Integral hydraulic circuit for hemodialysis apparatus

• US 4,436,620 A
• Filed: 07/13/1979
• Issued: 03/13/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Bellotti, Marc, Goldhaber, Richard P., Phillips, Earl G., Toch, Theodore H.
• Primary Examiner(s): SPEAR JR, FRANK
• Application Number:
  US06/057,387
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 138/118, 138/115, 128/350 R, 128/DIG. 24, 174/47, 210/90, 210/85, 210/96 M, 210/DIG. 23, 210/94, 210/22, 210/321 B, 210/96.2, 210/927, 210/321.3
• US Class Current: 210/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3431 upstream of the filter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3621 Extra-corporeal blood circuits single-needle circuits A61M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/125 with incorporated filters

Abstract

A one-piece hydraulic circuit is provided for use with a blood dialyzer for performing functions currently performed with a multiplicity of blood inlet and outlet sets and related items comprising flexible tubing and the like.

Claims

1. In a hydraulic circuit member for use with a membrane diffusion device, which comprises a unitary member defining a plurality of blood-receiving chambers, and conduit means communicating between said blood-receiving chambers, for directing, receiving, and processing blood passing through said membrane diffusion device, in which at least one of said blood receiving chambers defines a transversely-enlarged upper chamber portion connected by a step wall which abruptly narrows the bottom end of said enlarged chamber area to a lower chamber portion of lesser transverse dimension, and points of communication of said conduit means with said chamber, including an inlet spaced from the bottom of said chamber and communicating directly with said enlarged upper chamber portion in an upwardly-pointing direction through said step wall, and an outlet positioned adjacent the end of said lower portion remote from said enlarged, upper portion of said chamber, said chamber defining vent means for gases at its upper end and constituting an improved bubble trap for blood when blood is introduced through said inlet and withdrawn through said outlet.

2. The hydraulic circuit member of claim 1 in which said circuit member comprises a rigid, unitary member made of a flat plastic plate having chambers and ports defined by cut-out portions in said flat, plastic plate, and said plastic plate is sealed by a cover member to enclose said cut-out portions.

3. A one-piece hydraulic circuit member for use with a blood dialyzer for directing and controlling blood flow which comprises, a rigid, unitary member defining spaced chambers for receiving blood, and conduit means communicating with said chambers adapted respectively for connection with a venous line of a patient, the blood inlet and outlet of a blood dialyzer, an arterial line for the patient, and ports for communication with blood pump tubing, in which at least some of the chambers defined within said rigid unitary member consitute blood-receiving chambers defining a distinct, enlarged chamber area at an upper portion thereof connected by a step wall to a lower portion thereof which is not transversely enlarged, and points of communication of said conduit means with said chamber including a first point of communication spaced from the bottom of said chamber and communicating directly with said distinct enlarged chamber area in an upwardly pointing direction through said step wall, and a second point of communication of said conduit means with said chamber being positioned adjacent the end of said lower portion remote from the upper portion of said chamber, and venting means provided at the top of said chamber, whereby improved bubble-trapping capabilities are provided to blood in said chamber which is introduced to the chamber through said first point of communication and withdrawn through said second point of communication.

4. In a hydraulic circuit member for use with a membrane diffusion device, which comprises a unitary, rigid, flat plastic member defining a plurality of blood-receiving chambers, conduit means for communicating between said blood-receiving chambers, said membrane diffusion device, and the arterial and venous lines of a patient, in which at least one of said blood receiving chambers define an aperture, said aperture being sealed by a liquid-impermeable, flexible diaphragm, and pressure sensing means adjacent said diaphragm outside of said chamber, whereby displacement of said diaphragm in response to pressure in said chamber is sensed by said pressure sensing means, said chamber defining a distinct, enlarged chamber area at an upper portion thereof with respect to the lower portion, said enlarged chamber area being separated from the lower portion by a step wall abruptly narrowing the lower end of said enlarged chamber area, and communication apertures of said conduit means with said chamber including a first aperture spaced from the bottom of said chamber and communicating directly with said enlarged chamber area in an upwardly-pointing direction through said step wall, and a second aperture of said conduit means being positioned adjacent the end of said lower portion, remote from the upper portion of said chamber, said chamber defining as vent means adjacent its upper end, whereby blood entering said chamber through said first aperture is subjected to improved bubble-trapping action, and blood may be withdrawn from said second aperture.

5. A hydraulic circuit member for use with a blood dialyzer in which first, second and third chambers are present in said unitary, rigid member, at least one of which is of the shape as defined by claim 4 and further including a first port, communicating with said first chamber and adapted for connection with a venous line of a patient, and a second port communicating with said first chamber and adapted for connection with the outlet of a blood dialyzer;

a second chamber communicating with a third port, said third port being adapted for connection with an arterial line of a patient, said second chamber also communicating with a fourth port adapted for connection with blood pump tubing, and a third chamber communicating with a fifth port adapted for connection with said blood pump tubing, said third chamber also communicating with a sixth port adapted for connection with the inlet of said blood dialyzer.

6. The hydraulic circuit member of claim 5 in which said first chamber contains a blood filter positioned for filtering gases from the blood flow through said first port.

7. The one-piece hydraulic circuit member of claim 5 in which said chambers and ports are defined by cutout portions in a flat plastic plate, said plastic plate being sealed by a cover member to enclose said cut-out portions.

8. The one-piece hydraulic circuit member of claim 5 in which a saline infusion line is in communication with said port.

9. The hydraulic circuit member of claim 5 in which a heparin line is in communication with said fifth port.

10. The hydraulic circuit member of claim 5 in which a sealable injection site provides communication by means of an injection needle to said chambers.

11. The hydraulic circuit member of claim 5 which defines means for carrying a dialyzer for blood.

12. The hydraulic circuit member of claim 11 in which said first port is connected to a venous line and said third port is connected to an arterial line, said arterial and venous lines being joined together along one side along a major portion of their lengths.

13. The hydraulic circuit member of claim 12 in which said third and fifth ports respectively communicate with said first apertures in said second and third chambers while said fourth and sixth ports communicate respectively with said second and third chambers at said second apertures.

14. The hydraulic circuit member of claim 13 in which said first port communicates with the lower end of said first chamber and said second port communicates adjacent the upper end of said first chamber.

15. In a hydraulic circuit member integral with a membrane diffusion device for blood, said hydraulic circuit member defining a rigid, unitary housing member defining a plurality of blood-receiving chambers, and conduit means communicating in a blood flow path between said blood-receiving chambers and the membrane diffusion device, for receiving and processing blood passing through said membrane diffusion device, and blood-receiving chambers being defined by the walls of said rigid housing, and defining means for collecting and removing bubbles from the circulating blood, said rigid housing being capable of operating under negative pressure conditions without collapse of the conduit means and blood-receiving chambers, said rigid housing comprising:

a rigid, unitary member made of a flat, plastic piece, at least part of said blood-receiving chambers and conduit means being defined by cut-out portions to said flat, plastic piece, said flat, plastic piece being sealed by a cover member to enclose said cut-out portions.

16. In a hydraulic circuit member integral with a membrane diffusion device for blood, said hydraulic circuit member defining a rigid, unitary housing member defining a plurality of blood-receiving chambers, and conduit means communicating in a blood flow path between said blood-receiving chambers and the membrane diffusion device, for receiving and processing blood passing through said membrane diffusion device, said blood-receiving chambers being defined by the walls of said rigid housing, and defining means for collecting and removing bubbles from the circulating blood, said rigid housing being capable of operating under negative pressure conditions without collapsing of the conduit means and blood-receiving chambers, said rigid, unitary housing member defining at least one blood-receiving chamber which, in turn, defines a distinct enlarged chamber area at an upper portion thereof connected by a step wall to a lower portion thereof which is not transversely enlarged, and a blood inlet spaced from the bottom of said chamber and communicating directly with said enlarged upper chamber portion in an upwardly-pointing direction through said step wall, and an outlet positioned adjacent the end of said lower portion remote from said enlarged upper portion of said chamber, and vent means for gases being positioned at its upper end.