BLOOD FLOW MEASUREMENT METHOD IN HEMODIALYSIS SHUNTS

摘要

The measurement of blood flow in a dialysis shunt (12) is obtained by injection of an indicator material into a venous line (32) leading from dialysis equipment (10) to the shunt (12). The blood flow in an arterial line (26) leading from the shunt (12) at a location downstream of the venous line (32) to the dialysis equipment (10) is monitored by an arterial line sensor (50) for the presence of the indicator material. A detector (58) connected to the sensor (50) provides a dilution curve in response to the presence of the indicator material and the blood flow in the shunt (12) is calculated from the area under the dilution curve. The locations of the arterial and venous lines (26, 32) in the shunt (12) can be reversed to obtain a measurement of blood recirculation from the venous line (32) into the arterial line (26).