COLORIMETER FOR DETECTING BLOOD LEAKS IN AN ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY MACHINE

• US 3,832,067 A
• Filed: 11/24/1972
• Issued: 08/27/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cole D. Bacon, Kopf J. David, Teryl W. Schwartz
• Original Assignee: Cole D. Bacon, Kopf J. David, Teryl W. Schwartz
• Inventors: Kopf, J. David, Bacon, Cole D., Schwartz, Teryl W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Evans, F. L.
• Application Number:
  US05/309,152
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 210/321 250/218,573,576 356/181,184,244,246
• US Class Current: 356/410
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1692 Detection of blood traces in dialysate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3313 used specific wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/85 Investigating moving fluids or granular solids

Abstract

A colorimeter is provided that senses the presence of a contaminant opaque to light of a specific color which is carried in a fluid flowstream. As the flowstream passes through the colorimeter, a photocell on one side of the flowstream is illuminated only by light of the specific color which originates on the opposite side of the flowstream, the photocell sensing a change in intensity of transmitted light caused by presence of the contaminant.

Claims

1. A detector for use in an artificial kidney machine for sensing the presence of blood in the flowstream of dialysate solution comprising:

an enclosed flow cell with an inlet stage, a detection stage and an outlet stage through which said dialysate solution flows diverter means in said inlet stage guiding a portion of said dialysate solution at high velocity along a direct path to said detection stage a passageway in said diverter means through which a stabilizing stream of said dialysate solution flows a photocell mounted in said detection stage and a monochromatic source of light of a color to which blood is opaque that illuminates said photocell and said dialysate solution as it flows through said detection stage.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said outlet stage is above said inlet stage and said passageway in said diverter means is oriented vertically.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising drain means that drains dialysate solution remaining in said enclosed flow cell when the flow of dialysate solution through said enclosed flow cell stops.

4. The device of claim 1 in which said monochromatic source of light produces green light.

5. The device of claim 1 in which said monochrOmatic source of light produces blue-green light.

6. A detector for use in an artificial kidney machine for sensing the presence of blood in the flowstream of dialysate solution comprising:

an enclosed flow cell with an inlet stage, a detection stage and an outlet stage through which said dialysate solution flows diverter means in said inlet stage guiding a portion of said dialysate solution at high velocity along a direct path to said detection stage a passageway in said diverter means through which a stabilizing stream of said dialysate solution flows a photocell mounted in said detection stage and a light source that illuminates said photocell and said dialysate solution as it flows through said detection stage, and filter means between said light source and said photocell which passes only light of a color to which blood is opaque.