On demand and post-treatment delivery of saline to a dialysis patient

• US 7,713,226 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renal Solutions, Inc. (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Renal Solutions, Inc. (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Carr, David J., Ash, Stephen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deak; Leslie
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARCETICH, ADAM M
• Application Number:
  US11/443,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20070161941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4.01, 604/5.01, 604/6.06, 210/134, 210/138, 210/139, 210/143, 210/257.2, 210/646, 210/195.2, 422/48
• US Class Current: 604/4.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/342 Adding solutions to the blood, e.g. substitution solutions for preventing coagulation A61M1/3672
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3434 with pre-dilution and post-dilution
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3437 downstream of the filter, e.g. post-dilution with filtrate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3458 having electrolytes not present in the dialysate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3643 Priming, rinsing before or after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3646 Expelling the residual body fluid after use, e.g. back to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407

Abstract

Apparatus for use in a dialysis system are disclosed including an apparatus for delivering saline during dialysis treatment, an apparatus for delivering saline to a patient after dialysis treatment has ended, and an apparatus for alerting a patient that dialysis treatment is about to end. In the apparatus for delivering saline during dialysis treatment, a controller is configured to automatically deliver saline in response to a request. In the apparatus for delivering saline to a patient after dialysis treatment has ended, a controller is configured to automatically deliver saline after dialysis treatment has concluded, but before the patient is disconnected in response to a request. In the apparatus for alerting a patient that dialysis treatment is about to end, a controller is configured to monitor a dialysis treatment and activate an alarm when treatment is about to end.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a dialyzer;

a blood inlet conduit configured to convey blood from a patient to the dialyzer;

a saline reservoir;

a saline conduit connecting the saline reservoir to the blood inlet conduit;

a saline flow regulator configured to control fluid flow through the saline conduit; and

a controller configured to administer successive doses of saline to a patient connected to the blood inlet conduit by successively opening and closing the saline flow regulator to permit a dose volume of saline to flow into the blood inlet conduit;

wherein the controller is further configured to operate the saline flow regulator in a blood rinse-back mode, and to retain a minimum volume of saline to perform blood rinse-back before the patient is disconnected by preventing a user from dispensing saline that would decrease the remaining volume below a reserve volume.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to record the successive doses of saline to establish a medical record.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the controller has a user interface configured for a user to choose from a preset array of dose volumes.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the controller has a user interface configured for a user to input a signal calling for a dose of saline to a patient connected to the blood inlet conduit, and the controller is configured to administer a dose of saline in response to the signal any time during a dialysis treatment.