Extracorporeal blood processing methods and apparatus

• US 6,361,518 B1
• Filed: 04/28/1998
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc. (Terumo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gambro, Inc. (DaVita Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hempstead, Russell, Brierton, Mark J., Bilodeau, Leon E., Dolecek, Victor D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bianco, Patricia
• Application Number:
  US09/067,209
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4-6, 604/4.01, 604/5.01, 604/5-2-, 604/6-1-, 604/6.1, 604/6.15, 604/45, 494/18, 494/42, 494/45, 494/17, 494/36, 494/85, 494/21, 494/43, 494/37, 210/645-47, 210/739, 210/741, 210/767, 210/787, 210/781-82, 210/790, 210/252, 210/256, 210/258, 210/259-61, 210/254, 422/44
• US Class Current: 604/6.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/303 having a reservoir for treated blood to be returned
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/308 Volume control, e.g. with open or flexible containers, by counting the number of pump revolutions, weighing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36222 Details related to the interface between cassette and machine
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36224 with sensing means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36225 with blood pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36226 Constructional details of cassettes, e.g. specific details on material or shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362262 Details of incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362263 Details of incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362265 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362266 Means for adding solutions or substances to the blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3624 Level detectors; Level control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3639 Blood pressure control, pressure transducers specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3641 Pressure isolators
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3652 using gas, e.g. air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3692 Washing or rinsing blood or blood constituents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3693 using separation based on different densities of components, e.g. centrifuging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3696 with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/125 with incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 : Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2005/045 : having annular separation channels
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 5/0442 : with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 9/08 : Arrangement or disposition of transmission gearing for solid bowl screw centrifuges B04B1/2016; Couplings; Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation

Abstract

An extracorporeal blood processing system is disclosed which includes a variety of novel components and which may be operated in accordance with a variety of novel methodologies. For instance, the system includes a graphical operator interface which directs the operator through various aspects of the apheresis procedure. Moreover, the system also includes a variety of features relating to loading a blood processing vessel into a blood processing channel and removing the same after completion of the procedure. Furthermore, the system also includes a variety of features relating to utilizing a blood priming of at least portions of the apheresis system in preparation for the procedure. In addition, the system includes a variety of features enhancing the performance of the apheresis system, including the interrelationship between the blood processing vessel and the blood processing vessel and the utilization of high packing factors for the procedure.

Claims

1. A disposable assembly for use in an extracorporeal blood processing system comprising:

a single needle for removal of whole blood from a donor and return of uncollected blood components to a donor;

a blood removal conduit fluidly interconnected to said single needle for transferring said whole blood from a donor;

a blood return conduit fluidly interconnected to said single needle for transferring said uncollected blood components;

a fluid reservoir interconnected to said blood removal and blood return conduits for accumulating and disposing of said uncollected blood components; and

a gas holder interconnected to said fluid reservoir for receiving gas from said fluid reservoir as said fluid reservoir accumulates uncollected blood components and returning said gas to said fluid reservoir as said fluid reservoir disposes of uncollected components.

2. A disposable assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a molded cassette member, wherein said fluid reservoir, a portion of said blood removal conduit and a portion of said blood return conduit are each integrally defined within said molded cassette member.

3. A disposable assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said gas holder comprises a flexible bag and a flexible tubing interconnecting said flexible bag and said fluid reservoir.

4. A disposable assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of blood component conduits fluidly interconnected to said fluid reservoir for separately transferring uncollected blood components thereto.

5. A disposable assembly as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

at least one blood component collector fluidly interconnected to a corresponding one of said blood component conduits.

6. A disposable assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gas comprises air.

7. A disposable assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gas is sterile.

8. A disposable assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a blood separation device interconnected to said fluid reservoir wherein gas is vented from said blood separation device to said gas holder via said fluid reservoir.

9. A disposable for use in an extracorporeal blood processing system comprising:

a single needle for removal of whole blood from a donor and return of uncollected blood components to a donor;

a blood removal conduit fluidly interconnected to said single needle for transferring said whole blood from a donor;

a blood return conduit fluidly interconnected to said single needle for transferring said uncollected blood components;

a fluid reservoir interconnected to said blood removal and blood return conduits for accumulating and disposing of said uncollected blood components; and

an air holder interconnected to said fluid reservoir for receiving air from said fluid reservoir as said fluid reservoir accumulates uncollected blood components and returning said air to said fluid reservoir as said fluid reservoir disposes of uncollected components.

10. A disposable assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said air holder comprises a flexible bag and a flexible tubing interconnecting said flexible bag and said fluid reservoir.

11. A disposable assembly as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a molded cassette member, wherein said fluid reservoir and a portion of said blood removal and blood return conduits are each integrally defined within said molded cassette member.

12. A disposable assembly as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of blood component conduits fluidly interconnected to said fluid reservoir for separately transferring uncollected blood components thereto.