Posted on 04/09/2006 5:53:21 PM PDT by AntiGuv
It is a prospect that terrifies bioweapons experts: Terrorists release smallpox into an American city, spreading sickness and panic. Because the disease is untreatable and vaccines no longer exist, first responders and other emergency personnel would be particularly vulnerable.
A new invention, however, may help to avert the worst of this worst-case scenario. Aethlon Medical, a small San Diego biotech company, is developing a portable device that removes viruses from blood. Known as the Hemopurifier, it filters not only smallpox but numerous other viruses, including Marburg and Ebola.
The Hemopurifier resembles a shrunken dialysis cartridge, the rolling-pin-size device that purifies the blood of patients whose kidneys have failed. Both use a filter to remove toxins from blood. But unlike traditional dialysis, the Hemo-purifier also includes plant-derived antibodies, such as cyanovirin, that bind to a variety of viruses and eliminates them from the bloodstream. The plant solution can be modified to weed out even genetically engineered germs.
Aethlon has built two versions of its device. One, a foot long and an inch wide, is designed for use in hospitals; the other, the size of a large pen, is meant for use in the field. Both types attach to a pump. But the portable version could work without one, using the patient’s heart as the engine to force blood through the filter [see illustration above].
Aethlon recently shipped several Hemopurifiers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta for cell culture tests on human blood infected with Ebola. Meanwhile the company has already completed its own tests in animals. Though promising, the Hemopurifier still has a few big hurdles to clear, the biggest of which is successful testing in humans. Aethlon is wrapping up safety trials in India and hopes to begin clinical tests in the U.S. by the end of this year.
How To Debug Blood
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Gee, as Will Smith said in INDEPENDENCE DAY -- I gotta get me one of those.
Can we buy stock?
yes
Wow. I was always thinking there had to be a way to filter the blood but I was looking at it the wrong way. The way of blocking the redblood and haveing the viruses go through the screen is awesome.
This is going to he hugh!
Interesting..................it was in clinical trials in 2001.....time to get this baby to market.
That is definitely an interesting article. If I might venture a guess based on the dates and the respective information in the articles, this seems to have been first developed solely (or at least primarily) with the intent of treating HIV. What might've happened is that when it was discovered that HIV mostly hides out in the lymphs they realized this wouldn't work for that. However, they switched gears and have been developing it for other blood-borne diseases, especially bioweapon threats.
That's just conjecture on my part, but that would strike me as explaining the five year timespan and the different focus between the 2001 article and this 2006 article.
Two questions:
If one is re-infected (as a primary caregiver in a hospital, for example) how often must one's blood get re-filtered? How infectious is someone after their blood is filtered?
Oh, what is the cost per filter, and how are the filters disposed of?
Nonetheless, looks like good news.
Cheers!
Yes, a $2 investment in March 04 would be worth $0.75 today.
This is interesting, but it won't "cure" you as viruses reproduce within cells. Even if you filter 100% of the viruses from circulating blood, that still leaves a large population of virons within your cells which will reproduce.
Well blow my dress up!!!!!!!!! How cool!!!
Yes, it sure seems like they switched gears. Still, a very promising development. Thanks for the initial post.
ping
Great! This is revolutionary!
My thoughts too.
They could miniaturize it, implant it and it could be left in indefinitely. That would work, wouldn't it?
Kind of like a stent, huh? Interesting idea! I'm sure they're just focusing on getting to first base for now, but if this succeeds as hoped for then I don't see why that wouldn't be doable, but I am not a doctor.
Nice idea, but I doubt it will work. As noted, viruses spread via the blood, but they get into the cells, too.
Also, in a mass epidemic, there's no way something obviously as expensive as this could treat more than a few people.
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