Patent ID: 6623442
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A dialysis apparatus comprising:means for varying at least one of a sodium concentration and a bicarbonate concentration in a dialysis liquid containing sodium and bicarbonate to be circulated through a haemodialyser; means for infusing a patient with at least one solution containing at least one ionic substance A, selected from the group comprising potassium, calcium and magnesium, the substance A being absent from the dialysis liquid and having a determined concentration (A)sol in the infusion solution; means for determining the actual dialysance D of the haemodialyser for sodium, from sodium concentration or conductivity values measured in the dialysis liquid after purposefully inducing a sodium concentration or conductivity perturbation in the dialysis liquid upstream of the haemodialyzer; means for determining a flow rate Qinf of infusion solution such that the concentration of the substance A inside the patient's body tends towards a desired concentration (A)des, as a function of the dialysance D, of the concentration (A)sol of the substance A in the infusion solution, and of the desired concentration (A)des; regulating means for regulating the flow rate of infusion solution; and control means for driving the means for regulating the flow rate of the infusion solution such that this flow rate is substantially equal to the determined flow rate Qinf.