Apparatus and method for the treatment of blood

1. A blood treatment method for the simultaneous extrarenal blood purification therapy and respiration support therapy, comprising:

providing a blood purification circuit connected to a patient's cardiocirculatory system by two blood feed conduits, the circuit comprising:

a first conduit for receiving blood from the patient's cardiocirculatory system and supplying blood to the blood purification circuit,

a second conduit in communication with a patient's vein to feed purified blood back into the patient's cardiocirculatory system,

a filtering means, comprising a first inlet for receiving blood for purification in communication with the blood purification circuit, and a first outlet for expelling purified blood,

a CO 2 removing means, comprising a first inlet for receiving a flow of blood for CO 2 removal and a first outlet for expelling blood deprived of CO 2 , and

a drain channel for directing a diluting liquid separated from the purified blood by the filtering means to the CO 2 removing means, wherein the drain channel is directly connected to the first inlet of the CO 2 removing means,

directing blood through the filtering means;

directing blood through the CO 2 removing means; and

supplying the diluting liquid to the CO 2 removing means through the drain channel which is directly connected to the first inlet of the CO 2 removing means.

2. The blood treatment method of claim 1 , wherein the first outlet of the CO 2 removing means is connected to the first inlet of the filtering means to supply to the filtering means blood deprived of CO 2 .

3. The blood treatment method of claim 1 , further comprising a pump for supplying the diluting liquid to the CO 2 removing means at a flow rate of about 53 ml/min.

4. The blood treatment method of claim 1 , further comprising a pump for pumping the blood within the blood purification circuit at a flow rate of about 350 ml/min.

5. The blood treatment method of claim 1 , further comprising a pump for supplying the diluting liquid to the CO 2 removing means at a flow rate of about 53 ml/min, and a pump for pumping the blood within the blood purification circuit at a flow rate of about 350 ml/min.

6. A blood treatment unit for simultaneous extrarenal blood purification therapy and respiration support therapy, comprising:

CO 2 removing means comprising a first inlet for receiving a flow of blood for CO 2 removal, and a first outlet for expelling blood deprived of CO 2 ; and

filtering means comprising a first inlet for receiving the flow of blood, a first outlet for expelling purified blood, and at least one drain channel by which, in use, a diluting liquid obtained from the blood is expelled during purification of the blood;

wherein the drain channel is directly connected to the first inlet of the CO 2 removing means to supply the diluting liquid to the CO 2 removing means, without submitting the diluting liquid to any filtering treatment during passage along the drain channel.

7. The blood treatment unit of claim 6 , further comprising pumping means connecting the drain channel of the filtering means to the first inlet of the CO 2 removing means to pump the diluting liquid, obtained from the blood by the filtering means, to the CO 2 removing means.

8. The blood treatment unit of claim 6 , wherein the filtering means are at least partially integrated with the CO 2 removing means.

9. The blood treatment unit of claim 8 , wherein the CO 2 removing means further comprises an inner seat which houses the filtering means.

10. The blood treatment unit of claim 6 , wherein the CO 2 removing means further comprises a first casing having at least one membrane for removing CO 2 from the blood.

11. The blood treatment unit of claim 10 , wherein the CO 2 removing means further comprises a first casing having a plurality of membranes for removing CO 2 from the blood.

12. A blood treatment unit for simultaneous extrarenal blood purification therapy and respiration support therapy, comprising:

a CO 2 removing means, comprising a first inlet for receiving a flow of blood for CO 2 removal, and a first outlet for expelling blood deprived of CO 2 ;

a filtering means, comprising a first inlet for receiving a flow of blood for purification, and a first outlet for expelling purified blood, wherein the first outlet of the CO 2 removing means is connected to the first inlet of the filtering means to supply to the filtering means blood deprived of CO 2 , the filtering means further comprising at least one drain channel by which, in use, a diluting liquid obtained from the blood is expelled during purification of the blood, the drain channel being directed connected to the first inlet of the CO 2 removing means to supply the diluting liquid to the CO 2 removing means;

wherein the CO 2 removing means comprises an inner seat housing the filtering means, and a first casing having at least one membrane for removing CO 2 from the blood; and

wherein the filtering means comprises a second casing housed inside the first casing having at least one blood purifying membranes.

13. The blood treatment unit of claim 12 , wherein the first casing comprises a plurality of membranes for removing CO 2 from the blood.

14. The blood treatment unit of claim 13 , wherein the membranes for removing CO 2 from the blood are interposed between the first casing and the second casing.

15. The blood treatment unit of claim 13 , wherein the CO 2 removing means comprise a container internally defining the inner seat, interposed between the membranes for removing CO 2 from the blood and the second casing.

16. The blood treatment unit of claim 12 , wherein the second casing comprises a plurality of blood purifying membranes.