The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 25, 1997
Filed:
Nov. 17, 1995
Rodney S Kenley, Libertyville, IL (US);
Dawn Matthews, Grayslake, IL (US);
Dennis M Treu, Gurnee, IL (US);
Frederick H Peter, Jr, Barrington, IL (US);
Thomas M Feldsein, Palatine, IL (US);
Aksys, Ltd., Lincolnshire, IL (US);
Abstract
A method is described herein for automatically rinsing blood back to a patient. The method comprises the steps of pumping dialysate (or, alternatively, saline solution) through a dialyzer into an extracorporeal circuit, and pumping blood in the extracorporeal circuit out the arterial and venous lines back to the patient. Optical sensors monitor the concentration of blood in the arterial and venous lines as the blood is being pumped from the extracorporeal circuit back to the patient. The return flow of blood is ceased when the concentration of blood in the arterial and venous lines drops to a predetermined threshold level, thereby preventing excess fluids from being returned to the patient.