# US 10,441,699 B2 · Blood purification apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,699 B2 - Document ID: US10441699B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/654,880 - Filed: 2017-07-20 - Published: 2017-11-02 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-23 - Assignees: Nikkiso Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Nikkiso Company Limited - Inventors: Hiroaki Mochizuki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441699B2 ## CPC - A61M 1/1658: {Degasification} - A61M 1/14: 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} - A61M 1/36: Other treatment of blood in a by-pass of the natural circulatory system, e.g. temperature adaptation, irradiation {; Extra-corporeal blood circuits} - A61M 1/3624: {Level detectors; Level control} - A61M 1/3627: {Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters} - A61M 1/3672: {Means preventing coagulation} - B01D 19/0021: {by bringing the liquid in a thin layer} - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means - A61M 2205/3389: Continuous level detection (A61M2205/3393 takes precedence) - B01D 2247/08: Means for controlling the separation process - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract A blood purification apparatus includes a blood circuit, a dialyzer capable of purifying the blood flowing through the blood circuit, a blood pump provided to an arterial blood circuit and that delivers the blood in the blood circuit, and an air-trap chamber capable of collecting air in the blood flowing through the blood circuit. A peristaltic pump (a substitution-fluid-infusion device) that is capable of infusing a substitution fluid is connected to the air-trap chamber. A substitution fluid layer is formable on a blood layer in the air-trap chamber. The air-trap chamber is provided with a blood-interface-detecting device that is capable of detecting an interface between the blood layer and the substitution fluid layer that are formed in the air-trap chamber. A lack of substitution fluid in the air-trap chamber is detectable on the basis of the interface between the blood layer and the substitution fluid layer that is detected by the blood-interface-detecting device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A blood purification apparatus comprising: a blood circuit including an arterial blood circuit and a venous blood circuit and through which blood of a patient is allowed to extracorporeally circulate from a distal end of the arterial blood circuit to a distal end of the venous blood circuit; a blood purification device interposed between the arterial blood circuit and the venous blood circuit of the blood circuit that is capable of purifying the blood flowing through the blood circuit; a blood pump provided to the arterial blood circuit that delivers the blood in the blood circuit; an air-trap chamber connected to the blood circuit that collects air in the blood flowing through the blood circuit, the air trap chamber comprising: a substitution-fluid inlet; and an air inlet and an air outlet for an air layer located within the air-trap chamber; a substitution fluid layer that is provided on a blood layer and under the air layer in the air-trap chamber so that the air layer is free of contact with the blood layer; a substitution-fluid-infusion device that infuses a substitution fluid into the air-trap chamber by the substitution-fluid inlet so that the substitution fluid is distributed in the substitution fluid layer; an air-volume-adjusting device is connected to the air inlet and the air outlet of the air-trap chamber that is capable of infusing and discharging air into and from the air layer; a blood-interface-detecting device that detects an interface between the blood layer and the substitution fluid layer that are formed in the air-trap chamber; and wherein a lack of the substitution fluid in the air-trap chamber is detectable on a basis of the interface between the blood layer and the substitution fluid layer that is detected by the blood-interface-detecting device; and if the lack of the substitution fluid in the air-trap chamber is detected, the blood pump or the substitution-fluid-infusion device is controlled to reduce a volume of the blood layer or to increase a volume of the substitution fluid layer in order to solve the lack of the substitution fluid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The blood purification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blood purification apparatus is capable of issuing a predetermined notification if the lack of the substitution fluid in the air-trap chamber is detected. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The blood purification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blood-interface-detecting device is capable of detecting the interface between the blood layer and the substitution fluid layer in a non-contact manner from an outer side face of the air-trap chamber and at a predetermined duty ratio. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The blood purification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air layer is formable on the substitution fluid layer in the air-trap chamber; and the air-trap chamber is provided with an air-interface-detecting device that is capable of detecting an interface between the substitution fluid layer and the air layer that are formed in the air-trap chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The blood purification apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the blood-interface-detecting device is capable of detecting the interface between the blood layer and the substitution fluid layer in a non-contact manner from an outer side face of the air-trap chamber and at a predetermined duty ratio. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The blood purification apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the air layer is formable on the substitution fluid layer in the air-trap chamber; and the air-trap chamber is provided with an air-interface-detecting device that is capable of detecting an interface between the substitution fluid layer and the air layer that are formed in the air-trap chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The blood purification apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the air layer is formable on the substitution fluid layer in the air-trap chamber; and the air-trap chamber is provided with an air-interface-detecting device that is capable of detecting an interface between the substitution fluid layer and the air layer that are formed in the air-trap chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The blood purification device according to claim 4, wherein the air-interface-detecting device includes a transmitting element and a receiving element positioned across the air-trap chamber from each other in a diametrical direction of the air-trap chamber and in communication with each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The blood purification device according to claim 8, wherein the transmitting element is a light-emitting element and the receiving element is a light-receiving element configured to send a signal across the diametrical direction of the air-trap chamber between the transmitting element and the receiving element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The blood purification device according to claim 8, wherein the transmitting element is an ultrasonic vibration element and the receiving element is an ultrasonic receiving element configured to send a signal across the diametrical direction of the air-trap chamber between the transmitting element and the receiving element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The blood purification device according to claim 8, wherein the transmitting element of the air-interface-detecting device is a pair of transmitting elements and the receiving element of the air-interface-detecting device is a pair of receiving elements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The blood purification device according to claim 1, wherein the air-trap chamber is connected to an airflow tube and the air inlet is provided at a point of connection to the airflow tube. ### Claim 13 A blood purification apparatus comprising: a blood circuit including an arterial blood circuit and a venous blood circuit and through which blood of a patient is allowed to extracorporeally circulate from a distal end of the arterial blood circuit to a distal end of the venous blood circuit; a blood purification device interposed between the arterial blood circuit and the venous blood circuit of the blood circuit that is capable of purifying the blood flowing through the blood circuit; a blood pump provided to the arterial blood circuit that delivers the blood in the blood circuit; an air-trap chamber connected to the blood circuit and that is capable of collecting air in the blood flowing through the blood circuit, the air trap chamber comprising: a substitution-fluid inlet; and an air inlet and an air outlet in communication with an air layer located within the air-trap chamber; and a monitor, a substitution-fluid-infusion device that infuses a substitution fluid into the air-trap chamber by the substitution-fluid inlet so that the substitution fluid is distributed in the substitution fluid layer; a substitution fluid layer is provided on a blood layer and under the air layer in the air-trap chamber, so that the air layer is free of contact with the blood layer; an air-volume-adjusting device is connected to the air inlet and the air outlet of the air-trap chamber that is capable of infusing and discharging air into and from the air layer: a blood-interface-detecting device that detects an interface between the blood layer and the substitution fluid layer that are formed in the air-trap chamber; and wherein a lack of the substitution fluid in the air-trap chamber is detectable on a basis of the interface between the blood layer and the substitution fluid layer that is detected by the blood-interface-detecting device; and if the lack of the substitution fluid in the air-trap chamber is detected, an indication representing the lack of the substitution fluid is displayed on the monitor in order to solve the lack of the substitution fluid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The blood purification apparatus according to claim 13, wherein, if the lack of the substitution fluid in the air-trap chamber is detected, the blood pump or the substitution-fluid-infusion device is controlled to reduce a volume of the blood layer or to increase a volume of the substitution fluid layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The blood purification apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the blood-interface-detecting device is capable of detecting the interface between the blood layer and the substitution fluid layer in a non-contact manner from an outer side face of the air-trap chamber and at a predetermined duty ratio. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The blood purification apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the air layer is formable on the substitution fluid layer in the air-trap chamber; and the air-trap chamber is provided with an air-interface-detecting device that is capable of detecting an interface between the substitution fluid layer and the air layer that are formed in the air-trap chamber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The blood purification device according to claim 16, wherein the air-interface-detecting device includes a transmitting element and a receiving element positioned across the air-trap chamber from each other in a diametrical direction of the air-trap chamber and in communication with each other; and wherein the transmitting element of the air-interface-detecting device is a pair of transmitting elements and the receiving element of the air-interface-detecting device is a pair of receiving elements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The blood purification device according to claim 17, wherein the transmitting element is an ultrasonic vibration element and the receiving element is an ultrasonic receiving element configured to send a signal across the diametrical direction of the air-trap chamber between the transmitting element and the receiving element. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The blood purification device according to claim 17, wherein the transmitting element is a light-emitting element and the receiving element is a light-receiving element configured to send a signal across the diametrical direction of the air-trap chamber between the transmitting element and the receiving element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The blood purification device according to claim 13, wherein the air-trap chamber is connected to an airflow tube and the air inlet is provided at a point of connection to the airflow tube.