Non-thermal disinfection of biological fluids using non-thermal plasma

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for at least partially disinfecting biological fluid of a mammal, which comprises pathogens. The method includes contacting a non-thermal plasma with the biological fluid to kill at least a portion of the pathogens within the biological fluid, and filtering toxins from at least some components of the biological fluid.

1 . A method of at least partially disinfecting biological fluid of a mammal, which comprises pathogens, the method comprising: 
 (a) drawing the biological fluid from the mammal;    (b) contacting a non-thermal plasma with the biological fluid to kill at least a portion of the pathogens within the biological fluid;    (c) filtering toxins from at least some components of the biological fluid after contacting in step (b); and    (d) returning the biological fluid to the mammal after filtering the toxins in step (c).    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein: 
 step (a) comprises drawing the biological fluid from a blood circulatory system of the mammal; and    step (d) comprises returning the biological fluid to the blood circulatory system.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein: 
 step (a) comprises drawing the biological fluid from an organ of the mammal; and    step (d) comprises returning the biological fluid to the organ.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 (e) introducing gas bubbles into the biological fluid to generate liquid-gas mixture; and    (f) contacting the liquid-gas mixture with the non-thermal plasma during step (b).    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  and further comprising: 
 (g) removing the gas bubbles from the liquid-gas mixture after contacting in step (b) and before returning in step (d).    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  and further comprising: 
 (h) passing the biological fluid through a gas detector after step (g) and prior to returning the biological fluid to the mammal in step (d).    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 (e) introducing a diluent into the biological fluid to generate a diluted biological fluid; and    (f) treating the diluted biological fluid with the non-thermal plasma during step (b); and    (g) filtering some of the diluent from the diluted biological fluid in step (c).    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (c) comprises passing the biological fluid along a semi-permeable membrane having pore sizes that filter toxins having selected sizes from larger components of the biological fluid.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the semi-permeable membrane comprises pore sizes of approximately 0.1 to 2 micrometers.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (c) comprises filtering at least some blood-borne bacteria from at least some components of the biological fluid.  
   
   
       11 . A method of at least partially disinfecting biological fluid of a mammal, which comprises pathogens, the method comprising: 
 (a) contacting a non-thermal plasma with the biological fluid to kill at least a portion of the pathogens within the biological fluid; and    (b) filtering toxins from at least some components of the biological fluid after contacting in step (a).    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein: 
 step (a) releases toxins from at least some of the pathogens; and    step (b) comprises filtering the toxins released in step (a) from at least some components of the biological fluid.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein step (b) comprises passing the biological fluid along a semi-permeable membrane having pore sizes that filter toxins having selected sizes from larger components of the biological fluid.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the semi-permeable membrane comprises pore sizes of approximately 0.1 to 2 micrometers.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein step (b) comprises filtering at least some blood-borne bacteria from at least some components of the biological fluid.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  and further comprising: 
 (c) drawing the biological fluid from the mammal prior to step (a); and    (d) returning the biological fluid to the mammal after filtering the toxins in step (b).    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein: 
 step (c) comprises drawing the biological fluid from a blood circulatory system of the mammal; and    step (d) comprises returning the biological fluid to the blood circulatory system.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein: 
 step (c) comprises drawing the biological fluid from an organ of the mammal; and    step (d) comprises returning the biological fluid to the organ.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11  and further comprising: 
 (c) introducing gas bubbles into the biological fluid to generate liquid-gas mixture prior to step (a);    (d) contacting the liquid-gas mixture with the non-thermal plasma during step (a); and    (e) removing the gas bubbles from the liquid-gas mixture after contacting in step (a).    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11  and further comprising: 
 (c) introducing a diluent into the biological fluid to generate a diluted biological fluid;    (d) treating the diluted biological fluid with the non-thermal plasma during step (a); and    (e) filtering some of the diluent from the diluted biological fluid in step (b).    
   
   
       21 . A liquid-gas mixture comprising a mammalian biological liquid, gas bubbles, and a non-thermal plasma.