Patent ID: 6471872
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: A61M,Y10S

Abstract:
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 first reservoir for maintaining a supply of infusate; a first scale for monitoring the weight of the infusate and generating weight data signals correlated thereto; 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 for monitoring the weight of the drained fluid and generating weight data signals correlated thereto; a third pump for pumping the drained fluid from said hemofilter to said second reservoir; at least one monitor for monitoring a predetermined patient parameter selected from the group consisting of arterial pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure, mean arterial pressure, capillary wedge pressure, systemic vascular resistance, cardiac output, mixed venous O2 saturation, arterial O2 saturation, blood pressure, heart rate, patient weight, and hematocrit, and generating parameter data signals correlated thereto; and a computer controller operably connected to said first pump and to each of said second and third pumps, said first and second scales and said at least one patient parameter monitor; said controller receiving said weight data signals generated by said first and second scales and said parameter data signals generated by said at least one parameter monitor, determining from said weight data signals the weight of infusate and drained fluid in said first and second reservoirs, respectively, at regular intervals, comparing those weights to corresponding predetermined computed weights, determining from said parameter data signals the corresponding patient parameter data, comparing the parameter data to corresponding predetermined data, and generating control signals in response to said weight data and parameter data signals, whereby said control signals adjust continuously and automatically as necessary on an ongoing basis during hemofiltration the rates of pumping one or more of the infusate, drained fluid and blood while the pumps are pumping during hemofiltration so as to remove a preselected amount of fluid from the blood over a preselected time period.