System and method for controlling venous air recovery in a portable dialysis system

• US 9,889,244 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Arrizza, John, Palmroos, John Erik Michael, de la Fuente, Jr., Ernesto Trillanes, Pham, Nhan Viet, Fulkerson, Barry Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): FORTUNA, ANA M
• Application Number:
  US14/972,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20170173248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1603 Regulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3626 Gas bubble detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3627 Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0413 Blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards

Abstract

The present specification discloses a portable dialysis system comprising a mechanism that allows the user to accurately position an air bubble in a venous line, so that it can be safely removed. When an air bubble is detected, the system automatically runs the blood pump in a direction such that the air bubble is placed close to the extraction point on the venous line, from where it can safely be removed using a needleless syringe.

Claims

1. A portable dialysis system for conducting hemodialysis on a patient, the system comprising:

a dialyzer;

an arterial blood line for carrying blood from the patient;

a blood pump for drawing blood from said arterial line and pumping it to the dialyzer;

a venous blood line for carrying purified blood from said dialyzer to said patient;

a pinch clamp to prevent air in said venous line from being returned to the patient;

an air bubble detector positioned in said venous blood line for detecting an air bubble arising in said venous blood line, wherein the air bubble detector is positioned within a range of 10 to 20 cm upstream of said pinch clamp and within a range of 20 to 40 cm downstream of said dialyzer;

an extraction port located within a range of 10 to 20 cm upstream of said air bubble detector and within a range of 10 to 20 cm downstream of said dialyzer in the venous blood line, said extraction port being adapted to remove the said air bubble; and

a controller in communication with said air bubble detector and said blood pump, said controller configured to cause said blood pump to run in a reverse direction back toward said dialyzer when an air bubble is detected, such that the air bubble is moved upstream towards the extraction port.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the blood pump is run in a reverse direction for a specified time period of the order of 2-15 seconds.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display with a Graphical User Interface (GUI), wherein said Graphical User Interface is in communication with said controller.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the GUI is configured to issue an alarm as soon as an air bubble is detected.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the GUI is configured to provide an option to the user to discontinue hemodialysis treatment when an air bubble is detected.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein when an air bubble is detected, the GUI is configured to display instructions for a user to remove the air bubble.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the GUI is configured to display a plurality of navigation buttons, wherein said plurality of navigation buttons are configured to enable a user to adjust a position of the air bubble for extraction from said extraction port.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein pressing at least one of said plurality of navigation buttons causes the blood pump to run in a forward or reverse direction, such that the air bubble is moved downstream or upstream towards the extraction port.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to automatically run said blood pump in a reverse direction when an air bubble is detected.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to operate said blood pump in a reverse direction on user input, when an air bubble is detected.

11. In a portable dialysis system for conducting hemodialysis on a patient, a method for removing an air bubble arising in a venous blood line, said method comprising:

detecting the air bubble arising in the venous blood line using an air bubble detector;

issuing an alarm to the patient using a graphical user interface;

electronically prompting a user of the portable dialysis system to select between recovering the air bubble and discontinuing treatment; and

electronically receiving a selection of at least one recovering the air bubble or discontinuing treatment, wherein based upon said received selection,

causing a blood pump to run in a reverse direction such that the air bubble is placed close to an extraction port;

receiving input to confirm that the air bubble is successfully extracted; and

resuming hemodialysis treatment when the user confirms the air bubble is successfully extracted.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising displaying a plurality of navigation buttons on said graphical user interface based upon electronically receiving the selection of recovering the air bubble.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said at least one of said plurality of navigation buttons is configured to adjust a position of the air bubble for extraction from said extraction port.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein pressing a forward navigation button causes the blood pump to run in a forward direction such that the air bubble is moved downstream towards the extraction port.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein pressing a reverse navigation button causes the blood pump to run in a reverse direction such that the air bubble is moved upstream towards the extraction port.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein, upon running the blood pump in the reverse direction, the blood pump operates for a first period of time of the order of 2-15 seconds, and at a rate of around 20-60 ml/min.