Patent ID: 6551513
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A method of cleaning and priming a dialysis system where the dialysis system comprisesa dialyzer having a dialysate flow path and a blood flow path partitioned by a dialysis membrane; a closed-type water-removal control apparatus for controlling a difference between volumes of a fresh dialysate flowing into the dialyzer and a used dialysate flowing out of the dialyzer by removing a volume of water, said closed-type water-removal control apparatus including a fresh dialysate chamber and a used dialysate chamber; a fresh dialysate supply line extending from a source of fresh dialysate to the fresh dialysate chamber; a dialysate line connecting the closed-type water-removal control apparatus and the dialysate flow path of the dialyzer, said dialysate line including an inlet line to the dialyzer connected to the fresh dialysate chamber and an outlet line from the dialyzer connected to the used dialysate chamber; a dialysate pressurizing line connected to said fresh dialysate supply line at a junction with said fresh dialysate supply line and connected to said inlet line to the dialyzer at a junction with said inlet line to the dialyzer; a dialysate pressurizing pump provided in the dialysate pressurizing line between said junctions; an artery side blood line connected to a blood inlet of the dialyzer; a blood pump provided in the artery side blood line; and a vein side blood line connected to a blood outlet of the dialyzer; said method comprising pressuring the dialysate from the fresh dialysate source into said dialysate line via said dialysate pressurizing line to cause the dialysate to flow through the dialysis membrane of the dialyzer into the blood flow path.