Wearable ultrafiltration device

• US 20030097087A1
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius USA Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Gura, Victor
• Granted Patent: US 7,597,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/6.09
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1696 with dialysate regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/34 Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3403 Regulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3496 Plasmapheresis; Leucopheresis; Lymphopheresis A61M1/3472 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/082 Mounting brackets, arm supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 on the body
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/145 Ultrafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 Apparatus therefor

Abstract

An ultrafiltration device adapted to be worn on a portion of the body of a patient includes a blood inlet tube leading from a first blood vessel, a blood pump, an anticoagulant reservoir for infusing anticoagulants into the blood, a blood filter including a substrate through which the blood is circulated and filtered, a fluid bag for storing the excess fluid and a blood outlet tube leading to a second blood vessel.

Claims

1. An ultrafiltration device adapted to be worn on a portion of the body of a patient, comprising:

a blood pump; and

a blood filter for separating excess fluid from the blood.

2. The ultrafiltration device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a belt adapted to be worn about the waist of the patient.

3. The ultrafiltration device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a belt adapted to be worn about the shoulder of the patient.

4. The ultrafiltration device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a belt adapted to be worn about the thigh of the patient.

5. The ultrafiltration device of claim 2, wherein the belt includes a pair of end portions which are secured together by a belt fastening means.

6. The ultrafiltration device of claim 1, further comprising a blood inlet tube, which carries the patient'"'"'s blood from a first blood vessel into the blood filter.

7. The ultrafiltration device of claim 6, further comprising a blood outlet tube, which carries the patient'"'"'s blood from the blood filter into a second blood vessel.

8. The ultrafiltration device of claim 1, wherein the blood pump pumps the patient'"'"'s blood through the filter.

9. The ultrafiltration device of claim 8, wherein the blood pump is powered using batteries.

10. The ultrafiltration device of claim 8, wherein the blood pump is chosen from the group consisting of:

a shuttle pump, a piston pump, a roller pump, a centrifuge pump and a piezoelectric pump.

11. The ultrafiltration device of claim 1, wherein the blood filter includes a semipermeable membrane for separating the excess fluid from the blood.

12. The ultrafiltration device of claim 11, wherein the excess fluid is drained in to a fluid bag, which is to be periodically emptied using a tap.

13. The ultrafiltration device of claim 1, wherein the blood filter has a flexible casing adapted to conform to the body contour of the patient.

14. The ultrafiltration device of claim 6, wherein the blood inlet tube includes a port for the infusion of anticoagulants into the blood.

15. The ultrafiltration device of claim 14, wherein the anticoagulant is chosen from the group consisting of:

heparin, prostacyclin, low molecular weight heparin, hirudin and sodium citrate.

16. An ultrafiltration device adapted to be worn on a portion of the body of a patient, comprising:

a blood inlet tube leading from a first blood vessel;

a blood pump;

an anticoagulant reservoir for infusing anticoagulants into the blood;

a blood filter including a substrate through which the blood is circulated and filtered,

wherein the blood filter separates excess fluid from the blood;

a fluid bag for storing the excess fluid; and

a blood outlet tube leading to a second blood vessel.

17. The ultrafiltration device of claim 16, wherein the device comprises a belt adapted to be worn about the waist of the patient.

18. The ultrafiltration device of claim 16, wherein the device comprises a belt adapted to be worn about the shoulder of the patient.

19. The ultrafiltration device of claim 16, wherein the device comprises a belt adapted to be worn about the thigh of the patient.

20. The ultrafiltration device of claim 17, wherein the belt includes a pair of end portions which are secured together by a belt fastening means.

21. The ultrafiltration device of claim 16, wherein the blood inlet tube carries the patient'"'"'s blood into the blood filter.

22. The ultrafiltration device of claim 21, wherein the blood outlet tube carries the patient'"'"'s blood from the blood filter.

23. The ultrafiltration device of claim 16, wherein the blood pump forces the patient'"'"'s blood through the filter.

24. The ultrafiltration device of claim 23, wherein the blood pump is powered using batteries.

25. The ultrafiltration device of claim 23, wherein the blood pump is chosen from the group consisting of:

a shuttle pump, a piston pump, a roller pump, a centrifuge pump and a piezoelectric pump.

26. The ultrafiltration device of claim 16, wherein the fluid bag is to be periodically emptied using a tap.

27. The ultrafiltration device of claim 16, wherein the blood filter has a flexible casing adapted to conform to the body contour of the patient.

28. The ultrafiltration device of claim 16, wherein the blood inlet tube includes a port for the infusion of anticoagulants into the blood.

29. The ultrafiltration device of claim 28, wherein the anticoagulant is chosen from the group consisting of:

heparin, prostacyclin, low molecular weight heparin, hirudin and sodium citrate.