Extracorporeal blood treatment device for operation with a single patient connection and method for operation of an extracorporeal blood treatment device with a single patient connection

1. An extracorporeal blood treatment device for operation with a single patient connection, which is connected to an arterial blood line and a venous blood line of an extracorporeal blood circuit, the extracorporeal blood circuit further comprising a dialyzer having a blood chamber that is in fluid communication with the arterial blood line and the venous blood line, the blood treatment device comprising:

a blood pump;

a apparatus pressurized air system for conveying blood and comprising a vessel for collecting blood that flows through the venous blood line from a blood treatment unit, and an air compressor for establishing a pressure in the vessel for collecting blood, such that blood collected in the vessel for collecting blood flows to the single patient connection;

an arterial closure element for interrupting the flow of liquid in the arterial blood line;

a venous closure element for interrupting the flow of liquid in the venous blood line; and

a control unit for actuating the blood pump and the pressurized air system for conveying blood, and for actuating the arterial and venous closure elements, the control unit comprising a software program and a microprocessor on which the software program runs;

wherein the control unit is configured to actuate the blood pump, the air compressor for establishing a pressure in the vessel for collecting blood, the arterial closure element, and the venous closure element such that

in an arterial phase, the blood pump is operated with an open arterial closure element and a closed venous closure element, at a predetermined first delivery rate, such that blood flows at a predetermined first flow rate (Q (1)a ) from the single patient connection via the blood treatment unit into the vessel for collecting blood,

in a venous phase following the arterial phase, the blood pump is operated with an open arterial closure element and an open venous closure element at a predetermined second delivery rate, such that blood flows at a predetermined second flow rate (Q (1)v ) from the single patient connection via the blood treatment unit into the vessel for collecting blood,

in the venous phase, a pressure is established in the vessel for collecting blood with the air compressor for establishing a pressure in the vessel for collecting blood, such that blood flows at a predetermined third flow rate from the vessel for collecting blood to the single patient connection; and

the blood pump is continuously operated in both the arterial phase and the venous phase such that blood flows continuously through the blood chamber of the dialyzer;

wherein there is continuous switching between the arterial phase and the venous phase.

2. The blood treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined first flow rate (Q (1)a ) is equal to the predetermined second flow rate (Q (1)v ).

3. The blood treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined first flow rate (Q (1)a ) is greater than or less than the predetermined second flow rate (Q (1)v ).

4. The blood treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the single patient connection is configured as a cannula with a distal end and a proximal end, wherein a connection piece connecting the arterial blood line and the venous blood line is provided at the proximal end of the cannula.

5. The blood treatment device according to claim 2 , wherein the single patient connection is configured as a cannula with a distal end and a proximal end, wherein a connection piece connecting the arterial blood line and the venous blood line is provided at the proximal end of the cannula.

6. The blood treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the blood pump is configured as an occluding blood pump.

7. The blood treatment device according to claim 4 , wherein the blood pump is configured as an occluding blood pump.

8. The blood treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressurized air system for conveying blood further comprises an air reservoir for storing air, which comprises a closed volume, wherein the air compressor for establishing a pressure is in flow connection with the air reservoir for storing air and the vessel for collecting blood, such that air can be transferred from the air reservoir for storing air into the vessel for collecting blood while displacing the blood collected in the vessel for collecting blood.

9. The blood treatment device according to claim 4 , wherein the pressurized air system for conveying blood further comprises an air reservoir for storing air, which comprises a closed volume, wherein the air compressor for establishing a pressure are in flow connection with the air reservoir for storing air and the vessel for collecting blood, such that air can be transferred from the air reservoir for storing air into the vessel for collecting blood while displacing the blood collected in the vessel for collecting blood.

10. The blood treatment device according to claim 8 , wherein the pressurized air system for conveying blood further comprises a bypass line connecting the air reservoir for storing air and the vessel for collecting blood, and a bypass valve positioned in the bypass line.

11. The blood treatment device according to claim 9 , wherein the pressurized air system for conveying blood further comprises a bypass line connecting the air reservoir for storing air and the vessel for collecting blood, and a bypass valve positioned in the bypass line.

12. A method for operating an extracorporeal blood treatment device with a single patient connection, which is connected to an arterial blood line and a venous blood line of an extracorporeal blood circuit, the extracorporeal blood circuit further comprising a dialyzer having a blood chamber that is in fluid communication with the arterial blood line and the venous blood line, the method comprising the following steps:

in an arterial phase, conveying blood at a predetermined first flow rate (Q (1)a ) from the single patient connection via a blood treatment unit into a vessel for collecting blood, wherein the flow of liquid to the patient connection is interrupted;

in a venous phase following the arterial phase, conveying blood at a predetermined second flow rate (Q (1)v ) from the single patient connection via the blood treatment unit into the vessel for collecting blood; and

establishing a pressure in the vessel for collecting blood, such that blood flows at a predetermined third flow rate from the vessel for collecting blood to the single patient connection; and

continuously operating a blood pump on the arterial blood line during both the arterial phase and the venous phase such that blood flows continuously through the blood chamber of the dialyzer;

wherein there is continuous switching between the arterial phase and the venous phase.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the predetermined first flow rate (Q (1)a ) is equal to the predetermined second flow rate (Q (1)v ).

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the predetermined first flow rate (Q (1)a ) is greater than or less than the predetermined second flow rate (Q (1)v ).

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the blood is conveyed by an occluding blood pump from the single patient connection via the blood treatment unit into the vessel for collecting blood.

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the blood is conveyed by an occluding blood pump from the single patient connection via the blood treatment unit into the vessel for collecting blood.

17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the blood is conveyed by an occluding blood pump from the single patient connection via the blood treatment unit into the vessel for collecting blood.

18. The method according to claim 12 , wherein, while establishing a pressure in the vessel for collecting blood, air is transferred from an air reservoir for storing air into the vessel for collecting blood, while displacing blood collected in the vessel for collecting blood.

19. The method according to claim 13 , wherein, while establishing a pressure in the vessel for collecting blood, air is transferred from an air reservoir for storing air into the vessel for collecting blood, while displacing blood collected in the vessel for collecting blood.

20. The method according to claim 15 , wherein, while establishing a pressure in the vessel for collecting blood, air is transferred from an air reservoir for storing air into the vessel for collecting blood, while displacing blood collected in the vessel for collecting blood.