 nm to about 700 nm, effective to at least one of eliminate pathogenic microorganisms, reduce the number of the pathogenic microorganisms, and reduce the rate of proliferation of the pathogenic microorganisms.
Thermal management to prevent overheating within the treatment pathway
At least one thermal management device configured to dissipate heat such that the microbicidal light emitting device is prevented from overheating the blood within the treatment pathway above a predefined temperature.
Target pathogens include bacteria, fungi, and yeast
The pathogenic microorganisms in the infected blood comprise at least one of bacteria, fungi, yeast and a combination thereof.
The claim coverage centers on an extracorporeal blood disinfection system that withdraws infected blood, delivers a microbicidal visible-light dose in specified wavelength ranges through a substantially light-transparent treatment flowpath, and returns disinfected blood to the patient, while incorporating thermal management to prevent overheating above a predefined temperature and targeting bacteria, fungi, and yeast.
Stated Advantages
Disinfects blood by effectuating a dose of emitted visible light effective to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms in the infected blood.
Reduces the number of pathogenic microorganisms in the infected blood.
Reduces the rate of proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms in the infected blood.
Prevents the microbicidal light emitting device from overheating the blood within the treatment pathway above a predefined temperature.
Documented Applications
Treating and/or preventing sepsis, including severe sepsis and septic shock, by disinfection of infected blood extracorporeally with microbicidal visible light and return of disinfected blood to the patient.
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