What families are saying
"It's a selfless gift…and you can see the result of how it helps…it's amazing."
Angela Harris
Mother of Alexis,
TPE recipient
Therapeutic Apheresis Procedures
Therapeutic apheresis is a technique used to remove a blood component from a patient for the purpose of reducing a disease mediator. Therapeutic apheresis applications provide the primary therapy for certain diseases while many other applications are considered to be secondary or adjunctive therapy; however, both categories of apheresis treatments are considered to be effective and beneficial in relieving or possibly eliminating patient symptoms.
The Spectra Optia® Apheresis System is now available for sale in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australia.
The COBE® Spectra Apheresis System is cleared for sale in the United States and is CE marked and available for sale in Europe. It is available for for distribution in many countries for therapeutic plasma exchange (plasmapheresis), white blood cell/platelet depletions, lymphoplasma exchange and red blood cell exchange/depletion procedures.
Red blood cell exchange
Red Blood Cell Exchange (RBCX) separates and removes abnormal red blood cells from a patient's blood, and replaces the cells with healthy donor red blood cells (RBC).
During RBCX, a blood cell separator such as the COBE Spectra Apheresis System draws blood from the patient for separation. The blood cycles through a centrifuge that separates the RBCs from the other blood components and plasma. Anticoagulant solution added to the blood keeps it from clotting during the procedure. The cell separator pumps the separated RBCs into a waste bag, simultaneously delivering donor red blood cells to the patient. All tubing sets and needles used are sterile, so transfusion of the donated red blood cells poses a minimal risk of disease transmission.
Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), or plasmapheresis
Certain disease mediators are carried in the blood plasma as it circulates throughout the body. These can be autoantibodies that attack healthy cells or tissue. Other disease mediators cause an overproduction of protein, slowing down the blood flow. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) removes the plasma that carries disease mediators and replaces it with either fresh frozen donated plasma or a replacement fluid.
During a TPE/plasmapheresis procedure, a blood cell separator such as the Spectra Optia Apheresis System or the COBE Spectra Apheresis System draws blood from a patient. Anticoagulant solution mixed with the blood keeps it from clotting during the procedure. The blood and anticoagulant move into the centrifuge chamber to separate the plasma from cellular blood components. The system then pumps the separated plasma into a waste collection bag. The remaining cellular components are mixed with a physician-prescribed replacement fluid and returned back to the patient. All tubing sets and needles used are sterile, so there is no risk of disease transmission. In some circumstances, the patient's removed plasma is passed through a filter and then returned back to the patient.
Therapeutic cell reduction
Some conditions and diseases elevate the number of white cells, platelets, or red blood cells in the blood. When this occurs, patients may be candidates for cell depletions to remove abnormal, unusually non-functioning cells. Depletions have been shown in studies to decrease the risk of stroke and/or hemorrhage.
White blood cell, platelet and red cell depletions
Cellular depletions are used to remove an excess of a particular cellular component — white blood cells, platelets or red blood cells. Overproduction of any one of these cells can cause a variety of problems for patients.
During cellular depletions, a blood cell separator such as the COBE Spectra Apheresis System draws blood from the patient for separation. Anticoagulant solution is added to the blood to keep it from clotting during the procedure. The blood cycles through a centrifuge that separates the particular cells being removed from the other blood components and plasma. Then, the system pumps the separated cells into a waste bag, simultaneously delivering replacement fluid and the balance of the blood components back to the patient. All tubing sets and needles used are sterile, so there is no risk of disease transmission.
Find out more about CaridianBCT's therapeutic apheresis and cell therapy systems, including the Spectra Optia Apheresis System and the COBE Spectra Apheresis System.
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