Patents by Inventor Franco Castino

Franco Castino has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6495039
    Abstract: An in-line biological liquid filtration system and method comprises a collection container for receiving biological liquid. A filter is located downstream of the collection container and in fluid flow communication therewith. A storage container for receiving filtered biological liquid is located downstream of the filter and the storage container is in fluid flow communication with the filter and with the collection container. An additive solution is located in the storage container. At least one automatic control member automatically restricts a flow of biological liquid or additive solution when flowing the liquid or solution between the collection container and the storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Whatman Hemasure, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric K. Lee, Franco Castino
  • Patent number: 6428712
    Abstract: A filtration system and method for the filtration of a biological liquid are disclosed. The system and method may include a biological liquid collection assembly, a filtration assembly in communication with the collection assembly and a blood components preservative assembly in communication with the collection assembly. The preservative assembly includes a blood components preservative container and the preservative container may contain a blood components preservative solution and contains a measured quantity of a sterile gas. The preservative assembly is adapted to automatically transfer at least a portion of, respectively, the preservative solution, if present, and the gas to the collection assembly under a force of gravity once fluid flow communication is commenced between the preservative container and the collection assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Hemasure, Inc.
    Inventor: Franco Castino
  • Publication number: 20010000204
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for removing tumor cells from tumor cell-contaminated stem cells products are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method relies on an in-line filtration device that includes a tumor cell reduction filter means, preferably comprised of one or more tumor cell reduction filter pads. Preferably, the tumor cell reduction filter means provides at least a ten-fold reduction in filter cells while allowing for at least a 30% recovery of stem cells in a filtered stem cell product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Publication date: April 12, 2001
    Inventors: Franco Castino, Sumith R. Wickramasinghe
  • Patent number: 6177019
    Abstract: A method for removing tumor cells from tumor cell-contaminated stem cell products is disclosed. One embodiment of the method relies on an in-line filtration device that includes a tumor cell reduction filter means, preferably comprised of one or more tumor cell reduction filter pads. The tumor cell reduction filter means provides at least a ten-fold reduction in tumor cells while allowing for at least a 30% recovery of stem cells in a filtered stem cell product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: HemaSure Inc.
    Inventors: Franco Castino, Sumith R. Wickramasinghe
  • Patent number: 6159375
    Abstract: Filter devices for simultaneously removing leukocytes and viral inactivating agents from whole blood or blood fractions are disclosed. One type of device comprises (1) a housing surrounding (2) activated carbon and (3) a mechanically stable polymeric material which may optionally be modified to attach a ligand for leukocytes. General methods for removing leukocytes and viral inactivating agents from blood and plasma are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Hemasure, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Kin-Lam Lee, Yves Fouron, Franco Castino, Charles Melvyn Zepp
  • Patent number: 6123859
    Abstract: An in-line biological liquid filtration system and method comprises a collection container for receiving biological liquid. A filter is located downstream of the collection container and in fluid flow communication therewith. A storage container for receiving filtered biological liquid is located downstream of the filter and the storage container is in fluid flow communication with the filter and with the collection container. An additive solution is located in the storage container. At least one automatic control member automatically restricts a flow of biological liquid or additive solution when flowing the liquid or solution between the collection container and the storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: HemaSure Inc.
    Inventors: Eric K. Lee, Franco Castino
  • Patent number: 5935436
    Abstract: Filter devices for simultaneously removing leukocytes and viral inactivating agents from whole blood or blood fractions are disclosed. One type of device comprises (1) a housing surrounding (2) activated carbon and (3) a mechanically stable polymeric material which may optionally be modified to attach a ligand for leukocytes. General methods for removing leukocytes and viral inactivating agents from blood and plasma are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Hemasure Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Kin-Lam Lee, Yves Fouron, Franco Castino, Charles Melvyn Zepp
  • Patent number: 5817237
    Abstract: Filter devices for simultaneously removing leukocytes and viral inactivating agents from whole blood or blood fractions are disclosed. One type of device comprises (1) a housing surrounding (2) activated carbon and (3) a mechanically stable polymeric material which may optionally be modified to attach a ligand for leukocytes. General methods for removing leukocytes and viral inactivating agents from blood and plasma are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Hemasure, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Kin-Lam Lee, Yves Fouron, Franco Castino, Charles Melvyn Zepp
  • Patent number: 5639376
    Abstract: Filter devices for simultaneously removing leukocytes and methylene blue from whole blood or blood fractions are disclosed. One type of device comprises (1) a housing surrounding (2) activated carbon and (3) a mechanically stable polymeric material which may optionally be modified to attach a ligand for leukocytes. General methods for removing leukocytes and methylene blue from blood and plasma are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: HemaSure, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Kin-Lam Lee, Yves Fouron, Franco Castino, Charles Melvyn Zepp, Abdul R. M. Azad
  • Patent number: 5456835
    Abstract: A filter and a hollow-fiber or flat-sheet membrane for removing hemoglobin from whole blood or blood fractions are disclosed. The filter comprises a laid textile web which has been modified to attach a ligand for hemoglobin. The membrane comprises a polyethersulfone membrane that has been similarly modified. Methods for removing hemoglobin, cellular components and debris from blood are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Hemasure, Inc.
    Inventors: Franco Castino, Abdul R. M. Azad, Eric K. Lee
  • Patent number: 4420398
    Abstract: This invention affords a filtration method and apparatus for extracting cell produced antiviral substances (CPAS) from a production broth using cross-flow membrane filtration. The broth is perfused into a first filtration cell and caused to cross-flow across an ultrafiltration membrane in the cell, permitting a first filtrate to pass through the membrane consisting essentially of CPAS and some molecular species and retaining in a first ex-filtrate all remaining portions of the broth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignee: American National Red Cross
    Inventor: Franco Castino