Hemofiltration system

A hemofiltration system for fluid removal from the blood of a patient, comprising:

• a pump capable of pumping a liquid selected from the group consisting of infusate, drained fluid, and blood in the hemofiltration system;
• a flow rate sensor for measuring the flow rate of the liquid generated by the at least one pump, the flow rate sensor providing flow rate data signals correlated to the liquid flow rate;
• and
• an adaptive controller operably connectable to the at least one pump and operably connected to the flow rate sensor, the controller receiving the flow rate data signals and generating an output signal for adjusting the pumping rate of the liquid generated by the at least one pump, the controller providing the output signal for the at least one pump on a periodic ongoing basis, the controller using an adaptive law to generate a set of controller parameters for correcting time-dependent deviations of the flow rate from a predetermined flow rate, and using a control law to generate the output signal from the set of controller parameters for adjusting the pumping rate of the liquid generated by the at least one pump to achieve the predetermined flow rate for regulating fluid removal from the patient's blood.

A method of controlling a pump in a hemofiltration system, comprising:

• measuring the flow rate of a liquid selected from the group consisting of infusate, drained fluid, and blood generated by the pump to obtain flow rate data signals correlated to the fluid flow rate;
• measuring at least one patient parameter to obtain patient parameter data signals correlated to said at least one patient parameter;
• analyzing the flow rate data signals and the patient parameter data signals utilizing fuzzy logic having at least one predetermined supervisory rule;
• and
• providing an output signal to the pump to adjust, as necessary on a periodic ongoing basis, the flow rate of liquid generated by the pump for regulating fluid removal from the patient's blood.

A method of controlling a pump in an ultrafiltration system, comprising:

• measuring a flow rate of a liquid selected from the group consisting of infusate, drained fluid, and blood in the hemofiltration system generated by the pump to obtain flow rate data signals correlated to the liquid flow rate;
• generating a set of controller parameters from the flow rate signals for correcting time-dependent deviations of the flow rate from the predetermined flow rate;
• generating an output signal using a control law from the set of controller parameters, the output signal capable of adjusting the pumping rate of liquid generated by the pump to achieve a predetermine flow rate;
• and
• providing the output signal to the pump on a periodic ongoing basis to correct the deviations of the flow rate from the predetermined flow rate for regulating fluid removal from the patient's blood.

Hemofiltration method for removal of fluid from the blood of a patient, comprising:

• pumping blood from a patient through a hemofilter and back to the patient;
• monitoring the blood outflow from the blood pump and generating blood flow rate data signals;
• maintaining a supply of infusate in a first reservoir;
• monitoring the weight of infusate in the first reservoir and generating infusate flow rate data signals, pumping the infusate to the hemofilter;
• pumping drained fluid from the hemofilter into a second reservoir;
• monitoring the weight of drained fluid in the second reservoir and generating drained fluid flow rate data signals;
• monitoring at least one predetermined patient parameter, such as patient heart rate and/or blood pressure, and generating parameter data signals correlated thereto;
• and
• controlling the pumping rate of the blood, the drained fluid, and the infusate with a programmed computer, the computer being responsive to the flow rate data signals, the computer;
• receiving the flow rate data and parameter data signals;
• analyzing the received signals with fuzzy logic having at least one predetermined supervisory rule;
• and
• generating an output signal to each pump based upon the analysis of the received flow rate data and parameter data signals to adjust, as necessary on a periodic ongoing basis, the flow rate of fluid generated by each pump, for regulating fluid removal from the patient's blood.

Hemofiltration method for removal of fluid from the blood of a patient, comprising

• pumping blood from a patient through a hemofilter and back to the patient;
• sensing the performance of the blood pump and generating a first set of controller parameters from a fist adaptive law;
• monitoring the blood outflow from the blood pump and generating blood flow rate data signals;
• maintaining a supply of infusate in a first reservoir;
• monitoring the weight of infusate in the first reservoir and generating infusate flow rate data signals;
• pumping the infusate to the hemofilter;
• sensing the performance of the infusate pump generating a second set of controller parameters from a second adaptive law;
• pumping drained fluid from the hemofilter into a second reservoir;
• monitoring the weight of drained fluid in the second reservoir and generating drained fluid flow rate data signals;
• sensing the performance of the drained fluid pump and generating a third set of controller parameters from a third adaptive law;
• controlling the pumping rate of the blood, the drained fluid, and the infusate with a programmed computer to correspond to a set of predetermined pumping rates, the computer being responsive to the flow rate data signals and the controller parameters,
• using a control law to generate an output signal from the flow rate data signals and the controller parameters for correcting time-dependent deviations of the flow rate from the set of predetermined pumping rates;
• and
• providing the output signal to at least one pump on a periodic ongoing basis, for regulating fluid removal from the patient's blood.

Continuous hemofiltration system for removal of fluid from the blood of a patient, comprising:

• a hemofilter;
• a first pump for pumping blood from a patient through said hemofilter and back to the patient;
• a flowmeter downstream of said first pump to measure the blood outflow rate from the blood pump, said flowmeter generating blood flow rate data signals correlated to the blood outflow rate;
• a first reservoir for maintaining a supply of infusate;
• a second pump for pumping the infusate firm said first reservoir to said hemofilter;
• a second reservoir for receiving drained fluid from said hemofilter;
• a third pump for pumping the drained fluid from said hemofilter to said second reservoir;
• and
• an adaptive controller operably connected to said first pump and to said blood flowmeter, said adaptive controller receiving said blood flow rate data signals, using an adaptive law to generate a set of controller parameters for correcting time-dependent deviations of the blood outflow rate from a target blood outflow rate, and using a control law to generate an output signal from the set of controller parameters for adjusting the pumping rate of fluid generated by the first pump to achieve the target blood flow rate, said adaptive controller then providing the output signal to the first pump on a periodic ongoing basis for regulating fluid removal from the patient's blood.

Continuous hemofiltration system for removal of fluid from the blood of a patient, comprising:

• a hemofilter;
• a first pump for pumping blood from a patient through said hemofilter and back to the patient;
• a flowmeter downstream of said first pump to measure the blood outflow rate from the blood pump, said flowmeter generating blood flow rate data signals correlated to the blood outflow rate;
• a first reservoir for maintaining a supply of infusate;
• a first scale to measure the weight of infusate in said first reservoir, said first scale generating infusate flow rate data signals correlated to the infusate weight;
• a second pump for pumping the infusate from said first reservoir to said hemofilter;
• a second reservoir for receiving drained fluid from said hemofilter;
• a second scale to measure the weight of drained fluid in said second reservoir, said second scale generating drained fluid flow rate data signals correlated to the drained fluid weight;
• a third pump for pumping the drained fluid from said hemofilter to said second reservoir;
• at least one monitor for measuring at least one patient parameter, said least one patient parameter monitor providing patient parameter data signals correlated to said at least one patient parameter;
• and
• a supervisory controller operably connected to said first, second and third pumps, to said flowmeter, to said first and second scales, and to said at least one patient parameter monitor, said controller receiving the blood flow rate data signals, the infusate flow rate data signals, the drained fluid flow rate data signals, and the patient parameter data signals, said supervisory controller analyzing said signals utilizing fuzzy logic having at least one predetermined supervisory rule, and said supervisory controller then providing an output signal to one or more of said first, second and third pumps to adjust, as necessary on a periodic ongoing basis, the flow rate of fluid generated by the one or more of said first, second and third pumps for regulating fluid removal from the patient's blood.