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US4859319A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device for measuring the quantity of ultrafiltrate eliminated during a dialysis treatment

Assignee: Gambro Hospal Schweiz AG
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Filing: 1986-08-08
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Granted: 1989-08-22
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Expires: 2006-08-08
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Abstract

Abstract A device for measuring the quantity of ultrafiltrate eliminated during a dialysis treatment. The device comprises two vessels of a known capacity wherein the ultrafiltrate coming from a pump is alternately received and then discharged by means of valves. The device further comprises two level measuring sensors which each emit a signal each time the ultrafiltrate attains a predetermined level in the corresponding vessel. Such sensors are connected to a processing and count control mechanism for analyzing the above-mentioned signals and for establishing the quantity of ultrafiltrate eliminated by the pump.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gianni Borsari

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 18:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F3/00; G01F3/36; A; A61; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/14; A61M1/16; A61M1/1694; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/33; A61M2205/3379; A61M2205/3396; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/929

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 295 words
A device for measuring the quantity of ultrafiltrate eliminated by means of an ultrafiltrate pump during a dialysis treatment, comprising: an ultrafiltrate supply conduit for connecting to the output of said ultrafiltrate pump; first and second vertically-arranged vessels for collecting said ultrafiltrate, each having an upper portion and a lower portion; means defining an opening in said lower portion of each of said vessels in flow communication with said supply conduit; ultrafiltrate discharge means in flow communication with each of said openings; first valve means in said ultrafiltrate supply conduit between the output of said ultrafiltrate pump and each of said openings; second valve means connected to said ultrafiltrate discharge means; sensing means consisting essentially of two sensors each operatively connected to one of said vessels for detecting the presence of a predetermined quantity of ultrafiltrate collected in each of said vessels by detecting when the ultrafiltrate reaches a predetermined level in each vessel and for generating separate electrical signals when said predetermined quantity is attained in each of said vessels; and processing and count control means operatively connected to each of said first and second valve means and to said sensing means and responsive to said separate electrical signals for actuating said first and second valve means to alternately obtain a simultaneous connection of (1) said opening in said first vessel to the output of said ultrafiltrate pump and said opening in said second vessel to the said ultrafiltrate discharge means, and (2) said opening in said second vessel to the output of said ultrafiltrate pump and said opening in said first vessel to said ultrafiltrate discharge means, whereby the quantity of ultrafiltrate eliminated by said ultrafiltrate pump can be determined by accumulating a count of the number of times said vessels are filled.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 295 words
A device for measuring the quantity of ultrafiltrate eliminated by means of an ultrafiltrate pump during a dialysis treatment, comprising: an ultrafiltrate supply conduit for connecting to the output of said ultrafiltrate pump; first and second vertically-arranged vessels for collecting said ultrafiltrate, each having an upper portion and a lower portion; means defining an opening in said lower portion of each of said vessels in flow communication with said supply conduit; ultrafiltrate discharge means in flow communication with each of said openings; first valve means in said ultrafiltrate supply conduit between the output of said ultrafiltrate pump and each of said openings; second valve means connected to said ultrafiltrate discharge means; sensing means consisting essentially of two sensors each operatively connected to one of said vessels for detecting the presence of a predetermined quantity of ultrafiltrate collected in each of said vessels by detecting when the ultrafiltrate reaches a predetermined level in each vessel and for generating separate electrical signals when said predetermined quantity is attained in each of said vessels; and processing and count control means operatively connected to each of said first and second valve means and to said sensing means and responsive to said separate electrical signals for actuating said first and second valve means to alternately obtain a simultaneous connection of (1) said opening in said first vessel to the output of said ultrafiltrate pump and said opening in said second vessel to the said ultrafiltrate discharge means, and (2) said opening in said second vessel to the output of said ultrafiltrate pump and said opening in said first vessel to said ultrafiltrate discharge means, whereby the quantity of ultrafiltrate eliminated by said ultrafiltrate pump can be determined by accumulating a count of the number of times said vessels are filled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 41 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising a disconnect means connected to said ultrafiltrate supply conduit between said first valve means and said ultrafiltrate pump allowing said ultrafiltrate pump and said first valve means to be disconnected from each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said ultrafiltrate discharge means comprises an auxiliary pump and a discharge tube, said auxiliary pump interposed between said second valve means and said discharge tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 12 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said sensors are ultrasonic sensors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 12 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said sensors are optical sensors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said sensors are capacitive sensors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 36 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said sensors consist of a first sensor positioned in said upper portion of said first vessel and a second sensor positioned in said upper portion of said second vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein each of said valve means comprises electrically operated valves controlled by said processing and count control means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 135 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said first valve means comprises a first valve operatively connected between said output of said ultrafiltrate pump and said first vessel and a second valve operatively connected between said output of said ultrafiltrate pump and said second vessel, and wherein said second valve means comprises a third valve operatively connected between said first vessel and said ultrafiltrate discharge means and a fourth valve operatively connected between said second vessel and said ultrafiltrate discharge means, said processing and count control means for actuating said first and second valve means to alternately obtain a simulataneous opening of (1) said first valve to said pump and said fourth valve to said ultrafiltrate discharge means and (2) said second valve to said pump and said third valve to said ultrafiltrate discharge means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 32 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said processing and count control means is for operatively connection to said ultrafiltrate pump and includes means for transmitting an actuating signal to said pump.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 51 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein each of said vessels is further provided with an extensin above the vessel having a cross-section smaller than the cross-section of the vessel below the extension, wherein each said sensor of said sensing means is operatively connected to a corresponding one of said extensions.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR765258A Cited
US2611269A Cited
FR2087416A5 Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-08-21 1993-02-20 1993-08-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-08-21 1997-02-20 1997-08-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-08-21 2001-02-20 2001-08-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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