Device for Establishing the Venous Inflow to a Blood Reservoir of an Extracorporeal Blood Circulation System

Abstract

A device for establishing venous inflow to a blood reservoir of an extracorporeal blood circulation system includes a restricting unit for gradually closing a venous inflow line and a vacuum unit for supplying vacuum to the blood reservoir. The device includes a control unit that supplies a first actuating signal to the restricting unit for restricting venous inflow to the blood reservoir and supplies a second actuating signal to the vacuum unit for establishing a degree of vacuum within the blood reservoir.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A device for establishing venous inflow to a blood reservoir of an extracorporeal blood circulation system including a venous inflow line from a patient to the blood reservoir and an arterial inflow line from the blood reservoir to the patient, the device comprising:
 a restricting unit for gradually closing the venous inflow line in order to restrict a venous inflow amount to the blood reservoir;   a vacuum unit for applying a vacuum to the blood reservoir in order to increase the venous inflow amount to the blood reservoir; and   a control means that includes a single operating element so that a user can set a venous inflow setting for venous inflow to the blood reservoir at, above or below a basic value established by gravitational conveyance;   wherein the control means, based upon the venous inflow setting, a first actuating signal to the restricting unit for establish a degree of closure of the venous inflow line and a second actuating signal to the vacuum unit for establish an amount of vacuum in the blood reservoir.   
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein the control means further comprise a display device for visual display of a display value corresponding to the venous inflow amount. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein the vacuum unit is connected to a vacuum source via a line. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein the vacuum unit comprises an integrated vacuum source. 
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 10 , further comprising a vacuum sensor for detecting a vacuum in the blood reservoir, the vacuum sensor connected to the control means for providing a first measuring signal. 
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 10 , further comprising a level sensor for detecting a level of blood in the blood reservoir, the level sensor connected to the control means for providing a second measuring signal. 
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 10 , further comprising an arterial inflow amount sensor for detecting an inflow amount conveyed in the arterial inflow line, the arterial inflow amount sensor connected to the control means for providing a third measuring signal. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 10 , further comprising a blood pump to which a third actuating signal establishing a delivery rate of the blood pump is supplied by the control means. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein the single operating element is configured for specifying an amount of blood to be stored in the blood reservoir. 
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein the vacuum unit further comprises a safety device which, upon actuation by the control means or if control should fail, interrupts the application of a vacuum to the blood reservoir and establishes atmospheric pressure in the blood reservoir.