Emergence of Covid-19 Leads to Emergency Use Authorization for Apheresis Systems in US
Apheresis refers to a medical treatment that involves removal of whole blood from the patient, separation of blood into various components and then removing an element from the patient's blood. Apheresis can be done in one of two ways: Intravenous infusion, or Extracorporeal Shock Therapy. Intravenous infusion is done by giving nutrients intravenously, while Extracorporeal Shock Therapy is done by placing needles on the affected area and delivering electric shocks to it. This technique is often used as a treatment for shock or deep vein thrombosis. It can also be used in treatment of Covid-19, which has prompted regulatory bodies to issue emergency use authorization for apheresis systems. For instance, in April 2020, The U.S. FDA issued emergency use authorization to Terumo BCT Inc. and Marker Therapeutics AG for their Spectra Optia Apheresis System and Depuro D2000 Adsorption Cartridge devices. Plasmapheresis, photopheresis, leukapheresis, plateletpheresis...