Method and apparatus for the dialysis of blood

Abstract

Apparatus for use in dialyzing a patient, the apparatus comprising: a hemodialysis catheter comprising: an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end terminates in a substantially planar distal end surface; first and second lumens extending from the proximal end of the elongated body to the distal end of the elongated body, wherein the first and second lumens terminate on the substantially planar distal end surface in first and second mouths, respectively, arranged in side-by-side configuration, and further wherein the first and second lumens are separated by a septum; and first and second longitudinal slots formed in the distal end of the elongated body and communicating with the interiors of the first and second lumens, respectively, the first and second longitudinal slots opening on the substantially planar distal end surface; wherein the first and second longitudinal slots each has a length and a width, relative to the dimensions of the first and second lumens and the rate of blood flow to be passed through the hemodialysis catheter, such that (i) when a given lumen is to be used for a return function, the primary blood flow will exit the mouth of that lumen, and (ii) when a given lumen is to be used for a suction function, the primary blood flow will enter the proximal end of the longitudinal slot associated with that lumen, whereby to minimize undesirable recirculation of dialyzed blood.

1 . Apparatus for use in dialyzing a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a hemodialysis catheter comprising:
 an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end; and 
 first and second lumens extending from the proximal end of the elongated body to the distal end of the elongated body; 
   and further comprising a first open/close valve disposed across the first lumen, and a second open/close valve disposed across the second lumen, whereby to control flow through the first and second lumens.   
     
     
         2 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the first open/close valve comprises a first cylinder extending across the first lumen, the first cylinder having a first through-hole extending therethrough, and the second open/close valve comprises a second cylinder extending across the second lumen, the second cylinder having a second through-hole extending therethrough. 
     
     
         11 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus for use in dialyzing a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a hemodialysis catheter system comprising:
 a first elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 a first lumen extending from the proximal end of the first elongated body to the distal end of the first elongated body; 
 a second elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end; and 
 a second lumen extending from the proximal end of the second elongated body to the distal end of the second elongated body; 
   and further comprising a first open/close valve disposed across the first lumen, and a second open/close valve disposed across the second lumen, whereby to control flow through the first and second lumens.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for dialyzing the blood of a patient, the method comprising:
 providing apparatus for use in dialyzing a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a hemodialysis catheter comprising:
 an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 first and second lumens extending from the proximal end of the elongated body to the distal end of the elongated body; 
 
   and further comprising a first open/close valve disposed across the first lumen, and a second open/close valve disposed across the second lumen, whereby to control flow through the first and second lumens;   connecting the first lumen to the suction port of a dialysis machine, and connecting the second lumen to the return port of the dialysis machine; and   withdrawing undialyzed blood from the body of a patient through the first lumen, and returning dialyzed blood to the body of a patient through the second lumen.   
     
     
         19 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the method further comprises using the first open/close valve and the second open/close valve to control flow through the first and second lumens. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein the first open/close valve comprises a first cylinder extending across the first lumen, the first cylinder having a first through-hole extending therethrough, and the second open/close valve comprises a second cylinder extending across the second lumen, the second cylinder having a second through-hole extending therethrough. 
     
     
         28 .- 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . Apparatus for use in withdrawing fluids from a patient and instilling fluids into a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a catheter comprising:
 an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end; and 
 first and second lumens extending from the proximal end of the elongated body to the distal end of the elongated body; 
   and further comprising a first open/close valve disposed across the first lumen, and a second open/close valve disposed across the second lumen, whereby to control flow through the first and second lumens.   
     
     
         35 . Apparatus for use in withdrawing fluids from a patient and instilling fluids into a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a catheter system comprising:
 a first elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 a first lumen extending from the proximal end of the first elongated body to the distal end of the first elongated body; 
 a second elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end; and 
 a second lumen extending from the proximal end of the second elongated body to the distal end of the second elongated body; 
 and further comprising a first open/close valve disposed across the first lumen, and a second open/close valve disposed across the second lumen, whereby to control flow through the first and second lumens. 
   
     
     
         36 . A method for withdrawing fluids from a patient and instilling fluids into a patient, the method comprising:
 providing apparatus for use in withdrawing fluids from a patient and instilling fluids into a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a catheter comprising:
 an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 first and second lumens extending from the proximal end of the elongated body to the distal end of the elongated body 
 
 and further comprising a first open/close valve disposed across the first lumen, and a second open/close valve disposed across the second lumen, whereby to control flow through the first and second lumens; 
   connecting the first lumen to a source of suction, and connecting the second lumen to a source of fluid; and   withdrawing fluid from the body of a patient through the first lumen, and instilling fluid into the body of a patient through the second lumen.   
     
     
         37 . Apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the first cylinder comprises a first handle for rotating the first cylinder so as to adjust the position of the first through-hole relative to the first lumen, and the second cylinder comprises a second handle for rotating the second cylinder so as to adjust the position of the second through-hole relative to the second lumen. 
     
     
         38 . Apparatus according to  claim 37  wherein the first through-hole is aligned with the first lumen when the first handle extends perpendicular to the first lumen, and the second through-hole is aligned with the second lumen when the second handle extends perpendicular to the second lumen. 
     
     
         39 . Apparatus according to  claim 37  wherein the first through-hole is perpendicular to the first lumen when the first handle extends parallel to the first lumen, and the second through-hole is perpendicular to the second lumen when the second handle extends parallel to the second lumen. 
     
     
         40 . Apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the first open/close valve comprises a first cylinder extending across the first lumen, the first cylinder having a first through-hole extending therethrough, and the second open/close valve comprises a second cylinder extending across the second lumen, the second cylinder having a second through-hole extending therethrough. 
     
     
         41 . Apparatus according to  claim 40  wherein the first cylinder comprises a first handle for rotating the first cylinder so as to adjust the position of the first through-hole relative to the first lumen, and the second cylinder comprises a second handle for rotating the second cylinder so as to adjust the position of the second through-hole relative to the second lumen. 
     
     
         42 . Apparatus according to  claim 41  wherein the first through-hole is aligned with the first lumen when the first handle extends perpendicular to the first lumen, and the second through-hole is aligned with the second lumen when the second handle extends perpendicular to the second lumen. 
     
     
         43 . Apparatus according to  claim 41  wherein the first through-hole is perpendicular to the first lumen when the first handle extends parallel to the first lumen, and the second through-hole is perpendicular to the second lumen when the second handle extends parallel to the second lumen. 
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein the first cylinder comprises a first handle for rotating the first cylinder so as to adjust the position of the first through-hole relative to the first lumen, and the second cylinder comprises a second handle for rotating the second cylinder so as to adjust the position of the second through-hole relative to the second lumen. 
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 44  wherein the first through-hole is aligned with the first lumen when the first handle extends perpendicular to the first lumen, and the second through-hole is aligned with the second lumen when the second handle extends perpendicular to the second lumen. 
     
     
         46 . A method according to  claim 44  wherein the first through-hole is perpendicular to the first lumen when the first handle extends parallel to the first lumen, and the second through-hole is perpendicular to the second lumen when the second handle extends parallel to the second lumen. 
     
     
         47 . Apparatus according to  claim 34  wherein the first open/close valve comprises a first cylinder extending across the first lumen, the first cylinder having a first through-hole extending therethrough, and the second open/close valve comprises a second cylinder extending across the second lumen, the second cylinder having a second through-hole extending therethrough. 
     
     
         48 . Apparatus according to  claim 47  wherein the first cylinder comprises a first handle for rotating the first cylinder so as to adjust the position of the first through-hole relative to the first lumen, and the second cylinder comprises a second handle for rotating the second cylinder so as to adjust the position of the second through-hole relative to the second lumen. 
     
     
         49 . Apparatus according to  claim 48  wherein the first through-hole is aligned with the first lumen when the first handle extends perpendicular to the first lumen, and the second through-hole is aligned with the second lumen when the second handle extends perpendicular to the second lumen. 
     
     
         50 . Apparatus according to  claim 48  wherein the first through-hole is perpendicular to the first lumen when the first handle extends parallel to the first lumen, and the second through-hole is perpendicular to the second lumen when the second handle extends parallel to the second lumen. 
     
     
         51 . Apparatus according to  claim 35  wherein the first open/close valve comprises a first cylinder extending across the first lumen, the first cylinder having a first through-hole extending therethrough, and the second open/close valve comprises a second cylinder extending across the second lumen, the second cylinder having a second through-hole extending therethrough. 
     
     
         52 . Apparatus according to  claim 51  wherein the first cylinder comprises a first handle for rotating the first cylinder so as to adjust the position of the first through-hole relative to the first lumen, and the second cylinder comprises a second handle for rotating the second cylinder so as to adjust the position of the second through-hole relative to the second lumen. 
     
     
         53 . Apparatus according to  claim 52  wherein the first through-hole is aligned with the first lumen when the first handle extends perpendicular to the first lumen, and the second through-hole is aligned with the second lumen when the second handle extends perpendicular to the second lumen. 
     
     
         54 . Apparatus according to  claim 52  wherein the first through-hole is perpendicular to the first lumen when the first handle extends parallel to the first lumen, and the second through-hole is perpendicular to the second lumen when the second handle extends parallel to the second lumen. 
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein the method further comprises using the first open/close valve and the second open/close valve to control flow through the first and second lumens. 
     
     
         56 . A method according to  claim 55  wherein the first open/close valve comprises a first cylinder extending across the first lumen, the first cylinder having a first through-hole extending therethrough, and the second open/close valve comprises a second cylinder extending across the second lumen, the second cylinder having a second through-hole extending therethrough. 
     
     
         57 . A method according to  claim 56  wherein the first cylinder comprises a first handle for rotating the first cylinder so as to adjust the position of the first through-hole relative to the first lumen, and the second cylinder comprises a second handle for rotating the second cylinder so as to adjust the position of the second through-hole relative to the second lumen. 
     
     
         58 . A method according to  claim 57  wherein the first through-hole is aligned with the first lumen when the first handle extends perpendicular to the first lumen, and the second through-hole is aligned with the second lumen when the second handle extends perpendicular to the second lumen. 
     
     
         59 . A method according to  claim 57  wherein the first through-hole is perpendicular to the first lumen when the first handle extends parallel to the first lumen, and the second through-hole is perpendicular to the second lumen when the second handle extends parallel to the second lumen.