×

Measurement of a blood flow rate in hemodialysis shunts

  • US 7,473,371 B2
  • Filed: 04/13/2005
  • Issued: 01/06/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method for obtaining a measure of blood flow rate in a patient arterio-venous shunt, the arterio-venous shunt being connected to an extracorporeal blood circulating system, the extracorporeal blood circulating system having a dialyzer connected to the arterio-venous shunt by a first and a second line, wherein the first line directs blood from the arterio-venous shunt to the dialyzer and the second line directs blood from the dialyzer to the arterio-venous shunt, the method comprising the steps of:

  • (a) connecting the dialyzer to the arterio-venous shunt with an inlet of the first line located downstream from an outlet of the second line;

    (b) providing a change in a parameter of the blood flowing in the extracorporeal blood circulating system; and

    (c) obtaining the measure of blood flow rate in the arterio-venous shunt based upon a resulting dilution curve by the change in said parameter of the blood and a dialyzer blood flow rate.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×