Apparatus and method for kidney dialysis using plasma in lieu of blood

• US 5,151,082 A
• Filed: 08/20/1990
• Issued: 09/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matria Healthcare, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Heathdyne Incorporated
• Inventors: Gorsuch, Reynolds G. F., Atkin, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Owens, Kerry
• Application Number:
  US07/570,009
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4-8, 604/52, 604/53, 604/405, 604/406, 604/20, 604/26, 210/645, 210/646
• US Class Current: 604/5.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14528 invasively
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14557 specially adapted to extracorporeal circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1643 with weighing of fresh and used dialysis fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1678 intracorporal peritoneal dialysis A61M1/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1696 with dialysate regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3479 by dialysing the filtrate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth

Abstract

Kidney dialysis in which metabolic waste products are removed from plasma instead of blood. Plasma separation takes place in vivo through a filter implanted within a blood vessel, and the separated plasma is removed to an extracorporeal dialysis apparatus for separating waste products from the plasma. The plasma then is returned to the bloodstream. Plasma flow in the system is significantly less than blood flow used in current hemodialysis systems, so that the present system performs dialysis continuously in real time to eliminate the extreme swings of toxicity associated with high-volume hemodialysis.

Claims

1. An apparatus for kidney dialysis using in vivo separation of plasma from blood and extracorporeal separation of toxic metabolic waste from the separated plasma, comprising:

at least one elongated micorporous fiber having a hollow interior, said fiber being dimensioned to be received within a blood vessel without significantly obstructing fluid flow through said blood vessel, the pore size of the fiber being sufficient to allow plasma to diffuse through the pores into the hollow interior of the fiber but not sufficient to allow cellular components larger than plasma to diffuse therethrough;

the hollow interior of said elongated fiber being in fluid communication with a means for conducting plasma comprising a first hollow tube which connects to the hollow interior of the fiber and permits passage of plasma to said blood vessel;

extracorporeal dialysis means receiving the plasma passing through the first tube and removing toxic metabolic waste from the plasma; and

means conducting the plasma from the extracorporeal dialysis means to the second hollow tube for return to the blood vessel.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a pump for moving the plasma to the extracorporeal dialysis means from the first hollow tube.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the fiber is composed of a polymeric material having a pore size of from about 0.1 to 1.0 μ

m.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the fiber is composed of a polymeric material having a pore size of about 0.2 to 0.8 μ

m.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the fiber is composed of a polymeric material having a pore size of about 0.4 to 0.6 μ

m.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the extracorporeal dialysis means comprises at least one hollow fiber of polymeric material having pore size sufficient to allow the toxic metabolic waste in the plasma to diffuse through the pores but not sufficient to allow other plasma components to diffuse therethrough.

7. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the fiber of the extracorporeal dialysis means has a pore size of about 0.0015 to 0.003 μ

m.

8. An apparatus for continuous in vivo separation of plasma from blood and extracorporeal dialysis of the plasma, comprising:

a primary filter comprising at least one elongated microporous fiber having a hollow interior and dimensioned to fit within a blood vessel;

the pore size of the fiber being sufficient to allow plasma to diffuse through the pores into the hollow interior but not sufficient to allow cellular components larger than plasma to diffuse therethrough;

means comprising a first hollow tube connected to the primary filter to receive the plasma from the interior of the fiber;

an extracorporeal secondary filter connected to receive the plasma passing through the first tube and operative to remove toxic metabolic waste from the plasma; and

means comprising a second hollow tube connected to return the plasma from the extracorporeal secondary filter to a blood vessel.

9. The apparatus as in claim 8, wherein:

the primary filter includes a header dimensioned to fit within the first-mentioned blood vessel without substantially obstructing fluid flow through the blood vessel;

the fiber extends outwardly from the header within the blood vessel;

the first hollow tube is in fluid flow communication with the header to remove the plasma from the blood vessel; and

the second hollow tube is in fluid flow communication with the header to return the plasma from the extracorporeal dialysis means to said blood vessel.

10. An apparatus for kidney dialysis using in vivo separation of plasma from blood and extracorporeal separation of toxic metabolic waste from the separated plasma, comprising:

a primary filter comprising a microporous membrane dimensioned to be received within a blood vessel without significantly obstructing fluid flow through said blood vessel, the pore size of the membrane being sufficient to allow plasma to diffuse through the pores but not sufficient to allow cellular components larger than plasma to diffuse therethrough;

plasma collection means in fluid communication with the membrane and having a hollow tube which conducts plasma from the primary filter;

extracorporeal dialysis means connected to receive the plasma passing through the tube and removing toxic metabolic waste from the plasma; and

means conducting the plasma from the extracorporeal dialysis means for return to a blood vessel.

11. A method for continuous kidney dialysis using plasma in lieu of blood, comprising the steps of:

implanting in a blood vessel at least one elongated microporous fiber having a hollow interior and dimensioned to be received within a blood vessel without significantly obstructing fluid flow through the blood vessel, the pore size of the elongated microporous fiber being sufficient to allow plasma to diffuse through the pores into the hollow interior of the fiber but not sufficient to allow cellular components larger than plasma to diffuse therethrough;

placing the hollow interior of said elongated fiber in fluid communication with a means for conducting plasma comprising a first hollow tube which connects to the hollow interior of the fiber and permits passage of plasma from the fiber, and a second discrete tube which returns plasma to said blood vessel;

removing plasma from the blood vessel;

treating the removed plasma to remove toxic metabolic waste from the plasma; and

re-infusing thne plasma into the blood vessel.