Apparatus for use in artificial kidney system
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for delivering a dialysate solution to an artifical kidney device comprising:
- a hydraulics circuit, the hydraulics circuit having a water supply branch, a dialysate solution supply branch extending from the junction of the water supply branch and the dialysate concentrate supply branch to a port for supplying dialysate solution to an artifical kidney, and a return branch extending from a port through which dialysate solution returns from the artifical kidney to a drain line for passing used dialysate solution out of the hydraulics circuit;
a supply pump disposed in the water supply branch for pumping water into the dialysate solution supply branch at a controlled rate;
means for controllably heating water flowing in the water supply branch;
means downstream from the heating means for deaerating water flowing in the water supply branch;
a concentrate pump disposed in the dialysate concentrate supply branch for pumping dialysate concentrate into the dialysate solution supply branch at a controlled rate;
a return pump disposed in the return branch for drawing effluent dialysate solution from the artifical kidney and pumping the solution out through the drain line;
a first transducer for generating an electrical signal representative of the negative pressure in the return branch upstream from the return pump;
a second transducer for generating an electrical signal representative of arterial pressure in the artificial kidney;
a third transducer for generating an electrical signal representative of venous pressure in the artificial kidney; and
first electrical circuit means for controlling the speed of the return pump in response to the electrical signals from the first, second and third transducers in a combination representative of transmembrane pressure such that the speed of the return pump maintains a predetermined transmembrane pressure in the artifical kidney.
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Abstract
A machine is disclosed for use with an artificial kidney. The machine has three separately controllable pumps enabling delivery and return of a dialysate solution to an artificial kidney with precise control of various dialysate parameters such as temperature, pressure, conductivity, and flow rate.
The machine has redundant control and monitor circuits to assure safe operation. The monitor circuit is capable of causing the machine to stop dialysis if any one of various monitored parameters goes out of limits.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for delivering a dialysate solution to an artifical kidney device comprising:
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a hydraulics circuit, the hydraulics circuit having a water supply branch, a dialysate solution supply branch extending from the junction of the water supply branch and the dialysate concentrate supply branch to a port for supplying dialysate solution to an artifical kidney, and a return branch extending from a port through which dialysate solution returns from the artifical kidney to a drain line for passing used dialysate solution out of the hydraulics circuit; a supply pump disposed in the water supply branch for pumping water into the dialysate solution supply branch at a controlled rate; means for controllably heating water flowing in the water supply branch; means downstream from the heating means for deaerating water flowing in the water supply branch; a concentrate pump disposed in the dialysate concentrate supply branch for pumping dialysate concentrate into the dialysate solution supply branch at a controlled rate; a return pump disposed in the return branch for drawing effluent dialysate solution from the artifical kidney and pumping the solution out through the drain line; a first transducer for generating an electrical signal representative of the negative pressure in the return branch upstream from the return pump; a second transducer for generating an electrical signal representative of arterial pressure in the artificial kidney; a third transducer for generating an electrical signal representative of venous pressure in the artificial kidney; and first electrical circuit means for controlling the speed of the return pump in response to the electrical signals from the first, second and third transducers in a combination representative of transmembrane pressure such that the speed of the return pump maintains a predetermined transmembrane pressure in the artifical kidney. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for dialyzing the blood of a kidney-failure patient, comprising:
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an artificial kidney including entry and return lines for the patient'"'"'s blood, a bottom portion including inlet means for receiving dialysate solution and a top portion for permitting dialysate solution to flow out in a fountain-like manner; a device for developing a negative pressure on the dialysate solution flowing through the artificial kidney, the device including a tank for isolating the artificial kidney from the atmosphere, means for holding the artificial kidney in an upright position in the tank, a dialysate input line for supplying dialysate solution to the bottom of the artificial kidney, a standpipe in the tank having an open top for draining the dialysate solution thereby permitting the dialysate solution to form and maintain a reservoir of a predetermined height below the top of the artificial kidney in the tank, means for recirculating dialysate solution from the reservoir back through the artifical kidney, and vacuum seal means for permitting ingress and egress of the various fluid carrying lines through the walls of the tank; and a dialysate delivery machine including means for controllably proportioning water and dialysate concentrate to provide dialysate solution, means in fluid communication with the recirculating means for delivering dialysate solution from the machine to the artificial kidney, means in fluid communication with the bottom of the standpipe for returning the overflow of dialysate solution from the standpipe to the machine, a return pump for drawing air and dialysate solution from the tank through the standpipe, the return pump being capable of developing a negative pressure in the tank, and means for regulating the negative pressure in the return line within defined limits thereby maintaining a desired value of negative pressure in the tank.
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13. An apparatus for delivering a dialysate solution to an artificial kidney device comprising:
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a hydraulics circuit, the hydraulics circuit having a water supply branch, a dialysate concentrate supply branch joined at one end to the water supply branch, a dialysate solution supply branch extending from the junction of the water supply branch and the dialysate concentrate supply branch to a port for supplying dialysate solution to an artificial kidney, and a return branch extending from a port through which dialysate solution returns from the artificial kidney to a drain line for passing used dialysate solution out of the hydraulics circuit; a supply pump disposed in the water supply branch for pumping water into the dialysate solution supply branch at a controlled rate; a concnetrate pump disposed in the dialysate concentrate supply branch for pumping dialysate concentrate into the dialysate solution supply branch at a controlled rate; a return pump disposed in the return branch for drawing effluent dialysate from the artificial kidney and pumping the solution out through the drain line; a mixing chamber disposed in the dialysate solution supply branch for damping conductivity variations in the flowing dialysate solution; a first conductivity cell disposed in the dialysate solution supply branch upstream from the mixing chamber; electrical circuit means for controlling the speed of the concentrate pump in response to a signal from the first conductivity cell to regulate the conductivity of the dialysate solution; a second conductivity cell disposed in the dialysate solution supply branch downstream from the mixing chamber; and electrical circuit means for comparing a signal from the second conductivity cell to predetermined limits and initiating commands for selectively controlling the delivery or nondelivery of dialysate solution from the apparatus to the artifical kidney device in response to the comparisons made. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification