Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
328 words
In combination with an extracorporeal blood treatment system having a blood pumping and purification portion for connecting to a patient, at least one pressure sensing transducer for sensing pressure in the pumping and purifying portion and control means responsive to the pressure transducer for controlling blood pressure in the pumping and purifying portion within predetermined limits, apparatus for isolating the transducer from blood flowing in the pumping and purifying portion while permitting the pressure of the blood therein to be transmitted to the transducer, the apparatus comprising: (a) a substantially rigid pressure chamber including a gas and liquid impermeable, non-toxic housing having relatively apposing, axial pressure inlet and outlet portions said housing having a transverse cross sectional area substantially greater than transverse cross sectional areas of the inlet and outlet portions, (b) means for connecting the inlet portion to a blood carrying portion of the pumping and purifying portion for receiving pressurized blood therefrom and for connecting the outlet portion to the transducer for transmitting pressure of the pressurized blood thereto, and (c) membrane means disposed transversely across the pressure chamber for physically isolating the outlet portion from the inlet portion and preventing the flow of pressurized blood therebetween. said membrane means comprising a flexible gas and fluid impermeable membrane formed into a generally frustoconical configuration and having outer peripheral edge portions connected to walls of the housing said membrane being formed having a plurality of concentric, annular wall segments interconnected to form a collapsible staircase-like structure permitting the membrane to be extended in either axial direction and being turned inside out as it passes through a central position between extension in opposite directions in response to positive and negative pressures transmitted to an inlet portion side thereof by the pressurized blood, the membrane thereby causing pressure of the pressurized blood to be transmitted to the transducer through the outlet portion and a preselected pressure transmitting media contained between an outlet side of the membrane and the transducer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
328 words
In combination with an extracorporeal blood treatment system having a blood pumping and purification portion for connecting to a patient, at least one pressure sensing transducer for sensing pressure in the pumping and purifying portion and control means responsive to the pressure transducer for controlling blood pressure in the pumping and purifying portion within predetermined limits, apparatus for isolating the transducer from blood flowing in the pumping and purifying portion while permitting the pressure of the blood therein to be transmitted to the transducer, the apparatus comprising: (a) a substantially rigid pressure chamber including a gas and liquid impermeable, non-toxic housing having relatively apposing, axial pressure inlet and outlet portions said housing having a transverse cross sectional area substantially greater than transverse cross sectional areas of the inlet and outlet portions, (b) means for connecting the inlet portion to a blood carrying portion of the pumping and purifying portion for receiving pressurized blood therefrom and for connecting the outlet portion to the transducer for transmitting pressure of the pressurized blood thereto, and (c) membrane means disposed transversely across the pressure chamber for physically isolating the outlet portion from the inlet portion and preventing the flow of pressurized blood therebetween. said membrane means comprising a flexible gas and fluid impermeable membrane formed into a generally frustoconical configuration and having outer peripheral edge portions connected to walls of the housing said membrane being formed having a plurality of concentric, annular wall segments interconnected to form a collapsible staircase-like structure permitting the membrane to be extended in either axial direction and being turned inside out as it passes through a central position between extension in opposite directions in response to positive and negative pressures transmitted to an inlet portion side thereof by the pressurized blood, the membrane thereby causing pressure of the pressurized blood to be transmitted to the transducer through the outlet portion and a preselected pressure transmitting media contained between an outlet side of the membrane and the transducer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said annular wall segments are formed having a substantially uniform thickness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said annular wall segments are formed having substantially uniformly varying thickness, the wall segments closest to the outer periphery being substantially thinner than the wall segments most remote from the outer periphery.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the wall segment thickness varies from about 0.012 inches adjacent to the outer periphery to about 0.020 inches for wall segments most remote from the outer periphery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is formed having about six steps, each step being of substantially the same size.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed of substantially transparent material to thereby permit visual observation of the membrane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein first selected portions of the membrane are formed to be color contrasting to axially adjacent second portions of the membrane, axial expansion and telescoping of the membrane causing, respectively, the first portion to be visible and non-visible, a visual indication of a preselected blood pressure being provided when the first portion is visible.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed having an axial length substantially greater than transverse cross sectional dimensions of the inlet and outlet portions, the chamber thereby having a relatively substantial volume.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the membrane is generally axially centered in the chamber and wherein the membrane is operative for sweeping out substantially the entire volume of the chamber in response to extreme ranges of pressure in the blood pumping and purifying portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is generally cylindrical in shape, the outer periphery of the membrane being substantially circular.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus to claim 9, wherein the inlet and outlet portions are generally conical in shape, converging, respectively towards the pumping and purifying portion and the transducer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is formed of a silicon rubber material having a substantially uniform thickness of about 0.020 inches.