BLOOD TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

The present invention generally relates to hemodialysis and similar dialysis systems, including a variety of systems and methods that would make hemodialysis more efficient, easier, and/or more affordable. One aspect of the invention is generally directed to new fluid circuits for fluid flow. According to one aspect, a blood pump is configured to pump blood to a dialyzer of a hemodialysis apparatus, the blood pump comprising a pneumatically actuated or controlled reciprocating diaphragm pump. In an embodiment, the diaphragm of the pump comprises a flexible membrane formed or molded to generally conform to a curved inner wall of a pumping chamber or control chamber of the pump, wherein the diaphragm is pre-formed or molded to have a control side taking a convex shape, so that any elastic tension on the diaphragm is minimized when fully extended into a control chamber of the pump. In another aspect, a system for monitoring the adequacy of blood flow in a blood line of the hemodialysis apparatus allows a controller to suspend dialysate pumping operations if the adequacy of blood flow in the blood line is sub-optimal, and to present information on a display on the quality of blood flow in the blood line.

主权项

1. A flexible diaphragm for use in a reciprocating diaphragm pump, the diaphragm pump comprising a first rigid body having a curved pumping chamber wall, a second rigid body having an opposing curved control chamber wall, the diaphragm configured to be interposed between the pumping chamber wall and the control chamber wall, the diaphragm comprising:
a peripheral bead arranged to locate the diaphragm between the first rigid body and the second rigid body; a diaphragm body having a curved, semi-spheroid or domed shape, the diaphragm body configured to generally conform to a curved inner surface of the pumping chamber wall or a curved inner surface of the control chamber wall, and the diaphragm body having a pumping side arranged to face the inner surface of the pumping chamber wall and an opposing control side arranged to face the inner surface of the control chamber wall; a transition region between the bead and the diaphragm body, the transition region arranged to be pinched or clamped between a clamping region of the first rigid body and an opposing clamping region of the second rigid body; wherein the diaphragm is pre-formed or molded with its control side having a convex shape, such that any elastic tension in the diaphragm is reduced when the control side of the diaphragm body assumes a convex shape when positioned in the diaphragm pump.