Kidney protection method

Abstract

A method of driving a toxin through a patient's kidneys, the method includes administering a diuretic to the patient to induce increased urine flow and collecting urine expelled by the patient. The amount of urine expelled by the patient is determined based on the collected urine. The patient is infused with fluid from a fluid source. Diuresis is induced by automatically adjusting the amount of fluid infused into the patient from the fluid source based on the determined amount of urine expelled by the patient to at least balance the amount of urine expelled by the patient with the amount of fluid infused into the patient to drive the toxin out of the patient's kidneys.

1 . A method of driving a toxin through a patient's kidneys, the method comprising:
 administering a diuretic to the patient to induce increased urine flow;   collecting urine expelled by the patient;   determining the amount of urine expelled by the patient based on the collected urine;   infusing the patient with fluid from a fluid source;   determining the amount of fluid infused into the patient;   inducing diuresis and driving the toxin out of the patient's kidneys by automatically adjusting the amount of fluid infused into the patient from the fluid source based on the determined amount of urine expelled by the patient to at least balance the amount of urine expelled by the patient with the amount of fluid infused into the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The method  claim 1  in which collecting urine expelled by the patient includes collecting urine expelled by the patient in a urine collection bag and determining the amount of urine expelled by the patient based on the collected urine includes weighing the urine collection bag. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  in which infusing the patient with fluid from a fluid source includes employing a pump to infuse the patient with fluid from the fluid source. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  in which determining the amount of fluid infused into the patient includes weighing the fluid source. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further including providing an indication when the fluid source is low on fluid based on the weight of the fluid source. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  in which automatically adjusting the amount of fluid infused into the patient from the fluid source includes balancing the fluid infused with the urine expelled. 
     
     
         7 . The method of 6 in which balancing occurs every 15 minutes or less for a therapy duration.