Hemodialysis system with variable dialysate flow rate
Inventors
Borillo, Brandon • Chen, Tzu Tung • Poppe, Clayton
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12274819-B2
Publication Date
2025-04-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A portable hemodialysis system is provided including a dialyzer, a closed loop blood flow path which transports blood from a patient through the dialyzer and back to the patient, and a closed loop dialysate flow path which transports dialysate through the dialyzer. Preferably, the hemodialysis system includes a sorbent filter in the dialysate flow path. Furthermore, the hemodialysis machine includes a blood pump, and a pair of dialysate pumps. A processor controls the flow of blood through the blood flow path, and the processor controls the flow of dialysate through the dialysate flow path. In addition, the processor stores a patient treatment plan wherein the flow rate of dialysate reduces throughout treatment to maximize the amount of urea removed by the sorbent filter.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method of providing hemodialysis to a patient using a system that includes an arterial blood line and a venous blood line, a dialyzer, and closed-loop blood flow path elements for transporting blood from the patient to the dialyzer and back to the patient. The system includes a reservoir storing dialysate and a dialysate flow path connected to the reservoir and the dialyzer, together with at least one dialysate pump for pumping dialysate through the dialysate flow path and a blood pump for pumping blood through the blood flow path.
A dialysate flow sensor in the dialysate flow path measures a flow rate of the dialysate, and a control processor is connected to the dialysate flow sensor and the at least one dialysate pump. The control processor stores a patient treatment plan in memory, where the patient is treated according to the plan that includes a plurality of different dialysate flow rates during a patient's treatment, and the plurality of different dialysate flow rates decrease over a time period “T(total)” for treating the patient.
During the hemodialysis treatment, the dialysate flows through the dialysate flow path at a first flow rate during a first flow period, and then at a second flow rate during a second flow period occurring after the first flow period. The second flow rate is lower than the first flow rate, and the decreasing-flow plan can include additional different dialysate flow rates that decrease over time according to the treatment plan.
Claims Coverage
The provided claim coverage describes one independent claim directed to a control-processor-driven hemodialysis method in which a patient treatment plan specifies decreasing dialysate flow rates over time, using a dialysate flow sensor and at least one dialysate pump.
Decreasing dialysate flow rates in a patient treatment plan
A patient treatment plan stored in a control processor memory specifies a plurality of different dialysate flow rates during treatment, where the plurality of different dialysate flow rates decrease over a time period “T(total)” for treating the patient.
Dialysate flow sensing and pump control
A dialysate flow sensor in the dialysate flow path measures a flow rate of the dialysate, and a control processor is connected to the dialysate flow sensor and the at least one dialysate pump to provide hemodialysis according to the patient treatment plan.
First and second dialysate flow periods with lower second flow rate
Providing hemodialysis treatment wherein dialysate flows through the dialysate flow path at a first flow rate during a first flow period, and then at a second flow rate during a second flow period after the first flow period, where the second flow rate is lower than the first flow rate.
Sorbent filter connected to the dialysate flow path to remove uremic toxins
Using a sorbent filter connected to the dialysate flow path to remove uremic toxins from the dialysate.
The claim coverage centers on hemodialysis with a patient treatment plan that decreases dialysate flow rates over time, controlled by a processor using a dialysate flow sensor and at least one dialysate pump. The coverage also includes a lower second flow rate after a first flow period and, in a further refinement, a sorbent filter connected to the dialysate flow path to remove uremic toxins.
Stated Advantages
Urea clearance optimization and maximize sorbent capacity for ammonium/urea-derived removal.
Improve urea-related removal by reducing dialysate flow rate over the course of treatment to match sorbent capacity.
Maximize sorbent capacity and extend filter life by decreasing dialysate flow rate over time.
Documented Applications
Providing hemodialysis to a patient using a system with dialyzer and variable dialysate flow controlled by a processor according to a patient-specific treatment plan.
Hemodialysis with dialysate passing through a sorbent filter to remove uremic toxins from the dialysate.
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