Extracorporeal fluid circuit and related methods

• US 6,561,997 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2000
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seastar Medical, Inc. (LMF Acquisition Opportunities, Inc.), Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Original Assignee: Nephros Therapeutics, Inc. (Renamed Biologics, Inc.), Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Inventors: Paganini, Emil Presley, Weitzel, William Frederick, Funke, Angela J., Buffington, Deborah Ann, Humes, H. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deak, Leslie R.
• Application Number:
  US09/553,772
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4-5, 604/7-8, 604/6.09, 604/6.11, 422/44, 210/57, 210/646, 210/645, 210/647, 210/650, 210/195.2
• US Class Current: 604/6.09
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/34 Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/341 by measuring the filtrate rate or volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3603 in the same direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3621 Extra-corporeal blood circuits single-needle circuits A61M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3623 Means for actively controlling temperature of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3655 Arterio-venous shunts or fistulae
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature

Abstract

A circuit for extracorporeal treatment of a body fluid, the circuit including in serial fluidic communication an inlet for receiving the body fluid from a patient, a first pump, a first treatment device for processing the body fluid, a second pump, an outlet for returning processed body fluid to the patient; and a shunt. The shunt is upstream from the first pump and downstream from the second pump.

Claims

1. A circuit for extracorporeal treatment of a fluid from a body, the circuit comprising;

(a) a first section comprising in serial fluidic communication;

(1) an inlet for receiving a body fluid from a source;

(2) a first pump;

(3) a first treatment device for processing the body fluid;

(4) a second pump;

(5) an outlet for providing processed body fluid to the body; and

(6) a shunt, wherein the shunt is upstream from the first pump and downstream from the second pump; and

(b) a second section comprising a first conduit for receiving an additional fluid from the source, wherein the first conduit is located upstream from and is in fluidic communication with the first treatment device, and wherein the first treatment device comprises a porous member capable of permitting at least a portion of the additional fluid to combine with at least a portion of the body fluid.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the body fluid is altered prior to entering the inlet.

3. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the shunt connects the inlet to the outlet.

4. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the source comprises a second treatment device and the circuit further comprises the second treatment device upstream from the inlet.

5. The circuit of claim 4 wherein the circuit further comprises a third pump upstream from the second treatment device.

6. The circuit of claim 3 wherein a connector is disposed between and in fluidic communication with the inlet and the shunt.

7. The circuit of claim 3 wherein a connector is disposed between and in fluidic communication with the outlet and the shunt.

8. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the inlet comprises a conduit.

9. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the outlet comprises a conduit.

10. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the inlet is disposable.

11. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the outlet is disposable.

12. The circuit of claim 6 wherein the connector is disposable.

13. The circuit of claim 7 wherein the connector is disposable.

14. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the first treatment device performs at least one function of a human organ.

16. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the shunt is in parallel with the first treatment device.

17. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising a supply pump in fluidic communication with the first conduit for pumping the additional fluid into the first treatment device.

18. The circuit of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the additional fluid receivable within the first conduit and at least a portion of the body fluid receivable within the inlet combine within the first treatment device.

19. The circuit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the fluids is altered within the first treatment device.

20. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising a waste receptacle in fluidic communication with the first treatment device.

21. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising at least one heating device in association with the circuit.

22. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising a anticoagulant infuser in fluidic communication with the circuit.

23. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising at least one pressure monitor in association with the circuit.

24. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising at least one flow monitor in association with the circuit.

25. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the pumps have a pumping rate from about 10 ml/min to about 1000 ml/min.

26. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the first pump has a pumping rate that differs from a second pumping rate of the second pump by a value ranging from about 1 ml/min to about 200 ml/min.

27. The circuit of claim 1 wherein a cell is located adjacent the porous member.

28. The circuit of claim 27 wherein the cell is capable of altering the additional fluid or the body fluid.

29. The circuit of claim 27 wherein the cell is viable.

30. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the body fluid comprises filtered blood.

15. The circuit of 14 wherein the first treatment device comprises a renal assist device.

31. A method for treating a patient with a compromised bodily function comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a circuit comprising;

(1) a first section comprising in serial fluidic communication;

(i) an inlet for receiving a body fluid from a source,

(ii) a first pump,

(iii) a first treatment device for processing the body fluid,

(iv) a second pump,

(v) an outlet for providing processed body fluid to the patient, and

(vi) a shunt, wherein the shunt is upstream from the first pump and downstream from the second pump; and

(2) a second section comprising a first conduit for receiving an additional fluid from the source, wherein the first conduit is located upstream from and is in fluidic communication with the first treatment device, and wherein the first treatment device comprises a porous member capable of permitting at least a portion of the additional fluid to combine with at least a portion of the body fluid; and

(b) moving the body fluid through at least a portion of the circuit; and

(c) providing processed body fluid to the patient.

32. The method for treating a patient of claim 31 wherein the compromised bodily function comprises a renal abnormality.

33. The method for treating a patient of claim 31 wherein the body fluid comprises blood.

34. The method for treating a patient of claim 31 wherein the body fluid comprises filtered blood.

35. A circuit for extracorporeal treatment of a fluid from a body, the circuit comprising:

(a) a first section comprising in serial fluidic communication;

(1) an inlet for receiving a body fluid from a source;

(2) a first treatment device for processing the body fluid;

(3) a first pump;

(4) an outlet for providing processed body fluid to the body; and

(5) a shunt, wherein the shunt connects the inlet with the outlet; and

(b) a second section comprising in serial fluidic communication;

(1) a first conduit for receiving an additional fluid from the source;

(2) a second pump;

(3) the first treatment device for processing the additional fluid; and

(4) a third pump, wherein the first treatment device comprises a porous member capable of permitting at least a portion of the additional fluid to combine with at least a portion of the body fluid.

36. The circuit of claim 35 wherein the body fluid comprises filtered blood.

37. A method for treating a patient with a compromised bodily function comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a circuit comprising a first section comprising in serial fluidic communication an inlet for receiving a body fluid from a source, a first treatment device for processing the body fluid, a first pump, an outlet for providing processed body fluid to the patient, and a shunt, wherein the shunt connects the inlet with the outlet; and

a second section comprising in serial fluidic communication a first conduit for receiving an additional fluid from the source, a second pump, the first treatment device for processing the additional fluid, and a third pump, wherein the first treatment device comprises a porous member capable of permitting at least a portion of the additional fluid to combine with at least a portion of the body fluid;

(b) moving the body fluid through at least a portion of the first section and the additional fluid through at least a portion of the second section; and

(c) providing processed body fluid to the patient.

38. The circuit of claim 37 wherein the body fluid comprises filtered blood.