James R Curtis

US Patent:

8128822, Mar 6, 2012

Filed:

Oct 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/576804

Inventors:

David M. Browning - Portland OR, US
James R. Curtis - Portland OR, US
Goran Nadezda Jovanovic - Corvallis OR, US
Brian Kevin Paul - Corvallis OR, US
Sundar Atre - Corvallis OR, US

Assignee:

State of Oregon acting by and through The State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Oregon State University - Corvallis OR
Home Dialysis Plus - Portland OR

International Classification:

B01D 61/28
B01D 61/24

US Classification:

21032171, 210646, 21032175

Abstract:

The present invention is related to hemodialysis, and more particularly, to a dialyser with improved efficiency of mass transfer across a dialysis membrane utilizing microchannel separation provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In accordance with an embodiment, a dialyzer is provided comprising a plurality of semipermeable membrane sheets and a plurality of flow separators. The membrane sheets and flow are arranged in alternating configuration and coupled into a laminae stack defining a plurality of parallel microchannel layers. Each microchannel layer comprises a plurality of first microchannels and a plurality of second microchannels. The first and second microchannels of each microchannel layer are in fluid communication with each other via one of the plurality of membrane sheets therebetween. The MECS dialyzer is characterized as having a high surface to volume ratio and a high mass transfer coefficient.

US Patent:

8419945, Apr 16, 2013

Filed:

Mar 5, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/412597

Inventors:

David M. Browning - Portland OR, US
James R. Curtis - Portland OR, US
Goran Nadezda Jovanovic - Corvallis OR, US
Brian Kevin Paul - Corvallis OR, US
Sundar Atre - Corvallis OR, US

Assignee:

State of Oregon acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Oregon State University - Corvalis OR
Home Dialysis Plus - Portland OR

International Classification:

B01D 61/28
B01D 61/24

US Classification:

210646, 21032171, 21032175

Abstract:

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for cleansing blood through hemodialysis by the process of diffusion across a membrane into dialysate. This dialyzer also removes solutes from the blood by a process of convection, where fluid and dissolved solutes pass through the membrane out of the blood. In one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the MECS dialyzer uses a counter-flow between the dialysate and blood through a plurality of microchannels. The dialyzer comprises a plurality of flat semi-permeable membranes interleaved between microchannel sheets to define a plurality of flow channels. The stack of membranes and microchannel sheets are aligned and consolidated to form the MECS dialyzer. The MECS dialyzer acts as a flow manifold with ports and headers to collect the blood and dialysate and direct them to and from the microchannels.

US Patent:

8501009, Aug 6, 2013

Filed:

Jun 7, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/795382

Inventors:

Richard B. Peterson - Corvallis OR, US
James R. Curtis - Portland OR, US
Hailei Wang - Corvallis OR, US
Robbie Ingram-Goble - Corvallis OR, US
Luke W. Fisher - Denver CO, US
Anna E. Garrison - Philomath OR, US

Assignee:

State of Oregon acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Oregon State University - Corvallis OR
Home Dialysis Plus, Ltd. - Portland OR

International Classification:

B01D 61/26
C02F 1/44
C02F 1/02

US Classification:

210652, 210650, 210739, 210741, 210742, 422 1, 422 38

Abstract:

Disclosed are systems and methods of preparing dialysate for use in a home dialysis system that is compact and light-weight relative to existing systems and consumes relatively low amounts of energy. The method includes coupling a household water stream to a dialysis system; filtering the water stream; heating the water stream to at least about 138 degrees Celsius in a non-batch process to produce a heated water stream; maintaining the heated water stream at or above at least about 138 degrees Celsius for at least about two seconds; cooling the heated water stream to produce a cooled water stream; ultrafiltering the cooled water stream; and mixing dialysate components into the cooled water stream in a non-batch process.

US Patent:

8524086, Sep 3, 2013

Filed:

Apr 29, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/068038

Inventors:

Richard B. Peterson - Corvallis OR, US
James R. Curtis - Portland OR, US

Assignee:

State of Oregon acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Oregon State University - Corvallis OR
Home Dialysis Plus, Ltd. - Portland OR

International Classification:

A61L 2/04
A61L 2/00
B01D 61/02
B01D 61/14
B01D 61/28
C02F 1/20
C02F 1/44

US Classification:

210636, 210 97, 210117, 210134, 210143, 21016701, 21016732, 210175, 210180, 210188, 210194, 2101951, 2101952, 210252, 2102572, 210258, 2103216, 21032171, 210650, 210652, 210808, 422 1, 422 38

Abstract:

Certain disclosed embodiments concern systems and methods of preparing dialysate for use in a home dialysis system that is compact and light-weight relative to existing systems and consumes relatively low amounts of energy. The method includes coupling a household water stream to a dialysis system; filtering the water stream; heating the water stream to at least about 138 degrees Celsius in a non-batch process to produce a heated water stream; maintaining the heated water stream at or above at least about 138 degrees Celsius for at least about two seconds; cooling the heated water stream to produce a cooled water stream; ultrafiltering the cooled water stream; and mixing dialysate components into the cooled water stream in a non-batch process.

US Patent:

20100326914, Dec 30, 2010

Filed:

Jun 7, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/795371

Inventors:

M. Kevin Drost - Corvallis OR, US
Goran Jovanovic - Corvallis OR, US
Richard Todd Miller - Corvallis OR, US
James R. Curtis - Portland OR, US
Bruce W. Johnson - Corvallis OR, US
Eric K. Anderson - Corvallis OR, US
Julie S. Wrazel - Corvallis OR, US

International Classification:

B01D 61/26
B01D 61/28

US Classification:

210644, 2103216, 210175, 21032172, 210231

Abstract:

The present disclosure concerns embodiments of a microfluidic transfer device. The device mitigates risk of cross contamination between working fluids and is amenable to high-volume, low-cost manufacturing techniques. The device may be configured for mass transfer, heat transfer, or both. For instance, certain disclosed embodiments incorporate semi-permeable membranes to transfer target substances from one fluid to another. Moreover, the device may incorporate both heat and mass transfer components.

US Patent:

20100326916, Dec 30, 2010

Filed:

Jun 7, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/795444

Inventors:

Julie Wrazel - Corvallis OR, US
James R. Curtis - Portland OR, US
Ladislaus Nonn - Portland OR, US
Richard B. Peterson - Corvallis OR, US
Hailei Wang - Corvallis OR, US
Robbie Ingram-Goble - Corvallis OR, US
Luke W. Fisher - Denver CO, US
Anna E. Garrison - Philomath OR, US
M. Kevin Drost - Corvallis OR, US
Goran Jovanovic - Corvallis OR, US
Richard Todd Miller - Corvallis OR, US
Bruce W. Johnson - Corvallis OR, US
Eric K. Anderson - Corvallis OR, US

International Classification:

B01D 61/26
B01D 61/32
B01D 61/28

US Classification:

210646, 210137, 210205, 210177

Abstract:

A dialysis system includes a filtration system capable of filtering a water stream, a water purification system capable of purifying said water stream in a non-batch process, a mixing system capable of producing a stream of dialysate from mixing one or more dialysate components with the water stream in a non-batch process, and a dialyzer system. The dialyzer may be a microfluidic dialyzer capable of being fluidly coupled to the stream of dialysate and a blood stream.

US Patent:

20110132838, Jun 9, 2011

Filed:

Jun 7, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/795498

Inventors:

James R. Curtis - Portland OR, US
Ladislaus F. Nonn - Portland OR, US
Julie Wrazel - Portland OR, US

International Classification:

B01D 61/32
B01D 61/24

US Classification:

210637, 210646, 210137, 210133

Abstract:

Systems and methods are disclosed for performing hemodialysis that include fluid handling systems that provide accurate control over the type and level of hemodialysis being performed. The system includes a first pump for pumping dialysate into a dialyzer and a second pump for pumping dialysate out of the dialyzer. The system also includes a third pump that provides improved control of a level of ultrafiltration, hemodiafiltration, or both.

US Patent:

20110189048, Aug 4, 2011

Filed:

Dec 3, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/960373

Inventors:

James R. Curtis - Portland OR, US
Michael Baker - Harbor WA, US
Dalibor Jan Smejtek - Portland OR, US

International Classification:

B01D 61/30
A61L 2/18
A61L 2/24

US Classification:

422 3, 210 85, 210 962, 422292

Abstract:

A dialysis system includes a plurality of modular components. The modular components can be coupled to one another in various configurations, wherein each configuration is optimized for use in a particular environment, such as in a home environment or a travel environment or a dialysis center.