Patent ID: 7500958
Filing Date: 2009-03-10
Classification: A61M,G01F

Abstract:
1. An extracorporeal circuit for use with blood flow from a blood access comprising: a switch valve comprising: a dialyzer having a blood compartment and a dialysis fluid compartment separated by a semi-permeable membrane, wherein the blood compartment comprises: a first line connected to the first blood inlet connector; an arterial needle connected to the first line and for connection to the blood access; a second line connected to the second blood outlet connector; a venous needle connected to the second line and for connection to the blood access; the dialysis fluid compartment comprises: a dialysate line connected to the outlet of the dialysate compartment; the switch valve comprising: a monitor connected to the dialysate line for measuring, in the normal condition of blood flow, a first variable in the dialysate, and for measuring, in the reversed condition of blood flow, a second variable in the dialysate; a calculating means for calculating a blood flow rate in the blood access from the first and second variables, wherein the openings are disposed on the valve housing diametrically opposite to each other, the valve chamber is cylindrical and the openings are spaced 90° relative to each other around the chamber, the openings are each provided with a respective connector, said partition divides the valve chamber in two portions, and each of said portions is semi-circular, and wherein a first and a second of said connectors extend diametrically opposite from the valve housing and a third and a fourth of said connectors are symmetrically inclined by less than 90 degrees with respect to a direction of the first connector.