EP-4736906-A1 - EXTRACORPOREAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM WITH AIR PURGE CONTROL

EP4736906A1EP 4736906 A1EP4736906 A1EP 4736906A1EP-4736906-A1

Abstract

Extracorporeal blood treatment systems including air purge control capabilities are disclosed. An example extracorporeal blood treatment system may include an extracorporeal blood pathway between a venous side of the heart and an arterial side of the heart, an air trap positioned along the blood pathway, a first sensor positioned adjacent the bubble trap and a second sensor positioned adjacent the bubble trap. Further, a first signal sent by the first sensor is configured to activate air removal from the air trap and a second signal sent by the second sensor is configured to deactivate air removal from the air trap.

Inventors

SCHUBERT, Friedemann
Kohnen, Lena
Stoll, Sascha Ewald

Assignees

LivaNova Deutschland GmbH

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20251015

Claims (15)

An extracorporeal blood treatment system, comprising: an extracorporeal blood pathway between a venous side of the heart and an arterial side of the heart; an air trap positioned along the blood pathway; a first sensor positioned adjacent the bubble trap; a second sensor positioned adjacent the bubble trap; and wherein a first signal sent by the first sensor is configured to activate air removal from the air trap; wherein a second signal sent by the second sensor is configured to deactivate air removal from the air trap.
The extracorporeal blood treatment system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is configured to sense a presence of air in blood flowing along the blood pathway.
The extracorporeal blood treatment system of claim 2, wherein the second sensor is configured to sense a change in a gas volume fraction of blood passing along a tubing pathway extending between the air trap and an air removal element.
The extracorporeal blood treatment system of claim 3, wherein the air removal element includes a vacuum device.
The extracorporeal blood treatment system of claim 3, wherein the air removal element includes a roller pump.
The extracorporeal blood treatment system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first sensor is positioned upstream of the air trap.
The extracorporeal blood treatment system of claim 1, further comprising a tubing pathway having a first end attached to the air trap and a second end attached to an air removal element, and wherein the second sensor is positioned along the tubing pathway.
The extracorporeal blood treatment system of claim 1, further comprising a control unit in communication with the first sensor, the second sensor and the air removal element.
The extracorporeal blood treatment system of claim 8, wherein the first sensor is configured to transmit a first signal to the control unit, wherein the second sensor is configured to transmit a second signal to the control unit, wherein the air removal element is configured to receive a third signal corresponding to the first signal from the control unit, and wherein the air removal element is configured to receive a fourth signal corresponding to the second signal from the control unit, and wherein the air control element is configured to adjust a vacuum force in the air trap after receiving the third signal, the fourth signal or both the third and the fourth signals.
The extracorporeal blood treatment system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor includes a first level sensor, the first level sensor configured to sense a minimum fluid level of blood in the air trap.
The extracorporeal blood treatment system of claim 10, wherein the first level sensor is configured to send a signal corresponding to the minimum fluid level of blood in the air trap.
The extracorporeal blood treatment system of claim 11, further comprising a third sensor, and wherein the third sensor includes a second level sensor, wherein the second level sensor is configured to sense a maximum fluid level of blood in the air trap.
The extracorporeal blood treatment system of claim 12, wherein the second level sensor is configured to send a signal corresponding to the maximum fluid level of blood in the air trap.
An extracorporeal blood treatment system, comprising: an extracorporeal blood pathway between a venous side of the heart and an arterial side of the heart; an air trap positioned along the blood pathway; a first sensor positioned adjacent the air trap; a second sensor positioned adjacent the air trap; and an air removal element coupled to the air trap; a control unit in communication with the first sensor, the second sensor and the air removal element; wherein the air removal element is configured to activate after receiving a first signal from the first sensor; wherein the air removal element is configured to at least partially deactivate after receiving a second signal from the second sensor.
An extracorporeal blood treatment system, comprising: an extracorporeal blood pathway between a venous side of the heart and an arterial side of the heart; an air trap positioned along the blood pathway; a first sensor positioned upstream of the air trap; a tubing pathway extending between the air trap and a roller pump; a second sensor positioned along the tubing pathway; and a control unit in communication with the first sensor, the second sensor and the roller pump; wherein the first sensor is configured to send a first signal to the control unit, and wherein the first signal corresponds to an amount of air present in blood flowing within the blood pathway; wherein the second sensor is configured to send a second signal to the control unit, and wherein the second signal corresponds to an amount of air present in the tubing pathway; wherein the roller pump is configured to activate after receiving a third signal from the control unit, and wherein the third signal corresponds to the first signal received from the first sensor; wherein the roller pump is configured to at least partially deactivate after receiving a fourth signal from the control unit, and wherein the fourth signal corresponds to the second signal received from the second sensor.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to an extracorporeal life support system and methods for manufacturing and/or using an extracorporeal life support system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an extracorporeal life support system including air purge control capabilities and methods for manufacturing and/or using an extracorporeal life support system. BACKGROUND Some medical procedures (e.g., medical procedures which treat cardiac or respiratory disease) may require the use of a life support system that supports cardiac and pulmonary functions by artificially supporting the heart and the lung function. In some instances, this may be carried out by an extracorporeal perfusion system. An extracorporeal perfusion system may provide both cardiac and respiratory support to a patient whose heart and lungs are unable to provide an adequate amount of gas exchange during a cardiac and pulmonary procedure. Extracorporeal perfusion works by removing blood from a patient's body to oxygenate the red blood cells while also removing carbon dioxide. The oxygenated blood is then returned to the patient. Extracorporeal perfusion systems may include multiple devices that together form a blood recirculation loop between the patient and a blood oxygenator. For example, some extracorporeal perfusion systems may include a blood pump to power blood flow, an oxygenator to oxygenate the blood, a device to filter the blood (which may be included within the oxygenator in some systems), one or more sensors positioned at various locations along blood pathways, one or more clamps and one or more control units. It can be appreciated that a blood pathway (e.g., tubing) may extend from the patient towards a blood pump, then pass through the oxygenator and close the loop by returning to the patient. Accordingly, the blood pump may assist the heart by pumping blood through the circulation loop, while the oxygenator may assist the lungs by oxygenating blood that is eventually returned to the patient. It can be further appreciated that removing the blood from the patient may include placing multiple cannulas into the patient's body in a variety of locations, depending on the type of medical procedure being performed. For example, to infuse oxygen-rich blood into the patient's body, an arterial cannula may be placed in the ascending aorta of the patient. Additionally, to remove oxygen-rich blood from the patient's body a venous cannula may be placed in the superior vena cava and/or inferior vena cava of the patient. Further, the extracorporeal perfusion system may be configured to prevent hemolysis by minimizing contact of the blood to air during the placement of the venous cannula. However, in some instances, air may inadvertently enter the venous blood pathway. For example, air may enter the venous blood pathway during placement of the venous cannula. Additionally, air may enter the venous blood pathway via holes within one or more tubes of the tubing system defining the venous blood pathway. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that the extracorporeal perfusion system may include one or more systems configured to remove air which has entered the venous blood pathway. For example, the extracorporeal perfusion system may include an air trap (e.g., air bubble trap) positioned along the venous blood pathway, whereby the air trap is configured to remove air which has entered the venous blood pathway. Extracorporeal perfusion systems including air purge control systems configured to remove air from the venous blood pathway are disclosed herein. SUMMARY An example extracorporeal blood treatment system may include an extracorporeal blood pathway between a venous side of the heart and an arterial side of the heart, an air trap positioned along the blood pathway, a first sensor positioned adjacent the bubble trap and a second sensor positioned adjacent the bubble trap. Further, a first signal sent by the first sensor is configured to activate air removal from the air trap and a second signal sent by the second sensor is configured to deactivate air removal from the air trap. In addition or alternatively to any example described herein, wherein the first sensor is configured to sense a presence of air in blood flowing along the blood pathway. In addition or alternatively to any example described herein, wherein the second sensor is configured to sense a change in a gas volume fraction of blood passing along a tubing pathway extending between the air trap and an air removal element. In addition or alternatively to any example described herein wherein the air removal element includes a vacuum device. In addition or alternatively to any example described herein, wherein the air removal element includes a roller pump. In addition or alternatively to any example described herein, wherein the first sensor is positioned upstream of the air trap. In addition or alternatively to any example described herein, further comprising a tubin