FLOW BALANCING SYSTEM AND METHOD, ESPECIALLY FOR CITRATE

• US 20110266221A1
• Filed: 07/18/2011
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Ware, Lee C., Boehnlein, Arnold F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,005,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/647
• 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 1/3441 Substitution rate control as a function of the ultrafiltration rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3451 the difference in weight between both ultra-filtrate and substitution reservoir being used as control signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A renal failure therapy system includes a blood pump; a citrate pump; and a control unit configured to automatically control the blood pump and the citrate pump to achieve a citrate flowrate that is based on at least a blood flowrate.

Claims

1. A blood filtration system comprising:

a blood pump positioned and arranged to pump blood through a blood line;

a filter in fluid communication with the blood line, the filter including a dialysis solution chamber;

a citrate pump in fluid communication with the blood line and positioned and arranged to pump a citrate anticoagulant solution into the filter;

a dialysis solution pump positioned and arranged to pump a dialysis solution into the dialysis solution chamber; and

a controller configured to automatically control the citrate pump at least in part based on a flowrate of the blood pumped by the blood pump.

2. The blood filtration system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to deliver a total prescribed volume of citrate.

3. The blood filtration system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to perform a treatment selected from the group consisting of. continuous renal replacement therapy, dialysis, hemofiltration and any combination thereof.

4. The blood filtration system of claim 1, wherein the controller automatically controls the flowrate of the citrate anticoagulant solution at least in part based upon a flow rate prescription inputted by a physician.

5. The blood filtration system of claim 1, wherein the controller automatically controls the citrate pump based upon at least a blood pump rate.

6. A method of controlling a flowrate of a citrate anticoagulant solution in a renal therapy system comprising:

pumping blood through a blood circuit;

pumping citrate anticoagulant through the blood circuit of the renal therapy system; and

adjusting a flowrate of the citrate anticoagulant based upon a flowrate of the blood.

7. The method of claim 6, which includes

(i) pumping a substitution solution into the blood circuit;

(ii) pumping filtrate from the blood circuit; and

monitoring the blood flowrate, the citrate flowrate, the substitution solution flowrate and the filtrate flowrate to determine a net flowrate.

8. The method of claim 7, which includes

comparing the net flow rate with an expected flow rate.

9. The method of claim 7, which includes adjusting the citrate anticoagulant flowrate based upon at least one of. (i) a blood flowrate signal;

(ii) a substitution solution flowrate signal and (iii) a filtrate flowrate signal.

10. The method of claim 7, which includes pumping dialysate solution into a filter in communication with the blood circuit.

11. The method of claim 10, which includes adjusting the citrate anticoagulant flow rate based upon a dialysate flowrate signal.

12. The method of claim 11, which includes controlling the citrate anticoagulant flow rate according to the equation. citrate anticoagulant flow rate=filtrate flow rate—

substitution solution flow rate—

dialysate flow rate+a prescribed net loss rate.

13. method of claim 6, which includes

pumping filtrate from the blood circuit;

and

monitoring at least the blood flowrate, the citrate flowrate and the filtrate flowrate to determine a net flowrate.

14. A blood filtration system comprising:

a blood pump positioned and arranged to pump blood through a blood circuit;

a filter in fluid communication with the blood circuit, the filter including a dialysis solution chamber;

a citrate pump in fluid communication with the blood circuit and positioned and arranged to pump a citrate anticoagulant solution into the blood circuit;

a dialysis solution pump positioned and arranged to pump a dialysis solution into the dialysis solution chamber of the filter; and

a controller configured to automatically control the citrate pump to adjust a flowrate of a citrate anticoagulant solution at least in part based on a flowrate of the blood pumped by the blood pump.

15. The blood filtration system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to deliver a total prescribed volume of citrate.

16. The blood filtration system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to perform a treatment selected from the group consisting of:

continuous renal replacement therapy, dialysis, hemofiltration and any combination thereof.

17. The blood filtration system of claim 14, wherein the controller automatically controls the citrate pump to adjust the flowrate of the citrate anticoagulant solution based upon at least a blood pump rate.

18. The blood filtration system of claim 14, wherein the blood pump is positioned and arranged upstream of the filter in the blood circuit.

19. The blood filtration system of claim 14, wherein the citrate pump is positioned and arranged upstream of the filter in the blood circuit.