Wearable, self-regenerating dialysis appliance

• US 3,884,808 A
• Filed: 06/20/1973
• Issued: 05/20/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert D. Scott
• Original Assignee: Robert D. Scott
• Inventors: Scott, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spear, Jr., Frank A.
• Application Number:
  US05/371,950
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 210/22,23,321,116,206,109
• US Class Current: 210/109
• 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

A dialyzing appliance adapted to be worn as a belt by the user, having a dialysis fluid chamber and a dialysis membrane defining an extended blood flow passage for blood circulation through the fluid chamber in dialyzing relation with the dialysis fluid. To regenerate the dialysis fluid continuously during blood circulation a regeneration loop is provided, located in the belt buckle, having in series flow connection with the dialysis fluid chamber, a first regeneration chamber containing adsorptive material for impurity removal, a second regeneration chamber for reconstituting the fluid by incorporation of additional dialyzate, and a pump, suitably battery powered to circulate the dialysis fluid through the loop, countercurrently to blood flow through the membrane tubing.

Claims

1. IN A DIALYZING APPLIANCE OF THE TYPE ADAPTED TO BE WORN ABOUT THE HUMAN BODY FOR CONTINUOUS USE AS THE USER GOES ABOUT HIS DAILY TASKS WHICH COMPRISES A DIALYZING MEANS INCLUDING A DIALYSIS FLUID CHAMBER AND DIALYSIS MEMBRANE DEFINING AN ESTENDED BLOOD FLOW PASSAGE OF BLOOD CIRCULATION THROUGH THE FLUID CHAMBER IN DIALYZING RELATION WITH THE DIALYSIS FLUID, MEANS TO REGENERATE THE DIALYSIS FLUID CONTINUOUSLY DURING FLOOD CIRCULATION COMPRISING A REGENERATION LOOP HAVING IN SERIES FLOW CONNECTON WITH THE DIALYSIS FLUID CHAMBER A FIRST REGERNERATION CHAMBER CONTAINING SORBITIVE MATERIAL ADAPTED TO REMOVE FROM THE DIALYZING FLUID IMPURITIES DIALYZED THEREINTO FROM THE BLOOD, AND A SECOND REGENERATION CHAMBER CONTAINING PARTICULATE MAKE-UP DIALYZATE SOLIDS ADAPTED FOR CONTROLLED RATE DISSOLUTION BY DIALYZING FLUID PASSING THROUGH SAID SECOND CHAMBER FOR RECONSTITUTING THE DIALYSIS FLUID, AND MEANS TO PUMP THE DIALYSIS FLUID CONTINUOUSLY THROUGH THE REGERNERATION LOOP IN SOLID DIALYZATE DISSOLVING RELATION;

AND MEANS TO REMOVABLE ATTACH THE APPLICANCE TO THE BODY OF THE WEARER COMPRISING A BELT ADAPTED TO ENCIRCLE THE WAIST OF THE WEARER AND HAVING A BUCKLE PORTION FOR SECURING THE BELT IN POSITION;

SAID PUMP MEANS INCLUDING AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MOTOR CARRIED BY THE BELT AND BUCKLE TO DRIVE THE PUMP.

2. Dialyzing appliance according to claim 1 including also a fluid tap arranged to drain fluid from the regeneration loop to a waste receiver.

3. Dialyzing appliance according to claim 2 in which said fluid tap includes valve means for controlling communication between the loop and said waste receiver responsive to fluid pressure in the loop.

4. Dialyzing appliance according to claim 1 in which the dialysis fluid is carried in longitudinally extended conduit and said dialysis membrane comprises plural lengths of tubing in flow connected relation and immersed throughout their length in conduit dialysis fluid.

5. Dialysis appliance according to claim 4 in which a plurality of dialysis membrane tubing lengths are enclosed by a single dialysis fluid conduit.

6. Dialysis appliance according to claim 4 in which the dialysis membrane tubing and the dialysis fluid conduit are concentrically disposed and inCluding also fluid passing support structure extending between the tubing and tube to maintain their concentric disposition along their length.

7. Dialyzing appliance according to claim 4 in which said dialysis membrane tubing comprises a plurality of individual lengths extended in parallel array immersed in dialysis fluid, and including also manifold means arranged to deliver blood to the individual lengths of dialysis membrane tubing, and said buckle portion houses said first and second regeneration chambers and said pump means.

8. Dialysis appliance according to claim 4 in which said dialysis membrane tubing comprises reversely continuous and parallel extents jacketed in dialysis fluid conduit and including also means connecting the terminals of the tubing to the wearer for blood circulation through the tubing oppositely to the dialysis fluid flow in the conduit.

9. In a dialyzing appliance of the type adapted to be worn about the human body for continuous use as the user goes about his daily tasks, which comprises a dialyzing means including a dialysis fluid chamber and dialysis membrane defining an extended blood flow passage for blood circulation through the fluid chamber in dialyzing relation with the dialysis fluid, means to regenerate the dialysis fluid continuously during blood circulation comprising a regeneration loop having in series flow connection with the dialysis fluid chamber a first regeneration chamber containing an absorbent bed of sorptive material adapted to remove by adsorption from the dialyzing fluid impurities dialyzed thereinto from the blood, and a second regeneration chamber containing slowly soluble pelleted make-up dialyzate solids for reconstituting the dialysis fluid, and means to pump the dialysis fluid continuously through the regeneration loop for sorption removal of blood impurities and solubilizing addition of make-up dialyzate solids;

and means to removably attach the appliance to the body of the wearer;

said dialysis membrane comprising plural lengths of tubing in flow connected relation concentrically disposed wtihin a conduit carrying dialysis fluid, and fluid passing structure extending between the tubing and the conduit to maintain said disposition.