Blood circuit component

Abstract

To provide a blood circuit component having a new structure capable of more easily constructing a blood circuit of a dialyzer.SOLUTION: A blood circuit component 10 includes a pump tube 12 mounted on a blood pump 86 of a dialyzer 80, a pair of connection tubes 14,14 communicating with the pump tube 12, a coupling member 16 assembled to the pump tube 12 and each connection tube 14, and a drip chamber 52 for removing foreign matters. Further, the coupling member 16 includes a chamber holding portion 36 to which the drip chamber 52 is detachably attached.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a blood circuit component that constitutes a blood circuit of a dialysis device. [Background technology]

[0002] Artificial dialysis using a dialysis machine has been performed for some time, for example, as a therapy for renal failure. Artificial dialysis is achieved by introducing blood drawn from a patient into a blood purifier (dialyzer) through the blood collection side of a blood circuit, filtering out waste products in the blood through the blood purifier to purify the blood, and then returning the purified blood to the patient's blood vessels through the blood return side of the blood circuit.

[0003] As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-252352 (Patent Document 1), the blood circuit connecting the dialysis machine and the patient generally includes multiple tubes. The blood circuit, which returns blood collected from the patient's blood vessels via the blood purifier, is constructed by interconnecting elements such as the patient, blood purifier, chamber, and blood pump with tubes. Therefore, when using the dialysis machine, multiple independent tubes must be appropriately connected to the blood pump, blood purifier, etc. Furthermore, a drip chamber must be installed to remove foreign matter such as air bubbles and blood clots, and tubes must also be appropriately connected to the drip chamber, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-252352 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in conventional blood circuits that are composed of multiple independent tubes, such as a blood collection tube and a blood return tube, the work of properly connecting these tubes to construct the blood circuit is complicated.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a blood circuit component having a novel structure that enables a blood circuit of a dialysis device to be constructed more easily. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The following describes preferred embodiments for understanding the present invention, but the embodiments described below are merely examples and may be appropriately combined with one another. Multiple components described in each embodiment may be recognized and employed independently to the greatest extent possible, and may also be appropriately combined with any of the components described in other embodiments. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and various other embodiments may be realized.

[0008] The first aspect is a blood circuit component that constitutes a blood circuit provided in a dialysis machine, and includes a pump tube attached to a blood pump of the dialysis machine, a pair of connecting tubes that communicate with the pump tube, connecting members that are assembled to the pump tube and each connecting tube, and a drip chamber that removes foreign matter, and the connecting members have a chamber holder to which the drip chamber is detachably attached.

[0009] In a blood circuit component constructed according to this embodiment, the tube and the drip chamber are connected by a connecting member, which facilitates the handling and connection of the tube and the drip chamber. Furthermore, the drip chamber is attached to the chamber holder of the connecting member, which eliminates the need for installation of the drip chamber. Furthermore, because the drip chamber is detachably attached to the chamber holder, it is possible to, for example, remove the drip chamber from the connecting member and shake it to eliminate clogging of the drip chamber filter due to thrombus or the like, or to efficiently remove air bubbles during priming. The connecting member is not limited to being directly attached to the pump tube and the connecting tube. The connecting member may be attached to the pump tube and the connecting tube via only one of the pump tube and the connecting tube, or the connecting member may be attached to the pump tube and the connecting tube via a separate member.

[0010] The second aspect is a blood circuit component that constitutes a blood circuit provided in a dialysis machine, and includes a pump tube attached to the blood pump of the dialysis machine, a pair of connecting tubes that communicate with the pump tube, connecting members that are assembled to the pump tube and each connecting tube, and a drip chamber that removes foreign matter, with at least the peripheral wall portion of the drip chamber being formed of a material softer than the connecting members, and the drip chamber being attached to the connecting members.

[0011] In a blood circuit assembly constructed according to this embodiment, the tube and drip chamber are connected by a connecting member, facilitating the handling and connection of the tube and drip chamber. Furthermore, since the drip chamber is attached to the connecting member, the labor required for installing the drip chamber in the dialysis machine can be eliminated. Furthermore, by manually deforming or tapping the peripheral wall of the drip chamber, clogging of the filter can be eliminated and air bubbles can be removed during priming. Even if the peripheral wall of the drip chamber is struck with a hard instrument such as forceps, the peripheral wall of the drip chamber, which is made of a softer material than the connecting member, is unlikely to be damaged.

[0012] The third aspect is a blood circuit component that constitutes a blood circuit provided in a dialysis machine, and includes a pump tube attached to the blood pump of the dialysis machine, a pair of connecting tubes that communicate with the pump tube, connecting members that are assembled to the pump tube and each connecting tube, and a drip chamber that removes foreign matter. The drip chamber is provided in the connecting member, and the dialysis machine can be used with the pump tube positioned on one side of the connecting member, or the dialysis machine can be used with the pump tube positioned on the other side of the connecting member.

[0013] In a blood circuit assembly constructed according to this embodiment, the tube and drip chamber are connected by a connecting member, facilitating the handling and connection of the tube and drip chamber. Furthermore, since the blood circuit assembly can be mounted in either the left or right orientation on a dialysis machine, it can be used with dialysis machines of different specifications in which the relative positions of the blood pump and blood circuit are reversed in the left-right direction. Therefore, even if a patient uses a dialysis machine of different specifications in which the relative positions of the blood pump and blood circuit are reversed in the left-right direction to match the positional relationship between the dialysis machine and the bed, the blood circuit assembly can be used in common. The drip chamber may be attached as a separate unit to the connecting member, or may be formed integrally with the connecting member.

[0014] In a fourth aspect, in the blood circuit component according to the third aspect, the connecting member has a symmetrical shape on the front and back.

[0015] The blood circuit component constructed according to this embodiment can be mounted upside down to accommodate dialysis machines of different specifications in which the relative positions of the blood pump and blood circuit are reversed in the left-right direction.

[0016] In a fifth aspect, in the blood circuit component according to the third or fourth aspect, the connecting member has a shape that is symmetrical with respect to a plane that extends perpendicular to the up-down direction.

[0017] The blood circuit component constructed according to this embodiment can be adapted to dialysis machines of different specifications in which the relative positions of the blood pump and blood circuit are reversed in the left-right direction by simply rotating the component 180° around the central axis of the mounting direction on the dialysis machine.

[0018] In the fourth and fifth aspects, the connecting member does not need to have a strictly mathematically symmetrical shape, and asymmetry is permitted to the extent that it does not cause any problems when used in the above-mentioned 180° rotated state, such as when the front and back are reversed. Specifically, asymmetry due to concave and convex portions, such as a relief indicating the manufacturer, is permitted.

[0019] The sixth aspect is a blood circuit component that constitutes a blood circuit provided in a dialysis machine, and includes a pump tube attached to a blood pump of the dialysis machine, a pair of connecting tubes that communicate with the pump tube, connecting members that are assembled to the pump tube and each connecting tube, and a drip chamber that removes foreign matter. The drip chamber is provided on the connecting member and has a cylindrical peripheral wall portion. The peripheral wall portion is provided with a blood inlet that extends approximately tangentially, so that blood that flows in through the inlet flows in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall portion.

[0020] In a blood circuit assembly constructed according to this embodiment, the tube and drip chamber are connected by a connecting member, facilitating the handling and connection of the tube and drip chamber. Furthermore, unlike the flat drip chambers provided in existing cassette-type circuits, the chamber shape is independent of the connecting member and includes a cylindrical peripheral wall. Therefore, blood flowing into the chamber flows circumferentially along the peripheral wall, making it less likely to strike the surface of the blood stored in the drip chamber, thereby suppressing the formation of thrombi due to bubbling on the surface of the stored blood. Furthermore, the circumferential flow of the inflowing blood agitates the stored blood, preventing the formation of thrombi due to blood stagnation. The drip chamber may be attached separately from the connecting member or formed integrally with the connecting member.

[0021] In a seventh aspect, in the blood circuit component described in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the connecting member has a communication passage that connects each end of the pump tube with each of the connecting tubes, and either the communication passage of the connecting member or the drip chamber is located on the arterial side of the blood circuit, and the other of the communication passage or the drip chamber is located on the venous side of the blood circuit.

[0022] In the blood circuit component constructed according to this aspect, for example, the drip chamber is attached to the connecting member, and the venous side of the blood circuit including the drip chamber is provided on the connecting member. This allows both the arterial side and the venous side of the blood circuit to be collectively connected to the connecting member, making it easier to construct the blood circuit.

[0023] In an eighth aspect, in the blood circuit component described in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the connecting member includes a portion forming a pair of communication passages that connect each end of the pump tube with each of the connecting tubes, a plate-like portion that interconnects the portions that form the pair of communication passages, and a chamber holding portion to which the drip chamber is detachably attached, and the chamber holding portion includes a support portion that protrudes in the thickness direction from the plate-like portion, and an attachment portion that is provided on the support portion and to which the drip chamber is attached.

[0024] According to the blood circuit component constructed in accordance with this aspect, the drip chamber is held at a position protruding from the plate-shaped portion in the thickness direction, so that the connecting member can be made smaller in the surface direction of the plate-shaped portion.

[0025] A ninth aspect is a blood circuit component that constitutes a blood circuit provided in a dialysis machine, and includes a tube member having a pair of connecting tube portions extending on both sides in the tube length direction from a pump tube portion attached to a blood pump of the dialysis machine, a holding member that is assembled to the tube member so as to hold both sides in the length direction of the pump tube portion, and a drip chamber that removes foreign matter, and the holding member has a chamber holding portion to which the drip chamber is detachably attached.

[0026] According to the blood circuit component constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the tube member having the pump tube portion and a pair of connecting tube portions is held by the holding member on both longitudinal sides of the pump tube portion, thereby improving the ease of handling the tube member and simplifying the work of connecting the pump tube portion to the blood pump.

[0027] Furthermore, since the drip chamber is attached to the chamber holding portion of the holding member, the labor required to install the drip chamber can be eliminated. Furthermore, since both the pump tube and the pair of connecting tubes are held by the holding member, the pump tube and the pair of connecting tubes can be easily routed and connected. Furthermore, since the drip chamber is detachably attached to the chamber holding portion, it is possible to remove the drip chamber from the holding member and shake it, thereby eliminating clogging of the drip chamber filter due to blood clots or the like, and efficiently removing air bubbles during priming. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] According to the present invention, the blood circuit of a dialysis machine can be constructed more easily. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a blood circuit component according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the blood circuit component shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blood circuit component shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the blood circuit component shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the blood circuit component shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drip chamber constituting the blood circuit component shown in FIG. 1; [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view of the drip chamber shown in FIG. 6, which corresponds to the VII-VII cross section of FIG. 8. [Figure 8] Cross section VIII-VIII of Figure 7 [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a blood circuit component according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a front view of the blood circuit component shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the connecting member constituting the blood circuit component of FIG. 9 at a different angle. [Figure 12]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a blood circuit component according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a front view of the blood circuit component shown in FIG. 12. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a blood circuit component according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0031] 1 to 5 show a blood circuit component 10 as a first embodiment of the present invention. The blood circuit component 10 has a structure in which a pump tube 12 and a pair of connecting tubes 14, 14 are attached to and assembled with a connecting member 16. In the following description, as a general rule, the up-down direction refers to the up-down direction in FIG. 2, and the left-right direction refers to the left-right direction in FIG. 2.

[0032] The pump tube 12 is a flexible tube made of synthetic resin or the like. As shown in FIG. 2 , the pump tube 12 has a longitudinally intermediate portion curved in a semicircular arc. As a result, the pump tube 12 has an overall inverted U-shape with an arc-shaped portion, extending in a bent-over manner in the left-right direction, with both ends extending parallel to each other in approximately the same direction. However, the longitudinally intermediate portion of the pump tube 12 may be curved in a major arc shape with a circumferential length longer than the semicircular arc shape, or in a minor arc shape with a circumferential length shorter than the semicircular arc shape. In such a case, both ends may extend at a relative inclination. Alternatively, the pump tube 12 may have an overall Ω shape or an elliptical shape as described in JP 2007-537390 A.

[0033] The connection tubes 14, 14 are flexible tubes made of synthetic resin or the like. The inner and outer diameters of the connection tube 14 are smaller than those of the pump tube 12. The lumen of the connection tubes 14, 14 communicates with one end of the lumen of the pump tube 12 via a pair of communication passages 22, 22, which will be described later. In the drawings, the connection tubes 14, 14 are shown extending linearly in the left-right direction, but since the connection tubes 14, 14 are flexible, they can be curved and deformed as desired. The connection tubes 14, 14 may also extend at an angle to each other.

[0034] The connecting member 16 is made of a material such as synthetic resin or metal, and is harder than the pump tube 12 and the connecting tubes 14, 14. The connecting member 16 preferably has a degree of hardness (shape stability) that allows it to maintain its shape without being deformed more than necessary when handled by hand. The connecting member 16 has a structure in which a pair of cylindrical portions 18, 18 extending approximately parallel to each other are connected to each other by a plate-like portion 20.

[0035] The tubular portion 18 has a generally cylindrical shape extending linearly in the left-right direction as a whole and includes a communicating passage 22 that penetrates in the axial direction. In other words, the portions of the connecting member 16 that form the communicating passages 22 are the tubular portions 18. Both end portions of the tubular portion 18 are formed as a pump tube mounting portion 24 and a connection tube mounting portion 26, each of which has a partially enlarged diameter. The pump tube mounting portion 24 and the connection tube mounting portion 26 extend in the axial direction with a generally constant inner diameter. The pump tube mounting portion 24, which is the connecting end of the tubular portion 18 to which the pump tube 12 is connected, has a larger inner diameter than the connection tube mounting portion 26, which is the connecting end of the tubular portion 18 to which the connection tube 14 is connected. A tapered portion 28, whose diameter decreases from the pump tube mounting portion 24 toward the connection tube mounting portion 26, is provided between the pump tube mounting portion 24 and the connection tube mounting portion 26 in the tubular portion 18. In the tapered portion 28, the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 18 gradually decreases from the pump tube mounting portion 24 to the connecting tube mounting portion 26, and the passage cross-sectional area of ​​the communicating passage 22 gradually decreases from the pump tube mounting portion 24 to the connecting tube mounting portion 26. Note that, although the pump tube mounting portion 24 and the connecting tube mounting portion 26 in this embodiment are provided to extend in the left-right direction, for example, if the pump tube 12 and the connecting tube 14 are inclined with respect to the left-right direction, the tube mounting portions 24, 26 may be provided to be inclined in accordance with the inclination of the tubes 12, 14.

[0036] A cylindrical sub-line mounting portion 30 is provided on the tapered portion 28 of the cylindrical portion 18. The sub-line mounting portion 30 protrudes outward in the vertical direction from the tapered portion 28. The inner cavity of the sub-line mounting portion 30 is in communication with the communication passage 22, which is the inner cavity of the cylindrical portion 18.

[0037] The tapered portion 28 of each cylindrical portion 18 is provided with a fixing portion 32 that is fixed to the dialysis machine main body 84 (described later). The fixing portion 32 protrudes vertically and outward from the tapered portion 28 at a position away from the sub-line mounting portion 30. The fixing portion 32 has a structure that allows it to be fixed to the dialysis machine main body 84 by means of mechanical engagement, for example. The connecting member 16 is attached to the dialysis machine main body 84 by fixing the fixing portion 32 to the dialysis machine main body 84. The fixing portion 32 is rigid enough to maintain the attachment of the connecting member 16 to the dialysis machine main body 84. The fixed state between the fixing portion 32 and the dialysis machine main body 84 can be released, and the connecting member 16 is removably attached to the dialysis machine main body 84 by the fixing portion 32. The specific structure of the fixing part is not particularly limited, and for example, when the fixing part of the connecting member 16 is attached to a protruding part of the dialysis machine body 84, the fixing part of the connecting member 16 may be recessed to correspond to the protruding part of the dialysis machine body 84. The fixing part is provided according to the shape of the dialysis machine body 84, and in this embodiment, it protrudes outward in the upper and lower directions, but the fixing part can also be provided in the lightening hole 34 described below.

[0038] The plate-like portion 20 is provided between the cylindrical portions 18, 18, and has a generally flat plate shape that extends in the up-down and left-right directions. A lightening hole 34 that penetrates the plate-like portion 20 in the thickness direction is formed in the center of the plate-like portion 20. One left-right end of the plate-like portion 20 extends to the end of the tapered portion 28, and the other left-right end is located inside the end of the tapered portion 28, and the plate-like portion 20 is provided between the top and bottom of the tapered portions 28, 28. The plate-like portion 20 is integrally formed with the cylindrical portions 18, 18.

[0039] A chamber holding portion 36 is provided on the plate-shaped portion 20. The chamber holding portion 36 is rigid enough to hold a drip chamber 52 (described later) attached to the connecting member 16. The chamber holding portion 36 includes a support portion 38 that protrudes from the plate-shaped portion 20 in the thickness direction, and an attachment portion 40 that is provided at the protruding tip of the support portion 38.

[0040] The support portion 38 protrudes from one of the left and right ends of the plate-shaped portion 20 (the right end in FIG. 2 ) toward the surface of the plate-shaped portion 20 and has a generally flat plate shape. The support portion 38 is inclined toward one of the left and right ends toward the protruding tip, and the attachment portion 40 provided at the protruding tip of the support portion 38 is positioned offset in the left and right direction relative to the base end of the support portion 38. In this embodiment, the attachment portion 40 is located to the right of the fixed portion 32, so that a drip chamber 52 (described below) attached to the attachment portion 40 does not reduce the visibility of the fixed portion 32. Furthermore, the attachment portion 40 is located at the boundary between the tubular portion 18 and the connection tube 14. That is, the attachment portion 40 is formed in a position where the drip chamber faces at least a portion of the connecting member 16, which is a hard member, thereby preventing the flexible connection tube 14 from hitting the drip chamber 52. Furthermore, a reinforcing rib 42 is provided between the plate-shaped portion 20 and the support portion 38. The reinforcing rib 42 has a plate shape that extends approximately perpendicular to the up-down direction and is provided across the surface of the plate-shaped portion 20 and the surface of the support portion 38. The provision of the reinforcing rib 42 prevents deformation of the support portion 38 itself and changes in the angle of the support portion 38 relative to the plate-shaped portion 20. The number, shape, and arrangement of the reinforcing ribs 42 are appropriately determined depending on the required reinforcing effect of the support portion 38, and in this embodiment, three reinforcing ribs 42 are provided spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction. The support portion 38 and the reinforcing rib 42 in this embodiment are formed integrally with the plate-shaped portion 20. Note that the support portion 38 may be a separate member from the plate-shaped portion 20, and the support portion 38 may be assembled and fixed to the plate-shaped portion 20.

[0041] The mounting portion 40 has an overall substantially semi-cylindrical or C-shaped circumferential slit and is formed of synthetic resin, metal, or the like. The axial center portion of the mounting portion 40 protrudes further outward in the circumferential direction than both axial ends, and the distance between the circumferential ends of the mounting portion 40 at the axial center portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the peripheral wall portion 54 of the drip chamber 52 (described later). In this embodiment, the mounting portion 40 is integrally formed with the support portion 38. The mounting portion 40 is preferably configured to allow the drip chamber 52 to be detached, and is thin-walled to allow elastic deformation in the thickness direction, thereby enabling the mounting portion 40 to be elastically deformed and expanded to increase the distance between the circumferential ends of the axial center portion of the mounting portion 40. The shape of the mounting portion 40 may be appropriately changed from a cylindrical shape (circular in cross section) to a semi-cylindrical shape (semi-circular in cross section) using a hinge or the like. Alternatively, a portion for hooking onto the drip chamber 52 may be formed to hold the drip chamber 52. In addition, the axial length of the mounting portion 40 may be set appropriately. For example, it may be extended to the position of the connecting tube 14 to prevent the flexible connecting tube 14 from hitting the drip chamber 52, or the mounting portion 40 may be made smaller to reduce manufacturing costs.

[0042] The pump tube 12 and the connection tubes 14 are each connected to the connecting member 16 having this structure. That is, both ends of the pump tube 12 are inserted into either one of the pump tube mounting portions 24 of the connecting member 16 and fixed by adhesive or other means. One end of each of the connection tubes 14 is inserted into either one of the connection tube mounting portions 26 of the connecting member 16 and fixed by adhesive or other means. By connecting the pump tube 12 and the connection tubes 14 to the cylindrical portions 18 of the connecting member 16 in this manner, the inner lumens of the pump tube 12 and the connection tubes 14 are communicated with each other through the communication passages 22, which are the inner lumens of the cylindrical portions 18.

[0043] One of the connection tubes 14 is provided at its end opposite the connection tube mounting portion 26 with a dialyzer connector 44, which is connected to a dialyzer 90 (described later). The other connection tube 14 is provided at its end opposite the connection tube mounting portion 26 with a blood collection connector 46, which is connected to a sheath (not shown) placed in the patient's artery. The other connection tube 14 is provided with a fluid replacement line 47, which joins the other tubes midway. The fluid replacement line 47 is a line that supplies saline or the like to a blood circuit 82 (described later) and is connected to, for example, an infusion bag. The fluid replacement line 47 may be provided at another location in the blood circuit 82, in the tubular portion 18, the drip chamber 52, or the like; the fluid replacement line 47 may be omitted.

[0044] A fluid replacement line 48 serving as a sub-line is inserted into one of the sub-line mounting portions 30 of the connecting member 16 and fixed thereto by adhesive or other means, thereby being connected in communication with the communicating passage 22. A drug solution administration line 50 serving as a sub-line is inserted into the other of the sub-line mounting portions 30 of the connecting member 16 and fixed thereto by adhesive or other means, thereby being connected in communication with the communicating passage 22. Similar to the fluid replacement line 47, the fluid replacement line 48 is a line that supplies saline or the like to a blood circuit 82 (described later), and is connected to, for example, an infusion bag. The drug solution administration line 50 is a line that administers a drug solution such as heparin, and is connected to, for example, a syringe filled with the drug solution.

[0045] A drip chamber 52 that removes foreign matter such as air bubbles and blood clots from blood is attached to the chamber holder 36 of the connecting member 16. As shown in Figs. 1 and 6 to 8, the drip chamber 52 has a hollow structure in which a lid member 56 is attached to the upper end of a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 54 and a bottom member 58 is attached to the lower end. During use, the interface between blood and air moves up and down within the drip chamber 52. The connecting member 16 is a member that interconnects the pump tube 12, the pair of connecting tubes 14, 14, the drip chamber 52, etc.

[0046] The peripheral wall portion 54 has a generally cylindrical shape and is formed of synthetic resin, metal, or the like. The peripheral wall portion 54 may be made of the same hard material as the connecting member 16, but is preferably made of a softer material than the connecting member 16. The peripheral wall portion 54 is preferably formed of a soft material that has a certain degree of flexibility and is resistant to deformation and damage when subjected to an external force. The peripheral wall portion 54 maintains its initial cylindrical shape when no external force is applied, and has sufficient shape stability to be stably held by the chamber holding portion 36 of the connecting member 16, as described below.

[0047] The cover member 56 is made of synthetic resin, metal, or the like, and has an inverted, generally cylindrical shape with a bottom. The cover member 56 has a blood inlet 60 penetrating the peripheral wall. A cylindrical dialyzer connection tube attachment part 62 that protrudes outward is provided at the opening periphery of the inlet 60. As shown in FIG. 8 , the dialyzer connection tube attachment part 62 extends in the tangential direction of the peripheral wall of the cover member 56, allowing blood introduced through the inlet 60 to flow in a generally spiral pattern in the circumferential direction along the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the cover member 56 and the inner circumferential surface of the peripheral wall part 54.

[0048] Additionally, a service line attachment portion 64 protruding upward is provided on the upper bottom wall portion of the lid member 56. The service line attachment portion 64 is generally cylindrical, with an inner cavity vertically penetrating the upper bottom wall portion of the lid member 56. The service line attachment portion 64 is used to connect service lines 66, such as a drug administration line, a liquid level adjustment line, a replacement fluid line, and a pressure monitor line. In this embodiment, three service line attachment portions 64, 64, 64 are provided, but the number and arrangement of the service line attachment portions 64 can be appropriately changed as needed. Furthermore, a clamp or the like can be provided on the service line 66 as needed. Note that the service lines 66, such as the drug administration line, replacement fluid line, and pressure monitor line, can be provided separately from the drip chamber 52, and therefore the service line attachment portion 64 may not be provided.

[0049] The bottom member 58 is made of synthetic resin, metal, or the like, and has a generally cylindrical shape with a bottom. The top of the bottom member 58 has a larger diameter than the bottom, giving it a stepped cylindrical shape with a bottom. A blood outlet 70 is provided in the bottom wall of the bottom member 58, penetrating the center portion in the vertical direction. Furthermore, a cylindrical blood return tube attachment portion 72 that protrudes downward is provided on the periphery of the opening of the outlet 70.

[0050] A filter 74 for capturing foreign matter is attached to the inner periphery of the bottom member 58. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the filter 74 is shaped like an upside-down cup, with its wall surface made of mesh or lattice. The outer periphery of the lower end of the filter 74 is attached to the peripheral wall of the bottom member 58 around the entire periphery. As a result, the upper side of the blood outlet 70 provided in the bottom wall of the bottom member 58 is covered by the filter 74. The structure and material of the filter 74 are not limited as long as it is capable of capturing foreign matter such as thrombi, and it may be, for example, either a general mesh type or a cone type.

[0051] Drip chamber 52, which is prepared separately from connecting member 16, is attached to mounting portion 40 of connecting member 16, so that a drip chamber of conventional structure can be used. In particular, drip chamber 52 can adopt a conventional cylindrical structure without being made to have a distorted shape, so that excellent reliability can be achieved in terms of, for example, the resistance to the formation of blood clots.

[0052] The mounting portion 40 of the chamber holding portion 36 is provided at a position separated from the plate-shaped portion 20 in the thickness direction (left-right direction in FIG. 5 ) by a support portion 38 that protrudes in the thickness direction from the plate-shaped portion 20. This allows the drip chamber 52 to be located closer to the plate-shaped portion 20 in the left-right direction, thereby reducing the size of the blood circuit component 10 in the left-right direction where the pump tube 12 and the connecting tubes 14, 14 extend from the connecting member 16.

[0053] A dialyzer connection tube 76 is connected to the dialyzer connection tube attachment part 62, and a dialyzer connection connector 77 connected to a dialyzer 90 (described later) is provided at the end of the dialyzer connection tube 76. A blood return tube 78 is connected to the blood return tube attachment part 72. Furthermore, a service line 66 is connected to the service line attachment part 64.

[0054] The blood circuit component 10 thus constructed constitutes a blood circuit 82 of a dialysis machine 80, as shown in Figure 2. The dialysis machine 80 is composed of a dialysis machine main body 84 and a blood circuit 82. In Figure 2, the blood circuit component 10 is shown by a solid line, and the parts of the dialysis machine 80 other than the blood circuit component 10 are shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0055] The dialysis device main body 84 is a device that performs, for example, pressure detection within the blood circuit 82, control of drug administration to the blood circuit 82, and control of the blood pump 86 described below.

[0056] The blood circuit component 10 is fixedly and detachably mounted to the dialysis device main body 84 by the fixing parts 32, 32. The blood circuit component 10 is mounted with its back side (left side in FIG. 4) overlapping the dialysis device main body 84. The mounting surface of the blood circuit component 10 on the dialysis device main body 84 may be inclined in the vertical or horizontal direction. When the mounting surface is inclined in the vertical direction, the drip chamber 52 is mounted in a pre-inclined state with respect to the connecting member 16 so that it does not tilt when mounted to the dialysis device main body 84.

[0057] The dialysis device main body 84 is equipped with a blood pump 86. The blood pump 86 is a typical roller pump and is equipped with a rotating rotor 88. While Fig. 2 shows the rotor 88 equipped with two roller heads, the number of roller heads may be one, or three or more.

[0058] The pump tube 12 of the blood circuit component 10 attached to the dialysis device main body 84 is attached to the blood pump 86 so that the curved portion extends around the rotor 88 of the blood pump 86.

[0059] As the rotor 88 of the blood pump 86 rotates, it is pressed against the pump tube 12, partially crushing the pump tube 12. As the rotor 88 rotates while crushing the pump tube 12, blood in the pump tube 12 is pushed out and flows in the longitudinal direction on one side of the longitudinal direction of the pump tube 12 relative to the portion crushed by the rotor 88. Furthermore, on the other longitudinal direction of the pump tube 12 relative to the portion crushed by the rotor 88, the pump tube 12 restores its shape due to the release of the crushing, and blood is introduced into the pump tube 12. As described above, the blood pump 86 has the function of introducing blood from the patient's artery into the pump tube 12 and sending the blood toward the dialyzer 90.

[0060] The blood circuit component 10, with the pump tube 12 attached to the blood pump 86, is connected to a dialyzer 90 to form a blood circuit 82. The dialyzer 90 is connected to the arterial and venous sides of the blood circuit 82, as well as to a dialysate supply line and discharge line (not shown). Blood collected from a patient's artery and introduced into the dialyzer 90 through the arterial side of the blood circuit 82 comes into indirect contact with the dialysate introduced into the dialyzer 90 via a dialysis membrane, whereby waste products such as urea are discharged into the dialysate by ultrafiltration, thereby being purified. The purified blood is sent to the venous side of the blood circuit 82 and returned to the patient's veins.

[0061] The arterial side of the blood circuit 82 connected to the dialyzer 90 includes connecting tubes 14, 14, cylindrical portions 18, 18, and a pump tube 12. One connecting tube 14 is connected to the upstream side (arterial side) of the dialyzer 90. The other connecting tube 14 has a blood collection connector 46 that is connected to a sheath or the like inserted into the patient's artery.

[0062] The venous side of the blood circuit 82 connected to the dialyzer 90 is equipped with a drip chamber 52. The dialyzer connection tube 76 connected to the dialyzer connection tube attachment part 62 of the drip chamber 52 is connected to the downstream side (venous side) of the dialyzer 90. The end of the blood return tube 78 connected to the blood return tube attachment part 72 of the drip chamber 52 is provided with a blood return connector 92 to be connected to a sheath or the like inserted into the patient's vein.

[0063] Therefore, both the arterial side and the venous side of the blood circuit 82 connected to the dialyzer 90 are provided in the blood circuit component 10. The blood circuit component 10, which includes the tubes 12, 14, 76, 78 and the lines 48, 50, 66 connected to the connecting member 16 and the drip chamber 52 held by the connecting member 16, is connected to the blood pump 86, the dialyzer 90, an infusion bag, a syringe, etc., thereby forming the blood circuit 82 of the dialysis device 80. In the blood circuit 82, the communicating passages 22, 22 (cylindrical portions 18, 18) of the connecting member 16 and the pump tube 12 and connecting tubes 14, 14 connected to the communicating passages 22, 22 are located on the arterial side, and the drip chamber 52 is located on the venous side.

[0064] The plurality of tubes 12, 14, 76, 78, lines 48, 50, 66, and drip chamber 52 are collectively connected to the connecting member 16 in advance and provided as a single unit as the blood circuit component 10. This makes it easy to handle the plurality of tubes 12, 14, 76, 78 and lines 48, 50, 66.

[0065] The drip chamber 52 is removably attached to the chamber holder 36 of the connecting member 16. Therefore, for example, if a foreign object such as a blood clot clogs the filter 74 of the drip chamber 52, causing blood flow to stagnate, the drip chamber 52 can be removed from the chamber holder 36 and the filter 74 can be shaken to clear the clog. Furthermore, during priming before the start of dialysis, the removed drip chamber 52 can be shaken to expel air. Because the drip chamber 52 can be removed from the chamber holder 36 while the blood circuit 82 remains configured, it can also be removed from the chamber holder 36 as needed during dialysis.

[0066] The cylindrical portions 18, 18 each have a tapered portion 28, and the passage cross-sectional area of ​​the communicating passages 22, 22, which are the inner lumens of the cylindrical portions 18, 18, becomes smaller toward the downstream side at the tapered portions 28, 28. This makes it easier to maintain the flow rate of blood pushed by the blood pump 86 from the pump tube 12 toward the connecting tube 14 up to a position farther away from the blood pump 86.

[0067] Furthermore, the drug solution administration line 50 is connected to the tapered portions 28, 28, and merges with the communicating passages 22, 22 in the portion where the blood flow velocity is sufficiently high. Therefore, the drug solution flowing from the drug solution administration line 50 into the communicating passage 22 is quickly diffused into the blood flowing through the communicating passages 22, 22.

[0068] 9 and 10 show a blood circuit component 100 as a second embodiment of the present invention. The blood circuit component 100 has a structure in which a pump tube 12 and connecting tubes 14, 14 are connected to a connecting member 102. In the following description, components and parts that are substantially the same as those in other embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0069] The connecting member 102 has a structure in which cylindrical portions 104, 104 are interconnected by a plate-like portion 20. The cylindrical portion 104 has a pump tube mounting portion 24 and a connection tube mounting portion 26 at both ends. A tapered portion 106 is provided between the pump tube mounting portion 24 and the connection tube mounting portion 26, and the diameter gradually decreases from the pump tube mounting portion 24 to the connection tube mounting portion 26. In this embodiment, the end of the tapered portion 106 on the connection tube mounting portion 26 side is curved in a substantially quarter-circular arc shape, and the connection tube mounting portion 26 connected to the end of the tapered portion 106 extends in the vertical direction. Therefore, the connection tubes 14, 14 connected to the connection tube mounting portions 26, 26 extend outward in opposite directions in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the connection tube mounting portion 26 has substantially the same diameter as the end of the tapered portion 106. In addition, in this embodiment, a reinforcing protrusion 107 is formed between the fixing portions 32, 32 of the plate-shaped portion 20, which suppresses flexural deformation of the plate-shaped portion 20, thereby stabilizing attachment and fixation to the dialysis device main body 84.

[0070] A peripheral wall portion 109 of the drip chamber 108 is integrally formed with the plate-like portion 20 of the connecting member 102. The peripheral wall portion 109 is generally cylindrical, and the plate-like portion 20 extends outward in the left-right direction beyond the cylindrical portions 104, 104 and is provided continuously along a portion of the circumferential direction. The plate-like portion 20 is integrally formed and connected to the peripheral wall portion 109 at the center of the peripheral wall portion 109 in the thickness direction of the plate-like portion 20. This makes the connecting member 102, including the peripheral wall portion 109, symmetrical on both sides. Furthermore, the thickness of the connecting member 102, including the peripheral wall portion 109, is relatively small.

[0071] The drip chamber 108 is formed by attaching the lid member 56 to the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 109 and attaching a bottom member 58 equipped with a filter (not shown) to the lower end of the peripheral wall portion 109. The lid member 56, which has a port (inlet) formed on its side for allowing liquid such as blood to flow in, is fixed to the peripheral wall portion 109. Air bubbles tend to accumulate in the peripheral wall portion 109, and blood clots form in areas with low fluidity. However, the inflowing liquid flows along the inner surface of the peripheral wall portion 109, making it easy to flush out air bubbles and less likely to cause blood clots. In particular, if the port for liquid inflow is located in the lid member 56, the liquid will flow easily at the joint between the lid member 56 and the peripheral wall portion 109, effectively preventing stagnation. The peripheral wall portion 109 is molded integrally with the connecting member 102 and separately from the lid member 56. In manufacturing the blood circuit component 100, the flexible tube and the cover member 56 are simply assembled around the connecting member 102, facilitating automation of manufacturing. Furthermore, the peripheral wall portion 109 has a cylindrical shape, unlike the plate-like portion 20, which improves blood flow within the drip chamber 108. Therefore, both ease of automation of manufacturing and good blood flow within the drip chamber 108 are achieved. In particular, it is preferable for the cover member 56 to be softer than the peripheral wall portion 109, as this facilitates adhesion during manufacturing. Furthermore, the drip chamber 108 is integrally formed with the connecting member 102, preventing the drip chamber 108 from accidentally falling off the connecting member 102. The effort of attaching the drip chamber 108 to the connecting member 102 is also eliminated. The peripheral wall portion 109, a component of the drip chamber 108, is integrally formed with the connecting member 102, reducing the number of parts and simplifying the structure.

[0072] Furthermore, because the connecting member 102 has a symmetrical shape, it can be attached to the dialysis machine main body 84 and used regardless of the position of the blood pump 86 in the dialysis machine main body 84. That is, when the rotor 88 of the blood pump 86 is positioned on the right side of the curved portion of the pump tube 12, the connecting member 102 is attached to the dialysis machine main body 84 in the orientation shown in FIG. 10, in which the pump tube 12 extends to the left. On the other hand, when the rotor 88 of the blood pump 86 is positioned on the left side of the curved portion of the pump tube 12, the connecting member 102 is attached to the dialysis machine main body 84 in the orientation shown in FIG. 11, in which the pump tube 12 extends to the right. As a result, regardless of whether the rotor 88 of the blood pump 86 is positioned on the left or right side of the curved portion of the pump tube 12, it is possible to attach the pump tube 12 to the blood pump 86 and connect the connecting tube 14 to the dialyzer 90 for use.

[0073] Preferably, the fixing parts 32, 32 of the connecting member 102 have a shape that is rotationally symmetrical by 180° about a central axis extending in the vertical direction. This allows the shape of the fixing parts 32, 32 to remain unchanged when the connecting member 102 is used while being rotated 180° about the central axis extending in the vertical direction, and allows the fixing structure to the fixing parts 32, 32 in the dialysis machine main body 84 to be standardized.

[0074] The drip chamber 108 of this embodiment is not symmetrical from front to back due to the arrangement of the inlet 60, but regardless of whether the connecting member 102 is attached to the dialysis machine main body 84 in either the front or back orientation, the inlet 60 opens to either the left or right side, so there is no problem with connecting the dialyzer connection tube 76. Therefore, a common drip chamber 108 can be used regardless of the orientation of the connecting member 102 attached to the dialysis machine main body 84.

[0075] In the present embodiment, an example has been shown in which peripheral wall portion 109 of drip chamber 108 is integrally formed with connecting member 16, but being integrally formed with peripheral wall portion 109 is not limited to being integrally formed with connecting member 16. For example, peripheral wall portion 109 formed separately from connecting member 16 may be integrally formed with connecting member 16 by being irremovably fixed to connecting member 16 by means of welding, adhesive, or the like.

[0076] 12 and 13 show a blood circuit component 110 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The blood circuit component 110 has a structure in which a pump tube 12 and connecting tubes 14, 14 are connected to a connecting member 112.

[0077] The connecting member 112 has a structure in which the cylindrical portions 18, 18 are attached to a plate-shaped base member 114. The base member 114 is shaped like a substantially rectangular plate. The base member 114 is formed, for example, from a synthetic resin, and is preferably softer than the drip chamber 52, making it easier to assemble the drip chamber 52. The base member 114 is fixedly but removably attached to the dialysis machine main body 84. A pair of grooves 116, 116 extending in the left-right direction are formed in the base member 114, spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction. The cylindrical portions 18, 18 are inserted into the grooves 116, 116 and fixed by fitting, adhesive, or the like, thereby forming the connecting member 112 integrally provided with a communication passage. The grooves 116, 116 branch outward in the up-down direction at their intermediate portions, and the sub-line mounting portions 30, 30 provided on the cylindrical portions 18, 18 are inserted into the branched portions.

[0078] The ends of the tubular portions 18, 18 are connected to both ends of the pump tube 12 and one end of each of the connecting tubes 14, 14, and the sub-line mounting portions 30, 30 are connected to one end of each of the fluid replacement line 48 and the drug administration line 50.

[0079] One corner of base member 114 is provided with chamber holder 118, which is thicker than the other portions and protrudes toward the surface. Chamber holder 118 is provided with chamber fitting groove 120 extending in the vertical direction, and drip chamber 52 is attached to base member 114 by fitting peripheral wall portion 54 of drip chamber 52 into chamber fitting groove 120. Drip chamber 52 is detachably attached to chamber holder 118 of base member 114. Note that chamber holder 118 is provided in the portion where groove 116 is formed, and thus groove 116 is provided so as to open to the surface of chamber holder 118.

[0080] According to such a blood circuit component 110, the connecting member 112, which collectively connects the arterial side and the venous side of the blood circuit 82, is realized using a base member 114 of a simple structure having grooves 116, 116 and a chamber fitting groove 120 formed on its surface.

[0081] 12, the blood circuit component 110 of this embodiment does not include the dialyzer connecting tube 76, the blood return tube 78, the service line 66, etc., which are connected to the drip chamber 52. However, the blood circuit component 110 may include at least one of the tubes 76, 78 and the service line 66.

[0082] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific descriptions. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the sub-lines, i.e., the fluid replacement line 48 and the drug solution administration line 50, extend vertically perpendicular to the thickness direction of the plate-shaped portion 20. However, the sub-lines 48, 50 may extend in the thickness direction of the plate-shaped portion 20, as in the case of the connecting member 142 of the blood circuit component 140 shown in FIG. 14 . When the chamber holder 36 protrudes from the plate-shaped portion 20 to one side in the thickness direction, as in the case of the connecting member 142, the sub-lines 48, 50 desirably extend on the side of the plate-shaped portion 20 where the chamber holder 36 protrudes. Furthermore, in the structure shown in FIG. 14 , to prevent the sub-lines 48, 50 from becoming bent, the blood circuit component 140 is preferably packaged with the sub-lines 48, 50 arranged along or wrapped around the cylindrical drip chamber 52.

[0083] The blood circuit component according to the present invention does not necessarily include sub-lines such as the fluid replacement line 48 and the drug administration line 50. The fluid replacement line 48 and the drug administration line 50 can be replaced by, for example, a T-shaped tube separately provided in the drip chamber 52 or the tube 14.

[0084] In the above embodiment, the connecting tube 14 is directly connected to the dialyzer 90 via the connector 44, but for example, the connecting tube 14 and the dialyzer 90 may be indirectly connected via an intermediate tube. Similarly, an intermediate tube may be provided between the connecting tube 14 and the blood collection connector 46, or the dialyzer connecting tube 76 and the blood return tube 78 may have a divided structure consisting of multiple tubes connected in series.

[0085] In the first to third embodiments, a plate-shaped connecting member was employed. However, the connecting member can have any shape, as long as it fixes the position of the flexible tube. For example, it may be rod-shaped. In the first and second embodiments, the tubular portion 18, to which the pump tube 12 and the pair of connecting tubes 14, 14 are connected, is integrally formed as the same member as the plate-shaped portion 20. However, for example, the plate-shaped portion and the tubular portion may be separate members. The pump tube 12 and the connecting tube 14 may be directly fixed to the plate-shaped portion without the use of the tubular portion. The shape of the connecting member in the third embodiment may be modified as appropriate. For example, a drip chamber holder, as shown in the first embodiment, may be provided on a connecting member attached to the outside of a tube forming a flow path, as disclosed in JP 2010-190062 A. In the embodiments, the connecting member with the communication passage is located on the venous side, and the drip chamber is located on the arterial side. However, this may be reversed.

[0086] 12 and 13, the cylindrical portion 18 is fixed to the base member 114 to form a communication passage connected to the pump tube 12, thereby forming the communication passage integral with the connecting member 112. However, the cylindrical portion 18 does not have to be fixed to the base member 114. For example, a tube member connected to the pump tube 12 (pump tube portion) via the connecting tube 14 (connecting tube portion) directly or via the cylindrical portion 18 may be held by the base member 114 as a separate holding member at both ends of the tube member extending longitudinally from the pump tube 12. In this manner, the pump tube 12 and the drip chamber 52 can be consolidated by simply assembling the circuit forming the flow path to the connecting member or holding member after manufacturing the circuit, and the pump tube 12 and the drip chamber 52 can be fixed in position relative to the dialysis machine main body 84 by simply assembling the connecting member or holding member to the dialysis machine main body 84. In addition, in the third embodiment, a similar effect can be obtained by manufacturing a circuit that forms a flow path by connecting the pump tube 12 and the connecting tubes 14, 14 with the cylindrical portions 18, 18, and then attaching the circuit to the base member 114 to form the connecting member 112.

[0087] As a mode in which the pump tube 12 and the connecting tube 14 are assembled to the connecting member 16, for example, the pump tube 12 and the connecting tube 14 may both be directly attached to the connecting member 16 by adhesive bonding, fitting, or the like. Alternatively, for example, one of the pump tube 12 and the connecting tube 14 may be directly attached to the connecting member 16, and the other of the tubes 12, 14 may be indirectly attached to the connecting member 16, thereby assembling the tubes 12, 14 to the connecting member 16. Furthermore, for example, a cylindrical portion 18 that connects the pump tube 12 and the connecting tube 14 in a mutually communicating state may be directly attached to the connecting member 16, thereby assembling the tubes 12, 14 to the connecting member 16 indirectly.

[0088] The cylindrical portions 18, 18 do not have to extend substantially parallel to each other, and for example, they can be provided at an angle to each other. Furthermore, the cylindrical portions 18, 18 can have different shapes, for example, different cross-sectional shapes, inner and outer diameters, length dimensions, etc. Therefore, the communicating passages 22, 22 can be parallel to each other, or can be inclined or intersecting with each other, and the shape of the flow passage length direction is not limited to being linear but can also be curved, etc.

[0089] The cylindrical portions 18, 18 are preferably transparent or semi-transparent so that the communication passages 22, 22 can be seen from the outside, but may also be opaque. Similarly, the multiple tubes 12, 14, 76, 78 and lines 48, 50, 66 that make up the blood circuit 82 may be transparent or opaque.

[0090] In the first embodiment, by making the fixing parts 32, 32 fixed to the dialysis machine main body 84 symmetrical relative to each other in the vertical direction, the connecting member 16 can also be made symmetrical relative to a plane extending perpendicular to the vertical direction. This allows the connecting member 16 to be easily adapted to either the left or right side of the curved portion of the pump tube 12, by rotating it 180° around the central axis extending in the thickness direction of the plate-like part 20 as needed. Even if the connecting member does not have a 180° rotational symmetry or a front-to-back symmetry, it can still be adapted to either the left or right side of the curved portion of the pump tube 12, in which case the rotor 88 of the blood pump 86 is positioned in the horizontal direction. Specifically, for example, even if the fixing parts 32, 32 have different structures, the connecting member can be rotated 180° for use as long as the connecting member can be attached to the dialysis machine main body 84 in the direction of use of the blood circuit assembly. Furthermore, even if the shapes of the sub-line mounting portions 30, 30 are different from each other, there is no problem as long as they can be connected to an infusion bag or a syringe filled with a medicinal solution, so the connecting member can be rotated 180 degrees and used.

[0091] Furthermore, if the fixing portions 32, 32 of the connecting member 16 are shaped to be rotationally symmetrical by 180° with respect to the central axis extending in the thickness direction of the plate-shaped portion 20, the fixing structure of the fixing portions 32, 32 in the dialysis device main body 84 can be made common when the connecting member 16 is rotated 180° and used in the opposite direction.

[0092] The chamber holder does not have to be provided integrally with the connecting member, and for example, a chamber holder formed separately may be provided and fixed to the connecting member.

[0093] In the first embodiment, an example was shown in which drip chamber 52 was detachably attached by being fitted into chamber holder 36, but the method for detachably attaching drip chamber 52 to chamber holder 36 is not particularly limited. Specifically, for example, drip chamber 52 can also be detachably attached by hooking it onto chamber holder 36. Also, drip chamber 52 can be detachably held by chamber holder 36 by, for example, fastening drip chamber 52 to chamber holder 36 with a band, or by making attachment portion 40 of chamber holder 36 cylindrical by combining two separably semi-cylindrical parts.

[0094] The drip chamber is preferably a spiral type in which blood flows horizontally as in the above embodiment, but may also be a vertical inflow type in which blood flows vertically, or may have a cross section other than a circular one, such as a rectangular one. In the above embodiment, only the drip chamber 52 on the blood return side (venous side) of the dialyzer 90 is provided, and the drip chamber on the blood collection side (arterial side) is omitted to reduce the priming volume. However, additional drip chambers can be provided on the blood collection side or the blood return side to achieve more advanced removal of foreign matter. If an additional drip chamber is provided, the additional drip chamber may be attached to the connecting member 16 or may be provided separately from the connecting member 16.

[0095] The pump tube 12 does not need to have a substantially constant cross-sectional shape over its entire length, and may include portions with different cross-sectional shapes, outer diameters, inner diameters, etc. along its length. Similarly, the connection tube 14 does not need to have a substantially constant cross-sectional shape over its entire length, and may include portions with different cross-sectional shapes, outer diameters, inner diameters, etc. along its length. Furthermore, the pair of connection tubes 14, 14 are not necessarily limited to the same shape, and may have different cross-sectional shapes, outer diameters, inner diameters, length, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 10,100,110,140 Blood circuit components 12 Pump tubing 14 Connecting tube 16,102,112,142 Connecting members 18,104 Cylindrical part 20 Plate-shaped part 22 Communication path 24 Pump tube attachment 26 Connection tube attachment part 28,106 Tapered section 30 Sub-line mounting part 32 Fixed part 34 Hole 36 Chamber holder 38 Support part 40 Mounting part 42 Reinforcing rib 44 Dialyzer connector 46 Blood collection connector 47 Fluid replacement line 48 Fluid replacement line 50 Drug administration line 52,108 Drip Chamber 54,109 Peripheral wall part 56 Lid member 58 Bottom member 60 Inlet 62 Dialyzer connection tube attachment 64 Service line attachment point 66 Service Line 70 Outlet 72 Blood return tube attachment 74 filters 76 Dialyzer connection tube 77 Dialyzer connector 78 Blood return tube 80 Dialysis machine 82 Blood circuit 84 Dialysis machine body 86 Blood Pump 88 rotor 90 Dialyzer 92 Blood return connector 107 Projection part 114 Base material 116 Groove 118 Chamber holder 120 Chamber fitting groove

Claims

1. A pump tube attached to a blood pump of a dialysis device, A pair of connection tubes communicating with the pump tube, A connecting member assembled to the pump tube and each of the connection tubes, A drip chamber having a cylindrical peripheral wall portion, a blood inlet, a blood outlet, and a filter for removing foreign matter, and the blood flowing in from the inlet flows in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall portion in a spiral manner or vertically in the vertical direction which is the longitudinal direction of the peripheral wall portion is included, The connecting member is a blood circuit component provided with or integrally provided with a chamber holding portion to which the drip chamber is detachably attached.

2. The blood circuit component according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall portion of the drip chamber is formed of a material softer than the connecting member, and the drip chamber is detachably attached to the connecting member.

3. The connecting member includes a portion forming a pair of communication paths that communicate each end of the pump tube with each of the connection tubes, and a plate-like portion that connects the portions forming the pair of communication paths to each other. The chamber holding portion includes a support portion protruding in the thickness direction from the plate-like portion, and a mounting portion provided on the support portion to which the drip chamber is attached. The blood circuit component according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The chamber holding portion has a chamber fitting groove into which the peripheral wall portion of the drip chamber is fitted. The blood circuit component according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The blood circuit component according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall portion of the drip chamber is integrally formed with the connecting member.

6. The connecting member has pump tube attachment portions to which each end of the pump tube is connected, and connection tube attachment portions to which each of the connection tubes is connected. Each of the connection tube attachment portions extends outward in opposite directions in the vertical direction which is the longitudinal direction of the peripheral wall portion of the drip chamber. The blood circuit component according to claim 5.

7. The pump tube is provided and usable in the dialysis device in a direction located on one side, left or right, of the connecting member, and The blood circuit component according to claim 6, wherein the pump tube is also provided and usable in the dialysis device in the reverse direction located on the other side, left or right, of the connecting member.

8. A pump tube attached to a blood pump of a dialysis device, a pair of connection tubes communicated with the pump tube, a connecting member assembled to the pump tube and each of the connection tubes, a drip chamber for removing foreign matter, and comprising: the drip chamber is provided in the connecting member, the pump tube is provided in the dialysis device in a direction located on one side (left or right) of the connecting member and can be used, and a blood circuit structure that can also be provided in the dialysis device and used in the reverse direction where the pump tube is located on the other side (left or right) of the connecting member.

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