초록 ▼

Methods for treating malaria are provided, the treatment comprising the step of removing malaria-infected red blood cells from the patient's blood. Blood is drawn from the patient's circulatory system and circulated through a blood purification device that selectively eliminates the infected red blo

Methods for treating malaria are provided, the treatment comprising the step of removing malaria-infected red blood cells from the patient's blood. Blood is drawn from the patient's circulatory system and circulated through a blood purification device that selectively eliminates the infected red blood cells from all other blood's components and replaces the cleansed blood back into the patient's circulatory system. A blood purification device, which is useful to perform the therapeutic methods of the invention, is also provided. The device leverages the magnetic properties of the hemozoin contained within the infected red blood cells and comprises one or more separation chambers (4) though which blood flows through a high-gradient magnetic field generated by an array of wires (5) separated from the chambers and not in contact with the patient blood. The magnetic field gradient acting on the cells magnetic properties displaces the infected and non-infected red blood cells on different layers of the blood flow across the chamber height. The blood flow is split into separated streams and blood streams containing infected cells are filtrated thereby trapping infected cells. Blood containing non-infected red blood cells is circulated back to the patient. The device application is not limited to the treatment of malaria and includes other blood related diseases that affect the magnetic properties of a patient's red blood cells.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device to enrich non-magnetically responsive blood components, said device comprising: (a) one or more separation chambers, each one or more separation chambers having one or more entrance ports, one or more exit ports and one or more outlets for directional, continuous movement of blood from t

1. A device to enrich non-magnetically responsive blood components, said device comprising: (a) one or more separation chambers, each one or more separation chambers having one or more entrance ports, one or more exit ports and one or more outlets for directional, continuous movement of blood from the one or more entrance ports through each of the one or more separation chambers and towards the one or more exits ports and one or more outlets, wherein, when subjected to a magnetic field, the non-magnetically responsive blood components flow more readily than magnetically responsive blood components through the one or more exit ports, and the magnetically responsive blood components flow more readily than the non-magnetically responsive blood components through the one or more outlets;(b) one or more ferromagnetic wires, or one or more wires made of other materials with ferromagnetic or high paramagnetic properties, positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each of the one or more separation chambers for generating the magnetic field across each of the one or more separation chambers by magnetizing the wires, wherein each of said one or more separation chambers has a width that is at least 100 times larger than the cross-section of the one or more magnetic wires, and wherein said one or more separation chambers are removable from the device; and(c) a plurality of pumps configured to control cell stratification along the separator cross section by varying pressure at the one or more inlet ports, the one or more outlet ports, and the one or more exit ports. 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a catheter and tubing to remove blood from the patient and propel the blood into the one or more separation chambers by way of the one or more entrance ports. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the one or more outlets lead to at least one filter which is capable of trapping said magnetically responsive blood components, thereby enriching non-magnetically responsive blood components that flow through the one or more exit ports, wherein the enriched blood components optionally returned to the patient by means of a second catheter and tubing. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said at least one filter is non-magnetic. 5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power source for maintaining directional flow of blood from the patient into and out of the one or more separation chambers, wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of a battery, solar power, geothermal and compressed gas. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the power source is supplemented by a second power source. 7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a magnet to generate the magnetic field in said wires, wherein the magnet is selected from the group consisting of a permanent magnet, a SmCo magnet, a NeFeB magnet and electromagnetic. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the magnetic field generated by said magnet ranges from about 0.1 to about 1.0 Tesla. 9. The device of claim 1, wherein a single magnet or a magnet array is used to generate the magnetic field. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein said magnetized wires are made of a magnetic material selected from the group consisting of iron, steel, nickel, cobalt, gadolinium and various magnetic composites. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein one wire array is employed for every two chambers. 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the ratio between the one or more separation chambers' volume and the one one or more wires' volume is ⅕, and wherein the one or more wires are not in contact with the magnetically responsive blood components and the non-magnetically responsive blood components. 13. The device of claim 7, wherein each of the one or more separation chambers and the magnetic field generator are a single unit that can be removed from the device. 14. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more pumps, wherein the one or more pumps are removable from the device. 15. The device of claim 14, wherein one or more gauges are incorporated in the device in order to monitor the pressures generated by the one or more of the pumps. 16. The device of 1, wherein width of the outlet is uniform or graded and is between 1/10 and 4 times the magnetized wire's radius. 17. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more outlets are removable and replaceable. 18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a membrane filter having a pore size smaller than about 8 μm, said membrane filter being removable and replaceable. 19. A kit comprising one or more separation chambers which is adapted for use with the device according to claim 1.