Blood treatment apparatus with increased patient safety and method

A blood treatment apparatus comprising:

• a dialysis filter or an intake for a dialysis filter;
• a dialysis liquid inlet line with a first connector to feed dialysis liquid into the dialysis filter;
• a dialysate outlet line with a second connector to discharge dialysate from the dialysis filter;
• a blood leak sensor configured and arranged to at least one of detect blood in or at the dialysis filter, detect blood in the dialysis liquid inlet line, or detect blood in the dialysate outlet line, and configured to emit a blood leak signal if blood is detected;
• a short-circuit line or a short-circuit unit to connect the dialysis liquid inlet line and, or with, the dialysate outlet line in fluid communication, wherein the short-circuit line comprises a third connector and a fourth connector, to be able to connect to one of the first and the second connectors, respectively;
• a control circuit configured to receive the blood leak signal, and to initiate at least one step from the group consisting of:
• emitting a warning to the user that cleaning at least one of the third or the fourth connector is required;
• starting a prescribed or predetermined cleaning procedure of at least one of the third or the fourth connector;
• stopping or prohibiting the operability of the blood treatment apparatus until the user has completed at least one prescribed activity;
• and
• mechanically preventing a connection of at least one of the third or the fourth connector with at least one of the first or the second connector;
• if the blood leak signal was at least one of emitted or received.

A method to operate a blood treatment apparatus, the method comprising:

• providing the blood treatment apparatus, the blood treatment apparatus comprising:
• a dialysis filter or an intake for a dialysis filter;
• a dialysis liquid inlet line with a first connector to feed dialysis liquid into the dialysis filter;
• a dialysate outlet line with a second connector to discharge dialysate from the dialysis filter;
• a blood leak sensor to at least one of detect blood in or at the dialysis filter, detect blood in the dialysis liquid inlet line, or detect blood in the dialysate outlet line, and to emit a blood leak signal if blood is detected;
• a short-circuit line to connect the dialysis liquid inlet line and, or with, the dialysate outlet line in fluid communication, wherein the short-circuit line comprises a third connector and a fourth connector, to connect to one of the first and the second connectors, respectively;
• and
• a control circuit;
• detecting by means of the blood leak sensor whether a blood leak is present, and emitting a blood leak signal if the blood leak is present;
• checking whether the blood leak signal has been at least one of emitted, received or processed;
• if the blood leak signal has been at least one of emitted, received or processed, then initiating at least one step from the following group of steps:
• emitting a warning to the user that cleaning at least one of the third or the fourth connector is necessary;
• starting a predetermined cleaning procedure of at least one of the third or the fourth connector;
• stopping or prohibiting the operability of the blood treatment apparatus until the user has completed at least one prescribed activity;
• and
• mechanically preventing a connection of at least one of the third or the fourth connector with at least one of the first or the second connector.

A method for replacing a dialysis filter of a blood treatment apparatus, the method comprising:

• providing the blood treatment apparatus, the blood treatment apparatus comprising:
• a first dialysis filter in an intake for a dialysis filter;
• a dialysis liquid inlet line with a first connector to feed dialysis liquid into the first dialysis filter;
• a dialysate outlet line with a second connector to discharge dialysate from the first dialysis filter;
• a blood leak sensor to at least one of detect blood in or at the first dialysis filter, detect blood in the dialysis liquid inlet line, or detect blood in the dialysate outlet line, and to emit a blood leak signal if blood is detected;
• and
• a short-circuit line to connect the dialysis liquid inlet line and, or with, the dialysate outlet line in fluid communication, wherein the short-circuit line comprises a third connector and a fourth connector, to connect to one of the first and the second connectors, respectively;
• providing a second dialysis filter;
• separating the dialysis liquid inlet line and the dialysate outlet line from the first dialysis filter;
• and
• connecting the dialysis liquid inlet line and the dialysate outlet line with the second dialysis filter, without before having connected the dialysis liquid inlet line or the dialysate outlet line with the short-circuit line.