Abstract:
Blood treatment system (490) and method for high rate hemofiltration ensures against pyrogenic patient reaction by providing various mechanisms for filtering replacement fluid (360) to remove endotoxins and other safety features including detecting incorrect fluid administration.
Abstract:
One of the most significant safety concerns in the automation of extracorporeal blood treatments such as dialysis is the risk of blood leakage. Such systems draw blood at such a high rate that a loss of integrity in the blood circuit can be catastrophic. The most reliable leak detection method known is the detection of infiltrated air in the blood line, but this only works in blood lines under negative pressure. According to the invention, a leak detector for return lines is provided by periodically generating a negative pressure, which may be brief or at a 50 % duty cycle, in the blood return line to draw air into it and thereby reveal the leaks using an air sensor (345). Although the return line is ordinarily under positive pressure, during the negative pressure cycle, the blood return line draws air through any leaks or disconnects. If air is detected, the system is shut down and an alarm (330) is generated.
Abstract:
Hemofiltration systems and methods circulate blood from an individual through a hemofilter (34) to remove waste and to return blood and replacement fluid to the individual after removal of waste. The systems and methods maintain sterile extracorporeal processing conditions during and between therapy sessions. For example, the systems and methods include a waste discharge path in the extracorporeal circuit to convey waste fluid to a waste receiving unit. The waste discharge path (66) includes an air break (170). The air break prevents back flow of waste contaminants into the extracorporeal circuit from the waste receiving unit. As another example, the systems and methods include a replacement fluid path (68) in the extracorporeal circuit to convey replacement fluid from a source to the extracorporeal circuit. The replacement fluid path includes a sterilizing filter (178) to avoid contamination of the extracorporeal circuit.
Abstract:
Hemofiltration systems and methods circulate blood from an individual through a hemofilter (34) to remove waste and to return blood and replacement fluid to the individual after removal of waste. The systems and methods maintain sterile extracorporeal processing conditions during and between therapy sessions. For example, the systems and methods include a waste discharge path in the extracorporeal circuit to convey waste fluid to a waste receiving unit. The waste discharge path (66) includes an air break (170). The air break prevents back flow of waste contaminants into the extracorporeal circuit from the waste receiving unit. As another example, the systems and methods include a replacement fluid path (68) in the extracorporeal circuit to convey replacement fluid from a source to the extracorporeal circuit. The replacement fluid path includes a sterilizing filter (178) to avoid contamination of the extracorporeal circuit.
Abstract:
System and methods balance fluid in a fluid processing procedure during which an outgoing fluid is removed from an individual and an ingoing fluid is supplied to the individual. The systems and methods supply a volume of the outgoing fluid and a volume of the ingoing fluid into a volumetric chamber. The systems and methods discharge a volume of the outgoing fluid and a volume of the ingoing fluid from the volumetric chamber. The systems and methods synchronizes the supply and discharge of fluid to affect a concurrent discharge of the outgoing and ingoing fluids from the volumetric chamber in volumetric balance with a concurrent supply of outgoing and ingoing fluids into the volumetric chamber. The volumetric chamber can include at least one chamber including an interior wall dividing the chamber into first and second compartments. The first and second compartments retain a volume of outgoing and ingoing fluids respectively.
Abstract:
A blood processing system includes a flow reversing device with at least an air sensor in the venous line located near the patient. During treatment, blood flow is reversed to cause air to infiltrate the blood lines if any disconnections or breaks in the blood line are present. One means for placing the sensor close to the patient is to provide the flow switching device and sensors in a small lightweight module that can be located close the treatment machine. Another is to provide a module with just the sensors near the access.
Abstract:
A leak safe access needle and blood circuit are combined in a fluid circuit with the access needle configured as a double lumen access needle whose venous line is permanently attached to the fluid circuit. The arterial line has an air detection device. In this configuration, the only way the venous line can be disconnected is for the access needle to be withdrawn from the patient, which will necessarily result in disconnection of the arterial line, which in turn will be detected by air infiltration into the arterial line. This combination ensures that venous disconnects are revealed by the air detection. Other embodiments allow non-permanent connection of the venous line.
Abstract:
A pressure measurement device usable for monitoring pressure of fluids such as blood, waste, and replacement fluid in a blood treatment system provides a reliable signal and other benefits by virtue of a number of features of the various embodiments disclosed. The pressure of fluid carried by a vessel or tube (150) is measured by measuring a change in shape of the vessel or tube via a sensor element (102) contacting it.
Abstract:
A method and device for blood treatment involving infusion of replacement fluid are provided. In an embodiment, fluid is passed either by pump or passively by gravity feed, through a microporous sterilization filter (11) from a fluid source to a replacement fluid container (1). The latter forms a batch that may be used during treatment. The advantage of forming the batch before treatment is that the rate of filtering need not match the rate of consumption during treatment. As a result, the sterilization filter (11) can have a small capacity. In another embodiment, a filter (11) is placed immediately prior to the point at which replacement fluid is injected into the patient's bloodstream. The latter may be used in combination with the former embodiment as a last-chance guarantee of sterility and/or that the fluid is free of air bubbles. It may also be used as the primary means of sterile-filtration.