Abstract: A method of removing a biological contaminant from a mixture containing a biomolecule and the biological contaminant, the method comprising: (a) placing the biomolecule and contaminant mixture in a first solvent stream, the first solvent stream being separated from a second solvent stream by an electrophoretic membrane; (b) selecting a buffer for the first solvent stream having a required pH; (c) applying an electric potential between the two solvent streams causing movement of the biomolecule through the membrane into the second solvent stream while the biological contaminant is substantially retained in the first sample stream, or if entering the membrane, being substantially prevented from entering the second solvent stream; (d) optionally, periodically stopping and reversing the electric potential to cause movement of any biological contaminants having entered the membrane to move back into the first solvent stream, wherein substantially not causing any biomolecules that have entered the second solvent st

Abstract: An electrophoresis system for removing or reducing concentration of a metabolic component from blood or plasma of a subject is provided. A method for removing or reducing concentration or amount of a metabolic component in blood or plasma of a subject is also provided. The system and method include use of a set of ion permeable barriers and the application of an electrical potential across these barriers to selectively remove metabolic components from blood or plasma.

Abstract: A method of removing a biological contaminant from a mixture containing a biomolecule and the biological contaminant, the method comprising: (a) placing the biomolecule and contaminant mixture in a first solvent stream, the first solvent stream being separated from a second solvent stream by an electrophoretic membrane; (b) selecting a buffer for the first solvent stream having a required pH; (c) applying an electric potential between the two solvent streams causing movement of the biomolecule through the membrane into the second solvent stream while the biological contaminant is substantially retained in the first sample stream, or if entering the membrane, being substantially prevented from entering the second solvent stream; (d) optionally, periodically stopping and reversing the electric potential to cause movement of any biological contaminants having entered the membrane to move back into the first solvent stream, wherein substantially not causing any biomolecules that have entered the second solvent st

Abstract: The claims provide for detecting prions in a sample by (a) subjecting a sample to membrane-based electrophoresis to separate and/or concentrate at least some prions present in the sample; and (b) detecting and or identifying the presence of the separated and/or concentrated prions.

Abstract: A method of treating blood or plasma of a subject to remove metabolic contaminants by electrophoresis. Blood or plasma from the subject is placed in a first solvent stream, the first solvent stream being separated form a second solvent stream by an electrophoretic membrane. Applying an electric potential between the two solvent streams causes movement of metabolic contaminants from the blood or plasma through the membrane into the second solvent stream while cellular and biomolecular components of the blood or plasma are substantially retained in the first sample stream, or if entering the membrane, being substantially prevented from entering the second solvent stream.

Abstract: A system for separating biomolecules by electrophoretic separation including a first separation barrier having a defined molecular mass cut-off disposed in the first electric field area, a first restriction barrier disposed between a first cathode zone and a first separation barrier so as to define a first interstitial volume therebetween, a second restriction barrier disposed between the first anode zone and the first separation barrier so as to define a second interstitial volume therebetween, and a pumping means to provide a sample constituent in a selected one of the first interstitial and second interstitial volumes wherein upon application of the first voltage potential, a selected separation product is removed from the sample constituent through the first separation barrier and provided to the other of the first and second interstitial volumes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the separation of molecules having a molecular mass from about 200 to 5000 Da, particularly micromolecules having a molecular mass of less than 5000 Dalton. The apparatus contains an anode, a cathode disposed between the anode and the separation membrane that defines a first interstitial volume therebetween. A first restriction membrane disposed between the anode and the separation membrane defines a second interstitial volume therebetween. Upon application of the voltage potential, a selected separation product is removed from the sample constituent through the separation membrane, and provided to the other of the first and second interstitial volumes.

Abstract: An electrophoresis system for removing or reducing concentration of a metabolic component from blood or plasma of a subject, the system comprising: (a) a first ion-permeable barrier having a defined pore size and pore size distribution disposed in an electric field area; (b) a second ion-permeable barrier having a defined pore size and pore size distribution disposed between a cathode zone and the first barrier so as to define a treatment chamber therebetween; (c) means adapted for cooling blood or plasma from the subject; (d) means adapted to provide dialysate to the cathode zone and an anode zone; and (e) means adapted to provide blood or plasma from the subject to the treatment chamber; wherein, upon application of the electric potential, a metabolic component from the blood or plasma moves through at least one barrier into at least one of the cathode or anode zones.

Abstract: The claims relate to methods and assays for capturing or detecting prions in a sample using prion-binding materials as well as methods of separating prions from a sample. A method selects a prion-binding material in the form of fibrin(ogen), fibrin(ogen)-related material, fibrin(ogen)-derived material, or mixtures thereof, and contacts a sample with the prion-binding material, such that prions contained in the sample are bound to or associated with the prion-binding material. In another aspect, an assay for detecting the presence of prions obtains prion-binding material in the form of fibrin(ogen), a fibrin(ogen)-related material, a fibrin(ogen)-derived material, or mixtures thereof, contacts the prion-binding material with the sample which may contain prions such that prions contained in the sample are bount to or associated with the prion-binding material, and tests for the presence of prions associated with or bound to the prion-binding material.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an apparatus and method for the separation of molecules, particularly micromolecules having a molecular mass of less than 5000 Dalton.

Abstract: A method of removing a biological contaminant from a mixture containing a biomolecule and the biological contaminant, the method comprising: (a) placing the biomolecule and contaminant mixture in a first solvent stream, the first solvent stream being separated from a second solvent stream by an electrophoretic membrane; (b) selecting a buffer for the first solvent stream having a required pH; (c) applying an electric potential between the two solvent streams causing movement of the biomolecule through the membrane into the second solvent stream while the biological contaminant is substantially retained in the first sample stream, or if entering the membrane, being substantially prevented from entering the second solvent stream; (d) optionally, periodically stopping and reversing the electric potential to cause movement of any biological contaminants having entered the membrane to move back into the first solvent stream, wherein substantially not causing any biomolecules that have entered the second solvent st

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrophoresis apparatus comprising: an inner electrode positioned in an inner electrolyte zone; a substantially non-planar outer electrode positioned in an outer electrolyte zone, wherein the electrodes are positioned so as to be adapted to generate a radial electric field in an electric field area therebetween upon application of an electric potential between the inner and outer electrodes; first and second substantially non-planar membranes disposed in the electric field area and forming a first interstitial volume; means adapted to communicate fluids to the inner electrolyte zone, the outer electrolyte zone, and the first interstitial volume; means adapted to provide a sample constituent to the first interstitial volume; and means adapted to apply an electric potential across at least the electric field area wherein upon application of the electric potential at least one component in the sample constituent is caused to move through at least one membrane to an adjac

Abstract: The claims provide for detecting prions in a sample by (a) subjecting a sample to membrane-based electrophoresis to separate and/or concentrate at least some prions present in the sample; and (b) detecting and or identifying the presence of the separated and/or concentrated prions.

Abstract: An electrophoresis apparatus comprising: a first electrode in a first electrode zone; a second electrode in a second electrode zone, the first electrode disposed relative to the second electrode so as to be adapted to generate an electric field in an electric field area therebetween upon application of an electric potential between the first and second electrodes; a first membrane disposed in the electric field area; a second membrane disposed between the first electrode zone and the first membrane so as to define a first interstitial volume therebetween; wherein at least one membrane being a barrier capable of controlling substantial bulk movement of liquid under the influence of an electric field; means adapted to provide fluids to the electrode zone and the interstitial volume, wherein one of the fluids contains a sample constituent, and wherein upon application of the electric potential, liquid is caused to move from the sample constituent through at least one membrane to an adjacent electrode zone and at

Abstract: This invention is directed to an apparatus and method for the separation of molecules, particularly micromolecules having a molecular mass of less than 5000 Dalton.

Abstract: A method of removing a biological contaminant from a mixture containing a biomolecule and the biological contaminant, the method comprising: (a) placing the biomolecule and contaminant mixture in a first solvent stream, the first solvent stream being separated from a second solvent stream by an electrophoretic membrane; (b) selecting a buffer for the first solvent stream having a required pH; (c) applying an electric potential between the two solvent streams causing movement of the biomolecule through the membrane into the second solvent stream while the biological contaminant is substantially retained in the first sample stream, or if entering the membrane, being substantially prevented from entering the second solvent stream; (d) optionally, periodically stopping and reversing the electric potential to cause movement of any biological contaminants having entered the membrane to move back into the first solvent stream, wherein substantially not causing any biomolecules that have entered the second solvent st

Abstract: A method for separating components from plasma, the method comprising (I) separating the plasma into a first and second component, the first component comprising an albumin/&agr;-1-antitrypsin pool and the second component comprising plasma containing components having a molecular mass greater than albumin; (II) treating the second component to form an immunoglobulins concentrate containing immunoglobulins substantially free from components having a molecular mass less than immunoglobulins; (III) treating the immunoglobulins concentrate to remove components having a molecular mass greater than immunoglobulins; and (IV) separating albumin and &agr;-1-antitrypsin from the albumin/&agr;-1-antitrypsin pool.

Abstract: A method of removing a biological contaminant from a mixture containing a biomolecule and the biological contaminant, the method comprising: (a) placing the biomolecule and contaminant mixture in a first solvent stream, the first solvent stream being separated from a second solvent stream by an electrophoretic membrane; (b) selecting a buffer for the first solvent stream having a required pH; (c) applying an electric potential between the two solvent streams causing movement of the biomolecule through the membrane into the second solvent stream while the biological contaminant is substantially retained in the first sample stream, or if entering the membrane, being substantially prevented from entering the second solvent stream; (d) optionally, periodically stopping and reversing the electric potential to cause movement of any biological contaminants having entered the membrane to move back into the first solvent stream, wherein substantially not causing any biomolecules that have entered the second solvent st

Abstract: A system for separating small macromolecules by electrophoresis, the system comprising: