Methods and Systems for Controlling Ultrafiltration Using Central Venous Pressure Measurements

• US 20090101577A1
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Gura, Victor, Braig, James R., Fulkerson, Barry N.
• Application Number:
  US12/238,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20090101577A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/646
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02152 specially adapted for venous pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3653 Interfaces between patient blood circulation and extra-corporal blood circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3659 Cannulae pertaining to extracorporeal circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3661 for haemodialysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/22 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/32 Controlling or regulating

Abstract

The volume of fluid removed from a patient during ultrafiltration is controlled automatically on the basis of central venous pressure (CVP) measurements. In one embodiment, a central venous catheter (CVC) is used for accessing blood during dialysis. A sensor located at the tip of the catheter or inside the dialysis machine is used to periodically measure CVP. CVP feedback data helps prevent the excessive removal of fluids from the patient.

Claims

1. A method for regulating the volume of fluid removed from a patient during renal dialysis, the method comprising:

periodically measuring the average central venous pressure in the ventral venous line used for dialysis; and

adjusting the rate of ultrafiltration based on the measured values of central venous pressure.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes presetting the frequency of central venous pressure measurement and an acceptable range of central venous pressure values.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of discontinuing ultrafiltration when central venous pressure drops below a preset limit.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes presetting the rate of ultrafiltration.

5. The method of claim 1, which includes presetting the total volume of fluid to be removed from said patient.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of stopping the flow of blood when central venous pressure is measured.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is used with any one of a hemofiltration system, a hemodiafiltration system, or a hemodialysis system.

8. A system for regulating the volume of fluid removed from a patient during renal dialysis, the system comprising:

a sensor for periodically measuring the average central venous pressure in the ventral venous line used for dialysis; and

a controller for causing said sensor to periodically measure the average central venous pressure and adjusting the rate of ultrafiltration based on the measured values of central venous pressure.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is programmable to operate according to a preset frequency of central venous pressure measurement and a preset acceptable range of central venous pressure values.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is programmable to operate according to a preset rate of ultrafiltration.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is programmable to operate according to a preset total volume of fluid that is to be removed from said patient.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to discontinue ultrafiltration when central venous pressure drops below a preset limit.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller stops the flow of blood when central venous pressure is measured.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said sensor for measuring central venous pressure is located at the tip of a catheter used for accessing blood during dialysis.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein said sensor for measuring central venous pressure is located remote from the catheter used for accessing blood during dialysis.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said sensor for measuring central venous pressure is located at the same level as the heart.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said sensor for measuring central venous pressure is located inside the dialysis machine.

18. The system of claims 14 and 15, wherein said catheter used for accessing blood during dialysis is a central venous catheter.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said central venous catheter is a double lumen catheter.

20. The system of claim 8, wherein said system is used with any one of a hemofiltration system, a hemodiafiltration system, or a hemodialysis system.