Patent ID: 7749184

Claim:
A method of monitoring a vascular access associated with an extracorporeal blood circuit, comprising the stages of: storing in memory at least one mathematical model of the vascular access; varying the flow rate of at least one fluid in at least one of the extracorporeal blood circuit and at least one fluid transport line cooperating with the extracorporeal blood circuit; determining the values assumed by the pressure of the blood in at least one zone of the blood circulation path and with at least two different values of the flow rate of said at least one fluid; storing in memory the values of the pressure of the blood and the corresponding values of the flow rate of said at least one fluid; and processing the values stored in memory by means of the mathematical model, in order to determine at least one value of a characteristic of the vascular access; wherein the stage of determining the values assumed by the pressure of the blood comprises the following sub-stages: determining the values of the pressure of the blood in at least a first zone of the blood circulation path and for at least two different first values of the flow rate of said fluid; and determining the values of the pressure of the blood in at least a second zone of the blood circulation path and for at least two different second values of the flow rate of said fluid, said second zone being distant from said first zone.