Importance

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Abstract

There is disclosed herein a dialysis machine adapted for operation with a negative-pressure-type dialyzer. The machine includes a flow system having a negative pressure pump for drawing fresh dialysis solution through a dialyzer under a controllable negative pressure and for discharging spent dialysis solution to a drain. A flow reversing valve system is positioned in the flow system for cooperation with the dialyzer to selectively control the direction of dialysis solution flow within the dialyzer in either a first direction or a second reverse direction. The flow reversing valve system is operative in a first mode to control direction of flow to and from the dialyzer in a first direction and in a second mode to reverse the direction of flow. The dialysis machine also includes a very effective degassing system which minimizes gas build-up on the dialysis solution side of the dialyzer so that when a hollow-fiber dialyzer is used the normal dialysis solution flow is in a downward direction and blood flow is in an upward direction. The flow reversing system may be integral with the machine or may be a separate component for use with machines that do not include an integral or built-in flow reversing system. Finally, a method is disclosed herein for operating such a system which avoids the previous requirements for positioning and repositioning of the dialyzer during dialysis set-up.

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First Claim