Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Process disinfecting – preserving – deodorizing – or sterilizing – Using direct contact with electrical or electromagnetic...
Patent
1990-09-26
1992-07-28
Warden, Robert J.
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Process disinfecting, preserving, deodorizing, or sterilizing
Using direct contact with electrical or electromagnetic...
250435, 25045511, 210748, 210243, A61L 210
Patent
active
051339323
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invent-ion relates to the sterilisation (in the sense of rendering free from cells or organisms capable of division e.g. lymphocytes, protozoans, bacteria, viruses) of blood and blood products or other fluids i.e. fluids having a biological origin and/or for use in biological systems including for example nutrient and buffer solutions, plasma, anti-haemophillic globulin etc., and in particular to means suitable for use in such a procedure, enteral or parenteral or outwith the body e.g. laboratory reagents, tissue culture or microbiological systems etc.
Conventionally sterilisation of human blood products is generally effected by incubation thereof at a temperature of the order of 78.degree. C. for an extended period of time of perhaps 48 to 72 hours. This procedure is however relatively time consuming and occupies subsantial amounts of relatively large scale apparatus and may result in substantial loss of potency.
It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimize one or more of the above disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus suitable for use in ultra-violet irradiation, said apparatus comprising an ultra-violet irradiation means formed and arranged to radiate ultra-violet radiation of an effective inactivating wavelength as defined herein, support means for supporting a substance to be irradiated in use of the apparatus and turning means formed and arranged to provide relative turning motion between said ultra-violet irradiation means and said substance, in use of the apparatus, said apparatus being characterised in that: said apparatus includes a vessel for containing a said substance in the form of a biological fluid in use of the apparatus, said vessel having side wall means substantially transparent to said ultra-violet radiation, a turning vessel support means formed and arranged for supporting said vessel and allowing said vessel to turn on said support means; a drive means formed and arranged for directly or indirectly turning said vessel on said support means; and said ultra-violet irradiation means being formed and arranged for irradiating at least part of a turning vessel on said support means, with ultra-violet radiation of an effective inactivating wavelength whereby in use of the apparatus a thin layer of said fluid adjacent the wall surface of said side wall means is carried round past the ultra-violet irradiation means and sterilised thereby and mixed with the main body of said fluid.
In a further aspect the present invention provides a method of inactivating undesired micro-organisms in a substance, said method comprising the steps of: providing relative turning motion between said substance and an ultra-violet irradiation means, characterised by the steps of: supporting a said vessel containing a said substance in the form of a biological fluid on said turning vessel support means; and operating said drive means for turning said vessel on said support means and said ultra-violet irradiation means for irradiating said fluid in said vessel for a period of time sufficient substantially to inactivate said undesired microorganisms therein.
Various forms of vessel turning may be used in accordance with the present invention. In general rolling of a generally tubular form of vessel is most preferred. Turning about various different axes is, however, also possible including, for example, rotation of a vessel about a generally vertical axis by supporting the vessel on a rotating turntable In this case in particular it will be appreciated that the turning speed is desirably selected so that it is sufficiently fast to provide a reasonable rate of mixing between the main body of the fluid and the thin layer adjacent to the outer side wall surface, and generally not so fast as to provide significant centrifugal separation of the fluid components and stratification thereof. Conveniently turning is effected at from 10 to 250 r.p.m.
It will be appreciated that the vessel may be only partly filled with the
REFERENCES:
patent: Re24822 (1960-05-01), Pallotta et al.
patent: 2001555 (1935-05-01), Trebler
patent: 3814680 (1974-06-01), Wood
patent: 3894236 (1975-07-01), Hazelrigg
patent: 3926556 (1975-12-01), Boucher
patent: 3994686 (1976-11-01), Rauser et al.
patent: 4438337 (1984-03-01), Forrat
patent: 4798702 (1989-01-01), Tucker
patent: 4948980 (1990-08-01), Wedekamp
Gerald A. LoGrippo, "Antigenicity of Combined .beta.-Propiolactone and Ultraviolet Inactivated Virus Vaccines", J of Immunology, vol. 75:128, 1958.
Gunn et al Immunology 50 477 (1983).
Cameron Ian D.
Gunn Andrew
Collins Laura E.
Iatros Limited
Warden Robert J.
LandOfFree
Blood processing apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Blood processing apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Blood processing apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1685820