Device for measuring the quantity of ultrafiltrate eliminated during a dialysis treatment
First Claim
1. A device for measuring the quantity of ultrafiltrate eliminated by means of an ultrafiltrate pump during a dialysis treatment, comprising:
- an ultrafiltrate supply conduit for connecting to the output of said ultrafiltrate pump;
first and second vertically-arranged vessels for collecting said ultrafiltrate, each having an upper portion and a lower portion;
means defining an opening in said lower portion of each of said vessels in flow communication with said supply conduit;
ultrafiltrate discharge means in flow communication with each of said openings;
first valve means in said ultrafiltrate supply conduit between the output of said ultrafiltrate pump and each of said openings;
second valve means connected to said ultrafiltrate discharge means;
sensing means consisting essentially of two sensors each operatively connected to one of said vessels for detecting the presence of a predetermined quantity of ultrafiltrate collected in each of said vessels by detecting when the ultrafiltrate reaches a predetermined level in each vessel and for generating separate electrical signals when said predetermined quantity is attained in each of said vessels; and
processing and count control means operatively connected to each of said first and second valve means and to said sensing means and responsive to said separate electrical signals for actuating said first and second valve means to alternately obtain a simultaneous connection of (1) said opening in said first vessel to the output of said ultrafiltrate pump and said opening in said second vessel to the said ultrafiltrate discharge means, and (2) said opening in said second vessel to the output of said ultrafiltrate pump and said opening in said first vessel to said ultrafiltrate discharge means, whereby the quantity of ultrafiltrate eliminated by said ultrafiltrate pump can be determined by accumulating a count of the number of times said vessels are filled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for measuring the quantity of ultrafiltrate eliminated during a dialysis treatment. The device comprises two vessels of a known capacity wherein the ultrafiltrate coming from a pump is alternately received and then discharged by means of valves. The device further comprises two level measuring sensors which each emit a signal each time the ultrafiltrate attains a predetermined level in the corresponding vessel. Such sensors are connected to a processing and count control mechanism for analyzing the above-mentioned signals and for establishing the quantity of ultrafiltrate eliminated by the pump.
64 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A device for measuring the quantity of ultrafiltrate eliminated by means of an ultrafiltrate pump during a dialysis treatment, comprising:
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an ultrafiltrate supply conduit for connecting to the output of said ultrafiltrate pump; first and second vertically-arranged vessels for collecting said ultrafiltrate, each having an upper portion and a lower portion; means defining an opening in said lower portion of each of said vessels in flow communication with said supply conduit; ultrafiltrate discharge means in flow communication with each of said openings; first valve means in said ultrafiltrate supply conduit between the output of said ultrafiltrate pump and each of said openings; second valve means connected to said ultrafiltrate discharge means; sensing means consisting essentially of two sensors each operatively connected to one of said vessels for detecting the presence of a predetermined quantity of ultrafiltrate collected in each of said vessels by detecting when the ultrafiltrate reaches a predetermined level in each vessel and for generating separate electrical signals when said predetermined quantity is attained in each of said vessels; and processing and count control means operatively connected to each of said first and second valve means and to said sensing means and responsive to said separate electrical signals for actuating said first and second valve means to alternately obtain a simultaneous connection of (1) said opening in said first vessel to the output of said ultrafiltrate pump and said opening in said second vessel to the said ultrafiltrate discharge means, and (2) said opening in said second vessel to the output of said ultrafiltrate pump and said opening in said first vessel to said ultrafiltrate discharge means, whereby the quantity of ultrafiltrate eliminated by said ultrafiltrate pump can be determined by accumulating a count of the number of times said vessels are filled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification