Patent ID: 6558340
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A dialysis machine comprising a dialyzer with a first blood circulation inlet and a first blood circulation outlet, a dialysate supply means, an arterial line connected between an arteriovenous fistula in a patient and the first dialyzer inlet, a venous line connected between the arteriovenous fistula and the first dializyer outlet, a pump coupled with the arterial line, a dialysate inlet line connected between the dialysate supply means and a second dialyzer inlet, and a dialysate evacuation line connected between a dialysate collection container and a second dialyzer outlet, wherein the dialysate supply means (25) includes at least two chambers (26), each of the at least two chambers containing at least one primary pouch (25a) of sterile dialysate, each of the at least one primary-pouches (25a) connected to the dialysate inlet line (31) leading to the dialyzer (20), pressurizing means for separately pressurizing each of the at least one primary pouches (25a) to provoke the flow of dialysate into the inlet line (31), each of the at least two chambers further containing at least one reserve pouch (25b) of sterile dialysate, with each of the at least one reserve pouches (25b) connected by a conduit (38) to a primary pouch (25a) within each of the at least two chambers (26), the dialysate inlet line (31) including a flow restrictor for generating a predetermined decrease in charge calculated so that for a given pressure in each of the at least two chambers (26), the flow rate and the pressure of the dialysate at the second inlet (23) on the dialyzer (20) have a constant given value, the dialysis machine including a volumetric device (36) connected to the evacuation line (33) at the second outlet (24) of the dialyzer (29), the volumetric device (36) designed to generate, in combination with the means for pressurizing the at least one primary pouch (25a) within each of the at least two chambers (26), a predetermined trans-membrane pressure in the dialyzer.