Methods for priming a blood compartment of a hemodialyzer

• US 6,331,252 B1
• Filed: 07/31/1998
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: El Sayyid, Waleed Mutasem, Casterline, Cameron Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, SUN U
• Application Number:
  US09/126,761
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 210/645, 210/646, 210/647, 210/650, 210/739, 210/929, 210/321.65, 210/321.71, 210/252, 210/257.2, 210/258, 604/4, 604/5, 604/6, 604/4.01, 604/5.01
• US Class Current: 210/646
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1601 Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1647 with flow rate measurement of the dialysis fluid, upstream and downstream of the dialyser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/165 with a dialyser bypass on the dialysis fluid line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3403 Regulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3427 back through the membrane, e.g. by inverted trans-membrane pressure [TMP]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3643 Priming, rinsing before or after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3644 Mode of operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/365 through membranes, e.g. by inverted trans-membrane pressure [TMP]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/929 Hemoultrafiltrate volume measurement or control processes

Abstract

A method for priming a hemodialyzer is disclosed. Hemodialyzer comprises a dialysate compartment, a blood compartment, and a dialysis membrane separating the dialysate and blood compartments. The method comprises the steps of delivering a liquid to a dialysate inlet of the dialysate compartment at a first volumetric delivery rate, passing the liquid through the dialysate compartment from the dialysate inlet to a dialysate outlet of the hemodialyzer and delivering the liquid from the dialysate outlet at a second volumetric delivery rate that is less than the first volumetric delivery rate so as to cause a net flow of the liquid from the dialysate compartment to the blood compartment through the dialysis membrane.

Claims

1. In a hemodialysis method, a method for priming a blood compartment of a hemodialyzer, the method comprising:

(a) providing a liquid;

(b) conducting the liquid through a first positive displacement pump, then through a first flowmeter, then to a dialysate inlet of a dialysate compartment of the hemodialyzer, the first pump delivering the liquid to the dialysate inlet at a first volumetric pumping rate as measured by the first flowmeter;

(c) after passing the liquid through the dialysate compartment, conducting the liquid from an outlet of the dialysate compartment through a second flowmeter, then through a second positive displacement pump, the second pump pumping the liquid at a second volumetric pumping rate, as measured by the second flowmeter, that is less than the pumping rate of the first pump so as to urge net flow of the liquid from the dialysate compartment to the blood compartment of the hemodialyzer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid is a dialysate solution.

3. The method of claim 1, including the step of circulating the liquid through blood lines connected to the blood compartment of the hemodialyzer.

4. In a hemodialysis method, a method for priming a hemodialyzer comprising a dialysate compartment, a blood compartment, and a dialysis membrane separating the dialysate and blood compartments, the method comprising the steps:

(a) delivering a liquid to a dialysate inlet of the dialysate compartment at a first volumetric delivery rate;

(b) passing the liquid through the dialysate compartment from the dialysate inlet to a dialysate outlet of the hemodialyzer; and

(c) delivering the liquid from the dialysate outlet at a second volumetric delivery rate that is less than the first volumetric delivery rate so as to cause a net flow of the liquid from the dialysate compartment to the blood compartment through the dialysis membrane.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of rinsing the blood compartment with the liquid entering the blood compartment through the dialysis membrane.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of causing the liquid entering the blood compartment through the dialysis membrane to flow into blood lines connected to the blood compartment.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of rinsing the blood compartment and blood lines with the liquid entering the blood compartment through the dialysis membrane.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein;

the step of delivering the liquid to the dialysate inlet comprises conducting the liquid through a first positive-displacement pump to the dialysate inlet; and

the step of delivering the liquid away from the dialysate outlet comprises conducting the liquid from the dialysate outlet through a second positive-displacement pump.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first positive-displacement pump is caused to run at a first volumetric pumping rate, and the second positive-displacement pump is caused to run at a second volumetric pumping rate that is lower than the first volumetric pumping rate.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the liquid is a dialysate solution.

11. The method of claim 4, including the step of measuring the net flow of liquid through the dialysis membrane.

12. In a hemodialysis method employing a hemodialyzer comprising a dialysate compartment, a blood compartment, and a dialysis membrane separating the dialysate and blood compartments, a method for adding a liquid to the blood compartment, the method comprising the steps:

(a) delivering a liquid to a dialysate inlet of the dialysate compartment at a first volumetric delivery rate;

(b) passing the liquid through the dialysate compartment from the dialysate inlet to a dialysate outlet of the hemodialyzer; and

(c) delivering the liquid from the dialysate outlet at a second volumetric delivery rate that is less than the first volumetric delivery rate so as to cause a net flow of the liquid from the dialysate compartment to the blood compartment through the dialysis membrane.

13. In a hemodialysis method utilizing a hemodialyzer comprising a dialysate compartment, a blood compartment, and a dialysis membrane separating the dialysate and blood compartments, a method for delivering a filtered liquid into the blood compartment, the method comprising the steps:

(a) delivering a liquid to a dialysate inlet of the dialysate compartment at a first volumetric delivery rate;

(b) passing the liquid through the dialysate compartment from the dialysate inlet to a dialysate outlet of the hemodialyzer; and

(c) delivering the liquid from the dialysate outlet at a second volumetric delivery rate that is less than the first volumetric delivery rate so as to cause a net flow of the liquid from the dialysate compartment through the dialysis membrane, whereby the liquid entering the blood compartment from the dialysate compartment is filtered by flowing through the dialysis membrane.

14. In a hemodialysis method utilizing a hemodialyzer comprising a dialysate compartment with an inlet and an outlet, a blood compartment, and a dialysis membrane separating the dialysate and blood compartments, a method for delivering a liquid into the blood compartment, the method comprising the steps:

(a) providing a ultrafiltration loop comprising a first volumetric delivery device and a second volumetric delivery device;

(b) connecting the dialysate compartment to the ultrafiltration loop by connecting the inlet of the dialysate compartment to an output of the first volumetric delivery device and connecting the outlet of the dialysate compartment to an inlet of the second volumetric delivery device;

(c) operating the first volumetric delivery device in a manner by which a liquid is delivered, from a source outside the ultrafiltration loop, at a first volumetric delivery rate by the first volumetric delivery device to the inlet of the dialysate compartment, thereby causing the liquid to flow through the dialysate compartment from the inlet to the outlet of the dialysate compartment; and

(d) operating the second volumetric delivery device in a manner by which the liquid is delivered, from the outlet of the dialysate compartment, by the second volumetric delivery device at a second volumetric delivery rate that is less than the first volumetric delivery rate so as to cause a net flow of the liquid from the dialysate compartment to the blood compartment through the dialysis membrane.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the liquid entering the blood compartment from the dialysate compartment is filtered by flowing through the dialysis membrane.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

controlling operation of the first volumetric delivery device so as to control the first volumetric delivery rate; and

controlling operation of the second volumetric delivery device so as to control the second volumetric delivery rate.