Diaphragm pump and related systems and methods

• US 8,038,640 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2007
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Purity Solutions ,LLC
• Inventors: Orr, Troy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEAK, LESLIE R
• Application Number:
  US11/945,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20090137940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4.01, 604/5.04, 604/6.09, 604/6.1, 604/6.11, 604 65- 67, 417/477.2, 417/395, 417/493
• US Class Current: 604/6.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1698 Blood oxygenators with or without heat-exchangers intracorporal A61M1/1678; manufacturing of membranes therefor B01D67/00; semi-permeable membranes for separation processes characterised by their properties B01D69/00; semi-permeable membranes characterised by their material B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3666 Cardiac or cardiopulmonary bypass, e.g. heart-lung machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/109 incorporated within extracorporeal blood circuits or systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/113 in other functional devices, e.g. dialysers or heart-lung machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/268 the displacement member being flexible, e.g. membranes, diaphragms or bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/427 the force acting on the blood contacting member being hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/43 using vacuum at the blood pump, e.g. to accelerate filling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/531 using blood pressure data, e.g. from blood pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/554 of blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/851 Valves

Abstract

In some arrangements, a pump for moving a fluid has one or more pump chambers and one or more flow control valves with diaphragm actuation regions. Motive fluid can activate the diaphragm actuation regions, and a pattern of fluid flow can be controlled by varying the pressure levels of the motive fluid.

Claims

1. A hemodialysis system for removing blood from a patient and returning blood to the patient, the system comprising:

a single blood pump that comprises;

a first pump chamber and a second pump chamber;

a first inlet valve configured to control the flow of blood to the first pump chamber;

a second inlet valve configured to control the flow of blood to the second pump chamber;

a first outlet valve configured to control the flow of blood from the first pump chamber; and

a second outlet valve configured to control the flow of blood from the second pump chamber;

a dialyzer in fluid communication with the blood pump;

one or more pressure sensors configured to obtain information regarding blood pressure within the system; and

a control base coupled with the pump, the control base comprising a controllable pneumatic regulator that is configured to control a pressure level of motive fluid that is delivered to the pump, the control base configured to selectively provide fluid communication between a first source of motive fluid at a first pressure level and the pump, the control base configured to alternate between a first state and a second state at a cycle rate, the control base configured to provide fluid communication between the first source of motive fluid and the first pump chamber of the pump in the first state and configured to provide fluid communication between the first source of motive fluid and the second pump chamber of the pump in the second state,

wherein the control base is configured to receive information regarding blood pressure within the system from the one or more pressure sensors, and

wherein the control base is configured to utilize the information to selectively control a setting of the pneumatic regulator so as to control the pressure level of motive fluid that is delivered to the pump to effect a substantially constant flow of blood uptake from the patient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control base is configured to provide fluid communication between a second source of motive fluid at a second pressure level and the second pump chamber of the pump when in the first state and between the second source of motive fluid and the first pump chamber of the pump when in the second state.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the control base is configured to utilize the information regarding blood pressure within the system to selectively control one or more of the second pressure level and the cycle rate to effect a substantially constant flow of blood uptake from the patient.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control base is configured to utilize the information regarding blood pressure within the system to selectively control one or more of the pressure level of motive fluid that is delivered to the pump and the cycle rate to effect a pulsatile flow of blood to the dialyzer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control base is configured to utilize the information regarding blood pressure within the system to selectively control one or more of the pressure level of motive fluid that is delivered to the pump and the cycle rate to effect an effectively constant flow of blood return to the patient.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control base is configured to actuate the first and the second pump chambers such that the first pump chamber fills with blood as the second pump chamber expels blood.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first pump chamber comprises a first diaphragm actuation region configured to move within the first pump chamber between end-of-stroke positions and the second pump chamber comprises a second diaphragm actuation region configured to move within the second pump chamber between end-of-stroke positions, and

wherein the control base selectively controls one or more of the pressure level of motive fluid that is delivered to the pump and the cycle rate to prevent the first diaphragm actuation region from reaching an end-of-stroke position as the first pump chamber fills with blood and to prevent the second diaphragm actuation region from reaching an end-of-stroke position as the second pump chamber fills with blood.

8. The blood pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pump and the control base are configured to couple with each other in releasable engagement such that the pump can be removed from the control base and replaced with another pump of like construction.

9. The blood pumping system of claim 1, wherein one of the pump and the control base comprises a hook and the other of the pump and the control base comprises a latch, the hook and latch configured to cooperate to selectively connect the pump with the control base.

10. The blood pumping system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first pump chamber, the first inlet valve, and the first outlet valve comprises a diaphragm actuation region that defines a dome height when in a natural state.