APPARATUS FOR THE EXTRACORPOREAL REMOVAL OF PROTEIN-BOUND TOXINS

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the extracorporeal removal of protein-bound toxins from blood comprising at least one blood purification apparatus, in particular at least one dialysis machine, hemofilter or adsorber, as well as at least one means for generating a field in the blood purification apparatus and/or in an element in flow communication with the blood purification apparatus, in particular in a line section connected to the blood purification apparatus, wherein the means comprises at least two strip conductors which are arranged on at least two preferably oppositely disposed sides of the blood purification apparatus or of the element such that the field is preferably predominantly generated within the blood purification apparatus or preferably predominantly within the element.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the extracorporeal removal of protein-bound toxins from blood comprising at least one blood purification apparatus, in particular at least one dialysis machine, hemofilter or adsorber, as well as at least one means for generating a field in the blood purification apparatus and/or in an element in flow communication with the blood purification apparatus, in particular in a line section connected to the blood purification apparatus, characterized in that the means comprises at least two strip conductors which are arranged on at least two preferably oppositely disposed sides of the blood purification apparatus or of the element such that the field is preferably predominantly generated within the blood purification apparatus or preferably predominantly within the element.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the strip conductors are connected to the blood purification apparatus or to the element such that no air is located between the strip conductors and the blood purification apparatus or the element.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the strip conductors are adhesively bonded to the blood purification apparatus or to the element or are mechanically fastened to the blood purification apparatus or to the element.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a gel is located between the strip conductors of the blood purification apparatus or the element.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the means for generating a field are configured such that an electromagnetic field is generated.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the means for generating a field are configured such that an electromagnetic field is generated having a frequency in the range from 1 MHz to 1 GHz, and preferably having a frequency in the range from 50 MHz to 200 MHz, and particularly preferably having a frequency in the range from 100 MHz to 120 MHz.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the means for generating a field are configured such that an electromagnetic field is generated having a frequency in the range from 110 to 111 MHz.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the means for generating a field is configured such that the field has a field strength in the range from up to 4000 V/m, preferably in the range from 2000 V/m to 4000 V/m, and particularly preferably in the range from 3000 V/m to 3200 V/m.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the blood treatment apparatus or the element has a curved surface at least regionally; and in that the strip conductors are likewise curved so that they follow the contour of the surface of the blood treatment apparatus or of the element.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the means is partly or completely configured as a film or as a plate-like element. 11 (Currently Amended) An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the means extends over the total length of the blood treatment apparatus or of the element or over a part of the total length, preferably over more than half the length of the blood treatment apparatus or of the element.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus has at least one extracorporeal circuit in which the blood treatment apparatus is located.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the extracorporeal circuit comprises at least one filter which comprises a permeate side and a retentate side, with the blood treatment apparatus or the element being in flow communication with the permeate side.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 for use in the treatment of the acute or chronic renal failure and/or for use in the treatment of acute or chronic liver failure.

15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 for use in the treatment of sepsis or toxification.

Description

[0036] Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.

[0037] There are shown:

[0038] FIG. 1: a schematic cross-sectional view through a dialysis machine with strip conductors arranged on oppositely disposed sides;

[0039] FIG. 2: a detailed view of a section of the dialysis machine with a strip conductor arranged on its outer side;

[0040] FIG. 3: a schematic view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention with a plasma filter and a dialysis machine; and

[0041] FIG. 4: a schematic view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention with a plasma filter and a dialysis machine as well as an adsorber.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows in a schematic cross-sectional view a dialysis machine 10 which has a cylindrical housing 20 in whose inner space 30 a fiber bundle, not shown, is located. In the treatment, the fibers of the fiber bundle are flowed through by blood; the region surrounding the fiber bundle is flowed around by the dialysis solution.

[0043] The blood purification takes place by diffusion over the walls of the fibers configured as membranes.

[0044] Every other blood purification apparatus is equally covered by the invention such as a hemofilter in which a mass transfer takes place over the fiber membranes due to a pressure gradient or also a hemodiafilter in which the blood purification takes place over the fiber membranes both due to a concentration gradient and due to a pressure gradient. Other blood purification apparatus, such as an adsorber, are also covered by the invention.

[0045] As can furthermore be seen from FIG. 1, strip conductors S1 and S2, which are curved in accordance with the curvature of the dialysis machine housing, as can be seen from FIG. 1, are located arranged symmetrically relative to a center plane through the dialysis machine 10 extending perpendicular to the plane of the paper. The strip conductors are acted on by current/voltage such that a field forms between them which is located within the dialysis machine.

[0046] The arrows P in FIG. 1 mark a field which extends between strip conductors and which is preferably an electromagnetic field, and particularly preferably a radio-frequency electromagnetic field.

[0047] The width W of the strip conductors S1 and S2 in FIG. 1 is selected such that a wave resistance of 50Ω is produced.

[0048] If a diameter of the dialysis machine 10 of 32 mm is assumed, a field of 3125 V/m can be achieved on a use of a 200 W amplifier at 50Ω and at a frequency in the range from 110-111 MHz.

[0049] In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the strip conductors are airtight, i.e. are connected without an air cushion or air inclusions directly or indirectly to the outer side of the dialysis machine housing. The connection can take place by adhesive bonding, by mechanical means, etc.

[0050] It can be further seen from FIG. 1 that the strip conductors extend on oppositely disposed sides of the dialysis machine. They each engage around a part region of the dialysis machine; further part regions of the dialysis machine periphery are not provided with strip conductors, as can be seen from FIG. 1.

[0051] A view of a part region of the dialysis machine 10 can be seen from FIG. 2. A copper film is applied to the outer surface of the dialysis machine; it serves as strip conductors S1, S2 and extends in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the dialysis machine 10.

[0052] The arrangement of the strip conductor in direct connection to the dialysis machine or to another blood purification apparatus brings about the advantage that a high field strength can be achieved within the blood purification apparatus and accordingly a particularly effective separation of the uremic toxins from their binding partners, in particular from proteins, can take place. This in turn allows the efficient separation of the toxins from the blood, for example by means of a dialysis machine.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a conceivable embodiment of an arrangement for blood purification.

[0054] Reference numeral 100 marks a line by means of which blood is conducted from a patient access to the plasma filter 102. The pump 10 serves the conveying of the blood. The retentate of the plasma filter 102 and the blood purified in the dialysis machine 10 is supplied back to the patient via the line 120.

[0055] A separation of the blood into cellular components and into plasma takes place in the plasma filter 102, with the cellular components being retained and the plasma passing through the filter membrane.

[0056] The blood plasma acquired in the plasma filter 102 is supplied by means of the pump 130 via the line 135 to the dialysis machine 10.

[0057] Reference numeral 140 symbolically marks the strip conductors S1, S2 arranged on the dialysis machine 10 which generate a field, and preferably a radio-frequency electromagnetic field, within the dialysis machine 10.

[0058] As stated above, the field effects a separation of the uremic toxins from proteins, in particular from albumin, so that the proportion of free uremic toxics can be increased accordingly. They can be conducted away via the membrane of the dialysis machine 10 and can be received by a dialysis solution which flows around the hollow fibers of the dialysis machine 10 and which is conducted to or from the dialysis machine by means of the lines 150, 160.

[0059] The blood purified in the dialysis machine 10 is supplied via the line 170 to the plasma filter 102 and is there mixed with the cellular components which were retained by the filter membrane of the plasma filter 102 and is again supplied to the patient via the line 120.

[0060] The arrangement of a plasma filter before the dialysis machine or before another blood purification apparatus brings along the advantage that the cellular components are not exposed to the electromagnetic field in the dialysis machine, whereby the biocompatibility of the process is increased.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of an arrangement for blood purification, with the same reference numerals as in FIG. 3 showing identical components or components of the same function.

[0062] As can be seen from FIG. 4, not only a dialysis machine 10 is provided as a blood purification apparatus, but also additionally an adsorber 11, which can be arranged before or after the dialysis machine 10. The adsorber can likewise be provided with strip conductors so that there is also a field in the adsorber.

[0063] The adsorber has the function of adsorbing, and thus removing from the blood circuit, toxins which are released in the field and which are not separated via the dialysis machine membrane.

[0064] The strip conductors are arranged both at the dialysis machine 10 and at the adsorber 11 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

[0065] An embodiment is also covered by the invention in which e.g. only the dialysis machine or only the adsorber is provided with strip conductors.

[0066] An embodiment is, for example, conceivable in which the adsorber provided with strip conductors is connected upstream of the dialysis machine. In this case, a release of toxins which can be separated in the dialysis machine takes place in the adsorber.

[0067] The embodiment relates to the arrangement of the strip conductors at a dialysis machine. However, the arrangement of the strip conductors at any other desired blood purification apparatus as well as at other components, in particular lines, is also covered by the invention and by the embodiment. They are preferably located in an extracorporeal circuit in which the blood of a patient or a component, in particular the blood plasma, is subjected to a purification.