Blood circuit for a dialysis machine and corresponding dialysis machine

Abstract

A blood circuit for a dialysis machine is made from plastic material and is provided with a metallic plate, which is applied to an external face of the blood circuit and is connectable to a voltage generator in such a way as to form a capacitor, in which the plate and the blood act as the capacitor plates and the plastic material acts as the dielectric.

1 . A blood circuit comprising: 
 a first portion constructed of a plastic material, said first portion being configured to house blood when in use; and    a first electrically conductive plate fixed to an external surface of said first portion.    
     
     
         2 . The circuit of  claim 1 , comprising a first blood expansion chamber having said first portion.  
     
     
         3 . The circuit of  claim 2 , wherein said first expansion chamber is provided with a first pressure sensor.  
     
     
         4 . The circuit of  claim 3 , wherein said first electrically conductive plate and said first pressure sensor are located on an external face of said first expansion chamber.  
     
     
         5 . The circuit of  claim 2 , further comprising an arterial branch and a venous branch, said first blood expansion chamber being located in said venous branch.  
     
     
         6 . The circuit of  claim 5 , further comprising a second blood expansion chamber, wherein said first blood expansion chamber is provided with a first pressure sensor, and said second blood expansion chamber is provided with a second pressure sensor, said first blood expansion chamber and said second blood expansion chamber being integrated in a box, said first pressure sensor, said second pressure sensor, and said first electrically conductive plate being located on an external face of said box.  
     
     
         7 . The circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising an arterial branch and a venous branch, said first portion being located in said venous branch.  
     
     
         8 . The circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second portion constructed of a plastic material, said second portion being configured to house blood when in use; and    a second electrically conductive plate fixed to an external surface of said second portion.    
     
     
         9 . The circuit of  claim 8 , further comprising an arterial branch and a venous branch, said first portion being located in said venous branch, said second portion being located in said arterial branch.  
     
     
         10 . The circuit of  claim 8 , comprising a first blood expansion chamber having said first portion, and a second blood expansion chamber having said second portion.  
     
     
         11 . The circuit of  claim 10 , wherein said first blood expansion chamber is provided with a first pressure sensor, and said second blood expansion chamber is provided with a second pressure sensor.  
     
     
         12 . The circuit of  claim 11 , wherein said first blood expansion chamber and said second blood expansion chamber are integrated in a box, said first pressure sensor, said second pressure sensor, said first electrically conductive plate, and said second electrically conductive plate being located on an external face of said box.  
     
     
         13 . The circuit of  claim 11 , wherein said second electrically conductive plate and said second pressure sensor are located on an external face of said second expansion chamber.  
     
     
         14 . The circuit of  claim 1 , wherein said first electrically conductive plate comprises a metallic plate or plastic embedding electrically conductive bodies.  
     
     
         15 . The circuit of  claim 8 , wherein said second electrically conductive plate comprises a metallic plate or a plastic embedding electrically conductive bodies.  
     
     
         16 . The circuit of  claim 1 , wherein said first electrically conductive plate is connectable to a voltage generator forming a capacitor, said first electrically conductive plate and blood housed in said first portion serve as capacitor plates and said plastic material of said first portion serves as a dielectric.  
     
     
         17 . The circuit of  claim 16 , wherein said first electrically conductive plate comprises a first electrical connector configured to be coupled to a second electrical connector of said voltage generator.  
     
     
         18 . A dialysis machine comprising a blood circuit according to  claim 16 , and a voltage generator connected to said first electrically conductive plate for supplying an electrical current through an electrical circuit comprising said blood circuit, wherein said blood circuit is connected to a patient.