Hemodialysis monitoring system for hemodialysis machines

An apparatus adapted for monitoring a hemodialysis treatment in real time for utilization with a hemodialysis machine including a dialyzer and dialysate waste effluent removed from the dialyzer, comprising:

• a dialysate effluent constituent sensor and means for separately coupling a plurality of separate, selected volume, fluid portions of the dialysate effluent to said constituent sensor during a dialysis treatment;
• means for detecting and measuring concentration of said constituent in each of said dialysate effluent portions;
• means for determining a constituent concentration-time profile from said constituent dialysate concentration measurements;
• and
• means for directly determining an indication of adequacy of said dialysis treatment from said dialysate constituent concentration-time profile prior to the end of a treatment period, whereby treatment can be adjusted by an amount effective to result in adequate hemodialysis for fixed time period hemodialysis treatment if the determination indicates the dialysis treatment having its adequacy determined is inadequate.

A method of monitoring a hemodialysis treatment in real time for utilization with a hemodialysis machine including a dialyzer and with dialysate waste effluent removed from the dialyzer, comprising:

• providing a dialysate effluent urea sensor and separately coupling a plurality of separate, selected volume, fluid portions of the dialysate effluent to said urea sensor during a dialysis treatment;
• detecting and measuring concentrations of said urea in each of said dialysate effluent portions;
• determining a dialysate urea concentration-time profile from said dialysate urea concentration measurements;
• and
• directly determining an indication of adequacy of said dialysis treatment from said dialysate urea concentration-time profile prior to the end of a treatment period, whereby treatment can be adjusted by an amount effective to result in adequate hemodialysis for fixed time-period hemodialysis treatments if the determination indicated the dialysis treatment having its adequacy determined is inadequate.

An apparatus adapted for monitoring a hemodialysis treatment in real time for utilization with a hemodialysis machine including a dialyzer and with dialysate waste effluent removed from the dialyzer, comprising:

• a dialysate effluent urea sensor and means for separately coupling a plurality of separate, selected volume, fluid portions of the dialysate effluent to said urea sensor during a dialysis treatment;
• means for detecting and measuring concentrations of said urea in each of said dialysate effluent portions;
• means for determining a urea concentration-time profile from said dialysate urea concentration measurements;
• and
• means for directly determining an indication of adequacy of said dialysis treatment from said dialysate urea concentration-time profile prior to the end of a treatment period, whereby treatment can be adjusted by an amount effective to result in adequate hemodialysis for fixed time-period hemodialysis treatments if the determination indicates the dialysis treatment having its adequacy determined is inadequate.

A method of monitoring a hemodialysis treatment in real time for utilization with a hemodialysis machine including a dialyzer, and with dialysate waste effluent removed from the dialyzer, comprising:

• providing a dialysate effluent constituent sensor capable of detecting at least a constituent related to urea in the dialysate, including obtaining an equilibrated urea concentration measurement prior to starting the dialysis treatment;
• separately coupling a plurality of separate fluid portions of the dialysate effluent to said constituent sensor during a dialysis treatment;
• detecting and measuring concentrations of said constituent in each of said dialysate effluent portions;
• determining a dialysate constituent concentration-time profile from said constituent concentration measurements, said constituent concentration-time profile being at least a urea concentration-time profile;
• and
• determining a solute removal index (SRI) from said equilibrated concentration measurement and from said urea concentration time profile, and directly determining an indication of adequacy of said dialysis treatment from said dialysate constituent concentration-time profile prior to the end of a treatment period, with said determining comprising determining at least one urea removal, KT/V PCR, and URR from saud urea concentration-time profile, whereby treatment can be adjusted by an amount effective to result in adequate hemodialysis for fixed time-period hemodialysis treatments if the determination indicates the dialysis treatment having its adequacy determined is inadequate.

An apparatus adapted for monitoring a hemodialysis treatment in real time for utilization with a hemodialysis machine including a dialyzer and dialysate waste effluent removed from the dialyzer, comprising:

• a dialyzate constituent sensor for sensing a constituent related to at least urea, and including a urea sensor;
• means for obtaining an equilibrated urea concentration measurement prior to starting the dialysis treatment;
• means for separately coupling a plurality of separate fluid portions of the dialysate effluent to said constituent sensor during a dialysis treatment;
• means for detecting and measuring concentration of said constituent in each of said dialysate effluent portions;
• means for determining a constituent concentration-time profile, comprising at least a urea concentration-time profile, from said constituent dialysate concentration measurements;
• and
• means for determining a solute removal index (SRI) from said equilibrated concentration measurement and from at least said urea concentration-time profile, for determining at least one of urea removal, KT/V, PCR, and URR from at least said urea concentration-time profile, and for directly determining an indication of the adequacy of said dialysis treatment from said dialysate constituent-time profile prior to the end of a treatment period, whereby treatment can be adjusted by an mount effective to result in adequate hemodialysis for fixed time period hemodialysis treatment of the determination indicates the dialysis treatment having its adequacy determined is inadequate.

A method of monitoring a hemodialysis treatment in real time for utilization with a hemodialysis machine including a dialyzer, and with dialysate waste effluent removed from the dialyzer, comprising:

• providing a dialysate effluent constituent sensor capable of detecting at least a constituent related to urea in the dialysate, including obtaining an equilibrated urea concentration measurement after completing the dialysis treatment;
• separately coupling a plurality of separate fluid portions of the dialysate effluent to said constituent sensor during a dialysis treatment;
• detecting and measuring concentrations of said constituent in each of said dialysate effluent portions;
• determining a dialysate constituent concentration-time profile from said constituent concentration measurements, said constituent concentration-time profile being at least a urea concentration-time profile;
• and
• determining a solute removal index (SRI) from said equilibrated concentration measurement and from said urea concentration-time profile, and directly determining an indication of adequacy of said dialysis treatment from said dialysate constituent concentration-time profile prior to the end of a treatment period, with said determining comprising determining at least one of urea removal, KT/V, PCR, and URR from said urea concentration-time profile, whereby treatment can be adjusted by-an amount effective to result in adequate hemodialysis for fixed time-period hemodialysis treatments if the determination indicates the dialysis treatment having its adequacy determined is inadequate.

An apparatus adapted for monitoring a hemodialysis treatment in real time for utilization with a hemodialysis machine including a dialyzer and dialyzate waste effluent removed from the dialyzer, comprising:

• a dialyzate constituent sensor for sensing a constituent related to at least urea, and including a urea sensor;
• means for obtaining an equilibrated urea concentration measurement after completing the dialysis treatment;
• means for separately coupling a plurality of separate fluid portions of the dialysate effluent to said constituent sensor during a dialysis treatment;
• means for detecting and measuring concentrations of said constituent in each of said dialysate effluent portions;
• means for determining a constituent concentration-time profile, comprising at least a urea concentration-time profile, from said constituent dialysate concentration measurements;
• and
• means for determining a solute removal index (SRI) from said equilibrated concentration measurement and from at least said urea concentration-time profile, for determining at least one of urea removal, KT/V, PCR, and URR from at least said urea concentration-time profile and for directly determining an indication of the adequacy of said dialysis treatment from said dialysate constituent-time profile prior to the end of a treatment period, whereby treatment can be adjusted by an amount effective to result in adequate hemodialysis for fixed time period hemodialysis treatment if the determination indicates the dialysis treatment having its adequacy determined is inadequate.