Methods for kidney dialysis

• US 20030222022A1
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1991
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Hogard, Michael E., Kelly, Thomas D., Elsen, Raymond, Smejtek, Dalibor J., Connell, Mark E., Johnson, Harley D., Preston, William G. Jr., Bedient, Robert A., Peterson, Bruce A., Long, Jean McEvoy
• Granted Patent: US 7,264,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/636
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1607 before use, i.e. upstream of dialyser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1613 Profiling or modelling of patient or predicted treatment evolution or outcome
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/165 with a dialyser bypass on the dialysis fluid line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1656 Apparatus for preparing dialysates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1664 with temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1666 by dissolving solids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/168 Sterilisation or cleaning before or after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1684 Checking the module characteristics before reuse
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1686 by heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1688 with recirculation of the sterilising fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/169 using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1692 Detection of blood traces in dialysate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1694 with recirculating dialysing liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/341 by measuring the filtrate rate or volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3626 Gas bubble detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1005 Detection of disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3313 used specific wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3324 PH measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 : Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 : Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/929 : Hemoultrafiltrate volume measurement or control processes

Abstract

A number of improvements relating to methods and apparatuses for kidney dialysis are disclosed. These include methods such as supplying a dialysis machine including a touch screen interface to a machine user and supplying to the machine user accessory devices to be used with the dialysis machine in operation.

Claims

1. A method of using a dialysis machine with operating supplies comprising:

providing a dialysis machine configured to control one or more functions of a dialysis process, the dialysis machine including a user/machine interface having a touch screen interface configured to receive input settings and display operation parameters wherein a verification input is required to effect settings or changes of the operation parameters;

providing one or more operating supplies usable with the dialysis machine;

installing the one or more operating supplies on the dialysis machine;

operating the dialysis machine to perform a dialysis process; and

replacing at least one of the one or more operating supplies after a prescribed number of dialysis processes.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more operating supplies comprise at least one of a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port;

a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline solution, a dialysate filter, dialysate solution, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and disinfectants.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

initializing the dialysis machine by replacing at least one of the one or more operating supplies before a prescribed number of dialysis processes are performed.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein initializing includes at least one of disinfecting and rising the dialysis machine and replacing operating supplies that are disposable and consumable.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more operating supplies includes a dialyzer.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein replacing at least one of the one or more operating supplies comprises changing a dialyzer after a predetermined number of dialysis processes are performed by the machine.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein replacing at least one of the one or more operating supplies comprises replacing a used dialyzer with a new dialyzer.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing the one or more operating supplies for disinfecting and rinsing the dialysis machine after performance of the at least one dialysis.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the one or more operating supplies includes disinfectants.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dialysis machine provides hemodialysis to a patient.

11. A method of providing a dialysis machine and accessory devices comprising:

providing a dialysis machine configured to control one or more functions of a dialysis process, the dialysis machine comprising a user/machine interface having a touch screen interface configured to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis machine and enable initiation of a change in the parameter through a touch of the indicium;

providing accessory devices usable with the dialysis machine for use in performing at least one dialysis process; and

operably coupling the accessory devices with the dialysis machine.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the the accessory devices comprise a dialyzer, a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port;

a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline solution, a dialysate filter, dialysate solution, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and disinfectants.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the accessory devices are discarded after performing a first dialysis and replaced prior to performing a second dialysis.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising performing hemodialysis on a patient.

15. A method of using a dialysis machine with accessory supplies for performing dialysis comprising:

providing a dialysis machine including a touch screen interface wherein touch inputs associated with displayed indicia, which are respectively assocatied with machine parameters, effect a respective setting or change of the machine parameters;

setting or changing parameters of the dialysis machine using the touch screen interface;

connecting one or more accessory supplies to the dialysis machine;

operating the dialysis machine; and

performing dialysis using the accessory supplies with the dialysis machine operating according to the parameters.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising initializing the dialysis machine using at least one of the accessory supplies.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the initializing includes at least one of disinfecting and rising the dialysis machine and replacing accessory supplies that are disposable or consumable.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the accessory supplies comprise at least one of a dialyzer, a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port;

a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline solution, a dialysate filter, dialysate solution, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and disinfectants.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the machine parameters include treatment parameters for a particular patient.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the displayed indicia include one or more of the treatment parameters.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the treatment parameters include one or more of an ultrafiltration profile, a sodium profile, a bicarbonate profile, a blood pump flow rate, a treatment time, a desired ultrafiltration removal volume, a dialysate flow rate, a dialysate temperature, a blood pressure measurement schedule and alarms, and a heparin prescription.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein the dialysis machine is configured to monitor one or more conditions during dialysis.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the one or more conditions includes dialysate temperature and conductivity, venous pressure of the patient, arterial pressure of the patient, systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the patient, blood flow rate, total blood processed, ultrafiltration rate, total ultrafiltrate removed, and machine states of the dialysis machine.

24. The method according to claim 15, wherein the touch screen is configured to display patient parameters during dialysis to a user.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the patient parameters includes at least one of temporal data relating to dialysate temperature and conductivity, venous pressure, arterial pressure, dialysate pressure, systolic pressure, diastolic pressures, blood flow rate, total blood processed, ultrafiltration rate, total ultrafiltrate removed, an ultrafiltrate goal, and machine state.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein the dialysis is hemodialysis.

27. A method of using dialysis equipment comprising:

providing a dialysis machine having a touch screen interface for at least one of viewing, entering and changing one or more operational parameters of the machine;

initializing the dialysis machine according to a prescribed procedure including entering or changing the one or more parameters using the touch screen interface;

connecting one or more accessory supplies to the dialysis machine; and

operating the dialysis machine to perform dialysis.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the one or more accessory supplies include a dialyzer, a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port;

a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, and a dialysate meter for testing dialysate.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising:

operating the dialysis machine using one or more accessory supplies that are consumable including saline solution, a dialysate filter, dialysate solution, and disinfectants.

30. A method for providing dialysis equipment comprising:

supplying a dialysis machine comprising a touch screen interface to a machine user;

supplying accessory devices to be used with the dialysis machine to the machine user; and

enabling the machine user to set parameters of the dialysis machine using the touch screen interface in order to allow the machine user to perform dialysis for a patient using the dialysis machine and accessory devices based on the set parameters.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the accessory devices include at least one of a dialyzer, a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port;

a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline solution, a dialysate filter, dialysate solution, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and disinfectants.

32. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:

enabling the replacement of those accessory devices that are disposable after performing dialysis of the patient;

enabling the machine user to set new parameters of the dialysis machine using the touch screen interface for a next patient; and

performing dialysis for the next patient using the dialysis machine and accessory devices based on the new parameters.

33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the parameters include treatment parameters for a particular patient.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the touch screen interface displays one or more of the treatment parameters.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein the treatment parameters include one or more of an ultrafiltration profile, a sodium profile, a bicarbonate profile, a blood pump flow rate, a treatment time, a desired ultrafiltration removal volume, a dialysate flow rate, a dialysate temperature, a blood pressure measurement schedule and alarms, and a heparin prescription.

36. The method according to claim 30, wherein the dialysis machine is configured to monitor one or more conditions during dialysis.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the one or more conditions includes dialysate temperature and conductivity, venous pressure of the patient, arterial pressure of the patient, systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the patient, blood flow rate, total blood processed, ultrafiltration rate, total ultrafiltrate removed, and machine states of the dialysis machine.

38. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:

enabling the machine user to set up the dialysis machine after a first dialysis has been performed in order to perform a second dialysis by using additional accessory devices.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein setting up the dialysis machine includes disinfecting the dialysis machine and rinsing the dialysis machine.

40. The method according to claim 30, wherein the patient can be the machine user.

41. The method according to claim 30, wherein the dialysis machine is a hemodialysis machine.

42. A method of operating a dialysis machine by utilizing consumable accessories, the method comprising:

providing a dialyzer and connecting the dialyzer to the dialysis machine;

providing at least one blood line and connecting the blood line to the dialysis machine according to a predetermined blood line layout;

priming the dialyzer and at least one blood line according to a prescribed priming function initiated by an input to a user/machine interface of the dialysis machine; and

setting or changing treatment parameters of the dialysis machine by selecting the corresponding treatment parameters on a touch screen display of the user/machine interface and effecting setting or changing of each of the treatment parameters only after receipt of a verification signal received via the user/machine interface.

43. The method according to claim 42, further comprising:

providing a disinfectant and disinfecting the dialysis machine with the disinfectant.

44. The method according to claim 42, wherein the predetermined blood line layout includes one of a prepump aterial drip chamber configuration, a postpump aterial drip chamber configuration, and a no aterial drip chamber configuration.

45. The method according to claim 42, wherein the treatment parameters include one or more of an ultrafiltration profile, a sodium profile, a bicarbonate profile, a blood pump flow rate, a treatment time, a desired ultrafiltration removal volume, a dialysate flow rate, a dialysate temperature, a blood pressure measurement schedule and alarms, and a heparin prescription.

46. The method according to claim 42, further comprising providing at least one dialysate transducer protector.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the dialysate transducer protector is a hydrophobic transducer protector.

48. The method according to claim 42, further comprising providing a syringe operable for withdrawing samples of solution from a dialysate line sample port of the dialysis machine.

49. The method according to claim 42, further comprising providing a container for concentrate, the container sized to contain sufficient concentrate for setup of the dialysis machine and dialysis time.

50. The method according to claim 42, further comprising providing saline solution.

51. The method according to claim 42, further comprising:

providing a disinfectant; and

disinfecting the dialysis machine after at least one dialysis procedure.

52. The method according to claim 42, further comprising providing dialysate.

53. The method according to claim 52, further comprising:

providing a dialysate meter; and

testing the dialysate with the dialysate meter.

54. The method according to claim 52, further comprising providing a dialysate filter for filtering the dialysate.

55. The method according to claim 42, wherein the dialysis machine is a hemodialysis machine.

56. A method of using a dialyzer comprising:

using a dialyzer with a dialysis machine, the dialysis machine adapted to receive the dialyzer and configured to control one or more functions of a dialysis process, the dialysis machine including a user/machine interface having a touch screen interface configured to receive input settings and display operation parameters wherein a verification input is required to effect settings or changes of the operation parameters.

57. A method of using a dialysate solution comprising:

using a dialsate with a dialysis machine, the dialysis machine adapted to receive the dialysate and configured to control one or more functions of a dialysis process, the dialysis machine including a user/machine interface having a touch screen interface configured to receive input settings and display operation parameters wherein a verification input is required to effect settings or changes of the operation parameters.