Cytopheresis cartridges and use thereof
The present invention relates to a cytopheretic cartridge for use in treating and/or preventing inflammatory conditions within a subject and to related methods. More particularly, the invention relates to a cytopheretic cartridge that includes a housing and, disposed within the housing, a solid support capable of sequestering activated leukocytes and/or platelets.
1. A cartridge for treating activated leukocytes, activated platelets, or both activated leukocytes and activated platelets, comprising:
(a) a rigid housing defining an inner volume (IV), a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port, wherein the inner volume is in fluid flow communication with the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port; and
(b) a solid support disposed within the housing and defining a fluid contacting surface with a surface area (SA) capable of sequestering an activated leukocyte and/or an activated platelet if present in a body fluid entering the housing via the fluid inlet port, wherein the cartridge has an SA/IV ratio ranging from greater than 150 cm −1 to 800 cm −1 and the solid support is disposed within the housing at a packing density in the range from 20% to 65%.
2. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the SA/IV ratio is in the range from 300 cm −1 to 800 cm −1 .
3. The cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the SA/IV ratio is in the range from 400 cm −1 to 800 cm −1 .
4. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the SA/IV ratio is in the range from 200 cm −1 to 600 cm −1 .
5. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the solid support is a membrane.
6. The cartridge of claim 5 , wherein the membrane is porous.
7. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the solid support comprises a planar support member.
8. The cartridge of claim 7 , wherein the planar support member is a membrane.
9. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the solid support comprises a fiber.
10. The cartridge of claim 9 , wherein the fiber is a hollow fiber or a solid fiber.
11. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the SA is greater than 0.8 m 2 .
12. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the SA is in the range of from 0.1 m 2 to 10.0 m 2 .
13. The cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the SA ranges from 0.1 m 2 to 0.4 m 2 , from 0.4 m 2 to 0.8 m 2 , from 0.8 m 2 to 1.2 m 2 , from 1.2 m 2 to 1.6 m 2 , from 1.6 m 2 to 2.0 m 2 , from 2.0 m 2 to 2.4 m 2 , from 2.4 m 2 to 2.8 m 2 , from 2.8 m 2 to 3.2 m 2 , from 3.2 m 2 to 3.6 m 2 , from 3.6 m 2 to 4.0 m 2 , from 4.0 m 2 to 4.4 m 2 , from 4.4 m 2 to 4.8 m 2 , from 4.8 m 2 to 5.2 m 2 , from 5.2 m 2 to 5.6 m 2 , from 5.6 m 2 to 6.0 m 2 , from 6.0 m 2 to 6.4 m 2 , from 6.4 m 2 to 6.8 m 2 , from 6.8 m 2 to 7.2 m 2 , from 7.2 m 2 to 7.6 m 2 , from 7.6 m 2 to 8.0 m 2 , from 8.0 m 2 to 8.4 m 2 , from 8.4 m 2 to 8.8 m 2 , from 8.8 m 2 to 9.2 m 2 , from 9.2 m 2 to 9.6 m 2 , or from 9.6 m 2 to 10.0 m 2 .
14. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the IV is less than 300 cm 3 .
15. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the IV ranges from 10 cm 3 to 150 cm 3 .
16. The cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the IV ranges from 75 cm 3 to 150 cm 3 .
17. The cartridge of claim 16 , wherein the IV ranges from 20 cm 3 to 80 cm 3 .
18. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port are dimensioned to permit a flow rate through the housing in a range from 10 cm 3 /minute to 8,000 cm 3 /minute.
19. The cartridge of claim 18 , wherein the flow rate through the housing ranges from 50 cm 3 /minute to 8,000 cm 3 /minute.
20. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to create a shear force less than about 100 dynes/cm 2 when a body fluid enters the housing through the fluid inlet port and exits the housing through the fluid outlet port at a rate of 1,000 cm 3 /minute.
21. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the fluid contacting surface of the solid support comprises polysulfone.
22. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the fluid contacting surface of the solid support comprises a cell-adhesion molecule attached thereto.
23. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port each have a cross-section ranging from 0.01 cm 2 to 1 cm 2 .
24. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the solid support is substantially parallel to fluid flow direction within the cartridge.
25. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the fluid contacting surface of the housing comprises a biocompatible material and/or the fluid contacting surface of the solid support comprises a biocompatible material.
26. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the SA/IV ratio is in the range from 300 cm −1 to 600 cm −1 .
27. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the SA/IV ratio is in the range from 400 cm −1 to 600 cm −1 .