Blood purification apparatus and method of estimating patient's state of nutrition on blood purification apparatus

Abstract

A blood purification apparatus that accurately calculates the colloid osmotic pressure of a patient's blood. A dialyzer included in the blood purification apparatus has thereinside blood flow routes and dialysate flow routes that are separated from each other by hollow fibers. An ultrafiltration pump draws out water from the blood in the blood flow routes through the hollow fibers into the dialysate flow routes. Four detecting units measure the pressures of liquid flowing into the blood flow routes, the liquid discharged from the blood flow routes, dialysate flowing into the dialysate flow routes, and the dialysate discharged from the dialysate flow routes. The pressures at the four positions, the transmembrane pressure difference can be calculated. The blood flow routes are filled with a priming solution, and the transmembrane pressure difference (TMPa) is measured. Subsequently, the blood flow routes are filled with the patient's blood, and the transmembrane pressure difference (TMPb) is measured. Referencing TMPa and TMPb, the colloid osmotic pressure of the patient's blood can be calculated. Referencing colloid osmotic pressure, the plasma total protein can be calculated. Referencing plasma total protein, the patient's state of nutrition can be estimated.