Systems and methods for performing blood processing and/or fluid exchange procedures

Abstract

A flow management system comprising a first panel having a fluid pathway and a second panel having a fluid pathway for passing a second fluid. The fluid pathway of the first panel passes a first fluid. The first panel includes a first compartment to receive a volume of the first fluid. The second panel includes a second compartment to receive a volume of the second fluid. The first and second panels are aligned so that the first compartment overlays the second compartment. The flow management system may be placed within a gap defined by a first surface and a second surface. The first and second compartments are disposed within the gap so that the second compartment bears against the second surface as the second fluid fills the second compartment and forces the first fluid out from the first compartment as the first compartment bears against the first surface.

Description

[0001] This is a divisional of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 041,949 filed Jan. 7, 2002 which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 451,238, filed Nov. 29, 1999, now abandoned; Ser. No. 09 / 513,773, filed Feb. 25, 2000, Ser. No. 09 / 513,911, filed Feb. 25, 2000, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,253; Ser. No. 09 / 513,771, filed Feb. 25, 2000, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,314; Ser. No. 09 / 513,446, filed Feb. 25, 2000, now abandoned; Ser. No. 09 / 513,902, filed Feb. 25, 2000, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,789; Ser. No. 09 / 512,927, filed Feb. 25, 2000, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,482; Ser. No. 09 / 512,929, filed Feb. 25, 2000, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,638,477; Ser. No. 09 / 513,910, filed Feb. 25, 2000 which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,553; Ser. No. 09 / 513,564, filed Feb. 25, 2000, now abandoned; Ser. No. 09 / 513,915, filed Feb. 25, 2000, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,943; and Ser. No. 09 / 894,236, filed Jun. 27, 2001, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] One aspect of the invention provides systems and methods for processing blood and / or other fluids, which include a fluid interface between a fluid processing circuit and a fluid processing machine that makes possible a fast, convenient, one step process for loading the fluid processing circuit on the machine.

[0010] In one embodiment, the systems and methods consolidate all blood and fluid flow paths in a unitary, easily installed cartridge. The cartridge establishes a fixed orientation for fluid circuit elements and their operative interface with the hardware elements, such as pumps, sensors, and clamps, on the processing machine. The fixed orientation requires that all safety and control elements on the cartridge and machine are brought into operative association in a single, straightforward loading step. Due to the cartridge, the operator cannot place one part of the fluid circuit into an operating condition with one or more hardware elements on the machine without placing the entire fluid circuit into an operating condition with all the hardware elements on the machine. The consolidation of all blood and fluid flow paths in a single, easily installed cartridge also avoids the potential of contamination, by minimizing the number of connections and disconnections needed during a given treatment session.

[0011] Another aspect of the invention provides systems and methods for processing blood and / or other fluids that makes possible the performance of accurate, synchronized volumetric fluid balancing, without the need for weight sensing.

Problems solved by technology

As a consequence, the process of loading a fluid circuit on the machine can be tedious and error-prone.

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