Extracorporeal blood processing methods and apparatus

• US 6,790,195 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• 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: Bainbridge, Marlene Adele, Wahl, Terry R., Steele, Chad C., Garrison, Denise C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bianco, Patricia
• Application Number:
  US09/940,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20020032398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4.01, 604/5.01, 604/6-1-, 604/6.16, 422/44, 210/781-82, 210/739-41, 210/744-46, 210/767, 210/85, 210/87-90, 210/143, 128/898, 128/920, 128/923, 494/1, 494/7, 494/36, 494/37, 494/43, 494/84, 494/85, 494/60, 494/35, 706/900, 706/924, 706/932, 714/100, 714/25, 714/26, 714/30, 714/31, 714/46, 714/47, 714/48, 714/49
• US Class Current: 604/6.02
• 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 1/362264 the filter being a blood filter
• 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

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 sytem 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 channel and the utilization of high packing factors for the procedure.

Claims

1. A method for processing blood in an apheresis system comprising a blood component separation device, at least one blood passageway associated with said blood component separation device, an operator interface display and at least the sensor, said method comprising the steps of:

introducing blood into said at least one blood passageway and said blood separating device;

a separating said blood into a plurality of component types using said blood separate device;

removing at least one of said blood component types from said at least one blood passageway;

first prompting said apheresis system of the presence of an observed condition, said first prompting step being performed by an operator of said apheresis system and wherein said first condition is a problem relating to at least one of said method and said apheresis system;

simultaneously displaying on said operator interface display a plurality of condition, each condition having at least one remedial action;

second prompting said apheresis system to select a condition from said plurality of conditions and to perform one of said at least one remedial action from said displaying step, said second prompting step being performed by an operator of said apheresis system.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stop of displaying comprises:

graphically depicting information on said operator interface display relating to said plurality of conditions to said operator of said apheresis system.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of displaying comprises:

textually indicating information on said operator interface display relating to said plurality of conditions to said operator of said apheresis system.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of displaying a plurality of conditions comprises initially displaying a first set of conditions on a first screen and subsequently displaying at least one set of further conditions on a second screen in response to a another prompting from said operator.