Portable artificial kidney system

• US 3,902,490 A
• Filed: 03/27/1974
• Issued: 09/02/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clifford Kwan-Gett, Stephen C. Jacobsen, Willem J. Kolff
• Original Assignee: Clifford Kwan-Gett, Stephen C. Jacobsen, Willem J. Kolff
• Inventors: Jacobsen, Stephen C., Kolff, Willem J., Kwan-Gett, Clifford
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/455,179
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 128/214R,214B,214E,214F,214.2,213,273,DIG.3,214 210/321,416
• US Class Current: 210/321.65
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1649 with pulsatile dialysis fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1696 with dialysate regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/30 Single needle dialysis ; Reciprocating systems, alternately withdrawing blood from and returning it to the patient, e.g. single-lumen-needle dialysis or single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/302 having a reservoir for withdrawn untreated blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/304 Treatment chamber used as reservoir, e.g. centrifuge bowl or filter with movable membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/308 Volume control, e.g. with open or flexible containers, by counting the number of pump revolutions, weighing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/113 in other functional devices, e.g. dialysers or heart-lung machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/37 Haemodialysis, haemofiltration or diafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/441 generated by an electromotor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/562 for making blood flow pulsatile in blood pumps that do not intrinsically create pulsatile flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/837 Aspects of flexible displacement members, e.g. shapes or materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/849 Disposable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/851 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/892 Active valves, i.e. actuated by an external force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/894 Passive valves, i.e. valves actuated by the blood
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/08 having tubular flexible members F04B43/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/086 with two or more tubular flexible members in parallel F04B43/1136 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/03 Heart-lung
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/929 Hemoultrafiltrate volume measurement or control processes

Abstract

An artificial kidney system includes a dialyzer element through which blood of a patient and dialysate solution are circulated to enable transfer of waste, electrolytes, water and other components from the blood to the solution (and in some cases from the solution to the blood), blood pump and circulation apparatus for withdrawing blood from the patient and applying it to the dialyzer element and for returning blood from the dialyzer element to the patient, and dialysate pump and circulation apparatus for transporting dialysate solution from a dialysate source to the dialyzer element and from the dialyzer element to a dialysate sink. The blood and the dialysate pump apparatus each includes a flexible casing which, when compressed, forces fluid from the casing and which, when released, draws fluid into the casing. The dialysate circulation apparatus includes a variable volume accumulator jacket for receiving dialysate solution when the pump casing is compressed and for discharging dialysate solution when the pump casing is released. A pump actuator operates the blood pump apparatus and the dialysate pump apparatus to circulate blood and dialysate solution through the dialyzer element.

Claims

1. A hemodialyzer comprising a dialyzer element through which blood of a patient and dialysate solution are circulated to enable transfer of waste and water from the blood to the solution, blood transporting means for transporting blood from the patient to the dialyzer element and from the dialyzer element back to the patient, first pump means coupled into said blood transporting means, said pump means including a flexible casing which, when alternately compressed and released, causes blood to flow in said blood transporting means, a dialysate source and dialysate sink, dialysate transporting means for transporting dialysate solution from the dialysate source to the dialyzer element and from the dialyzer element to the dialysate sink, second pump means coupled into said dialysate transporting means, said second pump means including a flexible casing which, when alternately compressed and released, causes dialysate solution to flow in the dialysate transporting means, and means common to the first and second pump means for compressing and releasing the casings of said first and second pump means to produce a pumping action in the blood transporting means and the dialysate transporting means.

2. A hemodialyzer as defined in claim 1 wherein said dialysate source and sink include a canister coupled in the dialysate transporting means and through which dialysate solution flows, and filter means disposed in the canister for collecting waste from the dialysate solution when the solution flows through the canister.

3. A hemodialyzer as defined in claim 2, comprising an accumulator means which includes a jacket, and means for coupling the jacket into said dialysate transporting means to enable passage of dialysate solution from said dialysate transporting means into said jacket and from said jacket to said dialysate transporting means.

4. A hemodialyzer as defined in claim 3 wherein said jacket is a flexible jacket.

5. A hemodialyzer as defined in claim 3 further comprising a collector means which is coupled into said dialysate transporting means for receiving excess dialysate solution.

6. A hemodialayzer as defined in claim 5 wherein said collector means includes a collapsible bladder.

7. A hemodialyzer as defined in claim 6 wherein said collector means further includes a check valve for allowing the flow of solution from said dialaysate transporting means into the bladder and for preventing the flow of solution from the bladder to said dialysate transporting means.

8. A hemodialyzer as defined in claim 6 further including feeler means positioned to engage the collector bladder when the bladder fills to a predetermined volume, and switch means for generating a signal when the bladder engages said feeler means.

9. A hemodialyzer as defined in claim 5 wherein said accumulator means and collector means are interposed in that portion of the dialysate transporting means which carries dialysate solution from the canister to the dialyzer element, and wherein said second pump means is coupled into that portion of the dialysate transporting means which carries solution from the dialyzer element to the canister.

10. A hemodialyzer comprising a dialyzer element through which blood of a patient and dialysate solution are circulated to enable transfer of waste and water from the blood to the solution, blood transporting means for transporting blood from the patient to the dialyzer element and from the dialzer element back to the patient, first pump means coupled into said blood transporting means, said pump means including a flexible casing which, when alternately compressed and released, causes blood to flow in said blood transporting means, a dialysate source and a dialysate sink, dialysate transporting means for transporting dialysate solution from the dialysate sourCe to the dialyzer element and from the dialyzer element to the dialysate sink, second pump means coupled into said dialysate transporting means, said second pump means including a flexible casing which, when alternately compressed and released, causes dialysate solution to flow in the dialysate transporting means, means for compressing and releasing the casings of said first and second pump means to produce a pumping action in the blood transporting means and the dialysate transporting means, and a vacuum regulator means coupled in said dialysate transporting means, said regulator means including a reservoir having an orifice through which dialysate solution flows, and plug means positionable in fron of said orifice at adjustable distances therefrom to control the rate of flow of solution through the orifice.

11. A hemodialyzer as defined in claim 10 wherein said vacuum regulator means is interposed in that portion of the dialysate transporting means which carries solution from the dialysate source to the dialyzer element.

12. A hemodialyzer comprising a dialyzer element through which blood of a patient and dialysate solution are circulated to enable transfer of waste and water from the blood to the solution, blood transporting means for tranporting blood from the patient to the dialyzer element and from the dialyzer element back to the patient, first pump means coupled into said blood transporting means, said pump means including a flexible casing which, when alternately compressed and released, causes blood to flow in said blood transporting means, a dialysate source and a dialysate sink, dialysate transporting means for transporting dialysate solution from the dialysate source to the dialyzer element and from the dialyzer element to the dialysate sink, second pump means coupled into said dialysate transporting means, said second pump means including a flexible casing which, when alternately compressed and released, causes dialysate solution to flow in the dialysate transporting means, means for compressing and releasing the casing of said first and second pump means to produce a pumping action in the blood transporting means and the dialysate transporting means, and wherein the flexible casing of each of said pump means includes an inlet and an outlet by which the casing is coupled into the respective transporting means, an inlet check valve for allowing fluid to flow therethrough into the casing, and an outlet check valve for allowing fluid to flow therethrough from the casing.

13. A hemodialyzer as defined in claim 12 wherein said casings are constructed of rubber having a wall thickness of substantially one-eighth of an inch.

14. A hemodialyzer as defined in claim 12 wherein said each casing is elongated, with the inlet valve located at one end of the casing and the outlet and outlet valve located at the other end.

15. A hemodialyzer as defined in claim 12 wherein said casings are positioned side by side, and wherein said pump operating means includes a compression element disposed between the casings and moveable alternately to a first position to compress the casing of said first pump means and to a second position to compress the casing of said second pump means thereby to alternately operate the first and second pump means.

16. A hemodialyzer as defined in claim 15 further comprising a first retaining plate, one surface of which is shaped to comform to one side of the casing of said first pump means, said plate being positioned so that said one surface contacts said one side of the casing to prevent deformation of the one side when the casing is compressed, and a second retaining plate, one surface of which is shaped to conform to one side of the casing of said second pump means, said second plate being positioned so that said one surface thereof contacts said one side of the casing of the second pump means to prevent deformation thereof when the casing of the second pump meaNs is compressed.

17. A hemodialyzer as defined in claim 12 wherein said casings are positioned together, and wherein said pump operating means includes a compression element movable between a first position in which both casing are compressed by the element, and a second position, in which the casings are released by the element.

18. An artificial kidney system comprising a dialyzer element through which blood of a patient and dialysate solution are circulated to enable transfer of waste and water from the blood to the solution, blood transporting means for transporting blood from the patient to the dialyzer element and from the dialyzer element back to the patient, first pump means coupled into said blood transporting means for causing blood to flow from the patient to the dialyzer element and from the dialyzer element back to the patient, a dialysate source and sink, dialysate transporting means for transporting dialysate solution from the dialysate source to the dialyzer element and from the dialyzer element to the dialysate sink, second pump means coupled into that portion of the dialysate transporting means which transports dialysate solution from the dialyzer element to the dialysate sink for causing solution to flow from the dialyzer element to the dialysate sink and from the dialysate source to the dialyzer element, said second pump means including a flexible casing which, when compressed, forces solution from the casing toward the dialysate sink and which, when released, withdraws solution from the dialyzer element into the casing, an accumulator means coupled into the dialysate transporting means for receiving dialysate solution when said second pump means is compressed and for discharging dialysate solution when said second pump means is released, and a collector means coupled into said dialysate transporting for receiving excess dialysate solution from the dialysate transporting means.

19. A system as in claim 18 further comprising a check valve disposed in said collector means for allowing the flow of solution from the dialysate transporting means to the collector means and for preventing the flow of solution from the collector means to the dialysate transporting means.

20. A system as in claim 18 wherein said collector means includes a collapsible bladder, and said system further comprises means for alternately compressing and releasing the casing of said second pump means, feeler means positioned so as to be engageable by the bladder when the bladder fills beyond some predetermined volume, and means responsive to the engagement of the bladder with the feeler means for disabling said pump compressing and releasing means.

21. A system as in claim 18 wherein said accumulator means and collector means are interposed in that portion of the dialysate transporting means which carries solution from the dialysate source to the dialyzer element.

22. A system as in claim 21 further including vacuum regulator means interposed in the dialysate transporting means between the dialyzer element and the accumulator means and collector means for regulating the rate of flow of solution into the dialyzer element.

23. A system as in claim 22 wherein said vacuum regulator means includes a reservoir having an orifice through which dialysate solution flows, and plug means having a diameter larger than the diameter of the orifice and positioned in front of the orifice at adjustable distances therefrom to control the rate of flow of solution through the orifice.