Tapered tubing for use in extracorporeal circuit for peripheral vein fluid removal
A tapered extracorporeal blood tube having at least a first end of the tube with a large diameter, a narrow diameter section of the tube, and a tapered tube transition section between the first end and the narrow section. The tapered blood tube reduces the overall blood flow volume in the circuit.
1 . An extracorporeal blood tube comprising:
a first end of the tube having a first inside diameter,
a narrow section of the tube having a second inside diameter substantially narrower than the first inside diameter, and
a tapered tube transition section between the first end and the narrow section.
2 . An extracorporeal blood circuit as in claim 1 wherein the narrow section is a center tube section.
3 . An extracorporeal blood circuit as in claim 1 further comprising a second end having an inside diameter substantially greater than the second inside diameter.
4 . An extracorporeal blood circuit as in claim 1 wherein the transition section is no greater than twelve inches in length.
5 . An extracorporeal blood circuit as in claim 1 wherein a wall thickness of the tube is substantially constant along an entire length of the tube.
6 . An extracorporeal blood circuit as in claim 1 wherein the second inside diameter is at least 0.060 inch.
7 . An extracorporeal blood circuit as in claim 1 further comprising a pump section having a third inside diameter larger than the first inside diameter.
8 . An extracorporeal blood circuit as in claim 1 further comprising a pump section having a third inside diameter larger than the second inside diameter.
9 . An extracorporeal blood circuit as in claim 1 wherein the first end is connectable to a connector.