Method and device for monitoring the introduction of substitution fluids upstream of downstream of a dialyzer of filter

• US 8,852,135 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2009
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Beden, Josef, Bado, Itka, Verch, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan-Uyen T
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRYANT, ERIC C
• Application Number:
  US13/124,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20110237997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,825 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 604/6.09
• 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 1/3627 Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3386 Low level detectors

Abstract

A method is provided for monitoring the introduction of substitution fluids for an extra-corporeal blood processing device with an extra-corporeal blood circuit, comprising an arterial blood line, running from an arterial patient connection to a first chamber of a dialyzer or filter divided into said first chamber and a second chamber by a membrane and a venous blood line, running from the first chamber of the dialyzer or filter to a venous patient connection. A device is provided for monitoring the introduction of substitution fluids for an extra-corporeal blood processing unit with an extra-corporeal blood circuit and an extra-corporeal blood processing device with a device for monitoring the introduction of substitution fluids. The method and the device for monitoring the introduction of substitution fluids are based on monitoring the fluid level in the bubble trap, arranged in the venous blood line of the extra-corporeal blood circuit. The method and the device require that fluid is added to fill the extra-corporeal blood circuit, for example, for a rinsing procedure of the extra-corporeal blood circuit by means of the substitution fluid supply line arranged upstream or downstream of the dialyzer. A pre-dilution can be commanded when, after initiating the rinsing process the fill level in the bubble trap does not drop below a certain level. When by contrast the fill level drops below a given level a post-dilution can be commanded.

Claims

1. A method for checking a supply of substitution fluid for an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus that includes (a) an extracorporeal blood circuit having an arterial blood line, which leads from an arterial patient connection to a first chamber of a dialyzer or filter divided by a membrane into the first chamber of the dialyzer or filter and a second chamber, and a venous blood line, which leads from the first chamber of the dialyzer or filter to a venous patient connection, (b) a substitution fluid supply line configured to supply substitution fluid at an arterial admission point upstream of the dialyzer or filter, wherein substitution fluid is fed to the extracorporeal blood circuit for a pre-dilution, and/or at a venous admission point downstream of the dialyzer or filter, wherein substitution fluid is fed to the extracorporeal blood circuit for a post-dilution, (c) a blood pump configured to convey blood in the extracorporeal blood circuit, and (d) a bubble trap disposed in the venous blood line, comprising:

filling a part of the extracorporeal blood circuit that lies between the arterial patient connection and the arterial admission point of the extracorporeal blood circuit with a fluid;

feeding the fluid to the extracorporeal blood circuit via the substitution fluid line connected either to the arterial admission point or the venous admission point until a predetermined fluid level has become established in the bubble trap;

putting the blood pump configured to convey the fluid in the extracorporeal blood circuit into operation;

monitoring the fluid level in the bubble trap; and

determining, based on the monitoring, that (a) there is a connection of the substitution fluid line to the arterial admission point when the fluid level in the bubble trap does not fall below the predetermined fluid level or (b) there is a connection of the substitution fluid line to the venous admission point when the fluid level in the bubble trap falls below the predetermined fluid level.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the filling the part of the extracorporeal blood circuit that lies between the arterial patient connection and the arterial admission point of the extracorporeal blood circuit with a fluid includes connecting a container filled with a fluid to the arterial patient connection and putting the blood pump configured to convey the fluid in the extracorporeal blood circuit into operation.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the arterial patient connection is connected to a bag filled with a rinsing fluid.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operational state of pre-dilution is signaled if the fluid level in the bubble trap does not fall below the predetermined level or the operational state of post-dilution is signaled if the fluid level in the bubble trap falls below the predetermined level.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operational state of pre-dilution is preselected for the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus, an acoustic and/or optical alarm being emitted if the fluid level in the bubble trap falls below the predetermined level.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operational state of post-dilution is preselected for the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus, an acoustic and/or optical alarm being emitted if the fluid level in the bubble trap does not fall below the predetermined level.

7. A device for checking the supply of substitution fluid for an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus, the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus including (a) an extracorporeal blood circuit which comprises an arterial blood line that leads from an arterial patient connection to a first chamber of a dialyzer or filter divided by a membrane into the first chamber and a second chamber, and a venous blood line that leads from the first chamber of the dialyzer or filter to a venous patient connection, (b) a substitution fluid supply line for supplying substitution fluid at an arterial admission point upstream of the dialyzer or filter, at which point substitution fluid is fed to the extracorporeal blood circuit for a pre-dilution, and/or at a venous admission point downstream of the dialyzer or filter, at which point substitution fluid is fed to the extracorporeal blood circuit for a post-dilution, (c) a blood pump configured to convey blood in the extracorporeal blood circuit, (d) a bubble trap disposed in the venous blood line, and (e) a monitoring device configured to monitor the fluid level in the bubble trap, comprising:

an evaluation unit configured to cooperate with the monitoring device such that (a) the presence of a connection of the substitution fluid line to the arterial admission point is determined if the fluid level in the bubble trap does not fall below a predetermined level or (b) the presence of a connection of the substitution fluid line to the venous admission point is determined if the fluid level in the bubble trap falls below the predetermined level.

8. The device according to claim 7, further comprising an input unit configured for preselecting the operational state of pre-dilution or post-dilution for the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus.

9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising a signal unit configured to (a) signal the operational state of pre-dilution if the fluid level in the bubble trap does not fall below the predetermined level or (b) signal the operational state of post-dilution if the fluid level in the bubble trap falls below the predetermined level.

10. The device according to claim 8, further comprising an alarm unit configured to cooperate with the input unit configured for preselecting the operational state of pre-dilution or post-dilution, in such a way that, when pre-dilution is preselected, an acoustic and/or optical alarm is emitted if the fluid level in the bubble trap falls below the predetermined level or, when post-dilution is preselected, an acoustic and/or optical alarm is emitted if the fluid level in the bubble trap does not fall below the predetermined level.

11. An extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus, comprising:

an extracorporeal blood circuit having an arterial blood line that leads from an arterial patient connection to a first chamber of a dialyzer or filter divided by a membrane into the first chamber and a second chamber, and a venous blood line that leads from the first chamber of the dialyzer or filter to a venous patient connection;

a substitution fluid supply line configured to supply substitution fluid at an arterial admission point upstream of the dialyzer or filter, at which point substitution fluid is fed to the extracorporeal blood circuit for a pre-dilution, and/or at a venous admission point downstream of the dialyzer or filter, at which point substitution fluid is fed to the extracorporeal blood circuit for a post-dilution;

a blood pump configured to convey blood in the extracorporeal blood circuit;

a bubble trap disposed in the venous blood line;

a monitoring device configured to monitor the fluid level in the bubble trap; and

a device configured to check the supply of substitution fluid, the device including an evaluation unit configured to cooperate with the monitoring device such that (a) the presence of a connection of the substitution fluid line to the arterial admission point is determined if the fluid level in the bubble trap does not fall below a predetermined level or (b) the presence of a connection of the substitution fluid line to the venous admission point is determined if the fluid level in the bubble trap falls below the predetermined level.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the arterial and venous blood line are part of a hose system configured for one-off use, the hose system including the substitution fluid supply line.