Blood circuit with leak-safe features

• US 20040186415A1
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nxstage Medical Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Nxstage Medical Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Burbank, Jeffrey H., Brugger, James
• Application Number:
  US10/393,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20040186415A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/6.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3626 Gas bubble detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3653 Interfaces between patient blood circulation and extra-corporal blood circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3656 Monitoring patency or flow at connection sites; Detecting disconnections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3659 Cannulae pertaining to extracorporeal circulation

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 In this configuration, the only way the venous line can be disconnected is for the access needle to be withdrawn from the patient, which will necessarily result in disconnection of the arterial line, which in turn will be detected by air infiltration into the arterial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.

Claims

1. A fluid circuit for use in extracorporeal blood treatment machines having air sensors for detecting air in arterial lines of fluid circuits connected thereto, comprising:

a dual channel access device having venous and arterial channels;

said access device including one of a needle and a catheter;

an arterial line connected to said access device arterial channel and a venous line connected to said venous channel, said venous line and said venous channel being configured such that said venous channel cannot become open to the air without exposing the arterial channel by either extraction of the access device or disconnection thereof,

whereby a failure of integrity of said access will permit air to be drawn by said arterial line during operation to be detected by an air sensor a blood treatment machine.

2. A fluid circuit as in claim 1, wherein said venous line is permanently connected to said access device arterial channel.

3. A fluid circuit as in claim 1, with a double connector mating said venous channel with said venous line and said arterial channel with said arterial line, said connector being configured such that a loss of integrity of a connection between said arterial channel and said arterial line is ensured if there is a loss of integrity, by less than full connection of said connector, of a connection of said venous line with said venous channel.

4. A fluid circuit as in claim 3, wherein said access device includes a dual lumen catheter.

5. A fluid circuit as in claim 3, wherein said access device includes a dual lumen needle.

6. A fluid circuit as in claim 1, wherein said access device includes a dual lumen catheter.

7. A fluid circuit as in claim 6, wherein said venous line is permanently connected to said access device arterial channel.

8. A fluid circuit as in claim 1, wherein said access device includes a dual lumen needle.

9. A fluid circuit as in claim 8, wherein said venous line is permanently connected to said access device arterial channel.

10. A fluid circuit for use in extracorporeal blood treatment machines having air sensors for detecting air in arterial lines of fluid circuits connected thereto, comprising:

a dual channel access device having venous and arterial channels;

said access device including one of a needle and a catheter;

an arterial line connected to said access device arterial channel and a venous line connected to said venous channel, said venous line and said venous channel being configured to define a continuous permanent path free of intervening connectors up to a point in a flow path of said fluid circuit that is configured to be placed in operating association with an air sensor and under negative pressure.

11. A fluid circuit for use in extracorporeal blood treatment machines having air sensors for detecting air in arterial lines of fluid circuits connected thereto, comprising:

a dual channel access device having venous and arterial channels;

said access device including one of a needle and a catheter;

an arterial line connected to said access device arterial channel and a venous line connected to said venous channel, said venous line and said venous channel being configured such that said venous channel cannot become open to the air without exposing the arterial channel by either extraction of the access device or disconnection thereof,

a double connector mating said venous channel with said venous line and said arterial channel with said arterial line, said connector being configured such that a loss of integrity of a connection between said arterial channel and said arterial line is ensured if there is a loss of integrity, by less than full connection of said connector, of a connection of said venous line with said venous channel.