Blood treatment machine comprising a hollow fiber filter module for horizontal arrangement as well as hollow fiber filter module and use thereof

Abstract

An extracorporeal blood treatment machine for carrying out a blood treatment including a machine front on which a hollow fiber filter module is arranged in a horizontal position, which hollow fiber filter module includes a cylindrical housing, a blood chamber having a blood inlet nozzle and a blood outlet nozzle and a solution chamber having a solution inlet nozzle extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber filter module and a solution outlet nozzle extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber filter module, the solution chamber being semi-permeably communicated at least in portions with the blood chamber, wherein a height potential is present in the horizontal position between the solution inlet nozzle and the solution outlet nozzle so that drainage of solution is enabled via one of the solution nozzles and evacuation of air bubbles is enabled via an other of the solution nozzles.

Claims

1. An extracorporeal blood treatment machine for carrying out a blood treatment comprising: a machine front; and a hollow fiber filter module arranged in a horizontal position on the machine front; wherein the hollow fiber filter module has: a cylindrical housing having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a central longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end, a blood chamber having a blood inlet nozzle and a blood outlet nozzle, and a solution chamber having a solution inlet nozzle extending transversely to a longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber filter module and a solution outlet nozzle extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber filter module, the solution chamber being semi-permeably communicated at least in portions with the blood chamber, wherein in the horizontal position of the hollow fiber filter module a first height potential is present between the solution inlet nozzle and the solution outlet nozzle so that via one of the two solution nozzles drainage of solution is enabled and via another of the two solution nozzles evacuation of air bubbles is enabled, the blood outlet nozzle and solution inlet nozzle extending tangentially relative to the cylindrical housing from the first end, with the blood outlet nozzle and the solution inlet nozzle being parallel to one another and projecting from one side of the cylindrical housing in one direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber filter module, the blood inlet nozzle and solution outlet nozzle extending tangentially relative to the cylindrical housing from the second end, with the blood inlet nozzle and the solution outlet nozzle being parallel to one another and projecting from said one side of the cylindrical housing in said one direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber filter module, the blood inlet nozzle, blood outlet nozzle, solution inlet nozzle and solution outlet nozzle extending parallel to one another in said one direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber filter module from said one side of the cylindrical housing, wherein in the horizontal position of the hollow fiber filter module a second height potential is present between the blood inlet nozzle and the blood outlet nozzle so that via one of the two blood nozzles drainage of blood is enabled and via another of the two blood nozzles evacuation of air bubbles is enabled.

2. The extracorporeal blood treatment machine according to claim 1, wherein the blood inlet nozzle and the blood outlet nozzle are diagonally opposed to one another.

3. The extracorporeal blood treatment machine according to claim 1, wherein the solution inlet nozzle and the solution outlet nozzle are diagonally opposed to one another.

4. The extracorporeal blood treatment machine according to claim 1, wherein the second height potential is greater than the first height potential.

5. The extracorporeal blood treatment machine according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the cylindrical housing comprises a first dialyzer cap and the second end of the cylindrical housing comprises a second dialyzer cap.

6. The extracorporeal blood treatment machine according to claim 5, wherein the first dialyzer cap forms the blood inlet nozzle.

7. The extracorporeal blood treatment machine according to claim 5, wherein the second dialyzer cap forms the blood outlet nozzle.

8. The extracorporeal blood treatment machine according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical housing is horizontally coupled to the machine front such that the horizontal position of the hollow fiber filter module is centered on the machine front.

9. The extracorporeal blood treatment machine according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical housing is coupled to the machine front such that the blood inlet nozzle, blood outlet nozzle, solution inlet nozzle and solution outlet nozzle extend toward the machine front.

10. The extracorporeal blood treatment machine according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical housing is coupled to the machine front such that the blood inlet nozzle, blood outlet nozzle, solution inlet nozzle and solution outlet nozzle extend away from the machine front.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. Included in the drawings are the following figures:

(2) FIG. 1a shows a schematic side view of a hollow fiber filter module according to aspects of the invention in a first embodiment;

(3) FIG. 1b shows a view along the longitudinal axis of the hollow fiber filter module of FIG. 1a;

(4) FIG. 2a shows a view along the longitudinal axis onto the hollow fiber filter module in a second embodiment;

(5) FIG. 2b shows a schematic side view of the hollow fiber filter module of FIG. 2a;

(6) FIG. 2c shows a view along the longitudinal axis of the hollow fiber filter module of FIG. 2a;

(7) FIG. 3a shows a view along the longitudinal axis of the hollow fiber filter module in a third embodiment;

(8) FIG. 3b shows a schematic side view of the hollow filter fiber module of FIG. 3a;

(9) FIG. 3c shows a view along the longitudinal axis of the hollow fiber filter module of FIG. 3a;

(10) FIG. 4a shows a view along the longitudinal axis of the hollow fiber filter module in a fourth embodiment;

(11) FIG. 4b shows a schematic side view of the hollow fiber filter module of FIG. 4a;

(12) FIG. 4c shows a view along the longitudinal axis of the hollow fiber filter module of FIG. 4a;

(13) FIG. 5a shows a view along the longitudinal axis of the hollow fiber filter module in a fifth embodiment;

(14) FIG. 5b shows a schematic side view of the hollow fiber filter module of FIG. 5a;

(15) FIG. 5c shows a view along the longitudinal axis of the hollow fiber filter module of FIG. 5a; and

(16) FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a blood treatment machine comprising a horizontally arranged hollow fiber filter module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(17) FIG. 1a illustrates a hollow fiber filter module 1 in the form of a dialyzer which is adapted for horizontal arrangement on a blood treatment machine 2 shown in connection with FIG. 6. The dialyzer has a substantially cylindrical housing 3 surrounding/enclosing/encompassing a blood chamber and a solution chamber which is semi-permeably communicated at least in portions with said blood chamber. Via a blood inlet nozzle 4 blood is supplied to the dialyzer (see arrow B1) which blood (in purified form) is returned and drained via a blood outlet nozzle 5 by the same (see arrow B2). A solution inlet nozzle 6 and a solution outlet nozzle 7 guide/pass the solution or dialysis fluid flow toward and away from the dialyzer (see arrows DF1, DF2).

(18) A height potential 8′ is applied between the solution inlet nozzle 6 and the solution outlet nozzle 7. Firstly, this causes a difference in height which enables the dialyzer to be drained via the solution inlet nozzle 6 without any additional change of position of the dialyzer to be present in the horizontal arrangement of the dialyzer between the solution inlet and outlet nozzles 6, 7. Consequently, for draining the dialyzer merely the tube set (e.g. coupled with a Hansen coupling) has to be released from the dialyzer and no additional rotation of the dialyzer or the like is required. This facilitates handling and at the same time reduces the risk of infection, as the dialyzer has only to be touched once, namely, at the beginning. Secondly, said height potential 8′ enables air bubbles 9 to leak from the solution chamber via the solution outlet nozzle 7 during operation. Thus, the blood purification carried out by the dialyzer is highly efficient and the problem of stagnant air bubbles in the solution chamber which occurs when using conventional dialyzers in a horizontal position is solved.

(19) The solution inlet and outlet nozzles 6, 7 are aligned to be opposed in the embodiment of FIG. 1a. They are both arranged to extend radially relative to the housing 3 and are angularly offset against each other by 180° in the circumferential direction. In the horizontal operating position, the solution inlet 6 is arranged to point downward and the solution outlet 7 is arranged to point upward. In this way, the afore-mentioned effect of improved drainage with simultaneous leakage of air bubbles from the solution chamber is intensified.

(20) Apart from the (substantially) cylindrical portion on which the nozzles 6, 7 are arranged, the housing 3 also comprises a dialyzer cap 11 on each of the two end faces. The respective dialyzer cap 11 forms the blood inlet and blood outlet nozzles 4, 5 which in the present case are arranged to extend in the axial direction of the dialyzer. Of preference, the dialyzer cap 11 is configured so that the air bubbles 10 in the blood chamber can attach to or accumulate on the same without impairing the blood purification. In contrast to the air bubbles 9 present in the solution chamber, such air bubbles 10 present in the blood chamber in the first embodiment cannot be or are difficult to be evacuated and, consequently, attach in the respective end area of the housing 3, i.e. in the area of the dialyzer caps 11.

(21) FIG. 1b depicts the dialyzer of FIG. 1a along its longitudinal axis wherefrom the 180° arrangement of the nozzles 6, 7 relative to each other is resulting. The blood inlet nozzle 4 configured by the dialyzer cap 11 is perpendicular to the imaginary line connecting the solution inlet nozzle 6 in the present figure to the solution outlet nozzle 7.

(22) A second embodiment is shown in the FIGS. 2a to 2c. FIG. 2b illustrates the dialyzer of said embodiment in the side view, while in FIG. 2a it is shown in the perspective of a viewer on the one side (“left”) and in FIG. 2c it is shown in the perspective of a viewer on the other side (“right”) along its longitudinal axis. The essential components of this embodiment are known from the embodiment explained in connection with FIG. 1a and now will not be shown in detail once again to avoid repetitions.

(23) The difference of said second embodiment from the first embodiment consists in the fact that the blood inlet nozzle 4 just as the blood outlet nozzle 5 are arranged to extend radially (and no longer axially) relative to the housing 3. Thus, apart from the height potential 8′ prevailing in the solution chamber, a height potential 8″ is also realized in the blood chamber. This saves axial construction space and reduces the risk of kinking of the respective tubes. Moreover, now leakage/removal of the air bubbles 10 in the blood chamber is possible just as leakage/removal of the air bubbles 9 in the solution chamber.

(24) As is evident from the FIGS. 2a and 2c, the respective blood inlet and blood outlet nozzles 4, 5 are arranged to be angularly offset against each other by 180° in the circumferential direction. The solution inlet and solution outlet nozzles 6, 7 correspond, as to their position in the circumferential direction (not in the axial direction, see FIG. 2b), to the position of the blood inlet and blood outlet nozzles 4, 5. Following the counter-flow principle common in dialyzers, the solution inlet nozzle 6 and the blood outlet nozzle 5 are arranged in an end area of the housing 3, whereas the solution outlet nozzle 7 and the blood inlet nozzle 4 are arranged in the other opposed end area. This applies to all embodiments disclosed here.

(25) A third embodiment is illustrated in the FIGS. 3a to 3c. FIG. 3b depicts the dialyzer of said embodiment in the side view, while in FIG. 3a it is shown in the perspective of a viewer on the one side (“left”) and in FIG. 3c it is shown in the perspective of a viewer on the other side (“right”) along its longitudinal axis. The essential components of this embodiment are known from the preceding embodiments and now will not be described in detail once again to avoid repetitions.

(26) The third embodiment differs from the embodiments of the FIGS. 1 and 2 by the fact that all nozzles 4, 5, 6, 7 are arranged to extend tangentially relative to the housing 3. Consequently, the blood inlet nozzle 4 is not visible in the view from FIG. 3b. The blood drain from the blood outlet nozzle 5 in FIG. 3b steps out of the plane of projection in perspective, while the solution intake into the solution inlet nozzle 6 extends into the plane of projection.

(27) Said tangential inflow and outflow promotes swirling of the fluid flows and has a positive effect on the purification rate of the dialyzer. Of preference, the tangential arrangement refers to the (outer) periphery of the dialyzer. As is evident, for example, from the FIGS. 3a and 3c, the inventive idea also comprises those tangential arrangements which are tangentially arranged not fully outside but approximately up to half the radius.

(28) In FIGS. 3a and 3c, all nozzles 4, 5, 6, 7 are visible from the perspective of the respective viewer viewing along the longitudinal axis of the dialyzer. In the present embodiment, the blood nozzles 4, 5 just as the solution nozzles 6, 7 are arranged to be diagonally opposed to each other. Hence, apart from the height potential 8′, 8″ also different inlet and outlet positions in width are obtained.

(29) At the one end of the dialyzer, the nozzles 5 and 6 protrude transversely/tangentially in one direction (out of the plane of projection), whereas at the other end of the dialyzer the nozzles 4 and 7 protrude transversely/tangentially in the other direction (into the plane of projection).

(30) The amount of the blood-side height potential 8″ exceeds the amount of the solution-side height potential 8′, as the blood nozzles 4, 5 can be arranged further outside because the dialyzer caps 11 protrude radially further than the central part of the housing 3. Deviations are possible and may be caused by the position of the solution nozzles 6, 7 and, respectively, the blood nozzles 4, 5.

(31) Another embodiment is illustrated in the FIGS. 4a to 4c. FIG. 4b illustrates the dialyzer of said embodiment in the side view, while in FIG. 4a it is shown in the perspective of a viewer on the one side (“left”) and in FIG. 4c it is shown in the perspective of a viewer on the other side (“right”). The essential components of this embodiment are known from the preceding embodiments and now will not be described in detail once again to avoid repetitions.

(32) The embodiment of FIG. 4 differs from that of FIG. 3 in that all tangentially extending nozzles 4, 5, 6, 7 are projecting on/from the same side of the dialyzer while extending parallel to each other. Thus, the dialyzer of said embodiment is very compact, as can be inferred from the FIGS. 4a and 4c. The dialyzer can optionally be coupled to a machine front 12 shown in connection with FIG. 6 so that all ports are pointing to the latter (which causes a short tube length) or else are pointing away therefrom (which facilitates fitting of the machine).

(33) Another embodiment is illustrated in the FIGS. 5a to 5c. FIG. 5b shows the dialyzer of this embodiment in the side view, while in FIG. 5a it is shown in the perspective of a viewer on the one side (“left”) and in FIG. 5c it is shown in the perspective of a viewer on the other side (“right”) along its longitudinal axis. The essential components of this embodiment are known from the preceding embodiments and will not be described in detail once again to avoid repetitions.

(34) The distinguishing feature of the embodiment of FIG. 5 as compared to those of the afore-presented embodiments consists in that the blood nozzles 4, 5 are arranged to point to the one direction while the solution nozzles 6, 7 are arranged to point to the opposite direction. Preferably, the solution nozzles 6, 7 point to the machine front 12 (see FIG. 6) so that they can be directly coupled to the treatment machine 2 without any tubes being interconnected, as explained already in the foregoing.

(35) FIG. 6 schematically shows a blood treatment machine 2. The machine front 12 is configured to be optimized as to space which is significantly enabled due to the horizontal arrangement of the hollow fiber filter module 1. An arterial tube 13 taking blood from a patient initially passes safety units 14 (such as a shut-off clip and/or an air detector), pressure pick-ups 15 as well as a pump 16 (preferably in the form of a peristaltic pump), before it supplies, when connected to the blood inlet nozzle 4, blood to be purified to the hollow fiber filter module 1.

(36) After purification (on the counter-flow principle) the blood leaves the blood outlet nozzle 5 into a venous tube 17 which returns the blood (after further detectors and an air separator 18) in a purified form to the patient. A central area 19 on the machine front 12 is kept free for arranging a heparin pump, for example, and for various interfaces (ports and switches).

(37) The horizontal arrangement of the hollow fiber filter module 1 enables first the blood tubes 13, 17 to extend in horseshoe shape. Thus, the latter are kept as short as possible, which, apart from savings of material and space, also has the positive effect of reduced blood temperature loss in the extracorporeal purification. Moreover, the horizontal arrangement enables the solution inlet nozzle 6 and the solution outlet nozzle 7 to be coupled directly to the machine front while realizing the height potential 8′ so that solution/dialysis fluid tubes can be completely dispensed with.

(38) Finally, it shall be mentioned that the blood tubes (throughout all embodiments) are either configured to be releasable from the dialyzer, for example via Luer locks, or else are configured integrally with the dialyzer caps 11 to further reduce the number of disposables.