Patent ID: 7857976

Claim:
A hemofiltration system for fluid removal from blood of a patient, comprising: a first pump configured to pump a liquid selected from the group consisting of infusate, drained fluid, and blood in the hemofiltration system; a first sensor configured to measure a flow rate of fluid in the hemofiltration system generated by the first pump, the flow rate sensor further configured to provide flow rate data signals correlated to the fluid flow rate; a supervisory controller in electrical communication with the pump in the hemofiltration system, the supervisory controller configured to transmit an output signal to the first pump to adjust the flow rate of the fluid; the supervisory controller in electrical communication with the first sensor, the supervisory controller further configured to receive the flow rate data signals provided by the first sensor; and a monitor for measuring at least one patient parameter, the patient parameter monitor providing patient parameter data signals correlated to the at least one patient parameter, wherein the supervisory controller is in electrical communication with the monitor and further configured to receive patient parameter data signals provided by the monitor, wherein, in response to receiving the flow rate data signals and patient parameter data signals, the supervisory controller is configured to: analyze the flow rate data signals and the patient parameter data signals utilizing fuzzy logic utilizing at least one supervisory rule, and at least one membership function in the fuzzy logic with a width that is dependent upon a desired ultrafiltration rate, and provide an output signal to the first pump to adjust, as necessary, on a periodic basis, the flow rate of liquid generated by the first pump for regulating fluid removal from the patient's blood.