Artificial kidney device

Claim 2

An artificial kidney device for a human being comprising: a dialyzer for removing specified components from blood; blood pumping means for transporting blood from an artery of the human being to the dialyzer and creating a blood pressure in the dialyzer above arterial pressure; means forming a flow passage in communication with said dialyzer for transporting blood passed through the dialyzer to a vein of the human being; means for maintaining a substantially constant ultrafiltration pressure in said dialyzer including an inner tube forming part of said flow passage and an outer tube surrounding said inner tube and defining a closed chamber therewith, the pressure within said inner tube being subject to change in accordance with prevailing blood pressure in said dialyzer; means for providing a substantially constant predetermined pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure within said closed chamber; said inner tube being formed of material deformable in response to pressure differentials created between the inside of said inner tube and said chamber to enlarge or restrict said flow passage through said inner tube so that the pressure inside said inner tube will balance the substantially constant predetermined pressure in said closed chamber to thereby maintain said ultrafiltration pressure in the dialyzer substantially constant; means including a gas filled reservoir coupled with said chamber for absorbing any pressure fluctuation in said chamber in response to deformation of said inner tube, and means for preventing ingress of gas from said reservoir into said chamber thereby minimizing the quantity of gas flowing into said flow passage in the event of a rupture of said inner tube.

Claim 3

The device according to claim 1 including movable partition means in said reservoir dividing its interior into two compartments, one of said compartments having an outlet in communication with said chamber.

Claim 4

The device according to claim 2 wherein said partition means comprises an elastic film for hermetically sealing the compartments one from the other, said film being deformable in accordance with a pressure differential on opposite sides thereof, and means for constraining said elastic film for deformation in a predetermined range.

Claim 5

The device according to claim 3 wherein said constraining means comprises a latticed board disposed adjacent said elastic film and between said elastic film and said outlet.

Claim 6

The device according to claim 2 wherein said partition means includes an elastic bulb hermetically sealed about said outlet and adapted to obtain a predetermined volume upon equalization of the pressure across said bulb.

Claim 7

The device according to claim 5 wherein said outlet includes a pipe having one end extending into said reservoir, said elastic bulb being comprised of a rubber bulb hermetically connected to said one pipe end.

Claim 8

The device according to claim 2 wherein said partition means includes an elastic bulb hermetically sealed about said outlet and having a predetermined volume upon equalization of the pressure across said bulb, said elastic bulb being collapsible in the event of a rupture of said inner tube to close the opening of said outlet.

Claim 9

The device according to claim 2 including a pipe in communication with said outlet and having an opening through a side surface thereof, said partition means including an elastic tube covering said opening.

Claim 10

The device according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir includes an outlet coupled to said chamber, said partition means including a movable piston substantially sealing said outlet and slidable in said outlet in accordance with a pressure differential on opposite sides of said piston.

Claim 11

An artificial kidney device according to claim 2 wherein the volume of said one compartment, when said ultrafiltration pressure in the dialyzer is maintained substantially constant, is small in comparison with the volume of the other compartment in said reservoir.

Claim 12

An artificial kidney device for a human being comprising: a dialyzer for removing specified components from blood; means for transporting blood from a bloodvessel of the human being to the dialyzer and creating a blood pressure in the dialyzer above arterial pressure; means forming a flow passage in communication with said dialyzer for transporting blood passed through the dialyzer to a bloodvessel of the human being; means for maintaining a substantially constant ultrafiltration pressure in said dialyzer including means defining a passageway forming part of said flow passage, means defining a closed chamber and a deformable material disposed between and forming a part of said passageway and said chamber, the pressure within said passageway being subject to change in accordance with prevailing blood pressure in said dialyzer; means for providing a substantially constant predetermined pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure within said closed chamber; said deformable material being responsive to pressure differentials created between said passageway and said chamber to enlarge or restrict said flow passage through said passageway so that the pressure within said passageway will balance the substantially constant predetermined pressure in said closed chamber to thereby maintain said ultrafiltration pressure in the dialyzer substantially constant; means including a gas filled reservoir coupled with said chamber for absorbing pressure fluctuation in said chamber in response to deformation of said deformable material; and means for preventing ingress of gas from said reservoir into said chamber thereby minimizing the quantity of gas flowing into said flow passage in the event of a rupture of said deformable material.

Claim 13

An artificial kidney device for a human being comprising: a dialyzer for removing specified components from blood; means for transporting blood from a bloodvessel of the human being to the dialyzer and creating a blood pressure in the dialyzer above arterial pressure; means forming a flow passage in communication with said dialyzer for transporting blood passed through the dialyzer to a bloodvessel of the human being; means for maintaining a substantially constant ultrafiltration pressure in said dialyzer including means defining a passageway forming part of said flow passage, means defining a closed chamber and a deformable material disposed between and forming a part of said passageway and said chamber, the pressure within said passageway being subject to change in accordance with prevailing blood pressure in said dialyzer; means for providing a substantially constant predetermined pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure within said closed chamber; said deformable material being responsive to pressure differentials created between said passageway and said chamber to enlarge or restrict said flow passage through said passageway so that the pressure within said passageway will balance the substantially constant predetermined pressure in said closed chamber to thereby maintain said ultrafiltration pressure in the dialyzer substantially constant; means including a gas filled reservoir coupled with said chamber for absorbing pressure fluctuation in said chamber in response to deformation of said deformable material; and means for preventing ingress of gas from said reservoir into said chamber thereby minimizing the quantity of gas flowing into said flow passage in the event of a rupture of said deformable material.

Claim 14

The device according to claim 11 including movable partition means in said reservoir dividing its interior into two compartments, one of said compartments having an outlet in communication with said chamber.

Claim 15

The device according to claim 12 wherein said partition means comprises an elastic film for hermetically sealing the compartments one from the other, said film being deformable in accordance with a pressure differential on opposite sides thereof, and means for constraining said elastic film for deformation in a predetermined range.

Claim 16

The device according to claim 13 wherein said constraining means comprises a latticed board disposed adjacent said elastic film and between said elastic film and said outlet.

Claim 17

The device according to claim 12 wherein said partition means includes an elastic bulb hermetically sealed about said outlet and adapted to obtain a predetermined volume upon equalization of the pressure across said bulb.

Claim 18

The device according to claim 15 wherein said outlet includes a pipe having one end extending into said reservoir, said elastic bulb being comprised of a rubber bulb hermetically sealed about said one pipe end.

Claim 19

The device according to claim 12 including a pipe in communication with said outlet and having an opening through a side surface thereof, said partition means including an elastic tube covering said opening.

Claim 20

An artificial kidney device according to claim 12 wherein the volume of said one compartment, when said ultrafiltration pressure in the dialyzer is maintained substantially constant, is small in comparison with the volume of the other compartment in said reservoir.

Claim 21

The device according to claim 11 wherein said partition means includes an elastic bulb hermetically sealed about said outlet and having a predetermined volume upon equalization of the pressure across said bulb, said elastic bulb being collapsible in the event of a rupture of said deformable material to close the opening of said outlet.

Claim 22

The device according to claim 11 wherein said reservoir includes an outlet coupled to said chamber, said partition means including a movable piston substantially sealing said outlet and slidable in said outlet in accordance with a pressure differential on opposite sides of said block.

Claim 23

An artificial kidney device for a human being comprising: a dialyzer for removing specified components from blood; blood pumping means for transporting blood from an artery of the human being to the dialyzer and creating a blood pressure in the dialyzer above arterial pressure; means forming a flow passage in communication with said dialyzer for transporting blood passed through the dialyzer to a vein of the human being; means for maintaining a substantially constant ultrafiltration pressure in said dialyzer including means defining a passageway forming part of said flow passage, means defining a closed chamber, and a deformable material disposed between and forming a part of said passageway and said chamber, the pressure within said passageway being subject to change in accordance with prevailing blood pressure in said dialyzer; and means for providing a substantially constant predetermined pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure within said closed chamber including a gas filled reservoir coupled with said chamber, movable partition means in said reservoir dividing it into two compartments with one of said compartments in communication with said chamber, and means for supplying gas under pressure to the other of said compartments to move said partition means to a location at which the pressure on opposite sides of said partition means is substantially equalized thereby obtaining said predetermined pressure within said closed chamber, said deformable material being responsive to pressure differentials created between said passageway and said chamber to enlarge or restrict said flow passage through said passageway so that the pressure within said passageway will balance the substantially constant predetermined pressure in said closed chamber to thereby maintain said ultrafiltration pressure in the dialyzer substantially constant; said partition means preventing ingress of gas from said other compartment into said chamber thereby minimizing the quantity of gas flowing into said flow passage in the event of a rupture of said deformable material.

Claim 24

An artificial kidney device for a human being comprising: a dialyzer for removing specified components from blood; blood pumping means for transporting blood from an artery of the human being to the dialyzer and creating a blood pressure in the dialyzer above arterial pressure; means forming a flow passage in communication with said dialyzer for transporting blood passed through the dialyzer to a vein of the human being; means for maintaining a substantially constant ultrafiltration pressure in said dialyzer including means defining a passageway forming part of said flow passage, means defining a closed chamber, and a deformable material disposed between and forming a part of said passageway and said chamber, the pressure within said passageway being subject to change in accordance with prevailing blood pressure in said dialyzer; and means for providing a substantially constant predetermined pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure within said closed chamber including a gas filled reservoir coupled with said chamber, movable partition means in said reservoir dividing it into two compartments with one of said compartments in communication with said chamber, and means for supplying gas under pressure to the other of said compartments to move said partition means to a location at which the pressure on opposite sides of said partition means is substantially equalized thereby obtaining said predetermined pressure within said closed chamber, said deformable material being responsive to pressure differentials created between said passageway and said chamber to enlarge or restrict said flow passage through said passageway so that the pressure within said passageway will balance the substantially constant predetermined pressure in said closed chamber to thereby maintain said ultrafiltration pressure in the dialyzer substantially constant; said partition means preventing ingress of gas from said other compartment into said chamber thereby minimizing the quantity of gas flowing into said flow passage in the event of a rupture of said deformable material.

Claim 25

The device according to claim 21 wherein said one compartment communicates with said chamber through an outlet, said partition means including an elastic bulb hermetically sealed about said outlet and adapted to obtain a predetermined volume upon equalization of the pressure across said bulb.

Claim 26

The device according to claim 22 wherein said outlet includes a pipe having one end extending into said one compartment, said elastic bulb being comprised of a rubber bulb hermetically connected to said one pipe end.

Claim 27

The device according to claim 21 wherein said partition means includes an elastic bulb hermetically sealed about said outlet and having a predetermined volume upon equalization of the pressure across said bulb, said elastic bulb being collapsible in the event of a rupture of said deformable material to close the opening of said outlet.

Claim 28

The device according to claim 21 wherein said partition means includes an elastic bulb hermetically sealed about said outlet and having a predetermined volume upon equalization of the pressure across said bulb, said elastic bulb being collapsible in the event of a rupture of said deformable material to close the opening of said outlet; said gas supplying means including a hand air-pump; and said gas filled reservoir including a pressure measuring means connected to said other compartment for indicating a gas pressure within the reservoir.

Claim 29

The device according to claim 21 wherein said one compartment communicates with said chamber through an outlet, a pipe in communication with said outlet and having an opening through a side surface thereof, said partition means including an elastic tube covering said opening.

Claim 30

The device according to claim 21 wherein said partition means serves to absorb any pressure fluctuation in said chamber in response to deformation of said deformable material.

Claim 31

An artificial kidney device according to claim 21 wherein the volume of said one compartment, when said ultrafiltration pressure in the dialyzer is maintained substantially constant, is small in comparison with the volume of the other compartment in said reservoir.

Claim 32

An artificial kidney device for a human being comprising: a dialyzer for removing specified components from blood; blood pumping means for transporting blood from an artery of the human being to the dialyzer and creating a blood pressure in the dialyzer above arterial pressure; means forming a flow passage in communication with said dialyzer for transporting blood passed through the dialyzer to a vein of the human being; means for maintaining a substantially constant ultrafiltration pressure in said dialyzer including an inner tube forming part of said flow passage and an outer tube surrounding said inner tube and defining a closed chamber therewith, the pressure within said inner tube being subject to change in accordance with prevailing blood pressure in said dialyzer; means for providing a substantially constant predetermined pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure within said closed chamber including a gas filled reservoir coupled with said chamber, movable partition means in said reservoir dividing it into two compartments with one of said compartments in communication with said chamber, and means for supplying gas under pressure to the other of said compartment to move said partition means to a location at which the pressure on opposite sides of said partition means is substantially equalized thereby obtaining said predetermined pressure within said closed chamber; said inner tube being formed of material deformable in response to pressure differentials created between the inside of said inner tube and said chamber to enlarge or restrict said flow passage through said inner tube so that the pressure inside said inner tube will balance the substantially constant predetermined pressure in said closed chamber to thereby maintain said ultrafiltration pressure in the dialyzer substantially constant; said reservoir serving to absorb any pressure fluctuation in said chamber in response to deformation of said inner tube, said partition means preventing ingress of gas from said other compartment into said chamber thereby minimizing the quantity of gas flowing into said flow passage in the event of a rupture of said inner tube.

Claim 33

An artificial kidney device for a human being comprising: a dialyzer for removing specified components from blood; blood pumping means for transporting blood from an artery of the human being to the dialyzer and creating a blood pressure in the dialyzer above arterial pressure; means forming a flow passage in communication with said dialyzer for transporting blood passed through the dialyzer to a vein of the human being; means for maintaining a substantially constant ultrafiltration pressure in said dialyzer including an inner tube forming part of said flow passage and an outer tube surrounding said inner tube and defining a closed chamber therewith, the pressure within said inner tube being subject to change in accordance with prevailing blood pressure in said dialyzer; means for providing a substantially constant predetermined pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure within said closed chamber including a gas filled reservoir coupled with said chamber, movable partition means in said reservoir dividing it into two compartments with one of said compartments in communication with said chamber, and means for supplying gas under pressure to the other of said compartment to move said partition means to a location at which the pressure on opposite sides of said partition means is substantially equalized thereby obtaining said predetermined pressure within said closed chamber; said inner tube being formed of material deformable in response to pressure differentials created between the inside of said inner tube and said chamber to enlarge or restrict said flow passage through said inner tube so that the pressure inside said inner tube will balance the substantially constant predetermined pressure in said closed chamber to thereby maintain said ultrafiltration pressure in the dialyzer substantially constant; said reservoir serving to absorb any pressure fluctuation in said chamber in response to deformation of said inner tube, said partition means preventing ingress of gas from said other compartment into said chamber thereby minimizing the quantity of gas flowing into said flow passage in the event of a rupture of said inner tube.

Claim 34

The device according to claim 29 wherein said one compartment communicates with said chamber through an outlet, said partition means including an elastic bulb hermetically sealed about said outlet and adapted to obtain a predetermined volume upon equalization of the pressure across said bulb.

Claim 35

The device according to claim 30 wherein said outlet includes a pipe having one end extending into said one compartment, said elastic bulb being comprised of a rubber bulb hermetically connected to said one pipe end.

Claim 36

The device according to claim 29 wherein said partition means includes an elastic bulb hermetically sealed about said outlet and having a predetermined volume upon equalization of the pressure across said bulb, said elastic bulb being collapsible in the event of a rupture of said inner tube to close the opening of said outlet.

Claim 37

The device according to claim 29 wherein said one compartment communicates with said chamber through an outlet, a pipe in communication with said outlet and having an opening through a side surface thereof, said partition means including an elastic tube covering said opening.

Claim 38

An artificial kidney device according to claim 29 wherein the volume of said one compartment, when said ultrafiltration pressure in the dialyzer is maintained substantially constant, is small in comparison with the volume of the other compartment in said reservoir.