Syringe-free blood return
AssigneesFresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH, Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
InventorsChristian Schlaeper, Martin Crnkovich, David Yuds
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present subject matter relates to systems and methods for syringe-free blood return in a dialysis machine blood circuit. A three-way connector can include a first inlet configured to be connected to a patient arterial access line, a second inlet connected to a substitution fluid line, and an outlet connected to a machine arterial line. In this arrangement, the three-way connector is configured to selectively allow a flow of substitution fluid from the substitution line into the machine arterial line and/or into the patient arterial access line without changing the connections of tubing within the circuit.
Claims12
A syringe-free blood return system comprising:
- a three-way connector comprising a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, wherein the first inlet is configured to be connected to a patient arterial access line;
- a machine arterial line comprising a first end and a second end substantially opposing the first end, wherein the first end is connected to the outlet of the three-way connector;
- and
- a substitution fluid line comprising a first end and a second end substantially opposing the first end, wherein the first end is connected to a substitution fluid source, and wherein the second end is connected to the second inlet of the three-way connector;
- wherein the three-way connector is configured to selectively allow a flow of the substitution fluid into the machine arterial line or into the patient arterial access line.
A dialysis machine comprising:
- a three-way connector comprising a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, wherein the first inlet is configured to be connected to a patient arterial access line;
- a machine arterial line comprising a first end and a second end substantially opposing the first end, wherein the first end is connected to the outlet of the three-way connector;
- an arterial blood pump in communication with the machine arterial line and configured to pump fluid from the first end to the second end;
- a substitution fluid line comprising a first end and a second end substantially opposing the first end, wherein the first end is connected to a substitution fluid source, and wherein the second end is connected to the second inlet of the three-way connector;
- and
- a substitution fluid pump in communication with the substitution fluid line and configured to pump fluid from the substitution fluid source to the second inlet of the three-way connector;
- wherein the arterial blood pump and the substitution fluid pump are selectively operable to provide a flow of the substitution fluid into the machine arterial line or into the patient arterial access line.
A method for syringe-free blood return in a dialysis machine blood circuit using a three-way connector comprising a first inlet connected to a patient arterial access line, a second inlet connected to a substitution fluid line, and an outlet connected to a machine arterial line, the method comprising:
- operating both of an arterial blood pump in communication with the machine arterial line and a substitution fluid pump in communication with the substitution fluid line to rinse blood through the machine arterial line;
- and
- operating only the substitution fluid pump to rinse blood through the patient arterial access line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.