System and method for controlling venous air recovery in a portable dialysis system
The present specification discloses a portable dialysis system comprising a mechanism that allows the user to accurately position an air bubble in a venous line, so that it can be safely removed. When an air bubble is detected, the system automatically runs the blood pump in a direction such that the air bubble is placed close to the extraction point on the venous line, from where it can safely be removed using a needleless syringe.
1. A portable dialysis system adapted to administer a hemodialysis treatment to a patient, the system comprising:
a first tube segment configured to carry blood from the patient;
a dialyzer;
a blood pump configured to draw blood through the first tube segment and pump the drawn blood to the dialyzer;
a second tube segment configured to transport purified blood from the dialyzer to the patient;
an air bubble detector positioned in relation to the second tube segment and configured to detect an air bubble in the second tube segment;
an extraction port located upstream relative to the air bubble detector, wherein the extraction port is adapted to remove the air bubble; and
a controller in communication with the air bubble detector and the blood pump, wherein the controller is configured to cause the blood pump to run in a reverse direction when an air bubble is detected, such that the air bubble is moved upstream towards the extraction port.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the blood pump is configured to run in a reverse direction for a time period in a range of 2 seconds to 15 seconds to cause the air bubble to move toward the dialyzer.
3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display with a Graphical User Interface (GUI).
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the GUI is configured to issue an alarm when the air bubble is detected by the air bubble detector.
5. The system of claim 3 , wherein when the air bubble is detected by the air bubble detector, the GUI is configured to display instructions for a user to remove the air bubble.
6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the GUI is configured to display a plurality of navigation buttons, wherein the plurality of navigation buttons are configured to enable a user to adjust a position of the air bubble for extraction from the extraction port.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein activating at least one of the plurality of navigation buttons causes the blood pump to run in a forward or reverse direction, such that the air bubble is moved downstream or upstream towards the extraction port.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to automatically run the blood pump in a reverse direction when the air bubble is detected.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the blood pump in a reverse direction in response to a user input, when the air bubble is detected.
10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a clamp to prevent air in the second tube segment from being returned to the patient.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the air bubble detector is positioned within a range of 10 to 20 cm upstream of the clamp.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air bubble detector is positioned within a range of 20 to 40 cm of the dialyzer.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the extraction port is located within a range of 10 to 20 cm of the air bubble detector.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the extraction port is located within a range of 10 to 20 cm of the dialyzer.
15. In a portable dialysis system adapted to administer a hemodialysis treatment to a patient and comprising a blood pump, an extraction port, and venous blood line, a method for removing an air bubble from the venous blood line, the method comprising:
detecting the air bubble in the venous blood line using an air bubble detector;
issuing an alarm using a graphical user interface;
causing the blood pump to run in a reverse direction such that the air bubble is placed close to the extraction port;
receiving input to confirm that the air bubble has been successfully extracted; and
resuming the hemodialysis treatment when the air bubble has been successfully extracted.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising displaying a plurality of navigation buttons on the graphical user interface based upon a user selecting an option, presented via the graphical user interface, of recovering the air bubble.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of navigation buttons is configured to adjust a position of the air bubble for extraction from the extraction port.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein activating a forward navigation button of the plurality of navigation buttons causes the blood pump to run in a forward direction such that the air bubble is moved downstream towards the extraction port.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein activating a reverse navigation button of the plurality of navigation buttons causes the blood pump to run in a reverse direction such that the air bubble is moved upstream towards the extraction port.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein, upon running the blood pump in the reverse direction, the blood pump operates for a first period of time, wherein the first period of time is in a range of 2-15 seconds, and at a rate, wherein the rate is in a range of 20-60 ml/min.
21. The method of claim 15 , further comprising prompting a user of the portable dialysis system to select between recovering the air bubble or discontinuing treatment.
22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising receiving a selection of recovering the air bubble or discontinuing treatment.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the input to confirm that the air bubble has been successfully extracted is received from the user via the graphical user interface.