Dialysis system with a dialysate quality sensor
AssigneeDiality Inc.
InventorsBrandon Borillo, Tzu Tung Chen, Clayton Poppe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable hemodialysis system is provided including a dialyzer, a closed loop blood flow path which transports blood from a patient through the dialyzer and back to the patient, and a closed loop dialysate flow path which transports dialysate through the dialyzer. Preferably, the hemodialysis system comprises a sorbent filter in the dialysate flow path. Furthermore, the hemodialysis system comprises a dialysate quality sensor disposed directly in the dialysate flow path. The dialysate quality sensor is configured to change color based on a pH level, ammonia level, or ammonium level of the dialysate.
Claims18
A hemodialysis system with a sensor comprising:
- an arterial blood line for connecting to a patient's artery for collecting blood from the patient;
- a venous blood line for connecting to the patient's vein for returning blood to the patient;
- a dialyzer;
- a blood flow path connected to the arterial blood line and the venous blood line, the blood flow path is configured to transport blood from the patient to the dialyzer and back to the patient;
- a reservoir for storing dialysate;
- a dialysate flow path, isolated from the blood flow path, connected to the reservoir and the dialyzer, the dialysate flow path is configured to transport dialysate from the reservoir to the dialyzer;
- a first pump for pumping dialysate through the dialysate flow path;
- a second pump for pumping blood through the blood flow path;
- a sorbent filter connected to the dialysate flow path for removing toxins from the dialysate;
- a dialysate quality sensor including a lumen, a sensor media, and a sensor media retainer, said lumen disposed directly in the dialysate flow path and including a window, said sensor media positioned in said sensor media retainer and configured to change color based on a pH level, ammonia level, or ammonium level, said sensor media retainer positioned adjacent to said lumen window so that said sensor media is directly exposed to the dialysate flow path so as to change color based on a pH level, ammonia level, or ammonium level of the dialysate, said sensor media retainer including a back wall opposed and spaced from said window to form a cavity for receipt of the sensor media, said sensor media retainer further including a slot providing an opening into said cavity with said slot configured so that said sensor media is inserted and removed from said sensor media retainer cavity perpendicular relative to said dialysate flow path;
- and
- an optical detector including a light emitter positioned to emit light upon said sensor media and a light detector positioned to receive light reflected from said sensor media.
A dialysate quality sensor, the sensor comprising:
- a lumen having a dialysate flow path having a first end portion and a second end portion both constructed to attachably and detachably couple and decouple to flexible medical tubing, said lumen further having a transparent wall configured to allow light to traverse;
- a sensor media configured to change color based on a pH level, ammonia level, or ammonium level;
- and
- a sensor media retainer including a window and a back wall opposed to said window, said back wall spaced from said window to form a cavity for receipt of the sensor media, said sensor media retainer further including a slot providing an opening into said cavity with said slot configured for insertion and removal of said sensor media into and from said sensor media retainer cavity perpendicular relative to said dialysate flow path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.