Blood loss detection for hemodialysis system

• US 7,641,612 B1
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth Shawn Mccall
• Original Assignee: Kenneth Shawn Mccall
• Inventors: McCall, Kenneth Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Menon; Krishnan S
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHRISTIAN, MARJORIE ELLEN
• Application Number:
  US11/306,947
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 210645-646, 210/600, 210/634, 210649-651, 210739-741, 210744-745, 210/767, 210/194, 210/195.1, 210/195.2, 210/252, 210/257.1, 210/572.2, 422 44- 48, 604 1- 11, 600/371, 600/362
• US Class Current: 600/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3653 Interfaces between patient blood circulation and extra-corporal blood circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3655 Arterio-venous shunts or fistulae
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3656 Monitoring patency or flow at connection sites; Detecting disconnections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3659 Cannulae pertaining to extracorporeal circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission

Abstract

A blood loss detection device for a hemodialysis system having a blood intake line, a dialysis machine including a pump, with the dialysis machine in communication with the blood intake line, and a blood return line in communication with the dialysis machine. The detection device includes a patch having an exterior edge and an opening through the patch forming a target for receipt of the return blood line. A slit through the patch extends between the exterior edge and the opening. A primary loop circuit terminates at two ends at the slit. An early warning alarm circuit loop terminates at two ends at the slit. An emergency shut-down circuit loop terminates at two ends at the slit. A modular connector connects the patch to an alarm activated by the early warning alarm circuit and to a switch mechanism activated by the shut-down circuit in order to shut down the dialysis machine and the pump.

Claims

1. A blood loss detection device for a hemodialysis system having a blood intake line, a dialysis machine including a pump, said dialysis machine in communication with said blood intake line, and a blood return line in communication with said dialysis machine, which detection device comprises:

a patch having an external boundary edge circumnavigating said patch;

a central opening through said patch so that said patch surrounds said central opening, wherein said central opening is within said boundary edge and forms a target for receipt of a return access site and said blood return line so that said opening of said patch surrounds and encloses said target;

a slit through said patch extending between said boundary edge and said central opening;

a primary circuit loop circumnavigating said central opening terminating at two ends at said slit;

an early warning alarm circuit loop circumnavigating said central opening terminating at two ends at said slit;

an emergency shut-down circuit loop circumnavigating said central opening terminating at two ends at said slit, said emergency shut-down circuit loop independent from said early warning alarm circuit loop wherein said primary circuit loop, said early warning alarm circuit loop, and said emergency shut-down circuit loop are in a radial plane; and

a modular connector connecting said patch to an alarm activated by said early warning alarm circuit loop and to a switch mechanism actuated by said emergency shut-down circuit loop to shut down said dialysis machine and pump wherein said early warning alarm circuit loop is activated by a small blood leak and wherein said emergency shut-down circuit loop is activated by a larger blood loss.

2. A blood loss detection device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said modular connector includes a male connector and a female connector and an optional safety loop circuit to sense when said male and female connectors are joined.

3. A blood loss detection device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said emergency shut-down circuit is connected to said dialysis machine including said pump.

4. A blood loss detection device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said patch includes an adhesive base for connection to the skin of a patient.

5. A blood loss detection device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said patch includes a top layer.

6. A blood loss detection device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said patch boundary edge is any geometric shape that surrounds and forms an enclosure of the access site.

7. A method of blood loss detection for a hemodialysis system having a blood intake line, a dialysis machine including a pump, said dialysis machine in communication with said blood intake line, and a blood return line in communication with said dialysis machine, which method comprises:

placing a patch having an external boundary edge circumnavigating said patch and a central opening through said patch forming a target for a blood return access site so that said patch surrounds said central opening;

terminating a primary circuit loop at two ends at a slit extending between said external boundary edge and said central opening, terminating an early warning alarm circuit loop at two ends at said slit, and terminating an emergency shut-down circuit loop at said two ends of said slit, wherein said primary circuit loop, said early warning alarm circuit loop and said emergency shut-down circuit loop are in a radial plane and each circumnavigate said central opening;

adhesively securing said patch to a patient;

sensing a status change in properties when blood closes said primary circuit loop and said early warning alarm circuit loop and thereafter activating an alarm;

sensing a status change in properties when blood closes said primary circuit loop and said emergency shut-down circuit loop; and

thereafter shutting down said dialysis machine and said pump wherein said early warning alarm circuit loop and said emergency shut-down circuit loop operate independently.