Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out an apheresis treatment, wherein the apparatus has an extracorporeal circuit in which a regenerable single adsorber is located for separating substances from blood or for separating substances from plasma acquired by means of a plasma separator, wherein a line is provided for conducting the blood or the plasma which extends to the adsorber and via which blood or plasma is applied to the adsorber, wherein a reservoir is provided for receiving blood or plasma and is arranged upstream of the adsorber in the line or is in communication with the line upstream of the adsorber; and in that a controller or switching means is provided which is configured such that the reservoir is filled with blood or plasma and the application of blood or plasma to the adsorber is suppressed when the regeneration of the adsorber is carried out.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out an apheresis treatment, wherein the apparatus has an extracorporeal circuit in which a regenerable single adsorber is located for separating substances from blood or for separating substances from plasma acquired by means of a plasma separator, wherein a line is provided for conducting the blood or the plasma which extends to the adsorber and via which blood or plasma is applied to the adsorber, wherein a reservoir is provided for receiving blood or plasma and is arranged upstream of the adsorber in the line or is in communication with the line upstream of the adsorber; and in that a controller or switching means is provided which is configured such that the reservoir is filled with blood or plasma and the application of blood or plasma to the adsorber is suppressed when the regeneration of the adsorber is carried out.

Abstract: A medical separation device, its production, and its use are provided, wherein the device has a hollow cylindrical housing sealed at its top and bottom sides, wherein the device has an outer wall, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet, and wherein the device has a filling connection for a separation medium arranged tangentially to, and inside of, the cylindrical housing outer wall for filling the device with a separation medium.

Abstract: A multifunctional device for chromatographic separation, in particular for affinity chromatographic separation of a substance mixture, provides for a uniform fluid distribution on a separation medium and a uniform flow through a stationary phase. The fluid to be separated is passed through a radial inlet line in an upper partial region of the device, to the center of the upper partial region. The radial inlet line is enlarged in the form of a cupola at the center of the upper partial region.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for sterilizing, in particular for sterilizing an adsorber, which has an adsorber housing that is to be filled with an adsorbent, are such that, instead of the adsorbent-filled adsorber housing being sterilized, the adsorbent is sterilized in a separate container, which is dimensioned such that the adsorbent spreads out in a thin layer in the container. Together with the adsorber housing, the container for sterilizing the adsorbent forms a closed system, such that the adsorbent can be transferred into the adsorber housing without the need for an aseptic environment. The container for receiving the adsorbent is preferably a bag, in which the adsorbent spreads out in a thin layer when the bag is lying flat on a plane surface. Since the adsorbent in the bag spreads out in a thin layer, the sterilization requires only a relatively small dose of radiation, which cannot damage the adsorbent. The bag is irradiated with high-energy radiation, in particular ionizing radiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ex vivo method for increasing the effectiveness of antibodies and Fc? receptor-binding active ingredients, comprising the steps of: a) preparing a blood sample of a patient; b) subjecting the blood sample to an immunoapheresis; c) administering a therapeutically effective antibody or an Fc? receptor-binding active ingredient to the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of disinfection and preservation of surfaces of medical devices. The object of the invention is to make available a disinfectant that provides effective decontamination of medical devices while at the same time being toxicologically safe. This object is achieved through the use of solution containing biguanide. Additional advantages of using such solutions include the fact that the active ingredient used for preservation can be completely rinsed out prior to use and does not have a negative effect on the functionality of protein-containing medical devices. The thoroughness of the rinsing operation can be verified by means of a spectroscopically active additive.

Abstract: The invention relates to medical separation devices, methods of producing same and their use, such that the housing of the separation devices has a filling connection at the side for filling it with a separation medium which is mounted tangentially on the housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multifunctional device and its use for chromatographic separation, in particular for affinity chromatographic separation of a substance mixture, which allows a uniform fluid distribution on the separation medium and a uniform flow through the stationary phase, in that the fluid to be separated is passed through a radial inlet line in the upper partial region of the device to its center, such that the radial inlet line is enlarged in the form of a cupola at the center.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for sterilizing, in particular for sterilizing an adsorber, which has an adsorber housing that is to be filled with an adsorbent, are such that, instead of the adsorbent-filled adsorber housing being sterilized, the adsorbent is sterilized in a separate container, which is dimensioned such that the adsorbent spreads out in a thin layer in the container. Together with the adsorber housing, the container for sterilizing the adsorbent forms a closed system, such that the adsorbent can be transferred into the adsorber housing without the need for an aseptic environment. The container for receiving the adsorbent is preferably a bag, in which the adsorbent spreads out in a thin layer when the bag is lying flat on a plane surface. Since the adsorbent in the bag spreads out in a thin layer, the sterilization requires only a relatively small dose of radiation, which cannot damage the adsorbent. The bag is irradiated with high-energy radiation, in particular ionizing radiation.

Abstract: A therapeutic or prophylactic agent for cancer is disclosed which damages the membrane and kills cancer cells, in particular of the blood-forming system, having membrane protein aggregates which contain several core histones or largely core-like histones and/or their parts. The therapeutic or prophylactic agent contains at least one pure histone or its active sequence section selected from the group composed of histone H1, H1 subtypes, H2A, H2B, H2A:H2B dimer, H3 and H4, covalent modified histones of the above-mentioned type and/or their active sections and functionally and structurally similar proteins (protamines, histone-like proteins of prokaryotic and archae bacteria).

Abstract: An adsorbent for whole blood in the form of essentially spherical non-aggregated particles. The adsorbent comprises a porous carrier material having an average pore size of ?1.5 ?m, whereby a maximum of 50% of the pore volume may be in pores having a pore size of >1.5 ?m, whereby the outer surfaces of the porous carrier material have at least one surface modification M1 so that the outer surface essentially does not interact with blood cells, and the inner surfaces of the porous carrier material, e.g., the surfaces of the pores of the porous carrier material, have at least one surface modification M2 which interacts with substances present in blood.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ex vivo method for increasing the effectiveness of antibodies and Fc? receptor-binding active ingredients, comprising the steps of: a) preparing a blood sample of a patient; b) subjecting the blood sample to an immunoapheresis; c) administering a therapeutically effective antibody or an Fc? receptor-binding active ingredient to the patient.

Abstract: A therapeutic or prophylactic agent for cancer is disclosed which damages the membrane and kills cancer cells, in particular of the blood-forming system, having membrane protein aggregates which contain several core histones or largely core-like histones and/or their parts. The therapeutic or prophylactic agent contains at least one pure histone or its active sequence section selected from the group composed of histone H1, H1 subtypes, H2A, H2B, H2A:H2B dimer, H3 and H4, covalent modified histones of the above-mentioned type and/or their active sections and functionally and structurally similar proteins (protamines, histone-like proteins of prokaryotic and archae bacteria).

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of disinfection and preservation of surfaces of medical devices. The object of the invention is to make available a disinfectant that provides effective decontamination of medical devices while at the same time being toxicologically safe. This object is achieved through the use of solution containing biguanide. Additional advantages of using such solutions include the fact that the active ingredient used for preservation can be completely rinsed out prior to use and does not have a negative effect on the functionality of protein-containing medical devices. The thoroughness of the rinsing operation can be verified by means of a spectroscopically active additive.

Abstract: An adsorbent for whole blood in the form of essentially spherical non-aggregated particles. The adsorbent comprises a porous carrier material having an average pore size of ≦1.5 &mgr;m, whereby a maximum of 50% of the pore volume may be in pores having a pore size of >1.5 &mgr;m, whereby the outer surfaces of the porous carrier material have at least one surface modification M1 so that the outer surface essentially does not interact with blood cells, and the inner surfaces of the porous carrier material, e.g., the surfaces of the pores of the porous carrier material, have at least one surface modification M2 which interacts with substances present in blood.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an adsorbent for reducing the concentration of fibrinogen and/or fibrin in blood or blood plasma in which a carrier material, which is preferably a copolymer derived from (meth)acrylates and or (meth)acrylic acid amides, is activated by amination, and subsequently undergoes thermal treatment at a temperature of over 100° C. An adsorber for the purpose of reducing the concentration of fibrinogen and/or fibrin in blood or blood plasma may be produced from the adsorbent.

Abstract: An adsorbent for reducing the concentration of fibrinogen and/or fibrin in blood or blood plasma comprises a matrix and synthetic lateral chains that are covalently bonded to the matrix. The lateral synthetic chains are comprised of at least two amino groups in which the N2 atoms are at least 2.6 Å apart within at least one lateral synthetic chain. The matrix exhibits porous, unaggregated, spherical particles in a range of particle sizes from 50 to 250 &mgr;m, which possess an exclusionary threshold of at least 107 Daltons, and they exhibit no peptides or aromatic groups of any kind. The at least two amino groups are preferably separated from one another by 4 to 6 carbon atoms. An adsorber for the purpose of reducing the concentration of fibrinogen and/or fibrin in blood or blood plasma may be produced from the adsorbent.

Abstract: A therapeutic or prophylactic agent for cancer is disclosed which damages the membrane and kills cancer cells, in particular of the blood-forming system, having membrane protein aggregates which contain several core histones or largely core-like histones and/or their parts. The therapeutic or prophylactic agent contains at least one pure histone or its active sequence section selected from the group composed of histone H1, H1 subtypes, H2A, H2B, H2A:H2B dimer, H3 and H4, covalent modified histones of the above-mentioned type and/or their active sections and functionally and structurally similar proteins (protamines, histone-like proteins of prokaryotic and archae bacteria).

Abstract: An adsorbent for reducing the concentration of fibrinogen and/or fibrin in blood or blood plasma comprises a matrix and synthetic lateral chains that are covalently bonded to the matrix. The matrix can, in principle, consist of any arbitrary carriers; however, it exhibits, preferably, porous, unaggregated, spherical particles in a range of particle sizes from 50 to 250 &mgr;m, which possess an exclusionary threshold of at least 107 Daltons. The lateral chains possess at least two amino groups whose nitrogen atoms in the chain are at least 2.6 Angstroms removed from one another, and they exhibit no peptides or aromatic groups of any kind. The at least two amino groups are preferably separated from one another by 4 to 6 carbon atoms. An adsorber for the purpose of reducing the concentration of fibrinogen and/or fibrin in blood or blood plasma may be produced from the adsorbent.