Extracorporeal blood processing methods and apparatus

• US 7,108,672 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• 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, Garrison, Denise C, Steele, Chad C, Wahl, Terry R
• Primary Examiner(s): Bianco, Patricia
• Application Number:
  US10/710,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20040254515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4.01, 604/5.01, 604 601- 605, 604/6.16, 422/44, 210781-782, 210739- 41, 210744- 46, 210/767, 210/85, 210 87- 90, 210/143, 494/1, 494/7, 494/36, 494/37, 494/43, 494 84- 85, 494/60, 494/35, 128/898, 128/920, 128/923
• US Class Current: 604/6.01
• 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 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 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 and at least one blood passageway associated with said blood component separation device, said method comprising the steps of:

introducing blood into said at least one blood passageway;

separating said blood into a plurality of blood components;

removing at least one of said blood components from said at least one blood passageway;

detecting a presence of a condition associated with said apheresis system, wherein said first condition is a problem relating to at least one of said method and said apheresis system;

performing a first prompting step, said first prompting step comprising;

prompting an operator of said apheresis system to perform an investigation of said apheresis system in relation to said condition;

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

performing a second prompting step, said second prompting step comprising;

prompting said operator to select a condition from said plurality of conditions and to perform a remedial action as a result of said investigation to said apheresis system.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

graphically indicating to said operator of said apheresis system a protocol for performing said investigation.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said graphically indicating step comprises:

utilizing text.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said graphically indicating step comprises:

utilizing at least one pictorial.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

specifying said result of said investigation; and

displaying at least one graphic to said operator of said apheresis system indicative of an action to be undertaken by said operator.

6. A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said displaying step comprises:

providing text.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein first displaying step comprises:

providing at least one pictorial.

8. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said detecting step is performed by said apheresis system.

9. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said performing a first prompting step comprises:

textually indicating said plurality of conditions to an operator of said apheresis system.

10. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said performing a second prompting step comprises:

simultaneously providing a plurality of predetermined results associated with said first condition to said operator.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one blood passageway comprises a blood processing channel and a blood processing vessel, said method further comprising the step of:

disposing said blood processing vessel within said blood processing channel.

12. 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 another prompting from said operator.

13. 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 one sensor, said method comprising the steps of:

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

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

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

monitoring said at least one sensor;

detecting a first condition based on said monitoring step, wherein said first condition is a problem relating to at least one of said method and said apheresis system;

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

first prompting an operator of said apheresis system to first investigate said apheresis system regarding said first condition; and

second prompting said operator to select a condition from said plurality of conditions and to input data relating to said first investigation to said apheresis system.

14. A method, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said step of first prompting comprises:

graphically displaying information on said operator interface display relating to said first condition to said operator of said apheresis system; and

graphically displaying on said operator interface display at least one remedial action to be performed by said operator, said remedial action relating to said first condition.

15. A method, as claimed in claim 14, further comprising the step of:

third prompting an operator of said apheresis system to second investigate said apheresis system regarding a second condition; and

fourth prompting said operator to input data relating to said second investigation to said apheresis system.

16. A method, as claimed in claim 15, wherein said step of third prompting comprises:

textually displaying information on said operator interface display relating to said first condition to said operator of said apheresis system; and

textually displaying on said operator interface display at least one remedial action to be performed by said operator, said remedial action relating to said first condition.

17. A method, as claimed in claim 15, wherein said step of third prompting comprises:

graphically displaying information on said operator interface display relating to said first condition to said operator of said apheresis system; and

graphically displaying on said operator interface display at least one remedial action to be performed by said operator, said remedial action relating to said first condition.

18. A method, as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

third prompting an operator of said apheresis system to second investigate said apheresis system regarding a second condition; and

fourth prompting said operator to input data relating to said second investigation to said apheresis system.

19. A method, as claimed in claim 18, wherein said step of third prompting comprises:

textually displaying information on said operator interface display relating to said first condition to said operator of said apheresis system; and

textually displaying on said operator interface display at least one remedial action to be performed by said operator, said remedial action relating to said first condition.

20. A method, as claimed in claim 18, wherein said step of third prompting comprises:

graphically displaying information on said operator interface display relating to said first condition to said operator of said apheresis system; and

graphically displaying on said operator interface display at least one remedial action to be performed by said operator, said remedial action relating to said first condition.

21. A method, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said step of first prompting comprises:

textually displaying information on said operator interface display relating to said first condition to said operator of said apheresis system; and

textually displaying on said operator interface display at least one remedial action to be performed by said operator, said remedial action relating to said first condition.

22. 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 one sensor, said method comprising the steps of:

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

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

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

monitoring said at least one sensor;

notifying an operator of said apheresis system of a condition based on said monitoring step;

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

first prompting an operator of said apheresis system to first investigate said apheresis system regarding said first condition; and

second prompting said operator to select a condition from said plurality of conditions and to input data relating to said first investigation to said apheresis system.

23. A method, as claimed in claim 22, wherein said step of notifying comprises:

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

24. A method, as claimed in claim 22, wherein said step of third notifying comprises:

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