Ambulatory hemodialysis apparatus

• US 3,864,259 A
• Filed: 08/16/1972
• Issued: 02/04/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Newhart-Jones Limited
• Original Assignee: Earle E. Newhart
• Inventors: Newhart, Earle E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spear, Jr., Frank A.
• Application Number:
  US05/281,183
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 210/22,321,88,136,257,416
• US Class Current: 604/6.06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1601 Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1696 with dialysate regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 on the body
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/06 External membrane module supporting or fixing means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/18 Specific valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/243 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/46 Supply, recovery or discharge mechanisms of washing members
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/28 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/06 Tubular membrane modules

Abstract

An ambulatory hemodialysis apparatus has a perfusion unit having multiple small internal diameter tubules secured at both tubule terminus in a pair of plastic header plates. The plate pair are secured in a rigid exchanger shell having an inlet and outlet dialysate conduit, forming a perfusion unit typically having 25 ml. blood and 25 ml. dialysate contained volumes, as scaled in size for an adult patient. Cellophane or deacetylated cellulose triacetate tubules, of 0.2 mm to 2.0 mm internal diameter by 8 cm length, provide the blood residence volume for dialysis. A rigid exchanger for shell, typically 8.5 cm long X 6 cm wide X 1 cm thick, provides the dialysate volume. A femoral arteriovenous cannulae positioned on the thigh provides an exteriorized artery cannula to the blood inlet conduit of the portable perfusion unit, and the blood outlet conduit of the unit is connected to the venous cannula. The required dialysate is circulated through two perfusion conduit connections to a portable patient-worn dialysate reservoir, and the dialysate is pumped by patient generated pulses, such as arterial and breathing pulses, utilizing a check-valve controlled diaphragm pumping means. Dialysed excreta is manually periodically voided from the dialysate reservoir by the patient, on periodic signal by a patient powered pulse counter. An orifice disposed in the blood outlet conduit of the perfusion unit can symmetrically increase blood pressure and accelerate water removal from the patient'"'"''"'"'s blood.

Claims

1. An ambulatory self contained hemodialysis apparatus, in combination comprising:

an ambulatory hemodialysis perfusion unit having equal Length multiple small internal diameter dialysis tubules disposed in an opposed pair of header plates, said header plates secured in the interior of a rigid boundary case in a fluid exchanger configuration, said boundary case having a pair of opposed dialysate conduits secured thereto and a pair of blood conduits manifolded to said opposed pair of header plates;

an ambulatory dialysate reservoir having each one of an opposed pair of reservoir conduits secured to each one of a pair of dialysate tubular conductors, each one of said dialysate tubular conductors separately secured to one of said dialysate conduits, the inlet conduit of said reservoir having a flexible, gravity positionable downspout conductively secured thereto inside said reservoir, the downspout length adapted to provide dialysate circulation in upright or reclining reservoir position, said reservoir having a dialysate additive inlet and addition inlet closure, said reservoir adapted to securing to the body of a patient;

valve means conductively secured to said dialysate tubular conductors providing dialysate unidirectional flow;

an ambulatory pump means conductively secured to said dialysate reservoir, said pump means displacing dialysate in unidirectional flow, said pump means actuated by patient generated pulses; and

, an ambulatory voiding valve conductively secured to said dialysate conduction circuit, providing dialysate removal.

2. In an ambulatory hemodialysis apparatus of claim 1, the modification wherein said dialysate reservoir and said pump means are each covered by a rigid protective cover disposed on said reservoir and said pump means exteriorily distant from the torso of said patient.

3. In an ambulatory hemodialysis apparatus of claim 1, the modification wherein said pump means has a compressible elastomeric bellows diaphragm pump of the required volumetric displacement secured on a nonelastic harness belt secured on said patient'"'"''"'"'s torso, said pump adapted to compress and displace a unidirectional flow of said dialysate, on a patient generated breath displacement.

4. In an ambulatory hemodialysis apparatus of claim 1, the modification wherein a dialysate modification means is conductively disposed in the dialysate circulation flow stream, providing means of chemically maintaining the required dialysate composition value range.

5. In an ambulatory hemodialysis apparatus of claim 4, the dialysate modification means combination comprising:

a disposable adsorption cartridge providing removal of organic and inorganic waste products from said dialysate circulated by said pump; and

, a pulse counter means, providing an adjustable patient alarm actuated by a pre-set number of patient generated pulses.

6. An ambulatory self contained hemodialysis apparatus, in combination comprising:

an ambulatory hemodialysis perfusion unit having equal length multiple small internal diameter dialysis tubules disposed in an opposed pair of header plates, said header plates secured in the interior of a rigid boundary case in a fluid exchanger configuration, said boundary case having a pair of opposed dialysate conduits secured thereto and a pair of blood conduits manifolded to said opposed pair of header plates;

an ambulatory opposed pair of cannulae conductively permanently secured to said hemodialysis perfusion unit, one said cannula adapted to conductively securing one said blood conduit to the artery and one said cannula adapted to conductively securing one said blood conduit to the vein of a patient;

an ambulatory dialysate reservoir having each one of an opposed pair of reservoir conduits secured to each one of a pair of dialysate conductors, each one of said dialysate conductors separately secured to one of said dialysate conduits, the inlet conduit of said reservoir having a flexible, gravity controlled downspout conductively secured thereto inside said reservoir, the downspout length adapted to provide dialysate circulation in upright or Reclining reservoir position, said reservoir having a dialysate additive inlet and inlet closure, said reservoir adapted to securing to the body of said patient;

valve means conductively secured to said dialysate tubular conductors, providing dialysate unidirectional flow;

an ambulatory pump means conductively secured to said dialysate reservoir, said pump displacing dialysate in a unidirection flow, said pump actuated by patient generated pulses; and

, an ambulatory voiding valve conductively secured to the dialysate conduction circuit, providing dialysate removal.

7. In an ambulatory hemodialysis apparatus of claim 6, the modification wherein said dialysate reservoir and said pump means are each covered by a rigid protective cover disposed on said reservoir and said pump means exteriorily distant from the torso of said patient.

8. In an ambulatory hemodialysis apparatus of claim 6, the modification wherein said pump means has a compressible elastomeric bellows diaphragm pump of the required volumetric displacement secured on a nonelastic harness belt secured on said patient'"'"''"'"'s torso, said pump adapted to compress and displace a unidirectional flow of said dialysate, on a patient generated breath displacement.

9. In an ambulatory hemodialysis apparatus of claim 6, the modification wherein a dialysate modification means is conductively disposed in the dialysate circulation flow stream, providing means of chemically maintaining the required dialysate composition value range.

10. In an ambulatory hemodialysis apparatus of claim 9, the dialysate modification means combination comprising:

a disposable adsorption cartridge providing removal of organic and inorganic wastes from said dialysate circulated by said pump; and

, a pulse counter means, providing an adjustable patient alarm actuated by a pre-set number of patient generated pulses.