Methods of Making and Using Filtering Unit for a Virucide Substance

Abstract

A filtering unit for removing a virucidal substance from a biological fluid including an outer casing having at least one input aperture and at least one output aperture. The outer casing including a filter medium, which separates the filtration unit into an input compartment and an output compartment. The filter medium includes at least one hydrophilic material able to absorb or adsorb the virucidal substance. The at least one hydrophilic material includes either porous non-woven material or a porous membrane.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A method for eliminating a virucidal substance from a biological fluid comprising:
 passing the biological fluid through a filter medium produced from a treate, hydrophilic polymer or copolymer capable of absorbing or adsorbing the virucidal substance and having a porosity that allows passage of the biological fluid through the filter medium; wherein the polymer or copolymer comprises polyester, acrylonitrile, or polyvinylidene fluoride.   
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the biological fluid comprises blood, serum or plasma. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the virucidal substance comprises methylene blue. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the methylene blue has a concentration of 1 μM. 
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the treated, hydrophilic polymer or copolymer comprises treated, hydrophilic polyester. 
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the treated, hydrophilic polymer or copolymer comprises treated, hydrophilic acrylonitrile. 
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the treated, hydrophilic polymer or copolymer comprises treated, hydrophilic polyvinylidene fluoride. 
   
   
       28 . A method of forming a filter medium comprising:
 treating a polymer or copolymer to render it hydrophilic and capable of absorbing or adsorbing a virucidal substance, said polymer or copolymer comprising polyester, acrylonitrile or polyvinylidene fluoride; and   forming a filter medium containing the polymer or copolymer, wherein the filter medium has a mean porosity of between 1 μm and 15 μm.   
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein treating comprises grafting a hydrophilic substituent to the polymer or copolymer to render it hydrophilic and capable of absorbing or adsorbing a virucidal substance. 
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the hydrophilic substituent comprises a hydroxyl or a carboxylic group. 
   
   
       31 . (canceled) 
   
   
       32 . A method of forming a filtration unit comprising:
 treating a polymer or copolymer to render it hydrophilic and capable of absorbing or adsorbing a virucidal substance, said polymer or copolymer comprising polyester, acrylonitrile or polyvinylidene fluoride;   forming a filter medium containing the polymer or coplymer, wherein the filter medium has a mean porosity of between 1 μm and 15 μm;   placing the filter medium in a casing having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture to form a filtration unit.   
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 32  wherein treating comprises grafting a hydrophilic substituent to the polymer or copolymer to render it hydrophilic and capable of absorbing or adsorbing a virucidal substance. 
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the hydrophilic substituent comprises a hydroxyl or a carboxylic group. 
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the polymer or copolymer comprises polyester. 
   
   
       36 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the polymer or copolymer comprises acrylonitrile. 
   
   
       37 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the polymer or coplymer comprises polyvinylidene fluoride. 
   
   
       38 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the filter medium has a thickness between 1 and 10 millimeters. 
   
   
       39 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the filter medium comprises non-woven fibers having a mean diameter of between 0.5 μm and 5 μm. 
   
   
       40 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the casing comprises an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture. 
   
   
       41 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the filter medium has a mean porosity of between 1 μm and 15 μm. 
   
   
       42 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the treated, hydrophilic polymer or copolymer is in the form or a membrane. 
   
   
       43 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the treated, hydrophilic polymer or copolymer is in the form of non-woven fibers. 
   
   
       44 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the treated, hydrophilic polymer or copolymer is in the form of a porous non-woven material and one or more porous membranes.