Hemodialysis system reservoir level sensor

A hemodialysis system with reservoir level sensor comprising:

• a machine housing;
• an arterial blood line for connecting to a patient's artery for collecting blood from a patient;
• a venous blood line for connecting to a patient's vein for returning blood to a patient;
• a dialyzer;
• a blood flow path connected to said arterial blood line and said venous blood line for transporting blood from a patient to said dialyzer and back to a patient;
• a reservoir for storing dialysate;
• a dialysate flow path, isolated from the blood flow path, connected to said reservoir and said dialyzer for transporting dialysate from said reservoir to said dialyzer;
• a first pump for pumping dialysate through said dialysate flow path;
• a second pump for pumping blood through said blood flow path;
• a filter connected to said dialysate flow path for removing uremic toxins from dialysate;
• a reservoir level sensor which measures the level of dialysate in said reservoir, said reservoir level sensor including a strain measuring device which produces level sensor electrical signals and said reservoir level sensor including a tilt sensor which measures the amount of tilt of the hemodialysis system to produce tilt measurements, said strain measuring device affixed to said machine housing and positioned such that a downward force exerted by the weight of said reservoir and dialysate within said reservoir causes a force against said strain measuring device to produce said level sensor electrical signals;
• said reservoir level sensor including a linkage assembly that mechanically connects said reservoir to said strain gauge, said linkage assembly includes a top linkage which includes a first rotatable connection between said reservoir and said strain gauge which allows said reservoir to pivot about a first horizontal axis;
• and
• a processor connected to said reservoir level sensor's strain measuring device and said tilt sensor for processing said level sensor electrical signals and said tilt measurements, and wherein said processor incorporates the tilt measurements to determine the level of dialysate in said reservoir.