Blood treatment apparatus including flow divider for limiting an electrical current

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11000641-B2
Application number	US-201916667580-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2019
Priority date	Sep 16, 2010
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

A blood treatment apparatus is disclosed. In an example, the blood treatment apparatus includes a blood treatment unit; a blood line configured to extract blood from a blood source, pass the blood through the blood treatment unit and deliver treated blood to a target vessel; and a fluid line configured to pass treatment fluid through the blood treatment unit and deliver used treatment fluid to a fluid sink. A flow divider is arranged in the fluid line for separating treatment fluid into to a first fluid section and a second fluid section, thereby electrically isolating the fluid sections such that electrical current flowing in the fluid line between the fluid sections is limited. Related manufacturing and verification methods are also described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A blood treatment apparatus comprising:
a blood treatment unit;
a blood line positioned and arranged to pass blood through the blood treatment unit;
a fluid line in fluid communication with the blood treatment unit, the fluid line positioned and arranged to carry an electrically conductive treatment fluid;
a flow divider arranged in the fluid line, the flow divider configured to separate the electrically conductive treatment fluid into a first fluid section and a second fluid section, such that the first fluid section is electrically isolated from the second fluid section by the flow divider; and
a control unit configured to determine a value corresponding to an electrical current flowing between the first and second fluid sections, and if the value exceeds a predetermined value, cause a power interruption to at least a portion of the blood treatment apparatus.

2. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow divider includes (i) a drip chamber structurally modified to create the first and second fluid sections or (ii) a peristaltic pump structurally modified to create the first and second fluid sections.

3. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid line extends to a fluid sink and the electrically conductive treatment fluid is used treatment fluid.

4. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to apply a voltage, and wherein the value is a determined electrical current value.

5. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to feed a current, and wherein the value is a determined electrical voltage value.

6. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes a first connector located upstream of the flow divider and a second connector located downstream of the flow divider, and wherein the control unit applies a voltage or current via the first and second connectors and measures a resulting current or voltage, respectively, between the first and second connectors.

7. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first or second connectors is made of an electrically conductive plastic.

8. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein causing the power interruption includes interrupting a power supply of the blood treatment apparatus.

9. A blood treatment apparatus comprising:
a blood treatment unit;
a blood line positioned and arranged to pass blood through the blood treatment unit;
a fluid line in fluid communication with the blood treatment unit, the fluid line positioned and arranged to carry an electrically conductive treatment fluid;
a flow divider arranged in the fluid line, the flow divider configured to separate the electrically conductive treatment fluid into a first fluid section and a second fluid section, such that the first fluid section is electrically isolated from the second fluid section by the flow divider; and
a control unit configured to determine a value corresponding to an electrical current flowing within the electrically conductive treatment fluid, and if the value exceeds a predetermined value, cause a power interruption to at least a portion of the blood treatment apparatus.

10. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the flow divider includes (i) a drip chamber structurally modified to create the first and second fluid sections or (ii) a peristaltic pump structurally modified to create the first and second fluid sections.

11. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the fluid line extends to a fluid sink and the electrically conductive treatment fluid is used treatment fluid.

12. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to apply a voltage, and wherein the value is a determined electrical current value.

13. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to feed a current, and wherein the value is a determined electrical voltage value.

14. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the control unit includes a first connector located upstream of the flow divider and a second connector located downstream of the flow divider, and wherein the control unit applies a voltage or current via the first and second connectors and measures a resulting current or voltage, respectively, between the first and second connectors.

15. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 9 , wherein causing the power interruption includes interrupting a power supply of the blood treatment apparatus.

16. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine the value corresponding to the electrical current flowing within the electrically conductive treatment fluid at a location of the fluid line that includes the flow divider.

17. A blood treatment apparatus comprising:
a blood treatment unit;
a blood line positioned and arranged to pass blood through the blood treatment unit;
a fluid line in fluid communication with the blood treatment unit, the fluid line positioned and arranged to carry an electrically conductive treatment fluid;
a flow divider arranged in the fluid line, the flow divider configured to electrically isolate a first fluid section of the electrically conductive treatment fluid from a second fluid section of the electrically conductive treatment fluid; and
a control unit configured to determine a value corresponding to an electrical current flowing within the electrically conductive treatment fluid, and if the value exceeds a predetermined value, cause a power interruption to at least a portion of the blood treatment apparatus.

18. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine the value corresponding to the electrical current flowing within the electrically conductive treatment fluid at a location of the fluid line that includes the flow divider.

19. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the flow divider includes (i) a drip chamber structurally modified to create the first and second fluid sections or (ii) a peristaltic pump structurally modified to create the first and second fluid sections.

20. The blood treatment apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the control unit includes a first connector located upstream of the flow divider and a second connector located downstream of the flow divider, and wherein the control unit applies a voltage or current via the first and second connectors and measures a resulting current or voltage, respectively, between the first and second connectors.

Assignees

• Gambro Lundia Ab

Inventors

• Hansson Per
• Hertz Thomas
• Holmer Mattias
• Jonsson Lennart
• Nilsson Anders
• Wallenborg Anders
• Andersson Johan

Classifications

• A61M1/3621

  Extra-corporeal blood circuits (single-needle circuits A61M1/30) · CPC title

• A61M1/14

  Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators (semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00){; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis} · CPC title

• Y10T29/49002

  Electrical device making · CPC title

• A61M2205/3317

  Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means · CPC title

• A61M2205/50

  with microprocessors or computers · CPC title