Patent Description:
To facilitate handling of blood purification devices, there is proposed a blood purification device including a body including a pump rotor and a controller, and a cassette housing a dialyzer, pump tubes, a blood loop, and other components and removably assembled to the body. This blood purification device is configured such that, when the cassette is assembled to the body, the pump tubes in the cassette are sequentially squeezed by the pump rotor in the body to pressure-feed blood and dialysate, for example, to the dialyzer (see Patent Document <NUM>, for example).

During dialysis, water removal is performed to remove excessive water out of the patient's body. As the feed amounts of a blood pump and a dialysate pump need to be controlled based on the amount of removed water, it is necessary to store the removed water in a bag and measure the amount of removed water. To this end, the weight of the bag placed outside the blood purification device is measured to thereby determine the amount of removed water (see Patent Document <NUM>, for example).

<CIT>
discloses a blood purification system comprising a blood purification circuit and a blood purification device, which can control the amount of water to be removed from or fed to a patient having a kidney disease or multi organ failure more accurately in the treatment of the suitable for use in a continuous hemofiltration method. <CIT> discloses a multifunctional equipment for circulating humors and medical liquid in a membrane exchanger and providing blood treatment equipment which is suitable for performing a plurality of treatments consecutively, comprising first and second pumps <NUM> and <NUM> for first and second sterilizing liquids, a third pump <NUM> to be connected to an exchanger <NUM>, an extraction means <NUM> for ultrafiltrating humors through the exchanger, and first and second weighting means. <CIT> discloses a dialysis instrument comprising a pump which is located on the dialysate side of a dialyzer for moving body fluids and a disposable cartridge which is amounted to a main frame and includes containers of calcium chloride, priming solution, water, sorbent column, dialysate reservoir bag and reservoir.

While the conventional blood purification device disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> partially houses wet parts within the cassette, some wet parts such as a removed water container, for example, need to be separately attached to the blood purification device as described in Patent Document <NUM>. Further simplification of handling of blood purification devices is therefore required.

The present invention is therefore aimed at simplification of handling of blood purification devices.

A blood purification device according to the independent claims <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> aims at solving the technical problem. The blood purification includes a device body, and a cassette to be removably assembled to the device body. The cassette includes a casing that houses a removed water container, and the cassette is attachable and removable with respect to the device body.

The removed water container mounted in the cassette can be thus integrally assembled to the device body removably, which simplifies handling of the blood purification device.

The blood purification device according to the present invention may further include a load detector mounted on the device body and configured to measure a load of the removed water container, and a load transmission mechanism configured to transmit to the load detector the load of the removed water container housed in the cassette.

This configuration enables measurement of the weight of the removed water container housed in the cassette by the device body housing the load detector, thereby simplifying handling of the blood purification device.

In the blood purification device according to the present invention, the load transmission mechanism may include a hole in a bottom board of the cassette in a portion where the removed water container is housed, and the removed water container may be configured to be placed on or above the load detector. The device body may include a base on which the load detector is mounted, and the load detector may be inserted through the hole. The device body may further include a cassette seat configured to receive the cassette. The load transmission mechanism may include the hole, and an opening in the cassette seat at a location corresponding to the hole in the cassette, and the load detector may be inserted through the hole and the opening.

This simple configuration enables measurement of the weight of the removed water container housed in the cassette by the device body that houses the load detector.

In the blood purification device according to the present invention, the device body may include a base on which the load detector is mounted. The load transmission mechanism may include the hole, and a spacer inserted through the hole. The spacer may be sandwiched between the load detector mounted on the base and a bottom face of the removed water container to thereby lift the removed water container up off a bottom board of the cassette. The removed water container may be configured to be placed on the spacer on top of the load detector. Further, the device body may include a cassette seat configured to receive the cassette and disposed with an interval from the base. The load transmission mechanism may further include an opening in the cassette seat at a location corresponding to the hole of the cassette, and the spacer may be inserted through the hole and the opening and sandwiched between the load detector mounted on the base and a bottom face of the removed water container to thereby lift the removed water container up off the bottom board of the cassette that is assembled to the device body to bring the bottom face of the cassette into contact with the cassette seat of the device body.

In the blood purification device according to the present invention, the load transmission mechanism may include an opening in a top board of the cassette in a portion where the removed water container is housed, and an engaging unit protruding on an upper portion of the removed water container, and the removed water container may be suspended from the load detector. Further, the load transmission mechanism may include a connector coupled with the load detector mounted on the device body, which is configured to engage the engaging unit of the removed water container through the opening to lift the removed water container up off a bottom board of the cassette assembled to the device body, and the removed water container may be suspended from the load detector via the connector.

In the blood purification device according to the present invention, the device body may include a heater disposed such that part or all of the heater enters the interior of the cassette that is assembled to the device body. For example, the heater may be disposed in a region under the removed water container housed in the cassette when the cassette is assembled to the device body, such that part or all of the heater enters the interior of the cassette from below. Further, the removed water container may include a recess portion in its bottom such that, when the cassette is assembled to the device body, the heater may enter the recess portion from below. Also, the heater may be inserted into the interior of the cassette from the side of the cassette or from above the cassette.

In the blood purification device according to the present invention, the device body may include a heater to be disposed near the cassette that is assembled to the device body. For example, the device body may include the heater to be located near a region under the cassette when the cassette is assembled to the device body. The device body may include the heater to be located adjacent to a side face of the cassette when the cassette is assembled to the device body. The device body may include the heater to be located near a region above the cassette when the cassette is assembled.

This simple configuration enables measurement of the weight of the removed water container housed in the cassette by the device body that houses the load detector and also enables heating of the dialysate to thereby maintain the temperature of blood to be reinfused to the patient.

In the blood purification device according to the present invention, the cassette may further house a dialyzer and a dialysate regeneration column. Further, the blood purification device according to the present invention may further include a pump unit including an elastic pump tube, a tube receiver configured to receive the pump tube, a tube pressing member configured to press a portion of the pump tube onto the tube receiver, and a driver unit configured to move the tube pressing member along a longitudinal direction of the pump tube, and configured to squeeze out liquid within the pump tube. In the blood purification device, the cassette may include at least a portion of the pump unit, and the device body may include a further portion of the pump unit. Here, the cassette may include the tube receiver and the pump tube of the pump unit, and the device body may include the tube pressing member and the driver unit. The tube receiver may be the casing of the cassette, and the pump tube may be mounted on an outer face of the casing. The tube pressing member may include a plurality of fingers, and the cassette may be attachable and removable with respect to the device body such that the pump tube is located between the fingers and the outer face of the casing. Further, here, the cassette may include the tube receiver, the pump tube, and the tube pressing member of the pump unit, and the device body may include the driver unit. The tube pressing member may be a rotor. The pump tube may include an arc portion along an outer circumference of the rotor. The tube receiver may be a stator including an arc portion along an outer circumference of the pump tube. The cassette may be attachable and removable with respect to the device body such that the rotor engages the driver unit when the cassette is assembled to the device body and the rotor is separated from the driver unit when the cassette is removed from the device body.

This configuration enables all of wet parts to be integrally assembled or removed with respect to the device body to thereby simplify handling of the blood purification device.

The present invention simplifies handling of blood purification devices.

A blood purification device <NUM> according to an embodiment will be described by reference to the drawings. As illustrated in <FIG>, the blood purification device <NUM> includes a device body <NUM>, and a cassette <NUM> removably assembled to the device body <NUM>. The cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM> with a lower part of the cassette <NUM> fitted in a cassette seat <NUM> of the device body <NUM> and a hook <NUM> in an upper part of the cassette <NUM> fastened with a fitting <NUM> of the device body <NUM>. For use in dialysis, for example, a blood inlet nozzle 51a and a blood outlet nozzle 51b of the cassette <NUM> are respectively coupled with blood vessels of a patient's body. In the following description, the direction in which the device body <NUM> and the cassette <NUM> are arranged is referred to as a front-rear direction, the direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction in a horizontal plane as a width direction, and the vertical direction as an up-down direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cassette <NUM> includes a casing <NUM> that houses a dialyzer <NUM>, a dialysate regeneration column <NUM>, and a removed water container <NUM>, and the casing <NUM> includes, on an outer face 32a of its rear board <NUM>, a plurality of elastic pump tubes <NUM> (41a to 41c). The casing <NUM> forms a tube receiver that receives the pump tubes <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the device body <NUM> includes a finger casing <NUM> storing a plurality of fingers <NUM>, driver units <NUM> of the fingers <NUM>, a controller <NUM> that performs driving control of the driver units <NUM>, and a housing <NUM> that houses these elements. The fingers <NUM> are tube pressing members that compress the pump tubes <NUM> radially while moving the compressing position along the longitudinal direction of the pump tubes <NUM> to thereby allow the interior liquid to flow. The fingers <NUM> and the finger casings <NUM> form a peristaltic pump that is a pump unit.

The blood purification device <NUM> includes a blood loop and a dialysate loop. The blood loop is a liquid loop that returns blood of a human body flowing from the blood inlet nozzle 51a back to the human body through the blood outlet nozzle 51b, and includes the pump tube 41a of the blood pump, a blood flow channel of the dialyzer <NUM>, a drip chamber, and a coupling tube that couples these elements together. The dialysate loop is a liquid loop that circulates the dialysate in the dialyzer <NUM>, and includes a dialysate fluid channel of the dialyzer <NUM>, the dialysate regeneration column <NUM>, the removed water container <NUM>, the pump tube 41b of a dialysate outlet pump, the pump tube 41c of a dialysate inlet pump, and a coupling tube that couples these elements. The dialysate regeneration column <NUM> may be disposed anywhere within the dialysate loop.

The blood purification device <NUM> allows blood to flow through the blood loop and allows dialysate to flow through the dialysate loop to remove unnecessary waste and excess water out of the blood by the dialyzer <NUM>. The blood loop and the dialysate loop form wet parts. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the cassette <NUM> includes the dialyzer <NUM>, the dialysate regeneration column <NUM>, the removed water container <NUM>, a drip chamber, the pump tubes 41a to 41c, the blood inlet nozzle 51a, the blood outlet nozzle 51b, and the coupling tubes coupling these elements.

While in the description, the pump tubes 41a to 41c correspond to the blood pump, the dialysate outlet pump, and the dialysate inlet pump, respectively, the pump tubes 41a to 41c may be included in any of the blood pump, the dialysate outlet pump, and the dialysate inlet pump.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM> includes a base <NUM> that is a rectangular board, right and left L-shape side boards 11a, a front board 11b attached at the front of the base <NUM>, and the cassette seat <NUM>. As illustrated in FIG. <NUM>(a), the base <NUM> includes a rib 12a in its center, and the cassette seat <NUM> is mounted on the front portions of the right and left side boards 11a, the front board 11b, and the rib 12a. As such, the cassette seat <NUM> is assembled to the base <NUM> with an interval between the cassette seat <NUM> and the base <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the cassette seat <NUM> includes a flat receiving board 13a mounted on the front portion of the right and left side boards 11a, the front board 11b, and the rib 12a and receiving a bottom board <NUM> of the cassette <NUM>, and a vertical flange 13b raising on opposite widthwise ends and the front end of the receiving board 13a. An inner face of the vertical flange 13b is sloped outward to facilitate receiving of the cassette <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

The finger casings 14a to 14c forming the blood pump, the dialysate outlet pump, and the dialysate inlet pump, respectively, are mounted on an upper face of the base <NUM>. Each of driver units 16a to 16c is attached to the corresponding one of the finger casings 14a to 14c.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <NUM>(a), the casing <NUM> of the cassette <NUM> includes the bottom board <NUM>, the rear board <NUM> raising vertically from a rear edge of the bottom board <NUM>, side boards 31a raising vertically from opposite widthwise edges of the bottom board <NUM>, and a front board 31b raising vertically from a front edge of the bottom board <NUM>. The dialyzer <NUM>, the dialysate regeneration column <NUM>, and the removed water container <NUM> are housed within a space enclosed by the bottom board <NUM>, the side boards 31a, the front board 31b, and the rear board <NUM>. The coupling tube coupling the dialyzer <NUM>, the dialysate regeneration column <NUM>, and the removed water container <NUM> is also housed within the cassette <NUM>.

The pump tubes 41a to 41c are attached on a flat outer face 32a of the rear board <NUM> adjacent to the device body. The pump tubes 41a to 41c are coupled to the blood loop and the dialysate loop at their opposite ends. The pump tubes 41a to 41c have faces adjacent to the rear board <NUM> that are disposed along the flat outer face 32a of the rear board <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, each of the finger casings 14a to 14c includes, on a frontward face, a vertically extending slot into which the corresponding one of the pump tubes 41a to 41c is fit. On assembling the cassette <NUM> to the device body <NUM>, with the rear board <NUM> of the cassette <NUM> facing the device body <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, the pump tubes 41a to 41c are located between the slots of the corresponding finger casings 14a to 14c and the flat outer face 32a of the rear board <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. Upon being driven by the corresponding driver units 16a to 16c, respectively, the fingers 15a to 15c press the elastic pump tubes 41a to 41c, respectively, as illustrated in FIG.

<FIG> is a cross section of a portion of the cassette <NUM> where the removed water container <NUM> is housed, taken along line A-A in <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the cassette <NUM> includes a hole 34c in a region of the bottom board <NUM> where the removed water container <NUM> is housed. Meanwhile, the cassette seat <NUM> also includes an opening 13c at a location corresponding to the hole 34c formed on the bottom board <NUM> of the cassette <NUM>. The hole 34c and the opening 13c together form a single through hole through which a spacer <NUM> is inserted. A load detector <NUM> that measures the load of the removed water container <NUM> is disposed on an upper face of the base <NUM> under the spacer <NUM>. The spacer <NUM> has such a thickness that allows the spacer <NUM> to protrude from an upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM> to lift the bottom face 37a of the removed water container <NUM> up off the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM>, when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM> to bring an undersurface 34a of the bottom board <NUM> into contact with an upper face 13d of the cassette seat <NUM>.

As indicated by a dashed and single-dotted line in <FIG>, prior to assembling the cassette <NUM> to the device body <NUM>, the load of the removed water container <NUM> is supported by the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM> of the casing <NUM>. In assembling the cassette <NUM> to the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM> to bring the undersurface 34a of the bottom board <NUM> closer to the upper face 13d of the cassette seat <NUM>, the upper face of the spacer <NUM> starts protruding through the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM>. Then, after the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM> to bring the undersurface 34a of the bottom board <NUM> in contact with the upper face 13d of the cassette seat <NUM>, the upper face of the spacer <NUM> protrudes through the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM> to lift the bottom face 37a of the removed water container <NUM> up off the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM>, as indicated by a solid line in <FIG>. The spacer <NUM> is sandwiched between the load detector <NUM> and the bottom face 37a of the removed water container <NUM> to transmit the load of the removed water container <NUM> to the load detector <NUM>. As described, the load detector <NUM> disposed on the device body <NUM> is capable of measuring the load of the removed water container <NUM> housed within the cassette <NUM> and placed above the load detector <NUM>. As such, the load detector <NUM> measures the load of the removed water container <NUM> containing liquid, not the weight of the whole cassette <NUM>, which allows accurate measurement of the load of the removed water container <NUM>.

The hole 34c formed in the bottom board <NUM> of the cassette <NUM>, the opening 13c formed in the cassette seat <NUM>, and the spacer <NUM> inserted through the hole 34c and the opening 13c form a load transmission mechanism that transmits the load of the removed water container <NUM> to the load detector <NUM>.

While in the above description, the load detector <NUM> and the spacer <NUM> are separate elements, other configurations may be employed. For example, the load detector <NUM> may be configured to be inserted through the hole 34c formed in the bottom board <NUM> of the cassette <NUM> and the opening 13c formed in the cassette seat <NUM> such that, when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM>, the upper face of the load detector <NUM> protrudes through the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM> to allow the removed water container <NUM> to be placed directly on the load detector <NUM>.

A configuration without the cassette seat <NUM> may also be employed. Specifically, the base <NUM> may have a recess in a region corresponding to the hole 34c formed in the bottom board <NUM> of the cassette <NUM> to allow the load detector <NUM> to be mounted in the recess and to be inserted through the hole 34c such that, when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM>, the upper face of the load detector <NUM> protrudes through the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM> and the removed water container <NUM> is placed on the load detector <NUM>.

The above configuration may be further modified such that the spacer <NUM> is superposed on the load detector <NUM>, and, when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM>, the upper face of the spacer <NUM> protrudes through the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM> to allow the removed water container <NUM> to be placed on the spacer <NUM>.

As described above, in the blood purification device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the cassette <NUM> collectively houses the dialyzer <NUM>, the removed water container <NUM>, the dialysate regeneration column <NUM>, and the pump tubes 41a to 41c and the coupling tubes that couple these elements, that form the blood loops and the dialysate loop, and the cassette <NUM> is removably assembled to the device body <NUM>. This configuration enables dialysis to be performed only by assembling the cassette <NUM> to the device body <NUM> and connecting the blood inlet nozzle 51a and the blood outlet nozzle 51b with a puncture needle inserted in the blood vessel of a patient's body, which simplifies handling of the blood purification device <NUM>. The cassette <NUM> that contains all of disposable components of the wet parts of the blood loop and the dialysate loop may be disposable, which allows disposal of these disposable components collectively. This also simplifies handling of the blood purification device <NUM>.

In the description of the blood purification device <NUM> according to this embodiment, the fingers <NUM> are the tube pressing elements of the pump unit, and the casing <NUM> is the tube receiver, and the pump is a peristaltic pump that presses the pump tubes <NUM> radially while shifting the pressing location along the longitudinal direction of the pump tube <NUM> to thereby squeeze out the liquid within the pump tubes <NUM>. However, the configuration of the blood purification device <NUM> is not limited to this example, and a squeezing roller pump may be employed. In this configuration, the tube pressing element of the pump unit is a rotor, and the pump tubes <NUM> having an arc portion along the outer periphery of the rotor are pressed by a stator serving as a tube receiver having an arc portion along the outer periphery of the pump tube <NUM>. In the configuration using a roller pump, the stator, the rotor, and the pump tubes are assembled to the cassette <NUM>, and the driver unit is attached to the device body <NUM>, and the cassette <NUM> may be attachable and detachable with respect to the device body <NUM> such that, when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>, the rotor engages the driver units and, when the cassette <NUM> is removed from the device body <NUM>, the rotor is detached from the driver units.

Further, in the configuration that employs a squeezing roller pump, the pump tube <NUM> including an arc portion along the outer periphery of the rotor and the stator including an arc portion along the outer periphery of the pump tube <NUM> are assembled to the casing <NUM> of the cassette <NUM>, and the rotor and the driver unit are attached to the device body <NUM>. The cassette <NUM> may be assembled to the device body <NUM> such that the pump tube <NUM> is disposed between the rotor and the stator.

The blood purification device <NUM> according to this embodiment further enables measurement of only the load of the removed water container <NUM> housed within the cassette <NUM> with the load detector <NUM> mounted on the device body <NUM>, not on the disposable cassette <NUM>, when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM>. This further simplifies handling of the blood purification device <NUM>.

While in the description of the blood purification device <NUM> according to this embodiment, the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM> with the fitting <NUM>, the cassette <NUM> may be assembled to the device body <NUM> with a fastening component or by rotating a lever, for example. Further, while in the above description, the cassette <NUM> includes the blood inlet nozzle 51a and the blood outlet nozzle 51b, the blood purification device <NUM> is not limited to this configuration and may be configured such that part of the tubes of the blood loop directed to the patient's body extend out from the cassette <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, blood purification devices <NUM> and <NUM> according to further embodiments will be described. Further description of the elements similar to those of the blood purification device <NUM> described above by reference to <FIG> is omitted.

In a blood purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, the cassette <NUM> has an opening 33a, in a portion on a top board of a front cover <NUM> that houses the removed water container <NUM>; the removed water container <NUM> includes, on the upper part, a handle <NUM> serving as a protruding engaging unit; and a hook <NUM> that is a connector is coupled with the load detector <NUM> mounted on the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM>. When the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM>, the hook <NUM> engages the handle <NUM> to allow the removed water container <NUM> to be suspended from the load detector <NUM>, such that the bottom face 37a of the removed water container <NUM> is lifted up off the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM> of the cassette <NUM>. This results in transmission of the load of the removed water container <NUM> to the load detector <NUM> mounted on the device body <NUM> to thereby enable measurement of the load of the removed water container <NUM> with the load detector <NUM>.

In the blood purification device <NUM> according to this embodiment, the opening 33a of the front cover <NUM>, the handle <NUM>, and the hook <NUM> form a load transmission mechanism that transmits the load of the removed water container <NUM> to the load detector <NUM>.

In a blood purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, the handle <NUM> of the blood purification device <NUM> is modified into a protruding handle <NUM> that protrudes upward through the opening 33a, and the hook <NUM> is modified as an arm <NUM>. When the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM>, the arm <NUM> engages the protruding handle <NUM> that protrudes through the top board of the front cover <NUM> of the cassette <NUM> to thereby lift the removed water container <NUM> up off the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM> of the cassette <NUM>. The protruding handle <NUM> and the arm <NUM> then transmit the load of the removed water container <NUM> to the load detector <NUM> mounted on the device body <NUM> for measuring the load of the removed water container <NUM> with the load detector <NUM>.

In the blood purification device <NUM> according to this embodiment, the opening 33a of the front cover <NUM>, the protruding handle <NUM>, and the arm <NUM> form a load transmission mechanism that transmits the load of the removed water container <NUM> to the load detector <NUM>.

The blood purification devices <NUM> and <NUM> described above achieve advantages similar to the advantages of the blood purification device <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, a blood purification device <NUM> which is a modification example of the blood purification device <NUM> described above by reference to <FIG> will be described. The blood purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a heater <NUM> in place of the spacer <NUM> of the blood purification device <NUM> described by reference to <FIG>, which is positioned in a region under the removed water container <NUM> housed in the cassette <NUM> when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>. The heater <NUM> is configured to be partially inserted, from below, into the cassette <NUM> when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>. The remaining configuration is the same as that of the blood purification device <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the heater <NUM> has such a thickness that allows the heater <NUM> to protrude from the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM> of the cassette <NUM>, when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM> to make the undersurface 34a of the bottom board <NUM> in contact with the upper face 13d of the cassette seat <NUM>, to thereby lift the bottom face 37a of the removed water container <NUM> up off the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM>.

When the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM> to bring the undersurface 34a of the bottom board <NUM> into contact with the upper face 13d of the cassette seat <NUM>, the upper face of the heater <NUM> protrudes from the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM> to lift the bottom face 37a of the removed water container <NUM> up off the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM>. The heater <NUM> is thus sandwiched between the load detector <NUM> and the bottom face 37a of the removed water container <NUM> to thereby transmit the load of the removed water container <NUM> to the load detector <NUM>. The removed water container <NUM> is thus placed above the load detector <NUM> to allow the load detector <NUM> mounted on the device body <NUM> to measure the load of the removed water container <NUM> housed in the cassette <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> comes into contact with the bottom face 37a of the removed water container <NUM> to heat the liquid stored in the removed water container <NUM>, and may be a sheet or plate shaped heater plate, for example. The heater <NUM> may also be an electromagnetic heater that heats a metal plate attached to the bottom face 37a of the removed water container <NUM> with high frequency electromagnetic force or a high-frequency induction heater. Heating the liquid stored in the removed water container <NUM> with the heater <NUM> enables heating of the dialysate to maintain the temperature of the blood reinfused to the patient.

Referring now to <FIG>, a blood purification device <NUM> which is another modification example of the blood purification device <NUM> will be described. The blood purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a heater <NUM> having a thin sheet or plate shape on the spacer <NUM> positioned in a region under the removed water container <NUM> of the blood purification device <NUM> described by reference to <FIG>. The heater <NUM> is configured to be entirely housed within the cassette <NUM> when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>. The remaining configuration is the same as that of the blood purification device <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the spacer <NUM> has such a thickness that allows the spacer <NUM> to protrude from the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM> of the cassette <NUM>, when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM> to bring the bottom face 34a of the bottom board <NUM> into contact with the upper face 13d of the cassette seat <NUM>. The heater <NUM> disposed on the spacer <NUM> may be a heater plate having a thin sheet or plate shape, or may include a Peltier element, for example.

When the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM> to bring the undersurface 34a of the bottom board <NUM> into contact with the upper face 13d of the cassette seat <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, along with the spacer <NUM>, is sandwiched between the load detector <NUM> and the bottom face 37a of the removed water container <NUM> to thereby transmit the load of the removed water container <NUM> to the load detector <NUM>. In this manner, the load detector <NUM> mounted on the device body <NUM> may measure the load of the removed water container <NUM> housed in the cassette <NUM>. Further, similar to the blood purification device <NUM> described above, heating the liquid stored in the removed water container <NUM> with the heater <NUM> enables heating of the dialysate to maintain the temperature of the blood to be reinfused to the patient.

The heater <NUM> may have any thickness that allows the total thickness of the spacer <NUM> and the heater <NUM> to protrude from the upper face 34b of the bottom board <NUM> when the undersurface 34a of the bottom board <NUM> of the cassette <NUM> is in contact with the upper face 13d of the cassette seat <NUM>, and may be greater than that illustrated in <FIG> such that the heater <NUM> enters the hole 34c. In this configuration, the heater <NUM> partially enters the cassette <NUM> when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, a blood purification device <NUM> will be described. The blood purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes the spacer <NUM> of the blood purification device <NUM> described above by reference to <FIG> but having an annular shape, and a heater <NUM> disposed inside the spacer <NUM>. The heater <NUM> is positioned in a region under the removed water container <NUM> housed in the cassette <NUM> that is assembled to the device body <NUM>. An upper part of the heater <NUM> enters the cassette <NUM> through the hole 34c when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>. The heater <NUM> may have a height that is level with the upper face of the spacer <NUM> to thereby receive the load of the removed water container <NUM> and transmit the load to the load detector <NUM>, or a height that is lower than the upper face of the spacer <NUM> to thereby prevent receiving of the load of the removed water container <NUM>. The heater <NUM> need not pass through the hole 34c; in this configuration, the heater <NUM> does not enter the cassette <NUM>, and is positioned near a region under the cassette <NUM>. The remaining configuration is the same as that of the blood purification device <NUM>.

The annular spacer <NUM>, similar to the spacer <NUM> of the blood purification device <NUM> described above, is sandwiched between the removed water container <NUM> and the load detector <NUM> to transmit the load of the removed water container <NUM> to the load detector <NUM>. Heating the liquid stored in the removed water container <NUM> with the heater <NUM> enables heating of the dialysate to maintain the temperature of the blood reinfused to the patient.

Referring now to <FIG>, a blood purification device <NUM>, which is another modification example of the blood purification device <NUM>, will be described. As illustrated in <FIG>, the blood purification device <NUM> includes a heater <NUM>, independently of the spacer <NUM> and load detector <NUM>, on the base <NUM> under the opening 13c formed in the cassette seat <NUM>. The heater <NUM> is positioned under the bottom face 37a of the removed water container <NUM> when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>. While an upper part of the heater <NUM> enters, through the hole 34c, the cassette <NUM> when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>, the heater <NUM> is configured to have a height that is lower than the upper face of the spacer <NUM>, in order to prevent receiving of the load of the removed water container <NUM>. The heater <NUM> need not pass through the hole 34c; in this configuration, the heater <NUM> does not enter the cassette <NUM>, and is positioned near a region under the cassette <NUM>. The heater <NUM> may be an electromagnetic heater or a high frequency induction heater, for example. The heater <NUM> may include a heater plate having a sheet or plate shape, or a Peltier element, for example, and may be mounted on the base <NUM> under the opening 13c. The heater <NUM> may be disposed in any region under the removed water container <NUM> housed in the cassette <NUM> assembled to the device body <NUM>, and may be mounted on the base <NUM> under the receiving plate 13a of the cassette seat <NUM> in the periphery of the opening 13c, rather than in the region under the opening 13c.

The blood purification device <NUM>, similar to the blood purification device <NUM>, heats the liquid stored in the removed water container <NUM> with the heater <NUM> to thereby heat the dialysate and maintain the temperature of the blood reinfused to the patient.

Referring now to <FIG>, a blood purification device <NUM> that is another example of the blood purification device <NUM> described above will be described. The blood purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a heater <NUM> positioned near a side face of the cassette <NUM> when the cassette <NUM> of the device body <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>. The remaining configuration is the same as that of the blood purification device <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the blood purification device <NUM> includes the finger casings 14a to 14c in a region toward the dialysate regeneration column <NUM> to thereby form a space between the finger casing 14a and the side board 11a of the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM>, and includes the heater <NUM> in this space. When the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>, the heater <NUM> is positioned opposite the removed water container <NUM> housed in the cassette <NUM> in the front-rear direction, with the rear board <NUM> of the cassette <NUM> being interposed between the heater <NUM> and the removed water container <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> is a non-contact heater, which heats the removed water container <NUM> or the liquid stored in the removed water container <NUM> in a non-contact manner via the rear board <NUM> of the cassette <NUM>. The heater <NUM> may be, for example, an electromagnetic heater, or an optical heater that illuminates the removed water container <NUM> with light through a slit formed in the rear board <NUM> to thereby heat the removed water container <NUM>. The blood purification device <NUM>, similar to the blood purification devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, heats the liquid stored in the removed water container <NUM> with the heater <NUM> to thereby heat the dialysate and maintain the temperature of the blood reinfused to the patient.

A blood purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, contrary to the blood purification device <NUM> described above by reference to <FIG>, includes the heater <NUM> that is located opposite the dialysate regeneration column <NUM> housed in the cassette <NUM> in the front-rear direction, via the rear board <NUM> of the cassette <NUM>, when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>. The remaining configuration is the same as that of the blood purification device <NUM> described above by reference to <FIG>.

The blood purification device <NUM> heats the liquid stored in the dialysate regeneration column <NUM> with the heater <NUM> to thereby heat the dialysate and maintain the temperature of the blood reinfused to the patient.

A blood purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes an opening 32b in the casing <NUM> of the cassette <NUM> of the blood purification device <NUM> described by reference to <FIG> on the rear board <NUM> located adjacent to the device body <NUM> and includes a warm air generator <NUM> in the device body <NUM> opposite ??the removed water container <NUM>?? via the opening 32b in the front-rear direction.

The blood purification device <NUM> enables flowing of warm air from the warm air generator <NUM> through the opening 32b into the casing <NUM> of the cassette <NUM> to warm the dialyzer <NUM>, the removed water container <NUM>, and the dialysate regeneration column <NUM> housed in the cassette <NUM>, thereby heating the dialysate and maintaining the temperature of the blood reinfused to the patient.

A blood purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes the removed water container <NUM> having, on the bottom, a recess portion 37b which is configured to receive a heater 74a when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>.

In the blood purification device <NUM>, the heater 74a has a greater height than the heater <NUM> of the blood purification device <NUM> described by reference to <FIG>, and the removed water container <NUM> includes the recess portion 37b on the bottom. When the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the receiving plate 13a of the cassette seat <NUM> of the device body <NUM>, the heater 74a enters the interior of the cassette <NUM> and also enters the recess portion 37b from under the removed water container <NUM> housed in the cassette <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. The bottom face 37a of the removed water container <NUM> abuts against the upper face of the spacer <NUM>, such that the load of the removed water container <NUM> is detected by the load detector <NUM>. Here, the heater 74a has a height which does not contact the upper part of the recess portion 37b, to thereby avoid transmission of the load of the removed water container <NUM>.

The blood purification device <NUM> heats the removed water container <NUM> more efficiently with the heater 74a inserted in the recess portion 37b of the removed water container <NUM>. While in the embodiment described above, the heater 74a enters the interior of the cassette <NUM> from under the cassette <NUM>, other configurations may also be employed. In one example, the cassette <NUM> has an opening on the rear board <NUM> and the heater 74a is disposed on a partition board 11c of the device body <NUM>, such that, in assembling the cassette <NUM> to the device body <NUM>, the heater 74a may be inserted laterally from the back of the cassette <NUM>. In another example, the heater 74a is disposed in the upper part of the device body <NUM> while the cassette <NUM> has an opening on the top board, such that in assembling the cassette <NUM> to the device body <NUM>, the heater 74a may be inserted into the cassette <NUM> from above the cassette <NUM>.

A blood purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a heater <NUM> protruding at a location above the cassette <NUM> from the partition board 11c of the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM> adjacent to the cassette <NUM>, in a configuration including the removed water container <NUM> that is suspended from the arm <NUM> of the load detector <NUM> when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>, as in the blood purification device <NUM> described above by reference to <FIG>. The heater <NUM> is disposed to be located near a region above the cassette <NUM>, when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>.

A blood purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a heater <NUM> disposed on the undersurface of the receiving board 13a of the cassette seat <NUM> such that the heater <NUM> is located in a region under the cassette <NUM> when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>.

A blood purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a heater <NUM> in the housing <NUM> of the device body <NUM> on the partition board 11c adjacent to the cassette <NUM>. The heater <NUM> is disposed to be located near the side face of the cassette <NUM> when the cassette <NUM> is assembled to the device body <NUM>.

The blood purification devices <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> described by reference to <FIG> heat the dialyzer <NUM>, the removed water container <NUM>, and the dialysate regeneration column <NUM> housed in the cassette <NUM> with the heaters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, to thereby enable heating of the dialysate and maintaining of the blood reinfused in the patient.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and includes all of modifications and corrections that do not depart from the technical range or gist of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claim 1:
A blood purification device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a device body (<NUM>); and
a cassette (<NUM>) including a casing (<NUM>) that houses a removed water container (<NUM>), the cassette (<NUM>) to be removably assembled to the device body (<NUM>), wherein
a load detector (<NUM>) is mounted on the device body (<NUM>), the load detector (<NUM>) being configured to measure a load of the removed water container (<NUM>),
the blood purification device further comprises a load transmission mechanism configured to transmit to the load detector (<NUM>) the load of the removed water container (<NUM>) housed in the cassette (<NUM>), the load transmission mechanism including a hole (34c) in a bottom board of the cassette (<NUM>) in a portion where the removed water container (<NUM>) is housed, and
the removed water container (<NUM>) is configured to be placed on or above the load detector (<NUM>).