Specialized sensor-assisted dialysis

• US 20070007184A1
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ross, David, Dumsa, Alfred, Selby, Ronald, Perry, Kenneth, Voto, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US11/176,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20070007184A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/85
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/14 Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1605 Physical characteristics of the dialysate fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1611 Weight of the patient
• 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 1/3607 Regulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/361 before treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3639 Blood pressure control, pressure transducers specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3324 PH measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable

Abstract

The invention is a hemodialysis system in which at least one disposable sensor is combined with a dialysis circuit, in combination with an optional transceiver, to provide real-time or near-real-time patient data. Sensors for any or all of blood pressure, conductivity, temperature, oxygenation, sodium levels, calcium levels, phosphorus levels, urea levels, potassium levels, without limitation, may be included in the blood circuit. Preferably, the sensors are MEMS or ISFET sensors and are positioned in the overall system upstream of, or within the upstream portion of, the dialyzer.

Claims

1. A hemodialysis system, comprising:

a blood circuit tube having an interior;

a dialyzer in fluid communication with the interior of the blood circuit tube; and

not more than one substantially biochemically inert disposable sensor unit including at least one disposable sensor device in fluid communication with the interior of the blood circuit tube, wherein the at least one disposable sensor device is configured to sense one or more physical or chemical parameters of contents of the blood circuit tube;

wherein the not more than one substantial biochemically disposable sensor unit is operatively placed one of;

upstream of the dialyzer;

or within the dialyzer.

2. The hemodialysis system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one disposable sensor device is selected from the group consisting of a blood pressure sensor, a conductivity sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, an oxygen sensor, a sodium sensor, a calcium sensor, a potassium sensor, a phosphorus sensor, a pH sensor, and a contaminant sensor.

3. The hemodialysis system according to claim 2 wherein the substantially biochemically inert disposable sensor unit is selected from the group consisting of a MEMS (micro electromechanical systems) sensor and an ISFET sensor.

5. The hemodialysis system according to claim 1 wherein the substantially biochemically inert disposable sensor unit is operatively placed within the dialyzer, and wherein the sensor unit is further positioned in an upstream portion of the dialyzer.

6. The hemodialysis system according to claim 2, further comprising a diverter blood tube including the substantially biochemically inert disposable sensor unit, the diverter blood tube being in fluid communication with the blood circuit tube, and the diverter blood tube configured to receive a discrete portion of the contents of the blood circuit tube, the discrete portion substantially withheld from the dialyzer.

7. The hemodialysis system according to claim 1, further comprising a disposable blood pressure sensor in fluid communication with the blood circuit tube and positioned upstream of the substantially biochemically inert disposable sensor unit.

8. The hemodialysis system according to claim 1, further comprising means, operatively connected to the substantially biochemically inert disposable sensor unit, for transmitting data representative of the one or more physical or chemical parameters by wireless telemetry.

11. The hemodialysis system according to claim 1 wherein the substantially biochemically inert disposable sensor unit is operatively placed upstream of the dialyzer.

12. The hemodialysis system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one disposable sensor device is configured to take direct measurements of the one or more physical or chemical parameters.

13. The hemodialysis system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one disposable sensor device is configured to facilitate closed loop controlled operation.

4. (canceled)

9. A dialyzer for renal dialysis, comprising a housing and at least one dialysis membrane, wherein the housing has not more than one substantially biochemically inert disposable sensor unit mounted one of:

adjacent to and upstream from the housing;

or within the housing.

10. The dialyzer according to claim 9, wherein the substantially biochemically inert disposable sensor unit is mounted within the housing.