Figure 1.

Schematic diagram of proposed setup for prospective auxiliary treatment of sepses.

Notes: It uses BPVAC for removing BATs from the blood of septic patients. BPVAC would work aseptically with the aid of a blood pump in a closed circuit. Main features of the treatment would include (A) hand of septic patient, (B) blood removed from artery, (C) arterial pressure monitor, (D) inflow sampling to detect BATs titer before processing, (E) heparin pump (to prevent clotting), (F) peristaltic blood pump, (G) pressure monitor indicating outflow pressure from the blood pump, and (H) BPVAC, the central component of the treatment, designed to trap and immobilize BATs from infected blood. BATs would adhere to BATs-antibodies, and hence, would be trapped inside the column. (I) pressure monitor indicates outflow pressure from BPVAC, (J) air detector and air trap, (K) outflow sampling to monitor BATs titer by appropriate serological tests, and (L) detoxified blood returns to the vein. All tubing and BPVAC would be applied aseptically; however, they are single-use and would be properly disposed of after treatment.

Abbreviations: BPVAC, bacterial polyvalent antibody-column; BATs, bacterial antigens and their toxins.