Methods and Apparatus for Leak Detection in Blood Processing Systems
AssigneeNxStage Medical, Inc.
InventorsJames M. Brugger, Christopher McDowell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A blood processing system includes a flow reversing device with at least an air sensor in the venous line located near the patient. During treatment, blood flow is reversed to cause air to infiltrate the blood lines if any disconnections or breaks in the blood line are present. One means for placing the sensor close to the patient is to provide the flow switching device aid sensors in a small lightweight module that can be located close to the treatment machine. Another is to provide a module with just the sensors near the access.
Claims14
1-2. (canceled)
A flow control valve, comprising:
- a flexible valve body linking together, for fluid communication, fluid ports fluidly connected by said valve body;
- said valve body forming a structure that surrounds a first portion of an actuator with at least one first pinching element;
- a second portion of said actuator that slides relative to said first portion;
- said valve body being at least partly confined within;
- said second portion having at least one second pinching element opposing said at least one first pinching element;
- in a first configuration, said actuator pinching said valve body such that a first pair of said fluid ports are linked for fluid communication while a second pair is blocked;
- in a second configuration, said actuator pinching said valve body such that a said second pair of said fluid ports are linked for fluid communication while said first pair is blocked.
A blood flow reversing device for blood processing, comprising:
- a pair of patient-side ports for connection to a patient access;
- a pair of treatment-side ports for connection to a blood processing machine;
- a reversing valve configured to allow blood to flow between said patient-side and said treatment-side ports in two selected directions of flow in said patient-side ports, such that blood flow from said patient-side ports and said patient access is selectively reversible;
- a controller configured to control said reversing valve and to reverse said blood flow for a first interval at a first frequency and for a second interval on at a second frequency, said first frequency being greater than said second frequency.
A blood flow reversing device for blood processing, comprising:
- a reversing valve configured to reverse blood flow between a treatment apparatus and a patient access;
- a controller configured to control said reversing valve and to reverse said blood flow for a first interval at a first frequency and for a second interval at a second frequency, said first frequency being greater than said second frequency.
A flow control valve, comprising:
- a flexible valve body linking together, for fluid communication, fluid ports fluidly connected by said valve body;
- an actuator having first and second clamp elements that are mutually selectively movable in first and second directions;
- said actuator pinching said valve body such that a first pair of said fluid ports are linked for fluid communication while a second pair is blocked when said first and second clamp elements are mutually moved in said first direction;
- said actuator pinching said valve body such that a second pair of said fluid ports are linked for fluid communication while said first pair is blocked when said first and second clamp elements are mutually moved in said second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.