Medical fluid therapy flow balancing and synchronization system

• US 20050085760A1
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Ware, Lee C., Boehnlein, Arnold F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,029,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/4.10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3434 with pre-dilution and post-dilution
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3437 downstream of the filter, e.g. post-dilution with filtrate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3441 Substitution rate control as a function of the ultrafiltration rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3451 the difference in weight between both ultra-filtrate and substitution reservoir being used as control signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Systems, apparatus and methods that allow external infusion, IV or administration pumps to be synchronized with the internal pumps for a medical fluid therapy machine are provided. The system reduces the time and effort needed to calculate, set-up, enter and maintain flowrates of various fluids, maintained internally or externally with respect to the medical fluid therapy machine. The system also automatically follows therapy requirements, for example, a requirement that one pump/fluid be running/flowing for another pump/fluid to be enabled to run/flow. The system further automatically adjusts for variations in flowrate of one fluid with respect to another. In short, the system provides a more “hands-off”, safe and effective method and apparatus for medical fluid therapy fluid delivery.

Claims

1. A medical fluid flow system comprising:

a medical fluid therapy machine, the machine including a first pump connected fluidly to a patient;

a controller that controls the flow of a first fluid to and from the first pump and the patient;

a second pump residing externally from the machine, the second pump configured and arranged to pump a second fluid in response to a signal sent by the controller; and

an operator interface in communication with the controller, the interface operable to receive information inputted from an operator and communicate that information to the controller, wherein the controller controls the first and second pumps to pump the first and second fluids using the information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is integral to the machine.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operator interface is integral to the machine.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second pump is configured with a communications device that communicates with the controller.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the communications device is housed integrally with the second pump.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal is of a type selected from the group consisting of:

a fiber-optic signal, an electrical signal, an analog signal, a digital signal, a radio frequency signal, a microwave signal, an ultrasonic signal, a photo-electric signal, a local area network signal, a wide area network signal, an Internet signal and any combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first fluid is of a type selected from the group consisting of:

blood, a substitution fluid, a peritoneal dialysis fluid, a dialysis solution, a hemodialysis fluid, an anticoagulant and any combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second fluid is of a type selected from the group consisting of:

an electrolyte solution, an intravenous fluid, an anticoagulant, a parenteral nutrition, an enteral nutrition, a fluid via feeding by mouth, a fluid via feeding by tube and any combination thereof.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine includes a third pump that pumps a third fluid and is controlled by the controller.

10. The system of claim 1, which includes a third pump residing externally from the machine, the third pump configured and arranged to pump a third fluid according to a signal sent by the controller.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a control portion that controls the first and second pumps and an error checking portion that monitors for errors occurring between the control portion and the pumps.

12. The system of claim 1, which includes a blood cleansing device coupled operably to the first pump.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the blood cleansing device is selected from the group consisting of:

a filter, a dialyzer, a hemofilter, a hemodialyzer, a hemoperfusion cartridge, a hollow fiber plasma separator and any combination thereof.

14. The system of claim 1, which includes at least one flow sensing device operable to provide feedback concerning flow of at least one of the first and second fluids to the controller.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the external second pump includes an input device that enables the operator to input information to the controller.

16. An operator interface for a medical machine comprising:

a display device coupled operably to the machine, the display device including an input that enables a person to input a desired net fluid gain/loss; and

a processor in communication with the display device, the processor operable to receive the desired net fluid gain/loss input, monitor flow of at least a first fluid entering/exiting the patient from/to a first pump located externally from the machine, calculate an actual input/removal flowrate of a second fluid based on the input and the monitored flow and command a second pump to pump the second fluid at the actual flowrate.

17. The operator interface of claim 16, wherein the input is an area of the display device cooperating with a touch screen, the touch screen in communication with the processor.

18. The operator interface of claim 16, wherein the input includes an input device that enables the desired net fluid gain/loss amount to be raised/lowered to a desired level.

19. The operator interface of claim 16, wherein the input includes a toggling device that enables the desired net fluid gain/loss amount to be keyed into the display device.

20. The operator interface of claim 16, wherein the display device includes a display area that displays at least one of:

(i) the amount of the net fluid gain/loss input;

(ii) the monitored flow of at least the first fluid entering/exiting the patient; and

(iii) the actual input/removal flowrate of the second fluid.

21. The operator interface of claim 16, wherein the processor is operable to:

(i) update the monitored flow of the first fluid entering/exiting the patient;

(ii) recalculate the actual input/removal flowrate of the second fluid; and

(iii) change the command to the second pump to pump the second fluid at the recalculated actual flowrate.

22. The operator interface of claim 16, which is attached to the machine.

23. The operator interface of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured and arranged to receive a communication link to communicate with the remotely located first pump.

24. A medical fluid therapy method comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a communication link between a machine for performing a medical fluid therapy and at least one remote pump controller;

(b) using the link to synchronize operation of at least one pump housed integrally with the machine with at least one pump located remotely from the machine;

(c) enabling an operator to enter a net fluid transfer amount; and

(d) controlling the pumps to substantially achieve the entered amount.

25. The medical fluid therapy method of claim 24, wherein establishing the communication link includes configuring the machine and remoter pump controller for wired/wireless communication.

26. The medical fluid therapy method of claim 24, wherein establishing the communication link includes establishing separate individual links between the machine and a plurality of the remote pump controllers.

27. The medical fluid therapy method of claim 24, wherein synchronization of the operation of the integral and remote pumps includes the step of running one of the pumps depending upon whether the other pump is/is not running.

28. The medical fluid therapy method of claim 24, wherein synchronization of the operation of the integral and remote pumps includes the step of sensing a performance of one of the pumps and adapting control of the other pump based on the sensed performance.

29. The medical fluid therapy method of claim 28, which includes sensing the performance of the one pump intermittently or substantially continuously to adapt the control of the other pump.

30. The medical fluid therapy method of claim 24, wherein controlling the pumps includes the step of accounting for at least one fluid that is inputted into a patient, at least one fluid that is removed from the patient and at least one fluid that is recirculated from and to the patient.

31. The medical fluid therapy method of claim 24, which includes enabling the operator to enter at least one different net fluid transfer amount during the therapy and modifying the controlling of the pumps accordingly.

32. The medical fluid therapy method of claim 24, wherein controlling the pumps includes a step selected from:

(i) automatically controlling the external pump based on the entered net fluid transfer amount; and

(ii) calculating and displaying a flow value that the operator inputs into the remote pump controller.

33. The medical fluid therapy method of claim 24, wherein controlling the pumps includes the step of monitoring the communication link for error conditions.

34. The medical fluid therapy method of claim 33, wherein the error conditions include communication loss, framing errors, invalid packet format, data errors or any combination thereof.

35. The medical fluid therapy method of claim 24, which includes checking the entered net fluid transfer amount to determine if it is within a safe range.

36. The medical fluid therapy method of claim 24, wherein controlling the pumps includes sending an instruction to at least one of the pumps, the instruction selected from the group consisting of:

power on, power off, start, stop, new rate, volume to be infused, clear rate infused, name of drug, concentration of drug and any combination thereof.

37. The medical fluid therapy method of claim 24, wherein controlling the pumps includes receiving a message from at least one of the pumps, the message selected from the group consisting of:

channel identifier, channel status, rate dose, volume remaining, infusion label, flow check, primary volume infused, piggyback volume infused, volume history last cleared and any combination thereof.

38. A medical fluid therapy method comprising the steps of:

configuring a machine to perform the equation;

filtrate pump rate=total input rate−

total output rate+prescribed net loss rate, wherein at least one of the total input rate and the total output rate includes a flowrate output of a pump located external to the machine; and

controlling the filtrate pump according to the calculated filtrate pump rate.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein determining at least one of the total input rate and total output rate includes receiving at least one input/output flowrate that has been sensed by a sensor.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein determining at least one of the total input rate and total output rate includes receiving at least one input/output flowrate that has been inputted manually.

41. A machine configured and arranged to perform the steps according to claim 38.

42. A medical fluid therapy method comprising the steps of:

configuring a machine to perform the equation;

filtrate pump rate=total input rate−

total output rate+prescribed net loss rate, wherein at least one of the total input rate and the total output rate includes a flowrate output of a pump located external to the machine; and

controlling a substitution pump according to the calculated pump rate.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein determining at least one of the total input rate and total output rate includes receiving at least one input/output flowrate that has been sensed by a sensor.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein determining at least one of the total input rate and total output rate includes receiving at least one input/output flowrate that has been inputted manually.

45. A machine configured and arranged to perform the steps according to claim 42.

46. A renal failure therapy method comprising the steps of:

pumping blood through a blood circuit;

infusing citrate as an anticoagulant; and

controlling the citrate flowrate based on the blood flowrate automatically so that the flowrates are synchronized.

47. The method of claim 46, which includes infusing citrate into the blood circuit or directly to the patient.

48. The method of claim 46, which includes additionally controlling citrate to deliver a prescribed amount of citrate.

49. The method of claim 46, which is performed during a treatment selected from the group consisting of:

continuous renal replacement therapy, dialysis, hemofiltration and any combination thereof.