Device and method for filtering blood

• US 8,153,008 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Nilsson, Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, John
• Application Number:
  US10/514,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20050126962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,254 Days
• Field of Search: 210/645, 210/646, 210/650, 210/651, 210/109, 210/114, 210/195.2, 210/252, 210/256, 210/257.1, 210/257.2, 210/321.6, 210/321.65, 210/321.78, 210/321.79, 210/321.8, 210/321.87, 210/321.88, 210/321.89, 210/433.1, 210/436, 210/472, 210/473, 210/477, 422/44, 604/4.01, 604/5.01, 604/6.09, 604/6.15, 604/403, 604/404, 604/405, 604/408
• US Class Current: 210/650
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/34 Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/341 by measuring the filtrate rate or volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 on the body

Abstract

Device (5) for filtering blood including a filter unit (7) having a blood filter, an inlet (8) for blood to be filtered and being connectable to an artery of a patient and a blood outlet (9) for filtered blood and being connectable to a vein of the patient, and having a filtrate container (6,14), that encloses the filter unit (7), for receiving filtrate (12) passing through the blood filter during a filtering process and that the filtrate container (6,14) is a closed container, which in a filled state is arranged to establish a counter-pressure over the blood filter, whereby the filtering process is interrupted. The invention also concerns a system including the above device.

Claims

1. A device for filtering blood comprising:

a filter unit in connection with an inlet for blood to be filtered and being connectable to an artery of a patient through an inlet nipple and a blood outlet for filtered blood and being connectable to a vein of the patient through an outlet nipple, the filter unit further comprising closed ends in inlet and outlet regions of the filter unit which are connected to the inlet nipple and the outlet nipple, and

a filtrate container for receiving filtrate passing through the filter unit during a filtering process, said filtrate container enclosing the filter unit,

the filtrate container being a closed container and, in a filled state, the filtrate container establishes a counter-pressure over the filter unit so that the filtering process is interrupted,

the filtrate container including a substantially rigid vessel for collecting filtrate and an air vent for allowing the escape of air from the vessel during a filtering process.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the air vent comprises an air permeable, liquid non-permeable membrane.

3. A method for filtering blood of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a filter unit having an inlet and an outlet, and a filtrate container enclosing said filter unit in an upper portion of the filtrate container for receiving filtrate passing through the filter unit during a filtering process, wherein the filter unit further comprises closed ends in inlet and outlet regions of the filter unit which are connected to an inlet nipple and an outlet nipple;

connecting the filter unit inlet to an artery of the patient and the filter unit outlet to a vein of the patient;

providing sufficient pressure difference for driving a portion of a liquid component of the blood through the filter unit to form a filtrate;

collecting the filtrate in at least a lower portion of the filtrate container;

discharging remaining components of the blood via the filter unit outlet; and

interrupting or stopping the filtering process when a counter pressure over the filter unit is established in the filtrate container.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the filtrate container includes a flexible and expandable container that is collapsed in an empty state.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the flexible and expandable container is enclosed in a substantially rigid outer container.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein the filter unit comprises a substantially tubular filter body.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the filter unit is an ultra filtration filter.

10. The method according to claim 3, wherein the filtrate container has a filtration volume of about 0.2-1 liter.

11. The method according to claim 3, wherein an implanted bloodstream access device is provided for connecting with said inlet and outlet of the filter unit.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the above steps are performed to partially replace a hemodialysis treatment.

4. A method for filtering blood of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a filter unit having an inlet and an outlet, and a filtrate container enclosing said filter unit for receiving filtrate passing through the filter unit during a filtering process, wherein the filter unit further comprises closed ends in inlet and outlet regions of the filter unit which are connected to an inlet nipple and an outlet nipple;

connecting the filter unit inlet to an artery of the patient and the filter unit outlet to a vein of the patient;

providing sufficient pressure difference for driving a portion of a liquid component of the blood through the filter unit to form a filtrate;

collecting the filtrate in the filtrate container;

discharging remaining components of the blood via the filter unit outlet; and

interrupting or stopping the filtering process when a counter pressure over the filter unit is established in the filtrate container, the filtrate container including a substantially rigid vessel for collecting filtrate and an air vent for allowing the escape of air from the vessel during the filtering process.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the air vent comprises an air permeable, liquid non-permeable membrane.

13. A method for filtering blood of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a filter unit having an inlet with an inlet nipple and an outlet with an outlet nipple, and a closed filtrate container enclosing said filter unit for receiving filtrate passing through the filter unit during a filtering process, wherein the filter unit further comprises closed ends in inlet and outlet regions of the filter unit which are connected to the inlet nipple and the outlet nipple;

connecting the filter unit inlet to an artery of the patient and the filter unit outlet to a vein of the patient;

providing sufficient pressure difference in the filter unit for driving a portion of a liquid component of the blood through the filter unit to form a filtrate;

collecting the filtrate in the closed filtrate container;

discharging remaining components of the blood via the filter unit outlet; and

interrupting the filtering process through the filter unit when a counter pressure over the filter unit is established in the filtrate container.