Patent Description:
Extracorporeal blood treatment, such as hemodialysis, is performed by an apparatus that is configured to supply one or more fluids for use in the treatment. Equipment that is exposed to blood during treatment is typically replaced after each treatment. Such disposable equipment may include a dialyzer and tubing for defining an extracorporeal circuit for conducting blood from a patient, through the dialyzer and back to the patient. Before connecting the patient to the extracorporeal circuit it is common practice to prime the extracorporeal circuit. The purpose of priming the circuit is to remove air from the blood lines and the dialyzer, to fill the blood lines and the dialyzer with a human-compatible liquid, as well as to remove possible fragments of remaining sterilizing agents or other residuals from the disposable equipment, before the patient is connected.

Conventionally, priming is performed by flowing a sterile saline solution through the extracorporeal circuit. Typically, bags containing saline solution are brought to the apparatus and used for priming. In a dialysis clinic with many dialysis machines, large amounts of saline solution are consumed and a significant number of heavy saline solution bags need to be stored and handled by staff. The use of prefabricated saline solution also adds to the cost of treatment, and transportation of bags with saline solution to dialysis clinics has a negative impact on the environment.

Some modern dialysis machines can perform so-called on-line treatment, in which substitution fluid for hemofiltration or hemodiafiltration is prepared inside the dialysis machine on-line by means of ultrafiltration of treatment fluid (dialysis fluid) in several steps to obtain a sterile and pyrogen free fluid. On-line prepared substitution fluid can be prepared in practically unlimited quantities which means that this fluid also may be used for priming, which is convenient from a handling point of view. However, modern dialysis machines with on-line capability are costly, with respect to both purchase and maintenance.

Thus, for cost reasons, many clinics are reluctant to replace older and/or simpler dialysis machines without on-line capability with more advanced dialysis machines.

Further, conventional priming involves many manual steps to be performed by attending staff and involves a risk of spilling priming fluid at and around the dialysis machine.

Related prior art can be found in <CIT> directed to an extracorporeal blood processing system capable of using dialysate to prime the system. A plastic molded compact manifold supports molded blood and dialysate fluidic pathways along with relevant sensors, valves and pumps. A two-way valve in the manifold is used to direct the dialysate flow through the blood circuit to prime the circuit for use in treatment.

It is an objective of the invention to at least partly overcome one or more limitations of the prior art.

A further objective is to facilitate access to a fluid suitable for priming of a blood treatment apparatus.

Another objective is to facilitate the process of priming a blood treatment apparatus, e.g. with respect to manual handling and/or spillage.

One or more of these objectives, as well as further objectives that may appear from the description below, are at least partly achieved by a control system, a blood treatment apparatus, a method, and a computer-readable medium, embodiments thereof being defined by the dependent claims.

A first aspect of the invention is a control system for a blood treatment apparatus. The control system is configured to: instruct an operator to install a first flow circuit for conducting a fluid provided by the blood treatment apparatus through a dialyzer; instruct the operator to install a second flow circuit which is separated from the first flow circuit by a semi-permeable membrane of the dialyzer and comprising connectors for connection to a vascular system of a subject during blood treatment, wherein the second flow circuit is installed to be disconnected from the vascular system and form a closed loop that includes a sterilizing filter; operate the blood treatment apparatus to pump a human-compatible fluid into the first flow circuit so that a portion of the human-compatible fluid flows through the semi-permeable membrane into the second flow circuit; and operate the blood treatment apparatus to circulate said portion of the human-compatible fluid in the closed loop of second flow circuit, to thereby sterilize said portion of the human-compatible fluid by the sterilizing filter.

The first aspect improves access to sterile fluid for use in priming of a blood treatment apparatus, by the provision of a sterilizing filter in the closed loop formed by the second flow circuit before blood treatment. Specifically, the first aspect enables any blood treatment apparatus that is capable of supplying a human-compatible fluid to produce such a sterile fluid, even if the human-compatible fluid as such is not sufficiently sterile for use in priming. Further, the first aspect serves to facilitate the priming as such. By arranging the second flow circuit to form a closed loop that includes the sterilizing filter during priming, the human-compatible fluid may be sterilized by being circulated along the closed loop, and ultimately the closed loop will be flushed by sterile fluid. By forming the closed loop, the first aspect has the ability to reduce spillage during priming and may also reduce the number of manual operations required. The first aspect further facilitates priming by operating the blood treatment apparatus to pump the human-compatible fluid from the first flow circuit into the second flow circuit via the semi-permeable membrane of the dialyzer. This reduces the complexity of the priming by reducing the need for manual intervention in order to provide the human-compatible fluid to the second fluid circuit, and also reduces the risk of spillage.

In the following, various embodiments of the first aspect are defined. These embodiments provide at least some of the technical effects and advantages described in the foregoing, as well as additional technical effects and advantages as readily understood by the skilled person, e.g. in view of the following detailed description.

In one embodiment, in which the second flow circuit is installed to further include a container, the control system is further configured to: operate the blood treatment apparatus to collect a sterile fluid in the container, wherein the sterile fluid is generated by circulating said portion of the human-compatible fluid in the closed loop.

In one embodiment, said portion of the human-compatible fluid is circulated through the container.

In one embodiment, the control system is configured to instruct the operator to form the closed loop by directly or indirectly connecting the connectors to an inlet port and an outlet port, respectively, on the container.

In one embodiment, the second flow circuit is installed with the sterilizing filter being co-located with the outlet port so that said portion of the human-compatible fluid flows through the sterilizing filter when leaving the container via the outlet port.

In one embodiment, the second flow circuit is installed with the sterilizing filter directly or indirectly connected to one of the inlet and outlet ports of the container.

In one embodiment, the second flow circuit is installed with the sterilizing filter located within the container.

In one embodiment, in which the inlet and outlet ports define an inlet opening and an outlet opening, respectively, inside the container, the control system is configured to instruct the operator to install the second flow circuit such that the container locates the inlet opening above the outlet opening.

In one embodiment, the control system is further configured to instruct the operator to connect the connectors to the vascular system of the subject, and operate the blood treatment apparatus to perform said blood treatment, the control system being further configured to, subsequent to said blood treatment, instruct the operator to establish fluid communication between the container holding the sterile fluid and the second flow circuit, and operate the blood treatment apparatus to drive blood in the second flow circuit back into the vascular system of the subject while drawing at least a portion of the sterile fluid in the container into the second flow circuit.

In one embodiment, the control system is further configured to: instruct the operator to connect the connectors to the vascular system of the subject and install the container holding the sterile fluid for fluid communication with the second flow circuit, the control system being further configured to: operate the blood treatment apparatus to perform said blood treatment, and to introduce of a portion of the sterile fluid in the container into the second flow circuit during said blood treatment.

In one embodiment, the control system is further configured to ventilate the second flow circuit to expel gaseous substances.

In one embodiment, the control system is configured to circulate said portion of the human-compatible fluid in the closed loop of the second flow circuit so that said portion of the human-compatible fluid is passed at least once through the sterilizing filter.

In one embodiment, the control system is further configured to, while the human-compatible fluid is pumped into the first flow circuit, cause a flow restriction in the first flow circuit downstream of the dialyzer.

In one embodiment, the control system is configured to circulate said portion of the human-compatible fluid in the closed loop of the second flow circuit for a predefined time period after completion of said pumping.

In one embodiment, the human-compatible fluid comprises one of a saline solution, a treatment fluid for use during said blood treatment, and water.

A second aspect of the invention is a blood treatment machine. The blood treatment apparatus comprises a fluid supply unit configured to supply a human-compatible fluid to a first flow circuit when connected to the blood treatment apparatus, a pump operable to engage with a second flow circuit when connected to the blood treatment apparatus, and the control system of the first aspect or any of its embodiments.

A third aspect of the invention is a method of preparing a blood treatment apparatus for blood treatment. The method comprises: installing a first flow circuit for conducting a fluid provided by the blood treatment apparatus through a dialyzer; installing a second flow circuit which is separated from the first flow circuit by a semi-permeable membrane of the dialyzer and comprising connectors for connection to a vascular system of a subject during blood treatment, wherein the second flow circuit is installed to be disconnected from the vascular system and form a closed loop that includes a sterilizing filter; pumping, before blood treatment and by the blood treatment apparatus, a human-compatible fluid into the first flow circuit so that a portion of the human-compatible fluid flows through the semi-permeable membrane into the second flow circuit; and circulating, before blood treatment and by the blood treatment apparatus, said portion of the human-compatible fluid in the closed loop of second flow circuit, to thereby sterilize said portion of the human-compatible fluid by the sterilizing filter.

In one embodiment, in which the second flow circuit is installed to further include a container, the method further comprises: operating the blood treatment apparatus to collect a sterile fluid in the container, the sterile fluid being generated by said circulating.

In one embodiment, in which the container comprises an inlet port and an outlet port, the second flow circuit is installed with the inlet and outlet ports being directly or indirectly connected to a respective one of the connectors.

In one embodiment, the second flow circuit is installed with the sterilizing filter being directly or indirectly connected to one of the inlet and outlet ports.

In one embodiment, the second flow circuit is installed with the sterilizing filter being located within the container.

In one embodiment, in which the inlet and outlet ports define an inlet opening and an outlet opening, respectively, inside the container, the second flow circuit is installed such that the container locates the inlet opening above the outlet opening.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises: ventilating the second flow circuit so as to expel gaseous substances during or after said circulating.

In one embodiment, said circulating is performed so that said portion of the human-compatible fluid is passed at least once through the sterilizing filter.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises, during said pumping, providing a flow restriction in the first flow circuit downstream of the semi-permeable filter.

In one embodiment, said circulating is performed for a predefined time period after completion of said pumping.

A fourth aspect is a computer-readable medium comprising computer instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method of the third aspect and any of its embodiments.

In one embodiment, which is applicable to all aspects, the sterilizing filter is a sterilizing-grade filter which is configured for bacterial retention and, preferably, for bacterial endotoxin retention.

Still other objectives, preferred features and advantages of the present invention may appear from the following detailed description, from the attached claims as well as from the drawings.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Also, it will be understood that, where possible, any of the advantages, features, functions, devices, and/or operational aspects of any of the embodiments of the present invention described and/or contemplated herein may be included in any of the other embodiments of the present invention described and/or contemplated herein, and/or vice versa, as long as covered by the appended claims. In addition, where possible, any terms expressed in the singular form herein are meant to also include the plural form and/or vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise. As used herein, "at least one" shall mean "one or more" and these phrases are intended to be interchangeable. Accordingly, the terms "a" and/or "an" shall mean "at least one" or "one or more," even though the phrase "one or more" or "at least one" is also used herein. As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise owing to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, that is, to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

As used herein, "human-compatible fluid" refers to any fluid, which by its composition, and when sufficiently sterilized, is compatible with the human body if administered to its circulatory system in amounts relevant for the particular application. For example, the human-compatible fluid may be any such fluid that is available at a blood treatment apparatus, including but not limited to a physiological saline solution, a treatment fluid, and water.

As used herein, "sterile fluid" refers to any fluid with a sufficient sterility to be administered to the circulatory system of a mammal.

As used herein, "indirectly connected" denotes that two components are connected with each other via one or more intermediate components.

As used herein, a "sterilizing filter" is any filter capable of producing a sterile fluid by filtration. In one embodiment, the sterilizing filter is further arranged to produce a sterile and non-pyrogenic fluid. In one embodiment, the sterilizing filter is a sterilizing-grade filter, which is configured for bacterial retention and, optionally, also for bacterial endotoxin retention. In one embodiment, the sterilizing filter is a validated sterilizing-grade filter, i.e. a sterilizing filter that has passed a filter qualification process for demonstrating bacterial retention of the filter, e. using the well-known standard Brevundimonas diminuta, or any other standardized or non-standardized filter qualification process. In one embodiment, the sterilizing grade filter is arranged to filter the human-compatible fluid into a sterile fluid with an amount of bacteria that is zero Colony-Forming Units/mL (CFU/mL) and an amount of bacterial endotoxins that is less than <NUM> Endotoxin Units/mL (EU/mL). In one embodiment, the sterilizing grade filter includes a membrane having pores with average diameters suitable to produce sterile fluid, including the capability of removing endotoxins. In one example, the mean pore diameter for the sterilizing grade filter is less than <NUM>, such as <NUM>-<NUM>, e.g. <NUM> or <NUM>. Bacteria typically have a diameter of a few micrometers, and will then not pass through the pores. The filter membrane may further comprise a high molecular weight additive bearing cationic charges, for example a cationic charged polymer. Examples of other kinds of positively charged additives can be found in <CIT>. In such examples, the filter membrane will be positively charged and thus reject bacterial endotoxins, whereby less bacteria and bacterial endotoxins will pass the membrane. In an exemplary embodiment, bacteria and bacterial endotoxins may also be retained based on adsorption to the membrane. The membrane may be polyethersulfone-based. Other suitable polymers may be AN69, PAN, PMMA, cellulose, etc. Suitable sterilizing grade filters may, for example, be Pall IV-<NUM> or GVS Speedflow filters, or be filters provided by the present applicant.

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be exemplified with reference to an apparatus configured for treatment of chronic renal failure, denoted "dialysis machine" below.

<FIG> shows an example of such a dialysis machine <NUM>, which is operable to perform a dialysis treatment when combined with a set of disposable products or "disposables", shown in <FIG>. The dialysis machine <NUM> in <FIG> is also known as "monitor" and defines a machine chassis that exposes holders for mounting the disposable(s) in operative engagement with components such as connectors, pumps, sensors, clamps, etc. The disposables are exposed to circulating blood and are typically for single-use, i.e. they are discarded after each treatment session.

In the illustrated example, a control system or controller <NUM> in the machine <NUM> is configured to synchronize and control the operation of the components of the machine <NUM>, e.g. by electric control signals. The operation of the control system <NUM> may be at least partly controlled by software instructions that are supplied on a computer-readable medium for execution by a processor 2A in conjunction with a memory 2B in the control system <NUM>. A display unit <NUM> is operable to provide information and instructions for a user, such as a nurse, a physician or a patient. The machine <NUM> may also enable the user to enter data into the machine, e.g. via mechanical buttons or keys, or virtual buttons or keys on a touch panel, e.g. in the display unit <NUM>. A fluid supply unit <NUM> is configured to supply one or more suitable fluids during operation of the machine <NUM>. Such fluids may include one of more of a treatment fluid (dialysis fluid) for use during blood treatment, a disinfectant for use in disinfection of the machine between treatments, a saline solution, and purified water. The fluids may be supplied from replaceable containers attached to the machine <NUM> or may be generated on demand by the machine <NUM> or another apparatus in fluid communication with the machine <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the machine comprises two machine ports <NUM>, <NUM> in fluid connection to the supply unit <NUM>. The machine <NUM> further comprises a holder <NUM> for a dialyzer (<NUM> in <FIG>), a peristaltic pump ("blood pump") <NUM> for engagement with a blood line, and holder <NUM> for a drip chamber (<NUM> in <FIG>). The machine <NUM> further comprises two machine-controlled clamps <NUM>, <NUM> for engagement with a respective blood line section. Further, a holder <NUM> is provided for a container (<NUM> in <FIG>). In the illustrated example, the machine <NUM> also comprises sensor ports <NUM>, <NUM> in fluid communication with pressure sensors (not shown) within the machine <NUM>. The skilled person realizes that the machine <NUM> may comprise further components that are not shown in <FIG>, e.g. a blood detector, an injection system for anticoagulant, etc..

The set of disposables in <FIG> includes the above-mentioned dialyzer <NUM>, which is a blood filtration unit comprising inlet and outlet connectors <NUM>, <NUM> for fluid connection to blood lines (below), and inlet and outlet connectors <NUM>, <NUM> for connection to the machine ports <NUM>, <NUM>. A semi-permeable membrane <NUM> ("dialyzer membrane") is arranged inside the housing of the dialyzer <NUM> to separate a first chamber ("dialysis fluid side compartment") <NUM> from a second chamber ("blood side compartment") <NUM>. The first and second chambers <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to be perfused by blood and dialysis fluid, respectively, during blood treatment. The set of disposables in <FIG> also includes a container <NUM>, which may be made of rigid or flexible material, preferably a transparent or translucent material that allows for ocular inspection of the contents in the container <NUM>. The container <NUM> defines an interior fluid collecting space <NUM> and comprises an inlet port <NUM> and an outlet port <NUM>, which are in fluid communication with the fluid collecting space <NUM>. The ports <NUM>, <NUM> define an inlet opening <NUM> and an outlet opening <NUM>, respectively, inside the container <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the container <NUM> further defines a suspension hole <NUM>. The disposables in <FIG> further include fluid-conducting devices in the form of first and second line arrangements 40A, 40B, which are collectively known as a "line set" in the art. The first line arrangement 40A comprises a drip chamber <NUM> and flexible tubing that defines a flow path from a first end with a dialyzer connector <NUM> to a second end with a patient connector <NUM>. The second line arrangement 40B comprises flexible tubing that defines a flow path from a first end with a patient connector <NUM> to a second end with a dialyzer connector <NUM>. Although not shown in <FIG>, each of the line arrangements 40A, 40B may include further components, such as one or more manual clamps, tubing for connection to a pressure sensor (cf. sensor ports <NUM>, <NUM> in <FIG>), tubing for injection of a fluid, etc. The disposables in <FIG> also include a sterilizing filter <NUM>, which is configured to remove endotoxins, viruses and bacteria from a fluid when passing through the filter <NUM>. The sterilizing filter <NUM> is provided with inlet and outlet connectors <NUM>, <NUM>.

The disposables in <FIG> are suitably sterilized and provided in one or more protective casings, e.g. a sealed bag, wrapping or package. It is conceivable that one or more disposables are interconnected within such a protective casing, and it is also conceivable that one or more of the above-mentioned connectors are replaced by permanent connections or joints between the disposables. For example, the filter <NUM> may be permanently connected to or integrated in the container <NUM>, and the line arrangements 40A, 40B may be permanently connected to the dialyzer <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a dialysis machine <NUM>, e.g. as shown in <FIG>, which is connected to a set of disposables and operated for hemodialysis treatment of a subject S, in this example a human patient. As understood from <FIG>, the disposables have been mounted to the machine <NUM> by attaching the dialyzer <NUM> to the holder <NUM> (<FIG>) and the drip chamber <NUM> to the holder <NUM> (<FIG>), and by arranging tubing of line arrangement 40B for engagement with the peristaltic pump <NUM> and tubing of the line arrangements 40A, 40B in the machine clamps <NUM>, <NUM>. The set of disposables is connected for fluid communication with the dialysis machine <NUM> so as to define a first flow circuit C1 ("dialysis fluid circuit") for dialysis fluid supplied by the dialysis machine <NUM> and a second flow circuit C2 ("extracorporeal blood circuit") which is connected to the vascular system of the subject S. Specifically, the dialyzer <NUM> is connected by the connectors <NUM>, <NUM> for fluid communication with the ports <NUM>, <NUM>, thereby forming the first flow circuit C1. Further, the dialyzer <NUM> is connected by the connectors <NUM>, <NUM> for fluid communication with the line arrangements 40A, 40B, thereby forming the second flow circuit C2. During blood treatment, the patient connectors <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to a blood vessel access of the subject S. As is well-known in the art, the blood vessel access (also known as "vascular access") may be a fistula, graft or catheter, and the patient connectors <NUM>, <NUM> may be connected to the blood vessel access by any conventional device, including needles or catheters. <FIG> also illustrates part of the flow path from the fluid supply unit <NUM> (<FIG>) to the ports <NUM>, <NUM>. The flow path includes an ultrafilter <NUM>, which is permanently arranged inside the machine <NUM> and subject to replacement only during maintenance. Such an ultrafilter <NUM> is a standard component of most dialysis machines and serves to improve the purity of the dialysis fluid that is supplied by the machine <NUM>, by removing biological contaminants such as endotoxins, viruses and bacteria. The machine <NUM> further includes machine-operated outlet and inlet valves <NUM>, <NUM> for selectively opening and closing the ports <NUM>, <NUM>. In the following, filled and non-filled valve symbols indicate that a valve is open and closed, respectively.

In <FIG>, the machine <NUM> is operated by the control system <NUM> (<FIG>) to open the valves <NUM>, <NUM> and establish a flow of dialysis fluid through the first chamber <NUM> of the dialyzer <NUM>, as indicated by arrows in <FIG>. The machine <NUM> is also operated by the control system <NUM> to open the clamps <NUM>, <NUM> and run the pump <NUM> so that blood is drawn from the vascular system of the subject S along line arrangement 40B, pushed through the second chamber <NUM> of the dialyzer <NUM> and back to the vascular subject S along line arrangement 40A, as indicated by arrows <FIG>, while the blood is being subjected to dialysis treatment in the dialyzer <NUM>. Dialysis treatment as such is well-known to the person skilled in the art and will not be further described herein.

Before the line arrangements 40A, 40B and the dialyzer <NUM> are utilized in any dialysis treatment, both should be primed. Priming is a process of replacing air with a sterile fluid in the line arrangements 40A, 40B and the dialyzer <NUM> by allowing the sterile fluid to flow through these components. Without priming, air may enter the vascular system of the subject S during treatment and cause air embolism. Further, excess air may lead to clotting of the dialyzer <NUM> during treatment, which may negatively affect the subject S. Priming is a time-consuming and often sloppy process that requires access to relatively large quantities of sterile fluid and involves several manual steps by the operator. Embodiments of the invention aim at facilitating priming.

During dialysis treatment, there may be a need to inject a quantity of a sterile fluid into the circulating blood in the second fluid circuit C2. For example, it is known to inject a bolus of a sterile hypertonic solution into the blood of the subject S to counteract hypertension, which is a common and severe intradialytic acute complication. Embodiments of the invention aim at facilitating access to a sufficiently sterile fluid for such injection.

When dialysis treatment is completed, it is common practice to return all or most of the blood remaining in the second flow circuit C2 to the vascular system of the subject S. This process is known as "rinse back" and involves introducing a fluid into the second flow circuit C2 so as to push back the remaining blood into the subject S. The fluid should be sterile since there is a risk of fluid entering the vascular system during rinse back. Embodiments of the invention aim at facilitating access to a sufficiently sterile fluid for rinse back.

By insightful reasoning, the inventors have found that it is possible use any human-compatible fluid supplied by the dialysis machine <NUM> as a priming fluid by introducing a sterilizing filter (cf. <NUM> in <FIG>) in the second flow circuit C2 during priming, and that priming may be greatly facilitated if the second flow circuit C2 is arranged to form a closed loop that includes the sterilizing filter during priming. The human-compatible fluid may thereby be sterilized by being circulated along the closed loop, while at the same time flushing the closed loop. By venting the closed loop, it may be ensured that the closed loop is sufficiently free of air. This novel process has the ability to reduce spillage during priming and may also reduce the number of manual operations required. Further, it enables priming by use of a fluid supplied by the dialysis machine <NUM>, even if this fluid does not have the required sterility. It should be understood that the requirement of sterility is generally less strict with respect to the first flow circuit C1 compared to the second flow circuit C2, since the former will not be in physical contact with the vascular system of the subject S during treatment. Thus, many dialysis machines are incapable of supplying a sufficiently sterile fluid for use in priming. To further facilitate priming, the dialysis machine <NUM> may be operated to supply the human-compatible fluid by so-called backfiltration through the dialyzer membrane <NUM>, i.e. by pushing the human-compatible fluid from the first flow circuit C1 into the second flow circuit C2 through the dialyzer membrane <NUM>. This will further reduce spillage and manual manipulation.

In one simple and user friendly implementation, the sterilizing filter is connected intermediate the patient connectors <NUM>, <NUM> of the second flow circuit C2 to form a closed loop during priming. Thereby, the flow path of the human-compatible fluid in the second flow path C2 during priming corresponds to the flow path of blood during dialysis treatment. Thus, the entire blood path is primed in one operation, i.e. by the circulation of the human-compatible fluid in the closed loop.

The inventors have further realized that it may be advantageous to include a container (cf. <NUM> in <FIG>) in the second flow circuit C2 during priming and operate the dialysis machine <NUM> to collect a portion of the human-compatible fluid, after being sterilized by the sterilizing filter, in the container as part of the priming procedure. This allows the fluid in the container to be used during or after the dialysis treatment, e.g. for the above-mentioned bolus injection or rinse back. The sterilization of the human-compatible fluid ensures that the human-compatible fluid in the container has an appropriate sterility to be introduced into the second flow circuit C2 at the end of the dialysis treatment, which may be <NUM>-<NUM> hours after the initial priming.

The inventors have further realized that it may be advantageous to arrange the container in the second flow circuit C2 during priming such that it is included in the closed loop and the human-compatible fluid is circulated through the container. Thereby, it is possible to collect the sterilized human-compatible fluid in the container as part of the circulation, instead of performing a separate filling operation after circulation. Thus, the complexity of the process is reduced.

In one simple and user friendly implementation, the container has at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port, which are configured to be connected, directly or indirectly, to the patient connectors <NUM>, <NUM> of the second flow circuit C2 during priming.

In the following, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to a flow chart in <FIG> in combination with system diagrams in <FIG>. The flow chart in <FIG> represents an operational method <NUM> that includes priming, dialysis treatment, optional bolus injection during dialysis treatment, and rinse back after completed treatment. Each of the steps <NUM>-<NUM> of the method <NUM> may be controlled by the control system <NUM> of the dialysis machine <NUM>. To the extent that a step involves a manual operation, the control system <NUM> may generate and present corresponding instructions for the operator, e.g. on the display <NUM>, and may also require the operator to confirm when the manual operation has been completed, e.g. by pressing or touching a button on the machine <NUM>. However, as will be clarified below, it also conceivable that one or more of the steps are independently performed by the operator based on written instructions, e.g. from an operations manual or work guide, without involvement of the control system <NUM>.

The system diagram in <FIG> illustrates a dialysis machine <NUM> when arranged and operated for priming. <FIG> illustrate a dialysis machine <NUM> when arranged and operated for bolus injection during dialysis treatment, and <FIG> illustrate different arrangements for rinse back after dialysis treatment.

Reverting to <FIG>, steps <NUM>-<NUM> define a priming sequence I for the dialysis machine <NUM>. In step <NUM>, the first flow circuit C1 is installed on the dialysis machine <NUM>, by the operator connecting the first chamber <NUM> of the dialyzer <NUM> for fluid communication with the fluid supply unit <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the inlet and outlet connectors <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the ports <NUM>, <NUM> via tubing sections that may be permanently attached to the ports <NUM>, <NUM> or be provided as disposables that are attached by the operator. In a further alternative, not shown, the ports <NUM>, <NUM> may be located at the holder <NUM> so that the connectors <NUM>, <NUM> engage the ports <NUM>, <NUM> when the dialyzer <NUM> is mounted in the holder <NUM>. Step <NUM> may be performed by the operator based on instructions provided by the control system <NUM> or independently based on written instructions.

In step <NUM>, the second flow circuit C2 is installed on the dialysis machine <NUM> by use of the disposables in <FIG>, such that the second flow circuit C2 forms a closed loop that includes the filter <NUM> and the container <NUM>. In view of the disposables in <FIG>, the operator would, in any order, arrange the suspension hole <NUM> of container <NUM> on holder <NUM>, attach dialyzer connector <NUM> to outlet connector <NUM>, arrange drip chamber <NUM> in holder <NUM>, arrange tubing of line arrangement 40A in clamp <NUM>, attach dialyzer connector <NUM> to inlet connector <NUM>, arrange tubing of line arrangement 40B in engagement with pump <NUM> and in clamp <NUM>, attach patient connector <NUM> to inlet port <NUM>, attach inlet connector <NUM> to outlet port <NUM>, and attach patient connector <NUM> to outlet connector <NUM>. It is realized that the number of manual operations performed by the operator during step <NUM> depends on if and how the disposables are interconnected when delivered to the operator. Step <NUM> may be performed by the operator based on instructions provided by the control system <NUM> or independently based on written instructions.

In step <NUM>, the dialysis machine <NUM> is operated to pump a human-compatible fluid (denoted "priming fluid" in the following) into the first flow circuit C1 such that a portion of the priming fluid passes through the dialyzer membrane <NUM> into the second flow circuit C2, as indicated by arrows in <FIG>. This so-called backfiltration may be achieved by controlling the machine <NUM> to generate an excess pressure in the first chamber <NUM> compared to the second chamber <NUM>. In <FIG>, outlet valve <NUM> is opened during step <NUM> so that priming fluid is pumped into the first chamber <NUM> via port <NUM>. As indicated in <FIG>, valve <NUM> may be closed, or otherwise operated to increase flow resistance, to increase the pressure in the first chamber <NUM> and thereby speed up the process of pushing priming fluid into the second flow circuit C2.

In step <NUM>, the dialysis machine <NUM> is operated to circulate the priming fluid along the closed loop of the second flow circuit C2, e.g. as indicated by arrows in <FIG>. Step <NUM> may be initiated before step <NUM> is completed, although it is conceivable to perform steps <NUM>, <NUM> in sequence. In the example of <FIG>, the clamps <NUM>, <NUM> are opened and the blood pump <NUM> is operated to circulate the priming fluid through the container <NUM> and the sterilizing filter <NUM>. Step <NUM> is suitably performed until all of the priming fluid in the second flow circuit C2 has passed through the sterilizing filter <NUM> at least once, e.g. in accordance with a predefined time period. At the end of step <NUM>, the second flow circuit C2 contains a sterile fluid.

In step <NUM>, which may be performed at any time during step <NUM> or thereafter, the second flow circuit C2 is ventilated to expel excess air, e.g. via the drip chamber <NUM> or the container <NUM>. For example, the operator may be instructed by the control system <NUM> to open a dedicated clamp or valve (not shown). Alternatively, the control system <NUM> may generate a control signal for opening such a clamp or valve. Optionally, the ventilation may be assisted by a pump (not shown) in the machine <NUM>, which is connected for fluid communication with the second fluid circuit C2 and operated based on a control signal from the control system <NUM>. It is also conceivable that the second flow circuit C2 is preconfigured to be open to the surroundings, e.g. via the drip chamber <NUM> or the container <NUM>, when it is installed in step <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the sterile fluid is collected in the container <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, step <NUM> is performed as part of step <NUM>, since the priming fluid is circulated via the container <NUM> and is gradually converted into the sterile fluid after passing the sterilizing filter <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, step <NUM> may be a separate step performed after step <NUM> and/or step <NUM>. By collecting the sterile fluid in the container <NUM>, it is possible to make further use of the sterile fluid during or after the dialysis treatment.

It is realized that the arrangement of disposables in <FIG> enables the second flow circuit C1 to be primed essentially without spillage and without intervention of the operator, except for the installation of the disposables on the dialysis machine <NUM>.

When the priming sequence I is completed, the operator may be instructed to connect the second flow circuit C2 to the subject S (step <NUM>). In the example of <FIG>, the operator may close the ports <NUM>, <NUM> of the container, e.g. by use of manual clamps, disconnect the patient connectors <NUM>, <NUM> from the inlet port <NUM> and the outlet connector <NUM>, and connect the patient connectors <NUM>, <NUM> to the vascular access of the subject S in accordance with common practice, resulting in the arrangement shown in <FIG>. Then, in step <NUM>, the control system <NUM> may start the dialysis treatment.

If a need arises, for any reason, to introduce a sterile fluid into the circulatory system of the subject S, e.g. to counteract hypertension, the operator may be given the possibility of introducing one or more dosages ("boluses") of sterile fluid from the container <NUM> into the second flow circuit C2 (step <NUM>). An example is shown in <FIG>, in which the line arrangement 40B has a branch line <NUM> which connects to the blood line that extends between the connectors <NUM>, <NUM>. Conventionally, most line sets include at least one such branch line, e.g. denoted service line or infusion line. In the example of <FIG>, a connector <NUM> at the end of the branch line <NUM> has been connected, e.g. during step <NUM>, to the outlet connector <NUM>, and thus in fluid communication with the outlet port <NUM> of the container <NUM>, while the inlet port <NUM> is closed by a clamp 51A and the branch line <NUM> is closed by a clamp 51B. When there is need for a bolus injection, e.g. as detected by the control system <NUM> based on data from one or more sensors (not shown), by the operator or by the subject S, the arrangement in <FIG> may be modified in accordance with <FIG>. Thus, the clamp 51B may be opened, manually or by the control system <NUM>, to admit a bolus of sterile fluid into the second flow circuit C2 while the blood pump <NUM> is active. As indicated in <FIG>, the blood line may be temporarily closed upstream of the connection to the branch line <NUM>, to increase the suction force of the blood pump <NUM> in the branch line <NUM> and thereby shorten the time required to introduce the bolus. In an alternative configuration, not shown, the connection of the branch line <NUM> to the blood line may be located downstream of the clamp <NUM>. The foregoing procedure is equally applicable to this configuration, although it is conceivable that the clamp 51C is omitted and the suction force in the branch line <NUM> is instead increased by closing the clamp <NUM>.

Reverting to <FIG>, at step <NUM>, the dialysis machine <NUM> terminates the dialysis treatment. This may involve stopping the supply of dialysis fluid to the dialyzer <NUM> by closing the valves <NUM>, <NUM> (<FIG>), stopping the blood pump <NUM>, and closing the clamps <NUM>, <NUM>. The operator is then instructed to perform a rinse back procedure by use of the sterile fluid in the container <NUM> (step <NUM>). The implementation of the rinse back procedure may differ depending on the configuration of the second flow circuit C2.

One implementation, which does not require a branch line <NUM>, is shown in <FIG>. Here, the operator is instructed to disconnect the patient connector <NUM> from the vascular access and connect the patient connector <NUM> to the outlet connector <NUM>, and thereby in fluid communication with the outlet port <NUM> of the container <NUM>. The dialysis machine <NUM> then opens the clamps <NUM>, <NUM> and operates the blood pump <NUM> to push the remaining blood in the second flow circuit C2 into the subject S while drawing sterile fluid from the container <NUM>, as indicated by arrows in <FIG>, until all or a majority of the remaining blood in the second flow circuit C2 has been returned to the subject S. The configuration in <FIG> requires a minimum of operations and minimizes the risk of spillage.

If the line arrangement 40B has a branch line <NUM> between the clamp <NUM> and the patient connector <NUM>, the implementation in <FIG> may be convenient. Here, the operator is instructed to connect the connector <NUM> to the outlet connector <NUM>, if not already connected during the dialysis treatment (cf. In a first phase, shown in <FIG>, while the clamps <NUM>, <NUM> remain closed and the blood pump <NUM> remains stopped, the operator is instructed to remove the clamp 51B (<FIG>), if present. Thereby, sterile fluid is driven by gravity along the branch line <NUM> into the second flow circuit C2 to push blood back into the subject S, as indicated by arrows in <FIG>. In a second phase, shown in <FIG>, the operator is instructed to close the line arrangement 40B between the branch line <NUM> and the patient connector <NUM>, e.g. by use of a clamp 51C. The dialysis machine <NUM> then opens the clamps <NUM>, <NUM> and operates the blood pump <NUM> to push the remaining blood in the second flow circuit C2 into the subject S while drawing sterile fluid from the container <NUM>, as indicated by arrows in <FIG>.

If the line arrangement 40B has a branch line <NUM> between the clamp <NUM> and the blood pump <NUM>, the implementation in <FIG> may be convenient. Here, the operator is instructed to connect the connector <NUM> to the outlet connector <NUM>, if not already connected during the dialysis treatment. In a first phase, shown in <FIG>, the operator is instructed to remove the clamp 51B (if present, cf. <FIG>) from the branch line <NUM>. The dialysis machine <NUM> is operated to open clamp <NUM>, while the blood pump <NUM> remains stopped. Thereby, sterile fluid is driven by gravity along the branch line <NUM> into the second flow circuit C2 to push blood back into the subject S, as indicated by arrows in <FIG>. In a second phase, shown in <FIG>, the operator is instructed to close the line arrangement 40B between the clamp <NUM> and the patient connector <NUM>, e.g. by use of a clamp 51C. The dialysis machine <NUM> then opens clamp <NUM> and operates the blood pump <NUM> to push the remaining blood in the second flow circuit C2 into the subject S while drawing sterile fluid from the container <NUM>, as indicated by arrows in <FIG>. In a variant, the clamp 51C is omitted, and the clamp <NUM> is closed by the dialysis machine <NUM>.

It may be noted that the container <NUM> is configured such that the inlet opening <NUM> is located above (in the direction of gravity) the outlet opening <NUM> when the container <NUM> is suspended during priming (<FIG>). This feature has been found to significantly reduce the risk that air is drawn from the container <NUM> via the outlet port <NUM> into the line arrangement 40B when the priming fluid is circulated through the container <NUM>, especially when a small amount of priming fluid is present in the container <NUM>, e.g. at startup of step <NUM> and/or step <NUM> during the priming sequence I in <FIG>.

In the illustrated embodiments, the sterilizing filter <NUM> is co-located with the outlet port <NUM> so that the fluid in the container <NUM> will flow through the filter <NUM> when leaving the container <NUM>. This configuration ensures that the sterile fluid that is held in the container <NUM> after priming will be subjected to an additional sterilization when leaving the container <NUM>, e.g. for bolus injection (<FIG>) or rinse back (<FIG>). This may increase the usable life of the sterile fluid in the container <NUM>. It may be noted that the sterilizing filter <NUM> need not be arranged downstream of the outlet port <NUM>, as shown, by may instead be arranged inside the container <NUM> to cover the outlet opening <NUM>. In other embodiments, the filter <NUM> may be arranged at the inlet port <NUM> or anywhere within the fluid collecting space <NUM>. Any number of sterilizing filters <NUM> may be installed, optionally at both the inlet port <NUM> and the outlet port <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a detailed example of a priming operation <NUM> that may be performed when the first and second flow circuits has been installed in the dialysis machine in accordance with steps <NUM>-<NUM> in <FIG>. Thus, the priming operation <NUM> corresponds to steps <NUM>-<NUM> in <FIG> and will be given with reference to the embodiment in <FIG>. In step <NUM>, the dialyzer <NUM> is arranged with its blood outlet facing upwards. In the embodiment of <FIG>, step <NUM> is included in step <NUM>. However, in certain dialysis machines, the holder <NUM> is configured to arrange the dialyzer <NUM> with its blood outlet (i.e. connector <NUM>) facing downwards. In such dialysis machines, step <NUM> will be performed by the operator, e.g. by disconnecting the dialyzer <NUM> from the holder <NUM> and turning the dialyzer upside down. In step <NUM>, the dialysis machine <NUM> is operated to start backfiltration, in which priming fluid is pushed into the line arrangement 40B and the container <NUM>. To speed up the filling of the line arrangement 40B and the container <NUM>, it is conceivable to restrict or block the flow of priming fluid downstream of the container <NUM> during at least part of step <NUM>, e.g. by the operator closing a clamp on the tubing or by the dialysis machine <NUM> closing the clamp <NUM> (step <NUM>). When there is sufficient priming fluid in the line arrangement 40B and the container <NUM>, any flow restriction imposed by step <NUM> is released and the blood pump <NUM> is started to circulate priming fluid in the second flow circuit C2 (step <NUM>). At this time, the dialysis machine <NUM> still operates with backfiltration, causing priming fluid to flow into the second flow circuit C2. When a predefined filling condition has been achieved, the dialysis machine <NUM> is operated to terminate the backfiltration (step <NUM>). The filling condition may involve attainment of a predefined level of priming fluid in the container <NUM> and, optionally, absence of visible bubbles at the dialyzer blood inlet (i.e. at the bottom of the dialyzer <NUM>). Alternatively or additionally, the filling condition may be automatically detected by the control system <NUM> when a predefined amount of priming fluid has been transferred by backfiltration into the second circuit C2 via the dialyzer membrane <NUM>, as measured by one or more sensors in the dialysis machine <NUM>. For example, conventional dialysis machines <NUM> have flow sensors in the flow paths extending to and from the ports <NUM>, <NUM>. The amount of priming fluid transferred by backfiltration may be computed, by the control system <NUM>, by accumulating the momentary difference between the flow rates of priming fluid through the ports <NUM>, <NUM>.

After step <NUM>, the dialysis machine <NUM> operates the blood pump <NUM> to circulate the priming fluid for a first time period ΔT1 (step <NUM>). During ΔT1, the operator may check for bubbles at the dialyzer blood outlet (i.e. at the top of the dialyzer <NUM>) and tap on the dialyzer <NUM> to remove such bubbles (step <NUM>). If the dialyzer <NUM> was turned upside down in step <NUM>, the operator may also be instructed during ΔT1 to arrange the dialyzer <NUM> with its blood outlet facing upwards, e.g. in the holder <NUM>. After expiry of the time period ΔT1, the dialysis machine <NUM> stops the blood pump <NUM> (step <NUM>) and waits for a second time period ΔT2 (step <NUM>), to allow the first chamber <NUM> of the dialyzer <NUM> to be completely filled with priming fluid. After expiry of the time period ΔT2, the priming is completed and the operator is instructed to disconnect the container <NUM> and the filter from the second flow circuit C2 (step <NUM>).

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A control system for a blood treatment apparatus (<NUM>), said control system being configured to:
instruct an operator to install a first flow circuit (C1) for conducting a fluid provided by the blood treatment apparatus (<NUM>) through a dialyzer (<NUM>);
instruct the operator to install a second flow circuit (C2) which is separated from the first flow circuit (C1) by a semi-permeable membrane (<NUM>) of the dialyzer (<NUM>) and comprising connectors (<NUM>, <NUM>) for connection to a vascular system of a subject (S) during blood treatment, wherein the second flow circuit (C2) is installed to be disconnected from the vascular system and form a closed loop that includes a sterilizing filter (<NUM>),
operate the blood treatment apparatus (<NUM>) to pump a human-compatible fluid into the first flow circuit (C1) so that a portion of the human-compatible fluid flows through the semi-permeable membrane (<NUM>) into the second flow circuit (C2); and
operate the blood treatment apparatus (<NUM>) to circulate said portion of the human-compatible fluid in the closed loop of second flow circuit (C2), to thereby sterilize said portion of the human-compatible fluid by the sterilizing filter (<NUM>).