Patent ID: 6890315
Filing Date: 2005-05-10
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for removing excess fluid from a patient comprising: a. inserting a withdrawal catheter into a first peripheral blood vessel in the patient; b. withdrawing blood through the catheter in the first peripheral blood vessel in the patient; c. sensing a withdrawal pressure of the blood; d. adjusting a withdrawal blood flow rate based on the sensed withdrawal pressure; e. filtering the withdrawn blood through a filter to separate the excess fluid from the blood, wherein the filter has a filter membrane surface area of no greater than 0.2 m f. infusing the filtered blood into a second peripheral blood vessel in the patient; g. wherein a blood flow through the filter is less than two percent of a total cardiac output of the patient, and a flow of the excess fluid removed from the blood is no greater than 1.0 liters per hour.