System and Method For Controlling Patient Fluid Balance And/Or Flow Rate For A Therapeutic Plasma Exchange Procedure

A system for controlling a flow rate of at least one fluid flowing during a fluid exchange procedure including:

• a first flow path for flowing at least a first fluid from a patient;
• a second flow path for flowing at least a second fluid to the patient, wherein the first and second fluids include selected one of plasma or a replacement fluid;
• first and second reservoirs respectively associated with the first and second flow paths;
• and
• a controller associated with the first and second flow paths for controlling the flow of the first and second fluids, such controller operable to determine a commanded flow rate of at least one of the first and second fluids based, at least in part, on a calculated volume of such first or second fluid that flows through its respective flow path over a time period and further operable to determine an actual flow rate of such first or second fluid based, at least in part, on an actual volume difference respectively measured relative to the first or second reservoir over such time period, such controller operable to change such commanded flow rate in response to a difference between the commanded flow rate and the actual flow rate to achieve a desired flow rate.

A method for controlling a net fluid volume difference of a patient during and/or after a medical fluid exchange procedure including:

• monitoring a first flow rate of at least a first fluid removed from the patient and a second flow rate of at least a second fluid flowing to the patient;
• determining an actual flow rate for each of the first and second fluids, based, at least in part, on an actual volume of such first fluid removed from the patient and such second fluid flowing to the patient;
• and
• changing at least one of the first and second flow rates so as to achieve a desired net fluid volume difference of the patient.

A method for controlling a flow rate of at least one fluid flowing during and/or after a medical fluid exchange procedure including:

• determining a commanded flow rate of at least one of a first fluid flowing to a patient or a second fluid flowing from a patient based, at least in part, on a calculated volume of such first or second fluid that flows over a time period, wherein the first and second fluids include selected one of plasma or a replacement fluid;
• determining an actual flow rate of such first or second fluid based, at least in part, on an actual volume of such first or second fluid that respectively flows over such time period;
• and
• changing the commanded flow rate of such first or second fluid in response to a difference between the commanded flow rate and the actual flow rate to achieve a desired flow rate.