Access disconnection systems and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of detecting access disconnection during an extracorporeal blood treatment, the method comprising the steps of:
- coupling an extracorporeal blood system including a plurality of components to a patient with an extracorporeal blood circuit including a first blood line and a second blood line such that blood flows into, through and out of the patient along the extracorporeal blood circuit during treatment;
injecting an electrical signal into the extracorporeal blood circuit;
passing the electrical signal through a conductive connection between the first blood line and the second blood line thereby defining a loop that bypasses one or more components of the extracorporeal blood system coupled to the extracorporeal blood circuit; and
measuring a change in an electrical value in response to access disconnection.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses, devices, systems and methods for detecting access disconnection during medical therapy are provided. The present invention includes an electric circuit coupled to, for example, a blood circuit used during dialysis therapy. The electric circuit can be adapted to inject an electrical signal into the blood circuit such that changes in an electrical value in response to access disconnection, such as needle dropout or catheter drop-out, can be effectively detected.
-
Citations
80 Claims
-
1. A method of detecting access disconnection during an extracorporeal blood treatment, the method comprising the steps of:
-
coupling an extracorporeal blood system including a plurality of components to a patient with an extracorporeal blood circuit including a first blood line and a second blood line such that blood flows into, through and out of the patient along the extracorporeal blood circuit during treatment;
injecting an electrical signal into the extracorporeal blood circuit;
passing the electrical signal through a conductive connection between the first blood line and the second blood line thereby defining a loop that bypasses one or more components of the extracorporeal blood system coupled to the extracorporeal blood circuit; and
measuring a change in an electrical value in response to access disconnection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An apparatus for detecting dislodgment of an access device inserted within a patient as blood flows through an extracorporeal blood circuit including a first blood line and a second blood line that connects the patient to an extracorporeal blood system including a plurality of components, the apparatus comprising:
-
an electrical signal device for injecting an electrical signal into the extracorporeal blood circuit;
a bypass device that includes a conductive connection between the first blood line and the second blood line thereby defining a loop along the extracorporeal blood circuit allowing the electrical signal to bypass one or more components of the extracorporeal blood system; and
a measuring device coupled to the extracorporeal blood circuit that is capable of measuring a change in an electrical value in response to dislodgment of the access device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method of detecting access disconnection during an extracorporeal blood treatment, the method comprising the steps of:
-
coupling an extracorporeal blood system including a plurality of components to a patient via an extracorporeal blood circuit including a first blood line and a second blood line allowing blood to flow into, through and out of the patient along the extracorporeal blood circuit during treatment;
injecting an electrical signal into the blood circuit through a direct conductive connection between a first contact point and a second contact point attached to the extracorporeal blood circuit and directly contacting the blood thereby defining a loop; and
measuring a change in an electrical value at a third contact point attached to the extracorporeal blood circuit in response to access disconnection. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. An apparatus for detecting dislodgment of an access device from a patient as blood flows through an extracorporeal blood circuit including a first blood line and a second blood line allowing connection of the patient to an extracorporeal blood system including a plurality of components, the apparatus comprising:
-
a direct conductive connection between a first contact point and a second contact point attached to the extracorporeal blood circuit through which an electrical signal can be injected into the blood circuit thereby defining a loop; and
a measuring device coupled to the extracorporeal blood circuit at a third contact point wherein the measuring device can be used to measure a change in an electrical value in response to dislodgment detection. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A method of detecting access disconnection during an extracorporeal blood treatment, the method comprising the steps of:
-
coupling an extracorporeal blood system including a plurality of components to a patient via an extracorporeal blood circuit including a first blood line and a second blood line allowing blood to flow into, through and from the patient along the extracorporeal blood circuit during treatment;
injecting an electrical signal into the blood circuit at a first contact point thereby defining a loop; and
measuring a change in an electrical value using a direct conductive connection made between a second electrical contact point and a third electrical contact point along the loop in response to access disconnection. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
-
40. An apparatus for detecting dislodgment of an access device from a patient as blood flows through an extracorporeal blood circuit which includes a first blood line and a second blood line allowing connection of the patient to an extracorporeal blood system including a plurality of components, the apparatus comprising:
-
an electrical signal device coupled to the extracorporeal blood circuit at a first contact point capable of injecting an electrical signal into the blood circuit thereby defining a loop; and
a direct conductive connection between a second contact point and a third contact point within the loop along which a change in an electrical value can be measured in response to dislodgment. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
-
- 47. A dialysis machine comprising a chassis having one or more connectors for connecting a patient to the dialysis machine via a blood circuit allowing blood to flow between the patient and the dialysis machine during dialysis therapy wherein a plurality of electrical contacts are connected to the blood circuit allowing detection of access disconnection using a direct conductive connection.
-
57. A dialysis treatment center comprising:
-
a plurality of patient stations each at which dialysis therapy can be administered; and
one or more dialysis machines located at a respective patient station, at least one of the dialysis machines including a chassis having one or more connectors for connecting a patient to the dialysis machine via a blood circuit allowing blood to flow between the patient and the dialysis machine during dialysis therapy wherein a plurality of electrical contacts are connected to the blood circuit allowing detection of access disconnection using a direct conductive connection. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
-
-
69. An inductive coupling device comprising:
-
a first member and a second member movably attached to the first member at an end allowing for displacement of the first member and the second member into an open arrangement and a closed arrangement; and
an induction coil placed around at least a portion of at least one of the first and second members. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71)
-
-
72. A method for injecting an electrical signal in a fluid passing through a fluid conduit, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing an inductive coupler including a first member and a second member movably attached to the first member at an end allowing for displacement of the first member and the second member into an open arrangement and a closed arrangement wherein an induction coil is attached to the inductive coupler;
placing the inductive coupler around the fluid conduit in the open arrangement;
displacing the first member and the second member to the closed arrangement thereby securing the inductive coupler to the fluid conduit; and
using the inductive coupler to inject an electrical signal in the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76)
-
-
77. A method for detecting a change in an electrical value as fluid passes through a fluid conduit of a fluid circuit, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a coupling device including a first member and a second member movably attached to the first member at a first end allowing for displacement of the first member and the second member into an open arrangement and a closed arrangement wherein an induction coil is attached to the coupling device;
placing the coupling device with the induction coil around the fluid conduit in the open arrangement;
displacing the first member and the second member to the closed arrangement thereby securing the induction coil to the fluid conduit; and
using the induction coil to measure the change in electrical value as the fluid passes through the fluid conduit with an electrical signal passing therein. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80)
-
Specification