Pressure regulating controller

Claim 2

In a method for extra-corporeal hemodialysis wherein blood is pumped through venous tubing from a patient into a dialysis assembly having means for effecting dialysis of waste materials from the blood and into a dialysis fluid flowing through the dialysis assembly, with further means for passing dialyzed blood through a debubbler prior to return through a venous tubing to the patient, the improvement which comprises: A. providing a pressure indicating means for the debubbler; B. generating a signal responsive to the pressure in thE debubbler; C. monitoring the indicated pressure signal of the debubbler; D. amplifying said signal; E. applying clamping pressure on the venous tubing in response to a falling pressure signal from the debubbler to provide an increase of pressure in the venous tubing; F. removing clamping pressure on the venous tubing in response to an increasing pressure signal from the debubbler; G. actuating a pump disabling and terminating means upon a zero signal from said pressure indicating means; and H. providing an alarm sensor and transmitter for terminating operation of the pump.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring of the pressure of the debubbler is by a transducer.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said clamping is effected using an electromechanical clamp.

Claim 5

An electro-mechanical pressure monitor and control system for controlling the flow of blood through a tube connected to the circulatory system of a body, during extra-corporeal hemodialysis, which system comprises in combination, a fluid pressure monitor means disposed in communication with an electronic amplifier, said amplifier disposed in further communication with an electro-mechanical clamp, said clamp having a reversible motor and a position screw terminated by a relatively movable anvil, said relatively movable anvil disposed for effecting or removing clamping pressure on said tubing by being positionable between the relatively movable anvil and a relatively stationary anvil, said relative stationary anvil being hand positionable for initial positioning relative to the said tubing, a debubbler, a venous tubing connected thereto, and a pump disposed relative to tubing receiving blood from a patient, said pressure monitor means disposed relative to the debubbler, means responsive to said pressure monitor to operate said clamp disposed relative to the venous tubing to provide a means for which a fall of pressure sensed at the debubbler results in relative clamping of the venous tubing and an increase of pressure sensed at the debubbler results in relative removing of clamping of the venous tubing.

Claim 6

An electro-mechanical pressure monitor and control system for controlling the flow of blood through a tube connected to the circulatory system of a body, during extra-corporeal hemodialysis, which system comprises in combination, a fluid pressure monitor means disposed in communication with an electronic amplifier, said amplifier disposed in further communication with an electro-mechanical clamp, said clamp having a reversible motor and a position screw terminated by a relatively movable anvil, said relatively movable anvil disposed for effecting or removing clamping pressure on said tubing by being positionable between the relatively movable anvil and a relatively stationary anvil, said relative stationary anvil being hand positionable for initial positioning relative to the said tubing, a debubbler, a venous tubing connected thereto, and a pump disposed relative to tubing receiving blood from a patient, said pressure monitor means disposed relative to the debubbler, means responsive to said pressure monitor to operate said clamp disposed relative to the venous tubing to provide a means for which a fall of pressure sensed at the debubbler results in relative clamping of the venous tubing and an increase of pressure sensed at the debubbler results in relative removing of clamping of the venous tubing.

Claim 7

The system of claim 4 wherein the pressure monitor means is a transducer.

Claim 8

The system of claim 4 wherein an alarm sensor is in communication with a warning device and the pressure transducer.

Claim 9

The system of claim 4 wherein warning devices are in communication with an alarm sensor which further monitors signals from the means for monitoring the pressure of the debubbler.