Coatings for biological fluid filters

Abstract

Filter media, filter devices and methods of making filter media are disclosed. The filter media includes a coating on at least a portion of said outer surface. The coating may be polymeric composition having a molecular chain that includes segments of non-polar groups and segments of at least one of polar groups or segments of ionic groups.

1 . A filter medium comprising:
 a) a filter sheet comprising an outer surface; and   b) a coating on at least a portion of said outer surface, said coating comprising a polymeric composition, said composition having a molecular chain comprising segments of non-polar groups and segments of at least one of polar groups or segments of ionic groups.   
     
     
         2 . The filter medium of  claim 1  wherein said segments of said non-polar groups comprise an olefin. 
     
     
         3 . The filter medium of  claim 1  wherein said segments of said polar groups comprise vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         4 . The filter medium of  claim 1  wherein said segments of said ionic groups comprise acrylic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The filter medium of  claim 2  wherein said olefin comprises ethylene. 
     
     
         6 . The filter medium of  claim 2  wherein said olefin is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         7 . The filter medium of  claim 1  wherein said filter sheet comprises a melt blown, non-woven porous membrane. 
     
     
         8 . The filter medium of  claim 1  wherein said composition comprises a polymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         9 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The filter medium of  claim 1  wherein said composition comprises a polymer of olefin and acrylic acid. 
     
     
         13 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A filtration device for processing biological fluid, said device comprising:
 a) a housing defining an interior chamber and an inlet port and an outlet port communicating with said chamber;   b) a filter medium within said chamber, said medium comprising a coating comprising a polymeric composition, said composition having a molecular chain comprising segments of non-polar groups and segments of at least one of polar groups or segments of ionic groups.   
     
     
         17 . The filtration device of  claim 16  wherein said filter medium comprises a plurality of sheets wherein at least one of said plurality of sheets comprises said coating. 
     
     
         18 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of making a leukoreduction filter comprising:
 a) forming a coating material by dissolving a selected amount of a polymeric composition comprising segments of a non-polar groups and at least one of segments of polar groups or segments of ionic groups in a solvent; and   b) contacting at least a portion of a porous material with said coating.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said segments of said polar groups comprise vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said solvent comprises a mixture of hexane and 2-butanone. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the concentration of said polymeric composition in said solvent is between about 0.1% -2.0% (w/v). 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the concentration of said polymeric composition in said solvent is between about 0.14%-1.6% (w/v). 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said segments of said ionic groups comprise acrylic acid. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said solvent comprises a mixture of hexane and ethanol. 
     
     
         30 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising drying said coated material under one of ambient conditions or elevated temperature. 
     
     
         36 . The method of any one of  claims 23 - 35  comprising drying said coated material in a convection type oven at 80° C. for about 30 minutes. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled)