Method of operating a dialysis machine

Abstract

A method and apparatus of priming or rinse back of an extracorporeal circuit using a dialysis machine comprising a dialysis liquid preparation system. The dialysis machine is used to prepare a saline solution on-line. The extracorporeal circuit is connected to the dialysis machine and primed with the saline solution.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A dialysis machine comprising a dialysis liquid preparation system having, a source of water, a source of bicarbonate concentrate, and a source of sodium chloride concentrate, said dialysis machine further comprising: 
 means for preparing a mixture of sodium chloride concentrate from said source of sodium chloride concentrate with water from said source of water,    means for controlling a mixing ratio of said mixture so that a sodium chloride concentration after mixing corresponds substantially to a sodium chloride concentration of a desired saline solution, and    means for transferring said mixture out of the dialysis machine to an inlet end of an infusion line, said dialysis machine being connectable to an extracorporeal circuit comprising:    a dialyser or hemofilter;    a blood tubing set including an arterial line, connectable to patient, for drawing blood from the patient; and    a venous line, connectable to the patient, for returning the blood to the patient, whereby a patient end of the arterial line is connectable to an outlet end of said infusion line.    
   
   
       12 . A dialysis machine according to  claim 11 , wherein said means for preparing a mixture includes a point at which said water and said sodium chloride concentrate mix, downstream of which a conductivity cell is located.  
   
   
       13 . A dialysis machine according to  claim 12 , further comprising means having set-points for the sodium chloride concentration of the mixture corresponding to the sodium chloride concentration of a saline solution.  
   
   
       14 . A dialysis machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the set-points for the sodium chloride concentration of the mixture are in the range of 150 to 158 mmol/l.  
   
   
       15 . A dialysis machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising means to adjust the mixing ratio of said water and said sodium chloride concentrate.  
   
   
       16 . A dialysis machine according to  claim 11 , wherein said infusion line includes an ultrafilter.  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . A dialysis machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising at least one ultrafilter in a flow path of said water, dialysis liquid, or saline solution.  
   
   
       19 . A dialysis machine according to  claim 15 , wherein said means to adjust the mixing ratio of said water and said sodium chloride concentrate operates in response to a signal from a conductivity cell.