US 12,133,948 B2
Apparatus utilizing venting for processing of blood to remove pathogen cells therein
William M. Gosney, Lucas, TX (US); and Dale B. Nixon, Dallas, TX (US)
Filed by William M. Gosney, Lucas, TX (US); and Dale B. Nixon, Dallas, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/814,547.
Prior Publication US 2024/0024551 A1, Jan. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. A61M 1/36 (2006.01); A61M 60/10 (2021.01)
CPC A61M 1/36 (2013.01) [A61M 60/10 (2021.01); A61M 2205/12 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Apparatus for processing blood having pathogen cells therein, comprising:
a cassette having at least one chamber therein for receiving said blood, said chamber having opposing walls with at least portions thereof transparent to light,
said chamber having an input port for receiving said blood and an output port for exiting said blood and said chamber having a plurality of parallel channels for conveying said blood between said input port and said output port,
each said channel having an identification zone extending from proximate said input port along said channel toward said output port, each said identification zone having therein a plurality of sequential channel zones which receive said blood, each channel zone comprising a distinct location in the corresponding channel,
a light source for projecting light through said walls of said chamber,
a light sensor array for receiving said light which has passed through said chamber for producing a sensor image having therein shadow images of said pathogen cells in said chamber channel zones of each said channel,
a processor coupled to receive said sensor image and to identify said pathogen cells located in specific ones of said channel zones,
said channels having a processing zone between the identification zone and said output port, said processing zone of the channels for conveying blood from said corresponding channel identification zone to said chamber output port, and
each said processing zone having a plurality of vent valves coupled respectively to corresponding ones of said channels, each said vent valve responsive to said processor for removing identified ones of said pathogen cells from the corresponding channel.