Granted Patent B2

US 8,153,008 · App. 10/514,634 · Granted Apr 10, 2012

Abstract

Claims (35)

1. A device for filtering blood comprising:

a filter unit in connection with an inlet for blood to be filtered and being connectable to an artery of a patient through an inlet nipple and a blood outlet for filtered blood and being connectable to a vein of the patient through an outlet nipple, the filter unit further comprising closed ends in inlet and outlet regions of the filter unit which are connected to the inlet nipple and the outlet nipple, and

a filtrate container for receiving filtrate passing through the filter unit during a filtering process, said filtrate container enclosing the filter unit,

the filtrate container being a closed container and, in a filled state, the filtrate container establishes a counter-pressure over the filter unit so that the filtering process is interrupted,

the filtrate container including a substantially rigid vessel for collecting filtrate and an air vent for allowing the escape of air from the vessel during a filtering process.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the air vent comprises an air permeable, liquid non-permeable membrane.

3. A method for filtering blood of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a filter unit having an inlet and an outlet, and a filtrate container enclosing said filter unit in an upper portion of the filtrate container for receiving filtrate passing through the filter unit during a filtering process, wherein the filter unit further comprises closed ends in inlet and outlet regions of the filter unit which are connected to an inlet nipple and an outlet nipple;

connecting the filter unit inlet to an artery of the patient and the filter unit outlet to a vein of the patient;

providing sufficient pressure difference for driving a portion of a liquid component of the blood through the filter unit to form a filtrate;

collecting the filtrate in at least a lower portion of the filtrate container;

discharging remaining components of the blood via the filter unit outlet; and

interrupting or stopping the filtering process when a counter pressure over the filter unit is established in the filtrate container.

4. A method for filtering blood of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a filter unit having an inlet and an outlet, and a filtrate container enclosing said filter unit for receiving filtrate passing through the filter unit during a filtering process, wherein the filter unit further comprises closed ends in inlet and outlet regions of the filter unit which are connected to an inlet nipple and an outlet nipple;

connecting the filter unit inlet to an artery of the patient and the filter unit outlet to a vein of the patient;

providing sufficient pressure difference for driving a portion of a liquid component of the blood through the filter unit to form a filtrate;

collecting the filtrate in the filtrate container;

discharging remaining components of the blood via the filter unit outlet; and

interrupting or stopping the filtering process when a counter pressure over the filter unit is established in the filtrate container, the filtrate container including a substantially rigid vessel for collecting filtrate and an air vent for allowing the escape of air from the vessel during the filtering process.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the air vent comprises an air permeable, liquid non-permeable membrane.

6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the filtrate container includes a flexible and expandable container that is collapsed in an empty state.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the flexible and expandable container is enclosed in a substantially rigid outer container.

8. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the filter unit comprises a substantially tubular filter body.

9. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the filter unit is an ultra filtration filter.

10. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the filtrate container has a filtration volume of about 0.2-1 liter.

11. The method according to claim 3 , wherein an implanted bloodstream access device is provided for connecting with said inlet and outlet of the filter unit.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the above steps are performed to partially replace a hemodialysis treatment.

13. A method for filtering blood of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a filter unit having an inlet with an inlet nipple and an outlet with an outlet nipple, and a closed filtrate container enclosing said filter unit for receiving filtrate passing through the filter unit during a filtering process, wherein the filter unit further comprises closed ends in inlet and outlet regions of the filter unit which are connected to the inlet nipple and the outlet nipple;

connecting the filter unit inlet to an artery of the patient and the filter unit outlet to a vein of the patient;

providing sufficient pressure difference in the filter unit for driving a portion of a liquid component of the blood through the filter unit to form a filtrate;

collecting the filtrate in the closed filtrate container;

discharging remaining components of the blood via the filter unit outlet; and

interrupting the filtering process through the filter unit when a counter pressure over the filter unit is established in the filtrate container.

Assignments (9)