RECIRCULATION DIALYSATE SYSTEM FOR USE WITH AN ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY MACHINE

• US 3,669,880 A
• Filed: 06/30/1969
• Issued: 06/13/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Laurence B. Marantz, Michael A. Greenbaum
• Original Assignee: Laurence B. Marantz, Michael A. Greenbaum
• Inventors: Marantz, Laurence B., Greenbaum, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Reuben
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnes, Richard
• Application Number:
  US04/837,714
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 210/321,22,195,29,38,37
• US Class Current: 210/632
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1696 with dialysate regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/30 Accessories; Auxiliary operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/929 Hemoultrafiltrate volume measurement or control processes

Abstract

A recirculating dialysate system for use with an artificial kidney in which the total volume of dialysate solution is controlled. After leaving the artificial kidney, the urea in the solution is removed in a zirconium phosphate column containing urease and the other waste products are removed in a carbon column containing activated carbon and hydrated zirconium oxide. The solution passes through the dialysate reservoir (or container) where it was originally introduced and where the level of solution indicates the amount of fluid removed from the body. Downstream of the dialysate reservoir, the solution is reconstituted by the addition of magnesium and calcium (removed in the zirconium phosphate column) so that these substances will not be removed from the blood in the kidney. The rate at which water passes from the blood into the dialysate solution can be controlled by controlling the pressure of the dialysate solution on the dialysate side of the kidney membrane, so that sufficient water can be removed to arrive at water balance in the patient.

Claims

2. In a method as defined in claim 1, the step of adding calcium and magnesium to said dialysate solution after treatment with said zirconium phosphate ion exchanger and before flow past said membrane.

3. In a method as defined in claim 1, the step of continually measuring the increase in volume of said dialysate solution to determine the amount of fluid removed from the patient.

4. In a dialysis apparatus which includes a dialysate recirculating system for directing a dialysate solution past a membrane to pick up impurities from a patient'"'"''"'"'s blood. urease in said recirculating system for converting the urea picked up by said dialysate solution to ammonium carbonate;

zirconium phosphate ion exchanger in said recirculating system for removing ammonium ions from the ammonium carbonate;

hydrated zirconium oxide in said recirculating system for removing phosphate picked up by said dialysate solution, and activated carbon in said recirculating system for removing other waste substances picked up by said dialysate solution.

5. In a dialysis apparatus as defined in claim 4 having gauge means associated with said system for continually measuring the amount of fluid removed from said patient during dialysis by continually measuring the increase in solution volume in said system.

6. In a dialysis apparatus as defined in claim 4, a supply of calcium and magnesium for addition to said system to replace calcium and magnesium removed by said zirconium phosphate ion exchanger.

7. In a recirculating dialysate system containing a dialysate solution for receiving phosphate from an artificial kidney, a charge of hydrated zirconium oxide in the dialysate solution to remove phosphate, and means recirculating the dialysate solution from a phosphate receiving location in the artificial kidney through said charge and back to said phosphate receiving location.

8. In a method of treating a dialysate solution which picks up phosphate at an artificial kidney, the improvement comprising treating the dialysate solution with hydrated zirconium oxide to remove the phosphate from the solution, and recirculating the treated dialysate solution back to the artificial kidney.

9. In a recirculating dialysate system utilizing a dialysate solution flowing past a membrane for dialysis of a patient:

passage means for directing dialysate solution to said membrane;

pump means in said passage means for recirculating said dialysate solution;

means in said passage means for removing impurities from said dialysate solution added during dialysis;

said removing means comprising urease and zirconium phosphate ion exchanger for removing urea, hydrated zirconium oxide for removing phosphate, and activated carbon for removing other toxic substances;

said zirconium phosphate ion exchanger also removing calcium and magnesium from the dialysate solution required for dialysis;

means connected with said passage means for reconstituting the dialysate solution before dialysis with calcium and magnesium required for dialysis and removed by said zirconium phosphate ion exchanger. said reconstituting means comprising a reservoir containing calcium and magnesium in solution; and

means for directing said reconstituting solution into said dialysate solution.

10. In a recirculating dialysate system as defined in claim 9, container means connected with said passage means for receiving the increase in volume of the dialysate solution resulting from fluid removal from the patient during dialysis;

and means associated with said container means for continually measuring said increase in volume during dialysis.

11. In a recirculating dialysate system as defined in claim 10, wherein said measuring means comprises a liquid level gauge.