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  Method of operating a dialysis machineRelated Patent Categories: Liquid Purification Or Separation, Flow, Fluid Pressure Or Material Level, Responsive, Proportionate Feed MeansThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060237351. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a method of priming or rinse back of an extracorporeal circuit using a dialysis machine. The invention further relates to a dialysis machine comprising means for preparing a saline solution. BACKGROUND ART [0002] Physiological saline solution (about 9 mg/ml=154 mmol/l) is typically used to prime the extra corporeal circuit before a dialysis patient is connected to the dialysis equipment and to rinse back the blood from the extracorporeal circuit after a dialysis treatment. The purpose of priming the circuit is to remove air from the blood lines and the dialyser as well as to remove possible fragments of remaining sterilising agents or other residuals from the disposables elements, such as bloodlines and dialysers that form the extracorporeal circuit, before the patient is connected. Rinse back is performed to avoid loss of patient blood that would otherwise remain in the extracorporeal circuit. [0003] The conventional way of doing this is to use for instance a 2 liters bag of physiological saline solution of which 1.5 liters is used for priming of the circuit and 0.5 liters is used for rinse back of the blood to the patient after the treatment. [0004] Modern dialysis equipment can perform so called on-line treatments, which means that the substitution fluid for hemofiltration or hemodiafiltration is prepared on-line by means of ultrafiltration of dialysis fluid in several steps to obtain a sterile and pyrogen free fluid. [0005] On-line prepared substitution fluid can be prepared in practically unlimited quantities which means that this fluid also can be used for priming, bolus and rinse back purposes which also is cost saving and convenient from a handling point of view. [0006] However, substitution fluid has to contain a high concentration of bicarbonate. Infusing priming liquid with this volume and composition into the patient often causes problems, e.g. not well feeling. This problem is known from "Gambro AK 200 ULTRA.TM. operator's manual HCEN9568. Rev 12.1999 and cautioned for in all on-line systems. Clinics experiencing such problems often go back to priming with saline from bags. [0007] There is therefore a long felt need for a simple, cheap and practical manner of providing a priming solution. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [0008] On this background, it is the object of the present invention to provide a method of priming an extracorporeal circuit of the kind referred to initially, which overcomes the above-mentioned problem. This object is achieved in accordance with claim 1 by using a dialysis machine with separate sources of bicarbonate concentrate and sodium chloride concentrate and means to prepare a mix of the liquids from said source of water and said source of sodium chloride concentrate to obtain a saline solution and filling said extracorporeal circuit with said saline solution [0009] According to an embodiment of the invention the sodium chloride concentrate is prepared by dissolving solid sodium chloride in water. Preferably the arterial line is connected to the dialysis machine through an infusion line which preferably includes an ultrafilter. [0010] According to another embodiment the saline solution comprises minor amounts of other electrolytes and other components for the dialysis liquid, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, glucose with or without acid such as citric acid, hydrochloric acid and acetic acid. In yet another embodiment, the water from said source of water and/or said saline solution is passed through one or more ultrafilters for removal of bacteria and endotoxins. [0011] Advantageously an indication that the dialysis machine is ready for filling said extracorporeal circuit is provided. Preferably, the saline solution is substantially physiological with a sodium ion concentration about 154 mmol/l. [0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a dialysis machine that is capable of preparing a saline solution. This object is achieved in accordance with claim 11 by providing a dialysis machine with separate sources of bicarbonate concentrate and sodium chloride concentrate and means to prepare a mix of the liquids from said source of water and said source of sodium chloride concentrate to obtain a saline solution. [0013] According to an embodiment of the invention the dialysis machine comprises a conductivity cell downstream of said mixing point. Preferably, the dialysis machine further comprises means to adjust the mixing ratio of said water and said sodium chloride concentrate, preferably in response to a signal from the conductivity cell. [0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the dialysis machine further comprises an infusion line connected to the outlet of the dialysis machine, said infusion line preferably including an ultrafilter. Preferably, the dialysis machine further comprises at least one ultrafilter in the flow path of said water. [0015] Further objects, features, advantages and properties of the method and dialysis machine according to the invention will become apparent from the detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] In the following detailed portion of the present description, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a dialysis machine according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0017] The general term dialysis as used here includes hemodialysis, hemofiltration, hemodiafiltration and therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), among other similar treatment procedures. The general term dialyzer as used here includes hemofilters and hemodiafilters amongst other similar devices. [0018] The general term saline solution as used here includes any solution comprising saline, preferably a substantially physiological saline solution. In general, solutions comprising saline, described as substantially physiological saline solutions, are approved by the health and/or regulatory authorities in the country in which they are used. Therefore, these saline solutions comprising saline may differ somewhat in their composition in different countries, but a physiologically acceptable saline solution is always a solution that is physiological acceptable used, or when administered to a patient. An example of an acceptable physiological saline may be a solution comprised of about 0.85% salt and distilled water, this solution approximately, therefore, being equal to the salt content of blood serum and thereby able to maintain normal osmotic pressure in the body. The term saline solution as used here also includes in any solution containing minor amounts of other electrolytes and other components such as those normally used in preparing for the dialysis liquid, and can include, for example, potassium, calcium, magnesium, glucose and/or acid, as long as the solution remains substantially physiological: a typical solution with a sodium ion concentration may contain, for example, about 154 mmol/l. Deviations from this concentration in the range of 150 to 158 mmol/l are tolerable. [0019] In FIG. 1, a dialysis machine according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention includes a dialyser 50 having two compartments 51 and 52 that are separated by a semi-permeable membrane 54. The compartment 51 is connected to a circuit for convening a flow of blood outside the body of a patient comprising an upstream duct 80, usually referred to as arterial line, having a peristaltic pump 84 disposed therein, and a downstream duct 70, usually referred to as venous line. Venous line 70 is provided with a bubble trap 74 and the free ends of the ducts of the arterial and venous lines can be fitted respective needles or catheter connections to enable them to be connected to the vascular circuit of a patient. Continue reading... Full patent description for Method of operating a dialysis machine Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method of operating a dialysis machine patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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