WO2021170561A1 - Medical diaphragm pump, and diaphragm pump system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a diaphragm pump (10) for pumping a fluid, comprising a pump housing (15) with an interior for receiving a pump diaphragm (311) of a pump tube section (301), which has an inlet line (301in) for admitting fluid to be pumped into an area that is at least partly enclosed by the pump diaphragm (311) and which has an outlet line (301out) for discharging pumped fluid out of the area that is at least partly enclosed by the pump diaphragm (311). The diaphragm pump (10) additionally has a supply opening (17) for supplying a working fluid to the interior of the pump housing (15). The invention likewise relates to a method for pumping fluid using the diaphragm pump (10) and to a diaphragm pump system (50) which comprises a plurality of such diaphragm pumps (10).

Description

description

Medical diaphragm pump and diaphragm pumping system

The present invention relates to a diaphragm pump according to claim 1, a diaphragm pump system according to claim 6; it also relates to a method for conveying fluid according to claims 11 and 12 and a delivery system according to claim 14; besides, it concerns you

Pump tubing section according to claim 15 according to the preamble or generic terms of these claims and a blood tubing set as disclosed herein.

Extracorporeal blood treatment is known from practice. In this case, blood is taken from the patient, which is transported extracorporeally along a blood circuit and z. B. is passed through a blood filter. The blood filter has a blood chamber through which blood is passed and a dialysis fluid chamber through which

Dialysis fluid is performed on. Both chambers are separated from each other by a semi-permeable membrane. Blood and dialysis fluid are mostly passed through the blood filter using the counterflow principle. The blood is cleaned in the blood filter, the dialysis fluid can be discarded as used after it exits the blood filter or returned to the blood filter in processed form and is referred to herein as dialysate. In addition to the dialysate, the fluid to be discarded also includes filtrate, which includes water that has been withdrawn from the blood in the blood filter. In the following, the filtrate and dialysate are referred to individually or collectively as the effluent. Blood, filtrate, effluent and other fluids are included in the blood treatment support financially. But fluids other than those mentioned above are also to be promoted in medicine or medical technology.

An object of the present invention can be seen in providing a, preferably flexible and safe,

To provide a diaphragm pump suitable for conveying medical fluids and a diaphragm pump system with a plurality of such diaphragm pumps according to the invention.

Furthermore, methods for conveying a medical fluid, a conveying system, a pump tubing section and a blood tubing set are to be specified.

The object of the invention can by a diaphragm pump with the features of claim 1, and by a

Diaphragm pump system can be achieved with the features of claim 6. In addition, it can be achieved by a method with the features of claims 11 and 12, a conveying system with the features of claim 14, a pump tubing section with the features of claim 15 and a blood tubing set as disclosed herein.

The present invention relates to a diaphragm pump for conveying fluid, which has a pump housing with an interior for receiving a pump diaphragm (or diaphragm body) of a pump hose section. The pump membrane is preferably made of a flexible and / or elastic material or has such a material. In particular, when a negative pressure is applied that is properly applied by a working fluid, the material preferably expands, in particular reversibly. The material of the pump housing, on the other hand, is opposed to the application of a negative pressure or positive pressure by the working fluid preferably rigid, that is to say non-deformable, and / or less flexible or less elastic than the pump diaphragm or has such a material.

In addition to the pump membrane mentioned above, such a pump hose section has an inlet line for admitting fluid to be pumped into a space (alternative term: volume) enclosed at least in sections by means of the pump membrane, as well as an outlet line for discharging fluids pumped by the pump membrane from the Pump membrane out at least partially enclosed space.

The diaphragm pump also has a feed opening. The supply opening is used to supply working fluid into the interior of the pump housing.

The diaphragm pump system according to the invention has a plurality of diaphragm pumps, in particular diaphragm pumps according to the invention, preferably (e.g. exactly or at least in each case) three, four or more diaphragm pumps, particularly preferably a first diaphragm pump, which has a first pump housing, a second diaphragm pump with a second pump housing, a third diaphragm pump with a third pump housing and a fourth diaphragm pump with a fourth pump housing. Of these diaphragm pumps, preferably at least two diaphragm pumps are fluidly arranged parallel to one another, and / or at least two diaphragm pumps are arranged in series with one another.

The present invention also relates to a first method for conveying fluid. The method comprises providing a diaphragm pump according to the invention and that Providing a source with a working fluid which is connected to the supply line or the supply opening and / or the discharge line or the discharge opening of the diaphragm pump.

This method comprises, purely optionally, an initial filling of the interior of the pump housing of the first diaphragm pump with working fluid from the source through the supply opening by opening the valve in the supply line. It further comprises the following steps: a) closing the valve in the supply line; b) opening the valve in the discharge line to lower the pressure or to generate negative pressure inside the pump housing of the diaphragm pump with or by means of the discharge of working fluid from the interior through the discharge opening; this increases the volume enclosed by the pump diaphragm, which serves to indirectly convey a fluid to be conveyed into the pump diaphragm; c) closing the valve in the discharge line; d) opening the valve in the supply line to increase the pressure or to generate overpressure inside the pump housing of the diaphragm pump with or by supplying working fluid through the supply opening after fluid to be pumped has flown into the pump diaphragm. When the valve is opened, working fluid flows into the interior of the pump housing, whereby the enclosed volume of the pump diaphragm closes while pumping the pumping fluid out of the pump diaphragm is reduced in size; and e) multiple execution of steps a) to d) in the order given above a), b), c) and finally d).

The present invention relates to a further, second method for conveying fluid. It comprises the provision of a diaphragm pump system according to the invention and the provision of a source with a working fluid. The source is or will be connected to the supply opening or the supply line of the diaphragm pumps. It can optionally also be connected to its respective discharge opening or discharge line, if provided.

This method comprises, purely optionally, an initial filling of the interior of the pump housing of the one or all diaphragm pumps of the diaphragm pump system with working fluid from the source through its supply opening by opening the valve in the supply line.

The method further comprises the following steps, which are part of a first pump mode: a) filling the pump membrane of the first membrane pump with fluid to be pumped, in particular from the inlet line; b) filling the pump diaphragm of the second diaphragm pump arranged parallel to the first diaphragm pump with fluid to be conveyed, in particular from the inlet line; c) Conveying fluids taken up in the pump diaphragm of the first diaphragm pump into the pump diaphragm of the third diaphragm pump arranged downstream of the first diaphragm pump; d) Conveying fluids taken up in the pump diaphragm of the second diaphragm pump into the pump diaphragm of the fourth diaphragm pump arranged downstream of the second diaphragm pump; e) emptying of fluids taken up in the pump membrane of the third membrane pump, in particular into the outlet line; and f) emptying of fluids taken up in the pump membrane of the fourth membrane pump, in particular into the outlet line.

Steps of the method, in particular the steps of the first pump mode, or partial steps thereof, can each be carried out sequentially, in parallel and / or with a temporal overlap. In particular, provision can be made for the above steps a) and b) to be carried out or to have carried out offset in time to one another, but overlapping one another.

The delivery system according to the invention comprises at least one membrane pump system according to the invention.

Furthermore, the delivery system comprises at least one source with a working fluid, connected to the respective supply opening and, if provided, optionally also with the discharge opening of the respective diaphragm pump.

The conveyor system according to the invention also includes actuators which are arranged to operate the valves of the diaphragm pump system. Purely by way of example, the actuators can be operated mechanically, magnetically, electrically, pneumatically and / or hydraulically. According to the invention it is provided that various types and any combinations of actuators can be provided within the conveyor system, for example electrical as well as pneumatic.

The conveyor system further comprises a control device or is connected to it. The control device is programmed and / or configured, all automatic steps or steps a) to f) of the further, second method according to the invention or of the sequence referred to herein as the first pump mode and - additionally or alternatively - the second pump mode and / or third explained below To cause pumping mode by means of the diaphragm pump system to monitor and / or control. All of the steps described above can be automatic steps.

The automatic steps include those that usually take place without human intervention. In this way, the control device can initiate, monitor and control the pumping activity of the diaphragm pump system without the intervention of a user of the delivery system, for example clinical staff, and thus, in cooperation with the necessary devices such as pumps, valves, etc., for. B. cause or effect a desired flow, such as a continuous flow of the fluid to be conveyed. The pump hose section according to the invention is used together with a membrane pump according to the invention or with a membrane pump system according to the invention. For this purpose, the pump hose section has at least one pump membrane, which at least in sections encloses a space and which is suitable and intended for insertion or arrangement in a pump housing of a membrane pump according to the invention.

The pump hose section furthermore comprises at least or precisely one inlet line and at least or precisely one outlet line. In this case, the inlet line serves to let the fluid to be conveyed into the space enclosed at least in sections by the pump membrane. The outlet line serves to let the pumped fluid out of the space enclosed at least in sections by the pump membrane. In this case, the inlet line and outlet line can optionally be implemented by means of only one common line, this one line then branching out.

When used as intended, the pump hose section is used to convey a medical fluid, e.g. B. of blood, dialysis fluid, dialysate, substituate, etc. It can accordingly be a blood pump tube section, a dialysis fluid pump tube section, dialysate pump tube section or substituate pump tube section.

The present invention further relates to a blood tubing set. The blood tubing set comprises at least one pump tubing section according to the invention. The blood tubing set according to the invention can be used as intended for extracorporeal blood treatment, for example by means of oxygenation, dialysis or the like, and in particular for its use in one of the blood treatment methods mentioned herein.

Embodiments according to the invention can have some, some or all of the following features in any combination, unless this is technically impossible for a person skilled in the art to recognize. Advantageous further developments of the present invention are each also the subject matter of the subclaims.

In all of the above or following statements, the use of the expression “may be” or “may have” etc. is to be understood as synonymous with “is preferably” or “preferably” etc. and is intended to explain embodiments according to the invention.

Whenever numerical words are mentioned here, the person skilled in the art understands them to indicate a numerically lower limit. If this does not lead to a contradiction that is recognizable to the person skilled in the art, the person skilled in the art therefore always reads “at least one” or “at least one” with the statement “a” or “an”. This understanding is also encompassed by the present invention, as is the interpretation that a numerical word such as "a" can alternatively be meant as "exactly one", wherever this is technically possible for the person skilled in the art. Both are encompassed by the present invention and apply to all numerical words used herein. If an embodiment is mentioned here, this represents an exemplary embodiment according to the invention.

When “upstream” or “downstream” is used herein, in case of doubt this preferably refers to the representation in the figures, the conveying direction in normal use or to a conveying mode.

In some embodiments, the pump housing is in several parts. It can e.g. B. be in two parts, it can be two halves, e.g. B. have symmetrical and / or identically formed halves.

In some embodiments, apart from the supply opening and the discharge opening, the pump housing is designed to be fluid-tight for the working fluid to be introduced into its interior. This can be achieved by choosing fluid-tight materials, suitable joining processes and / or seals. The fluid-tight space in which the working fluid can move inside the pump housing can be defined (and optionally only by means of this) or limited or formed by sections of the pump housing and the elastic membrane, optionally only by the walls of the pump housing and the outside of the pump membrane .

In some embodiments, the diaphragm pump also has a diaphragm cage. It is used to hold the pump membrane, in whole or in part, in its interior. The membrane cage is rigid, that is, it is made of a material that does not deform when an overpressure or underpressure is applied. The diaphragm cage is arranged inside the pump housing. It is preferably spherical (spherical) or designed as an ovoid, e.g. B. completely or at least in sections. Other forms are also encompassed by the present invention.

In some embodiments, the membrane cage is in several parts, e.g. B. in two parts, e.g. B. with two halves, e.g. B. with symmetrically or identically designed halves executed.

In some embodiments, the membrane cage has a wall or consists of such a wall.

The wall preferably has a multiplicity, preferably at least three, of passage openings for the passage of working fluid.

The wall can be perforated or have through openings in the form of holes or slots.

The perforation and / or the passage openings serve to ensure that pressure that is built up on the outside of the membrane cage is distributed as evenly as possible into the interior of the membrane cage in which the pump membrane is present during use. Thus, the pump membrane is also exposed to a pressure that is as uniform as possible.

A wall that is permeable to the working fluid can also ensure that the pump membrane is completely filled. If the expansion of the pump diaphragm reaches the wall of the diaphragm cage, the pump diaphragm cannot expand any further and thus cannot absorb more fluid. Reaching the full fill level can thus be possible by monitoring the pressure of the working fluid and / or the pumped fluid. If, for example, the pump membrane reaches the wall, in particular over a large area, fluid flow into the pump membrane is no longer possible, as a result of which the static pressure increases suddenly.

In some embodiments, the diaphragm cage can be a protective grille that can protect the pump diaphragm from excessive expansion and thus from damage. For this purpose, it can be made of non-elastic material or material which has a higher modulus of elasticity (E-module, Young's modulus) than the material of the pump diaphragm, or have such a material. The membrane cage advantageously has no pointed or sharp-edged transitions, in particular in the vicinity of the first and second openings, in order to prevent damage to the pump membrane.

In particular, the diaphragm cage is preferably shaped in such a way that the pump diaphragm, when it expands, approaches the inside of the diaphragm cage uniformly, that is to say approximately at the same time, over its outer surface. This means that shear forces in the pump diaphragm and, in particular, the stress on the material on the pump diaphragm are evenly distributed, so that cracks can be avoided.

The membrane cage can have or consist of a wire mesh or a pattern made of hard plastic.

In some embodiments, the diaphragm pump also has a discharge opening. The discharge opening is used to discharge working fluid from the interior of the pump housing. Feed and discharge openings can be provided as two separate openings that are separate from one another. In certain embodiments, they can alternatively be implemented as a single opening through which the working fluid both enters and exits when used as intended or - in the absence of an alternative - must both enter and exit.

In some embodiments, the pump housing further has a first opening for receiving a cross section of the inlet line of the pump hose section and a second opening for receiving a cross section of the outlet line of the pump hose section.

The first and the second opening are preferably arranged between the interior of the pump housing and its exterior, preferably on opposite sides of the pump housing.

In some embodiments, the diaphragm pump according to the invention, in particular its first opening and its second opening, is designed in such a way that the inlet line or outlet line received in it, specifically its outer wall, are guided into and out of the interior of the pump housing in a fluid-tight manner.

In some embodiments, the supply opening is connected to a supply line and / or, if provided, the discharge opening is connected to a discharge line, with which they are each in fluid connection. The supply line and / or the discharge line each have a valve for controlling or regulating a flow through them and / or each have a filter, in particular a hydrophobic filter. In some embodiments, the pump diaphragm of a pump hose section is introduced or inserted into the interior of the pump housing of the diaphragm pump according to the invention. In this case, the inlet line is preferably passed through the first opening of the pump housing and the outlet line is passed through the second opening of the pump housing.

In some embodiments of the membrane pump system according to the invention this is with a

Pump hose section connected. The pump hose section has a multiplicity of pump membranes, one pump membrane being arranged in each case in the interior of a pump housing of the multiplicity of membrane pumps which are part of the membrane pump system. Furthermore, in these embodiments, some or all of the pump diaphragms are by means of a common inlet line of the

Pump hose section for admitting fluid to be pumped into the spaces enclosed at least in sections by means of the pump membrane. They are also fluidically connected to one another by means of a common outlet line of the pump hose section for discharging the fluid conveyed by means of the pump membrane from these spaces.

In some embodiments of the membrane pump system, one or precisely one valve is arranged upstream and / or downstream of at least one or each of the membrane pumps and / or each of the pump membranes and / or between membrane pumps and / or pump membranes arranged fluidically in series. The valves are each provided for controlling or regulating the flow of fluid into or out of the pump membrane. In some embodiments, one or precisely one valve is arranged in or on the common inlet line and / or in or on the common outlet line of the pump hose section.

The valves in the common lines can serve to fluidically separate the entire diaphragm pump system from further components of the conveyor system according to the invention, which has the diaphragm pump system.

In some embodiments of the diaphragm pump system, the valves are in or on the lines of the

Pump hose section arranged in such a way that some or all of them can be actuated independently of one another. This can enable individual delivery by means of individual pump diaphragms, and also preferably influence the direction in which the pump membrane delivers.

In some embodiments of the diaphragm pump system, the valves in the supply lines and / or the valves in the discharge lines of the diaphragm pumps are arranged in such a way that some or all of them can be actuated independently of one another. The advantages mentioned above can also be achieved in this way.

In some embodiments of the diaphragm pump system according to the invention, at least one of the diaphragm pumps or parts thereof is in or on a disposable article, e.g. B. made of plastic, arranged. The disposable article can alternatively be referred to as a disposable or disposable article. In certain embodiments, the diaphragm pumps are or Parts thereof arranged on a cassette or blood cassette.

In some embodiments, valves in or on the lines of the pump hose section or parts of these valves are in or on a disposable article, e.g. B. made of plastic, arranged.

In some embodiments of the further, second method according to the invention, for filling the pump diaphragms of the first diaphragm pump or the second diaphragm pump, e.g. B. in accordance with the first pump mode, the following steps are carried out: a) closing the valves of the supply lines of the first diaphragm pump and the second diaphragm pump, in particular independently of one another; b) opening the valves arranged upstream of the first and second diaphragm pumps, in particular independently of one another; c) opening the valves of the discharge lines of the first diaphragm pump and the second diaphragm pump, in particular independently of one another, to lower the pressure or to generate negative pressure inside the respective pump housing of the corresponding diaphragm pump with or by means of the discharge of working fluid through the respective discharge opening; in this case, the valve in the common inlet line is open and the valves in the corresponding line located downstream of the first and second diaphragm pumps are closed; d) closing the valves of the discharge line of the first diaphragm pump and the second diaphragm pump, in particular independently of one another; and e) closing the valves in the line branches of the inlet line upstream of the first and the second diaphragm pump.

In some embodiments of the further, second method according to the invention, for pumping the fluid to be pumped from the pump diaphragms of the first diaphragm pump or the second diaphragm pump into the pump diaphragms of the third diaphragm pump or fourth diaphragm pump, e.g. B. in accordance with the first pump mode, the following steps are carried out: a) opening the valves arranged upstream of the third diaphragm pump and the fourth diaphragm pump in the line branches of the inlet line, in particular independently of one another; b) opening the valves of the supply line of the first diaphragm pump and the second diaphragm pump, in particular independently of one another, to increase the pressure or to generate overpressure inside the pump housing of the first diaphragm pump and in the pump housing of the second diaphragm pump with or by means of the supply of working fluid through the respective Feed openings, in particular independently of one another, and opening the valves of the discharge line of the third and fourth diaphragm pumps to lower the pressure or to generate negative pressure inside the respective pump housing of the third diaphragm pump and the fourth diaphragm pump under or by means of exporting working fluid through the respective export opening, also in particular independently; c) closing the valves of the discharge lines of the third diaphragm pump or the fourth diaphragm pump, in particular independently of one another; and d) closing the valves arranged upstream of the third diaphragm pump or upstream of the fourth diaphragm pump in the respective line branches of the inlet line, again in particular independently.

In some embodiments of the further, second method according to the invention, the

Pump diaphragms of the third diaphragm pump or the fourth

Membrane pump, e.g. B. according to the first pumping mode, the following

Steps carried out: a) opening the valve in the common outlet opening; b) opening the valves arranged downstream of the third diaphragm pump or downstream of the fourth diaphragm pump in the corresponding line branches, in particular independently of one another; c) opening the valves of the supply lines of the third diaphragm pump or the fourth diaphragm pump, in particular independently of one another, to increase the pressure or to generate excess pressure inside the respective pump housing of the third diaphragm pump or the fourth diaphragm pump with or by means of the supply of working fluid through the respective feed opening; d) closing the valves of the supply lines of the third diaphragm pump or the fourth diaphragm pump, in particular independently of one another; and e) closing the valves arranged downstream of the third diaphragm pump or downstream of the fourth diaphragm pump in the corresponding line branches, again in particular independently of one another.

In some embodiments of the further, second method according to the invention, by means of the first and the second diaphragm pump in total or together, an always, or at least over at least 50% of the delivery time, preferably over 80% and particularly preferably over 90% of the filling time of the first and / or the second diaphragm pump, the same or continuous flow of the fluid to be conveyed is generated in the inlet line.

In some embodiments of the further, second method according to the invention, by means of the third and fourth diaphragm pumps in total or with one another, an always, or at least over at least 50% of the delivery time, preferably over 80% and particularly preferably over 90% of the emptying time of the third and / or the fourth diaphragm pump, the same or continuous flow of the fluid to be conveyed is generated in the outlet line.

In some embodiments of the further, second method according to the invention, a pulsed flow of the fluid to be conveyed is generated in total or together in the outlet line by means of the third and fourth diaphragm pumps. This results in the advantage of being able to configure the flow control of the fluid continuously when the fluid is supplied to the pump system and the discharge of the fluid from the pump system in a pulsed manner. In other words, the course of the fluid flow during supply and discharge can be designed independently of one another. This makes it possible, for example, to take blood from the patient with a continuous flow and to return blood to him in pulsed form.

In particular, the possibility of using a pulse-width modulation and / or pulse-frequency modulation in a targeted manner and thus being able to have a positive effect on the patient reception can arise here as an advantage.

In some embodiments of the further, second method according to the invention, this comprises the following steps of a second pump mode, either:

Filling the pump membrane of the first membrane pump with fluid to be delivered, in particular from the inlet line;

Conveying fluid taken up in the pump diaphragm of the first diaphragm pump into the pump diaphragm of the third diaphragm pump arranged downstream of the first diaphragm pump; and

Emptying fluid taken up in the pump membrane of the third membrane pump, in particular into the outlet line; or alternatively the steps: Filling the pump membrane of the second membrane pump with fluid to be delivered, in particular from the inlet line;

Conveying fluid taken up in the pump diaphragm of the second diaphragm pump into the pump diaphragm of the fourth diaphragm pump arranged downstream of the second diaphragm pump; and

Emptying of fluid taken up in the pump diaphragm of the fourth diaphragm pump, in particular into the outlet line.

It is provided in these embodiments to convey a fluid to be conveyed either via a first line branch or via a second line branch of two lines which fluidically connect the common inlet line to the common outlet line, but not via both of these parallel line branches.

This second pump mode, into which the method according to the first pump mode can pass if necessary, can advantageously ensure the delivery of the fluid to be delivered, even if one of the diaphragm pumps of the diaphragm pump system should fail, for example due to maintenance or a malfunction. In this case, the delivery of the fluid to be delivered is only continued via the line branch with the functioning diaphragm pumps during the malfunction. Advantageously, the promotion or a blood treatment session does not have to be terminated because of such a disorder or not for e.g. B. a dismantling and a renewed upgrade are interrupted. In some embodiments of the further, second method according to the invention, the method further comprises the following steps of a third pump mode:

Closing the valve in the common

Outlet line as well as the valve in the common

Inlet pipe;

Conveying fluid within the

Diaphragm pump system with the following steps: a) Conveying fluid taken up in the pump diaphragm of the first diaphragm pump into the pump diaphragm of the third diaphragm pump; b) conveying fluid taken up in the pump diaphragm of the third diaphragm pump into the pump diaphragm of the fourth diaphragm pump; c) conveying fluid taken up in the pump diaphragm of the fourth diaphragm pump into the pump diaphragm of the second diaphragm pump; d) conveying fluid taken up in the pump diaphragm of the second diaphragm pump into the pump diaphragm of the first diaphragm pump; and e) multiple execution of steps a) to d) in the specified order. The steps can be run through as shown here, i.e. with funding from the first to the third, to the fourth, to the second and again to the first diaphragm pump, or against this conveying direction, that is from the first to the second, to the fourth, to the third and from there again to the first diaphragm pump; and

Opening the valve in the common outlet line and the valve in the common inlet line.

The third pump mode enables the fluid to be pumped to be circulated within the diaphragm pump system. This pumping mode can be used, for example, if there should be malfunctions within the delivery system according to the invention which momentarily prevent the diaphragm pump system from being emptied.

In some embodiments, a method according to the invention can comprise a plurality of pump modes and in particular the first, second and / or third pump modes mentioned herein. Within a method according to the invention, the pumping modes can be carried out sequentially, that is to say one after the other, preferably not at the same time.

In some embodiments, the delivery system according to the invention is designed as a blood treatment device or has one.

In some embodiments, the conveyor system is a hemodialysis device, hemofiltration device or hemodiafiltration device, in particular as a device for acute, chronic renal replacement therapy or for continuous Renal replacement therapy (CRRT = continuous renal replacement therapy) designed.

In some embodiments, the pump hose section according to the invention has a total of at least four pump membranes. The pump diaphragms each enclose a space at least in sections and are each designed and / or provided for insertion or arrangement in a pump housing of a diaphragm pump.

Here, the inlet line is a common inlet line for admitting the fluid to be conveyed into the pump membrane. The outlet line is a common outlet line for discharging the pumped fluid out of the pump diaphragms.

In some embodiments, the pump diaphragm is made of an elastomer such as rubber, PU (polyurethane), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), Biofine®, a PVC-free material developed by Fresenius Medical Care, Germany, sold under this brand name by Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA , or other elastic materials, or comprises one or more of these materials.

In some embodiments, the pump tubing section and / or the blood tubing set are passive elements, i. H. they do not have their own actuators such as mechanical elements.

The blood tubing set can thus be stored in a space-saving manner and without paying particular attention to possibly sensitive mechanical elements, which can bring advantages in terms of procurement and storage. A symmetrical design of the pump hose section can allow simplified handling, and it cannot be inserted into a system the wrong way round.

In some embodiments, the pump tube section can be integrated into existing disposable products, for example into a blood cassette.

In some embodiments, a complete filling can be the filling of only a part of the available space of the pump membrane.

In some embodiments, a complete emptying can be the emptying of only a part of the available space of the pump membrane.

Valves, as mentioned herein, can be or have throttling or blocking elements. They can be clamping devices for locking a fluid line.

In some embodiments, the diaphragm pump system and / or the pump tubing set do not have a discharge line for the fluid to be delivered between two adjacent diaphragm pumps or pump diaphragms or upstream or downstream of the valve located closest to one of the diaphragm pumps or pump diaphragms. Such a discharge, which is not provided in these embodiments, could lead as a connection to an outlet of the blood filter or dialyzer or be connected to it.

In some embodiments, the diaphragm pump system is integral with the pump tubing set. In some

Embodiments is the pump tubing set from Removable membrane pump system inserted into this. In some embodiments, the pump tubing set is an integral part of the blood tubing set, in others it is not.

In some embodiments, the method is pressure-controlled, and the control device is programmed accordingly.

In some embodiments, the diaphragm pump does not have a sealing ring, in particular none that would have an O-ring.

In some embodiments, the diaphragm pump does not have an inlet valve and / or an outlet valve, which would be provided in the pump housing or in its interior.

In some embodiments, the diaphragm pump does not have an inlet and / or outlet valve which cannot be assigned to the pump hose section.

In some embodiments, the diaphragm pump does not have a double diaphragm or a two-layer or multi-layer wall structure.

In some embodiments, the diaphragm pump does not have an interchangeable diaphragm that would rest against a permanent diaphragm in an air-free manner.

In some embodiments, the pump hose section and the pump membrane are in one piece. Some or all of the embodiments according to the invention can have one, more or all of the advantages mentioned above and / or below.

With the membrane pump system according to the invention, the advantage of a continuous fluid flow can be achieved. The fluid can flow into the first membrane pump, and before this first membrane pump is filled and the fluid flow into the first membrane pump is ended, the fluid can additionally flow into the second, fluidically parallel membrane pump. The total fluid flow can be controlled in such a way that it runs continuously over time. For example, the fluid flow into the first diaphragm pump can be reduced at the point in time at which the fluid flow into the second diaphragm pump begins, so that the sum of the fluid flow remains the same. A continuous backflow of the fluid can also be achieved by appropriately targeted control of the filling or emptying of the third or fourth membrane pump. Alternatively, the inflow of the fluid flow to the diaphragm pump system can be continuous, while the outflow from the diaphragm pump system can be pulsed.

By means of the present invention, e.g. B. a continuous blood flow can be generated in the blood treatment. A patient whose blood is withdrawn by means of the membrane pump system according to the invention for its extracorporeal treatment thus advantageously experiences little or no flow fluctuations during the withdrawal of his blood, which he can initially perceive subjectively to be more pleasant. In addition, the load on the fistula or another vascular access can be kept low by means of a uniform or uniform removal, which can not only lead to an increase in the patient's well-being, but also the fistula (shunt) or the punctured vessel and its " Lifetime "can benefit.

Since, according to the invention, a continuous flow can be ensured which shows no significant deviation from a mean value of the flow, comparatively high delivery rates can be set according to the invention. They can therefore be set, since in order to achieve a comparatively high mean value, no river peaks clearly above this have to be accepted.

According to the invention, blood can also be returned to the patient in a pulsed manner, e.g. B. following the recording with an EKG machine (electrocardiography), which is also provided by the present invention as part of one of the methods or one of the apparatus. The patient tolerance of the blood treatment can be increased by imitating the human heart action or by adapting the blood delivery via the outlet line by means of the present invention.

Another advantage of the present invention can be that when using the diaphragm pump system according to the invention for pumping blood compared to a conventional, occluding blood pump, such as a roller pump, the damage (keyword: hemolysis) of erythrocytes (red blood cells) is reduced. Since z. B. in chronic dialysis patients due to their renal insufficiency, the formation of erythrocytes mostly is impaired, it is urgently advisable not to damage the existing erythrocytes as far as possible. The present invention can advantageously contribute to this.

All the advantages that can be achieved with the method according to the invention can also be achieved undiminished in certain embodiments according to the invention with the devices according to the invention, and vice versa.

In the following, the present invention is described purely by way of example with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing. In it, the same reference symbols denote the same or the same components. The following applies to the figures:

1 shows a diaphragm pump according to the invention in an exemplary embodiment;

2 shows the diaphragm pump according to the invention in a further embodiment in a two-part illustration with a pump hose section with a pump diaphragm, likewise in an exemplary embodiment;

3 shows a schematic structure of a diaphragm pump system according to the invention in an exemplary embodiment;

4a to 4d show a simplified representation

A flow diagram of a diaphragm pump system according to the invention in a first pumping mode which results in a continuous flow; Fig. 5 shows a process flow diagram of a blood treatment device as an example of a conveyor system according to the invention with a diaphragm pump system according to the invention;

Fig. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention in the first pump mode;

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the pump hose section according to the invention; and

Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment of the diaphragm pump system according to the invention with devices for controlling the flow of working fluid.

Fig. 1 shows a diaphragm pump 10 according to the invention in an exemplary embodiment for receiving a section of a pump hose section 301 according to the invention, but this is only shown in FIG. 2.

The diaphragm pump 10 has a pump housing 15 with an interior.

In FIG. 1 and in the following figures, a part of the pump housing 15 facing the viewer is not shown for reasons of illustration. In this way, the view of an interior that is covered by the pump housing 15 when the diaphragm pump 10 is in use is free, in which a optional membrane cage 13 is inserted. If present, this is at least partially surrounded by the pump housing 15.

The membrane cage 13, which is only present as an example, is preferably configured spherically (spherical) here. Alternatively, the membrane cage 13 can be designed as an ovoid (egg-shaped). It is provided to surround a section of a pump hose section 301 (see FIG. 2), specifically a pump membrane 311 - completely or in sections. The pump hose section 301 and the pump membrane 311 encompassed by it are described in more detail in relation to the following figures.

In this specific embodiment, the membrane cage 13 has passage openings on its outer surface. In use, the passage openings serve to allow a working fluid to pass through the outer surface of the membrane cage 13.

Alternatively or in addition, the membrane cage 13 is permeable to air and z. B. perforated.

Passage openings can extend over the circumference, for example as slots, round holes or the like.

The membrane cage 13 is thus designed to allow a working fluid introduced from the outside into the interior of the pump housing 15 to pass evenly through the through openings, which can ensure a uniform pressure distribution over an interior of the membrane cage 13, in particular a uniform increase or decrease in the pressure inside of the pump housing 15 and thus a uniform pressure distribution on the pump diaphragm 311. Both gaseous (“pneumatic”) and liquid (“hydraulic”) working fluids can be used according to the invention for operating the diaphragm pump 10. In the embodiment shown here, air is used as the working fluid as an example.

The illustrated spherical configuration of the membrane cage 13 is purely exemplary and does not limit the invention to this form of the membrane cage 13.

The membrane cage 13 can - as optionally also the pump housing 15 - be formed in one piece or from several parts, as can also be seen in FIG. 2 and is described in more detail below with regard to FIG. 2.

To receive a section of a pump hose section 301 (see FIG. 2), preferably its pump membrane 311, in a fluid-tight manner, a first opening 15in and a second opening 15out are provided in the wall of the pump housing 15 or an extension thereof.

The pump housing 15 also serves to hold the above-mentioned working fluid in a fluid-tight manner, which is intended to act on the outer wall of the pump membrane 311 when the membrane pump 10 is in use inside the pump housing 15 (see description of FIG. 3).

For introducing the working fluid from a source Q into the interior of the pump housing 15, the latter has a supply opening 17, suitable for its connection to a supply line 17a. Purely optionally, a discharge opening 19 is additionally provided, suitable for its connection with a discharge line 19a for discharging the working fluid from the interior of the pump housing 15.

By means of a valve 17b in the supply line 17a and a valve 19b in the discharge line 19a, if present, the supply and discharge of the working fluid can be controlled. At least one of these valves 17b, 19b can be designed as a solenoid valve, for example. Through targeted control of the valve or the valves, pulse-width modulation and / or pulse-frequency modulation can influence the pressure curve of the working fluid in such a way that both continuous delivery and pulsed delivery of the fluid are possible.

In one, e.g. B. hydraulic or pneumatic control, the valve 17b in the supply line 17a can be used to increase the pressure inside (or to generate an overpressure therein), the valve 19b in the discharge line 19a can passively discharge the working fluid and consequently lower it serve the pressure inside. Alternatively or in addition, a pressure drop in the interior can be actively generated or negative pressure can be applied by means of the valve 19b via the discharge opening 19.

Alternatively, instead of a supply opening and a discharge opening, only a single opening can be provided for supplying and removing the working fluid. In these embodiments, this opening can be used both for lowering the pressure and for increasing the pressure, e.g. B. as described above, be formed or used.

Optionally, the valves 17b and / or 19b can have hydrophobic filters 17c or 19c in front of or in the direction of flow be downstream. For example, these hydrophobic filters 17c, 19c can lie between the supply or discharge opening 17, 19 and the respective valve 17b or 19b in the supply line 17a and / or the discharge line 19a. Hydrophobic filters such as the hydrophobic filters 17c, 19c protect the blood treatment device 100 or the delivery system from its / its contamination in the event of a leak in the membrane pump 10, 20, 30, 40 in the membrane cage 13, 23, 33, 43.

In addition, hydrophobic filters also protect the pneumatic system, as they can be used e.g. B. can be integrated into pneumatic circuit boards and is therefore particularly prone to contamination.

Fig. 2 shows the membrane pump 10 according to the invention in a further, optionally two-part embodiment, together with a pump hose section 301 according to the invention with a pump membrane 311, likewise in an exemplary embodiment.

It can be seen from FIG. 2 that, as already mentioned above, the pump housing 15 can be formed from two or more parts or, as here, from two halves 15a, 15b or can have such. If two halves 15a, 15b are provided, they can optionally be designed to be identical or symmetrical to one another.

The two-part design can, for. B allow the diaphragm pump 10 to be provided partly as part of a delivery device, for example the blood treatment device 100 of FIG. 5 and in particular on its actuator-sensor plate, and partly in or on a door of the same. The pump membrane 311 of the pump hose section 301 can be inserted between the parts or halves.

If there are two halves, it is preferably ensured that the two halves of the pump housing 15a and 15b can be sealed to one another.

The pump membrane 311 is formed from a preferably elastic material or has such a material and can have the shape of a balloon. Alternatively or in addition, the pump membrane 311 is designed with a material reserve similar to a bellows. A space surrounded by the pump membrane 311 can thus be changed in volume.

The pump membrane 311 can, as in the example of FIG. 1, as a spherical or elongated, z. B. be shaped at least partially cylindrical balloon or as an ovoid and preferably adapt to the shape of the membrane cage 13 during its expansion. It has an inlet line 301in and an outlet line 301out. A possible flow direction of the fluid to be conveyed is indicated in FIG. 2 by a thin arrow.

The elastic material of the pump membrane 311 is or comprises rubber, Biofine® or another, preferably elastic, material.

Alternatively, the diaphragm cage 13 can be formed integrally and only the pump housing 15 can consist of several parts.

The supply and discharge openings 17 and 19 for the working fluid can, as in the embodiment of FIG opposite sides of the housing 15 may be provided. Alternatively, the supply and discharge openings 17 and 19 can be present next to one another on the same side of the pump housing 15, as is shown in FIG. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic structure of an exemplary first embodiment of a diaphragm pump system 50 according to the invention.

The diaphragm pump system 50 of these or any other

Embodiment is used in use, for example, to his

Use with one shown in FIG

Blood treatment device 100. The latter is in turn to be understood as an example of a conveyor system according to the invention.

Fig. 3 also shows one according to the invention

Pump hose section 301 in a further, exemplary embodiment with, for example, four pump membranes 311, 321, 331, 341 inserted.

The diaphragm pump system 50 of FIG. 3 has - like the diaphragm pump 10 of FIG. 2 - an inlet line 301in for the fluid to be conveyed and an outlet line 301out for this fluid.

In the example in FIG. 3, the diaphragm pump system 50 thus has four diaphragm pumps 10, 20, 30 and 40 by way of example. They can be part of a cassette or another component, preferably made of plastic and preferably designed as a disposable item. Each Diaphragm pump 10 can be identical in structure and function to diaphragm pump 10 according to the invention, as exemplified by z. B. in Figs. 1 and 2 is shown.

The diaphragm pumps 10, 20, 30 and 40 are supplied with the fluid to be conveyed by means of the common inlet line 301in, which they convey together in the direction of the common outlet line 301out. The direction of flow of the fluid to be conveyed is indicated in each case by an arrow on the inlet line 301in and the outlet line 301out.

As is further shown in FIG. 3, the inlet line 301in branches into two parallel line branches 301a and 301b, which merge again further downstream to form the common outlet line 301out.

In each of these line branches 301a and 301b, two of the previously described diaphragm pumps 10 and 30 or 20 and 40 are respectively arranged connected in series and thus fluidically connected.

Fluid to be conveyed, which is conveyed by the first of these diaphragm pumps in the flow direction shown, i.e. the diaphragm pumps 10 or 20, then flows through the second of these diaphragm pumps, i.e. the diaphragm pumps 30 or 40, as the diaphragm pump 30 to the diaphragm pump 10 and the diaphragm pump 40 to the diaphragm pump 20 are each connected in series (series connection).

Fluid that flows through branch line 301a with diaphragm pumps 10 and 30 flows before it does Leaves diaphragm pump system 50, in the first pump mode described herein, that is not also through the diaphragm pumps arranged on or in the other branch line 301b, i.e. diaphragm pumps 20 and 40 (and vice versa), since these are parallel to diaphragm pumps 10 and 30, but not in Are connected in series (parallel connection).

Instead of two diaphragm pumps 10 and 30 or 20 and 40 provided along each line branch 301a, 301b, more or fewer diaphragm pumps can be provided in each line branch 301a, 301b. The number of diaphragm pumps that is provided in the line branch 301a can, as in FIG. 3, optionally correspond to the number of diaphragm pumps in the line branch 301b.

Optionally, each of the diaphragm pumps 10, 20, 30 and 40 has its own supply line 17a, 27a, 37a, 47a and further optionally its own discharge line 19a, 29a, 39a, 49a, if provided, whereby the diaphragm pumps 10, 20, 30 and 40 can each be controlled separately from one another by means of working fluids.

Due to their partly parallel arrangement, partly in series with each other, a continuous flow of the fluid to be conveyed, so z. B. a continuous blood flow can be achieved. This can be supported by suitable actuation of the valves 17b, 27b, 37b and / or 47b in the supply lines 17a, 27a, 37a or 47a and the valves 19b, 29b, 39b and / or 49b in the discharge lines 19a, 29a, 39a or 49a, analogous to the illustration in FIG. 1. The valves mentioned are optionally independent of one another by means of a control device 150 configured and / or programmed for this purpose (see FIG. 5). controllable, ie a flow of working fluid through them can be opened or closed by means of the control device 150. Optionally, the flow rate of the valve can be controlled or regulated in terms of its strength.

Valves can also be arranged in the line branches 301a and 301b between the diaphragm pumps 10 and 30 or 20 and 40 arranged in series, in front of the diaphragm pumps 10 and 20, which are relatively upstream, and / or after the diaphragm pumps 20 and 40, respectively, which are relatively downstream as shown by way of example in FIG. 3. These valves are designated here with VI (for the valve upstream of the diaphragm pump 10), V2 (for the valve upstream of the diaphragm pump 20), V3 (for the valve downstream of the diaphragm pump 10 but upstream of the diaphragm pump 30) and V4 (for the valve downstream of the Diaphragm pump 20 but upstream of the diaphragm pump 40). The valve downstream of the diaphragm pump 30 is denoted by V5 and the valve downstream of the diaphragm pump 40 is denoted by V6.

Here, VI and V2 can be open at the same time, that is, the first line branch 301a and the second line branch 301b can be filled in parallel. In particular, V2 can be opened shortly before the first line branch 301a is completely filled and VI is closed. Through targeted control of the valves 17b, 19b or 27b, 29b, a continuous flow can be achieved. For this purpose, with a simultaneous opening of VI and V2, the flow flow in the first branch 301a and in the second branch 301b is regulated in such a way that the sum or rate of the pumped fluid corresponds to the sum or rate of the pumped fluid at the point in time at which only one valve , about VI, was open. This flow rate control is possible because, in spite of the simultaneous opening of VI and V2, the valves V3 and V4 are closed, but at the same time a backflow of the fluid is possible by opening the valves V5 and / or V6. In other words, an inflow can take place at the same time as the outflow of the conveyed fluid, since the valves V3 and V4 separate the inflow side from the outflow side.

A further valve V7 can be provided before the inlet line 301in branches off into the two parallel line branches 301a and 301b; further valve V8 may be provided.

The valves VI to V8 can optionally be controlled independently of one another by means of the control device 150 configured and / or programmed for this purpose (see FIG. 5), i. H. a flow through them can e.g. B. allowed or prevented by means of the control device 150.

In some embodiments, statements made in relation to the diaphragm pump 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 also apply in full to the diaphragm pumps 10, 20, 30 and / or 40 of the diaphragm pump system 50.

FIGS. 4a to 4d show, in a greatly simplified representation, a flow diagram of a diaphragm pump system 50 according to the invention in a first pumping mode which provides a continuous flow, e.g. B. blood flow. The reference symbols relate, inter alia, to the illustration in FIG. 3. For the sake of clarity, they are only provided in FIG. 4a. The diaphragm pumps 10, 20, 30, 40 with the pump diaphragms arranged therein (311, 321, 331, 341, not shown in FIGS. 4a to 4d, please see FIG. 3) are represented by squares. Hatched squares represent diaphragm pumps that are either currently being filled or are already being filled. The dotted squares represent diaphragm pumps that are either currently being emptied or have already been emptied.

The fluid paths for the fluid to be conveyed (which can be configured, for example, as lines in the hard body of a fluid cassette, hoses, etc.) of a pump hose section 301 according to the invention are shown by connecting lines.

The valves VI to V8, shown as circles, are located on these connecting lines. The open state of the valves VI to V8 along the fluid paths is shown as a white circle with a black border. The open state allows flow across or through the valve. If the circle is filled with black, a flow through the corresponding valve is prevented.

Fig. 4a shows an initial filling of the pump membrane 311 of the membrane pump 10. For this purpose, the valves V7 and VI are open, all other valves, but at least V2 and V3, are closed. The fluid to be conveyed can be conveyed into the diaphragm pump 10 along the first branch line 301a, which z. B. by applying a negative pressure inside the housing 15 of the diaphragm pump 10 by means of the lines 17a and 17b, see FIG. 1, can be done. Since the second branch 301b is closed by means of the valve V2 and the inside of the pump housing 15 in the The pressure drop generated by the diaphragm pump 10 increases the enclosed volume of the pump diaphragm 311, which in turn triggers a suction effect within the pump diaphragm 311 when the fluid to be conveyed is conveyed from the inlet line 301in along the first line branch 301a into the diaphragm pump 10. The pump membrane 311 is thus, completely or partially, filled with the fluid to be conveyed. This state is shown in Fig. 4a as well as in the following by means of hatching.

The in Fig. The step shown in FIG. 4b follows the step shown in FIG. 4a directly or after intermediate steps that are not shown. FIG. 4b shows the initial filling of the pump membrane 321 of the membrane pump 20 along the second line branch 301b analogously to the filling of the pump membrane 311 in FIG. 4a. For this purpose, valves V7 and V2 are open, but VI and V4 are closed.

Preferably simultaneously (or one after the other or temporally overlapping), the fluid to be conveyed is conveyed out of - and via - the pump diaphragm 311 into the interior of the pump diaphragm 331 by opening the valve V3 in the first line branch 301a. Towards the end of the pumping activity considered in FIG. 4b, the pump membranes 321 and 331 are filled and are therefore hatched in FIG. 4b.

Fig. 4c shows a pumping of the fluid following the step in FIG. 4b directly or after intermediate steps along the second line branch 301b from the inside of the pump membrane 321 of the membrane pump 20 into the inside of the pump membrane 341 of the membrane pump 30, analogous to that shown in FIG. 4b Pumping action in the first branch 301a. For this purpose, the valve V4 is closed when the valve V6 opened and promoted the fluid to be pumped in the direction of the arrow.

Preferably at the same time (or one after the other or overlapping in time) in the first branch 301a, the fluid to be pumped is pumped out of the interior of the pump diaphragm 331 of the diaphragm pump 30 when the valve V3 is closed and out of the diaphragm pump system 50 along the outlet line 301out when the valves V5 and V8 are open.

Fig. 4d shows the steps that have already been carried out for FIG. 4c, mirror-inverted.

The pump activities, as shown in FIGS. 4c and 4d, alternate in the sequence. In this way, the pump diaphragms 311, 321, 331, 341 of the first branch line 301a and the second

Line branch 301b alternately filled and emptied. Since either the pump diaphragm 331 of the diaphragm pump 30 of the first line branch 301a or the pump diaphragm 341 of the diaphragm pump 40 of the second line branch 301b is emptied in the direction of the (common) outlet line 301out per pump stroke, a continuous flow can result that can allow high delivery rates.

This type of pump activity can also be used to adapt the delivery rate advantageously and / or as required using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and / or Pulse Frequency Modulation (PFM). With PWM, the flow of a delivery volume is adjusted while the frequency remains the same. For example, the pressure in outlet line 301out rises accordingly and flattens out again towards the end so that the pressure differences do not negatively affect the line, the disposable or the patient (see resonance curve for a logarithmic plot of the amplitude over the excitation frequency, see Q- Factor).

In contrast to PWM, in which the pulse width varies at a constant excitation frequency, with PFM the frequency is varied for an intended pulse width. This means that the constant delivery volume can be delivered at a variable frequency. The PFM enables a heartbeat to be simulated by changing the frequency in the process (systole, diastole, and pauses in the transition between these two phases). This can also have a positive effect on the patient's circulation.

For the greatest possible benefit for the patient, the course of the pumping process at the exit can be dynamically adapted to the treatment using PFM and PWM.

Fig. 5 shows, in a greatly simplified representation, the process flow diagram of a blood treatment device 100, optionally connected to an extracorporeal blood tubing set 300 according to the invention, hereinafter also referred to as blood circuit 300, and a drain tubing system 102 which leads to an optional effluent bag or drain 400. The optional extracorporeal blood circuit 300 has a first line 301, here in the form of an arterial line section, which corresponds to or has the pump tube section 301 according to the invention. The first line 301 is in fluid connection with a blood treatment device, here by way of example a blood filter or dialyzer 303. The blood filter 303 has a dialysis fluid chamber 303a and a blood chamber 303b, which are separated from one another by a mostly semi-permeable membrane 303c.

The extracorporeal blood circuit 300 also has at least one second line 305, here in the form of a venous line section. Both the first line 301 and the second line 305 can serve to connect them to the vascular system of the patient (not shown).

The first line 301 is optionally connected to a (first) hose clamp 302 for blocking or closing the line 301. The second line 305 is optionally connected to a (second) hose clamp 306 for blocking or closing the line 305.

The blood treatment device 100, which is represented schematically only by a few of its devices and in FIG. 4, has the membrane pump system 50 according to the invention as a blood pump instead of a conventional pump, mostly configured as a roller pump, for conveying blood.

During the treatment of the patient, the diaphragm pump system 50 conveys blood through sections of the extracorporeal blood circuit 300 and in the direction of the blood filter or dialyzer 303, as the small arrowheads show.

By means of a pump for dialysis fluid 121, which can be designed as a roller pump or as another occluding pump, fresh dialysis fluid is drawn from a source 200 along the Dialysis fluid supply line 104 is pumped into the dialysis fluid chamber 303a. The dialysis fluid leaves the

Dialysis fluid chamber 303a as dialysate, optionally enriched with filtrate, in the direction of the

Effluent bag 400 or a drain and is also referred to herein as an effluent.

The source 200 can be, for example, a bag or a container. The source 200 may also be a fluid line from which on-line and / or continuously generated or mixed liquid is provided, e.g. B. a hydraulic outlet or connection of the blood treatment device 100.

A further source 201 with a substituate can optionally be provided. It can correspond to the source 200 or be a separate source.

A control or regulating device 150, which is only indicated, can be configured to regulate or control the blood treatment device 100.

In addition to the diaphragm pump system 50 according to the invention, the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 also optionally has a number of further, each optional pumps, namely the pump 111 for substituate and the pump 121 for

Dialysis fluid and the pump 131 for the effluent. These pumps could also be replaced by a diaphragm pump system 50 according to the invention.

The pump 121 is provided to deliver dialysis fluid from a source 200, for example a bag, and out via an optionally available bag heater H2 with a heating bag to the blood filter 303 by means of the dialysis fluid supply line 104.

The dialysis fluid supplied in this way emerges from the blood filter 303 again via a dialysate drain line 102, supported by the optional pump 131, and can be discarded.

An optional arterial sensor PSI is provided upstream of the diaphragm pump system 50 as a blood pump. During treatment of the patient, it measures the pressure in the arterial line.

A further, optional pressure sensor PS2 is provided downstream of the membrane pump system 50, but upstream of the blood filter 303 and, if provided, upstream of an addition point 70 for heparin. It measures the pressure upstream of the blood filter 303 (“pre-hemofilter”).

Yet another pressure sensor can be provided as PS4 downstream of the blood filter 303, but preferably upstream of the pump 131, in the dialysate drain line 102 for measuring the filtrate pressure of the blood filter 303.

Blood leaving the blood filter 303 flows through an optional venous blood chamber 71, which can have a venting device 73 and / or a further pressure sensor PS3.

The control or regulating device 150 shown in FIG. 4 can be used with any of the components mentioned herein - at least or in particular with the diaphragm pump system 50 - in wired or wireless signal connection for controlling or regulating the blood treatment device 100 are.

The optional pump 111 is provided in order to supply substituate from the optional source 201, for example a bag, and via an optionally present bag heater H1 with a heating bag to the second line 305.

Fig. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention in the first pump mode, the reference symbols of the diaphragm pump system 50 used in FIG. 3 being used below.

In this embodiment, the method comprises, with step S1, the provision of a diaphragm pump system 50 according to the invention, which is optionally part of a conveyor system according to the invention, e.g. B. a blood treatment device 100 can be. The membrane pump system 50 is already connected to a source Q for a working fluid, e.g. B. compressed air connected. Actuators are also available to operate the existing blocking elements such as valves or the like, if necessary. A control device for regulating or controlling the valves is also provided and programmed accordingly. The control device, which is programmed to control or regulate the diaphragm pump system 50 according to the invention, can here, as in any other embodiment according to the invention, part z. B. the control device 150, which the conveyor system or the Blood treatment device 100, controls or regulates, or a unit independent therefrom.

Step S2 represents the opening of the valve 19b and thus the opening of the discharge line 19a. A working fluid present in the interior of the pump housing 15 is discharged via the discharge opening 19, if present, along the discharge line 19a and / or, optionally, a negative pressure is generated. Due to the negative pressure caused by this or the drop in pressure inside the pump housing 15, the volume enclosed by the pump membrane 311 increases, which in turn generates a pressure drop or negative pressure inside the membrane pump 10, especially when the valve 17b is closed, which in turn generates the fluid to be pumped, here Blood, draws along the line section 301a into the volume enclosed by the pump membrane 311.

Step S3 takes place when the volume within the pump diaphragm 311 is filled, i. i.e. when its filling process has been completed or is deemed to have ended. S3 represents the closing of the valves VI and 19b and the opening of the valves V3 and 17b. This causes the supply of working fluid along the supply line 17a into the interior of the pump housing 15 and thus an increase in the pressure on the pump diaphragm 311, especially when the valve is closed 19b. The fluid to be conveyed is conveyed in the direction of the diaphragm pump 30 as a result.

Preferably at the same time (or one after the other or at a time overlapping) for filling the pump housing 15, a lowering of the pressure or application of a negative pressure in the diaphragm pump 30 can be initiated in method step S3 by closing the valves V5 and possibly 37b and opening the valve 39b will. As a result, working fluid can escape from the interior of the pump housing 35 of the diaphragm pump 30, and a negative pressure can be generated inside (analogously to step S2). Due to the negative pressure in the pump housing 35, the volume within the pump diaphragm 31 is increased and thus a pressure drop or a negative pressure is again generated within the diaphragm pump 30. This supports the delivery of the fluid to be delivered from the volume within the pump membrane 311 of the membrane pump 10 into the volume within the pump membrane 331 in the interior of the membrane pump 30.

Step S4 takes place when the enclosed volume of the pump diaphragm 331 is filled, i. i.e. when their filling process has been completed or is deemed to have ended. S4 represents the closing of the valves V3 and 39b and the opening of the valves V5, 37a and possibly V8. This causes the supply of working fluid into the interior of the pump housing 35 and thus an increase in the pressure on the pump diaphragm 331. This increases the volume within the pump membrane 331. The fluid to be conveyed is thus conveyed out of the interior of the diaphragm pump 30 and further along the line 301a.

Analogous to the process inside the diaphragm pumps 10 and 30, the analogous process step S4 can take place in parallel, in particular at the same time or overlapping in time, in further diaphragm pumps, here in the two diaphragm pumps 20 and 40 from FIG 40, but parallel to these. Method step S5 thus represents the multiple repetition of method step S4 alternately in both line sections 301a and 301b.

Fig. 7 shows, in a simplified representation, an exemplary embodiment of the pump hose section 301 according to the invention.

The pump hose section 301 can be provided as a disposable item.

The pump hose section 301 serves to receive and dispense a fluid to be conveyed, preferably within a conveying system according to the invention, for example in the blood treatment device 100.

The pump hose section 301 has an inlet line 301in and an outlet line 301out. In between, the fluid path is divided into two parallel line branches 301a and 302b. These two line branches each have two sections with pump diaphragms 311 and 331 or 321 and 341. The pump diaphragms 311, 321, 331 and 341 are each configured here by way of example in the form of an elongated or oval balloon in section. This refinement is in no way to be understood as restrictive.

The pump membranes 311, 321, 331 and 341 can have a different, preferably lower, modulus of elasticity than the line sections connecting them. The pump diaphragms 311, 321, 331 and 341 are designed and / or provided so that they are each inserted into a diaphragm pump 10, 20, 30, 40 of the diaphragm pump system 50. They can be extrudable. The starting points for valves VI to V8 are identified on the pump hose section 301 by dashed lines; in some embodiments, these can also be valve welds.

The pump tube section 301 can have at least one coupling point A, with which it can be fastened or coupled, preferably detachably, to a conveyor system according to the invention, for example to a blood treatment device 100.

In the example in FIG. 7, the pump hose section 301 is a passive element without its own mechanism.

In the present embodiment, the pump hose section 301 has an axially symmetrical design. It is symmetrical about both its longitudinal and its transverse axis. It is thus not possible to incorrectly insert the tube into a conveying system (for example the blood treatment device 100).

The pump tube section 301 according to the invention of FIG. B. in Fig. 5 is shown.

The blood tubing set 300 according to the invention can have a blood treatment device, here by way of example a blood filter or dialyzer 303, or can be prepared for connection to it by means of a corresponding connection. The blood tubing set 300 according to the invention can furthermore have at least one second line 305, here in the form of a venous line section.

Fig. 8 shows an illustration of a further embodiment of the diaphragm pump system 50 according to the invention with devices for controlling the flow of working fluid by means of a control device 150 of a delivery system according to the invention, for example the blood treatment device 100.

On the left side an additional valve Vin can be seen, by means of which working fluid can be supplied to the "supply side" from a source Q. On the right side an additional valve Vout can be seen, by means of which working fluid is discharged from the "discharge side" and optionally can be discarded or supplied to the source Q again.

Between the left “feed side” and the right “discharge side” there is on the one hand a pressure gauge P_Diff, by means of which the pressure difference between “feed side” and “discharge side” can be determined. Furthermore, a valve V _B is arranged there as a pressure compensation valve. This serves to equalize the pressure between the "supply side" and the "discharge side".

By arranging additional devices, in this embodiment four pressure gauges P and four additional valves V _A , which are used to monitor and control the pressure conditions on the "supply side" and "discharge side", the control device 150 can advantageously automatically supply and discharge working fluid in the diaphragm pumps control and / or regulate according to the steps of the method according to the invention.

A continuous flow of the fluid to be conveyed can be achieved by suitable coordination of the alternating supply and discharge of the working fluids in the corresponding diaphragm pumps, which can also mean interlocking, for example, temporal interlocking of the corresponding steps. This repeatedly repeated supply and discharge of working fluid can advantageously take place in an automated and controlled manner with the arrangement of FIG. 8.

List of reference symbols

10 membrane pump

10a, 10b halves of the diaphragm pump 13 diaphragm cage

13a, 13b halves of the diaphragm cage 15 pump housing

15a, 15b halves of the pump housing

15in first opening

15out second opening

15a first half of the pump housing

15b second half of the pump housing

17 Feed opening

17a supply line

17b valve

17c hydrophobic filter

19 discharge opening

19a discharge line

19b valve

19c hydrophobic filter

20 diaphragm pump

23 membrane cage

25 pump housing

27 Feed opening

27a supply line

27b valve

27c hydrophobic filter

29 discharge opening

29a discharge line

29b valve

29c hydrophobic filter 30 diaphragm pump

33 membrane cage

35 pump housing

37 Feed opening

37a supply line

37b valve

37c hydrophobic filter

39 discharge opening

39a discharge line

39b valve

39c hydrophobic filter

40 diaphragm pump

43 membrane cage

45 pump housing

47 Feed opening

47a supply line

47b valve

47c hydrophobic filter

49 discharge opening

49a discharge line

49b valve

49c hydrophobic filter

50 diaphragm pump system

70 addition point for heparin (optional)

71 venous blood chamber (optional)

73 Ventilation device

100 blood treatment device 101 blood pump

102 Dialysate drain line, effluent inlet line 104 dialysis fluid supply line

111 Pump for substituate

121 Pump for dialysis fluid

131 Pump for dialysate or effluent in the effluent inlet line

150 control or regulating device

200 source with dialysis fluid

201 Source with substituate, optional

300 extracorporeal blood circulation

301 first line (arterial line section), pump tube section

301in inlet pipe

301a first line branch of the inlet line

301b second branch of the inlet line

301out outlet line

302 (first) hose clamp

303 blood filter or dialyzer 303a dialysis fluid chamber 303b blood chamber 303c semi-permeable membrane

305 second line (venous line section)

306 (second) hose clamp

311 pump diaphragm

321 pump diaphragm

331 pump diaphragm

341 pump diaphragm

400 effluent bags A coupling point

H2 bag heating with heating bag (dialysis fluid) Hl bag heating with heating bag (substituate)

PSI, PS2 arterial pressure sensor (optional)

PS3 pressure sensor (optional)

PS4 pressure sensor for measuring the filtrate pressure Q source with working fluid

S1 to S5 method steps VI to V8 valves V _A valve V _B valve; Pressure equalization valve Vin Inlet valve of the "supply side"

Vout outlet valve of the "discharge side"

Claims

Expectations 1. Membrane pump (10) for conveying fluid, with a pump housing (15) with an interior for receiving a pump membrane (311) of a pump hose section (301), which has an inlet line (301in) for admitting fluid to be conveyed into one by means of the pump membrane (311) at least partially enclosed space and an outlet line (301out) for discharging the pumped fluid out of the space enclosed at least partially by the pump membrane (311); a supply opening (17) for supplying working fluid into the interior of the pump housing (15). 2. Diaphragm pump (10) according to claim 1, additionally having a diaphragm cage (13) arranged in the interior of the pump housing (15), in particular with a spherical design, for receiving the pump diaphragm (311) in its interior. 3. Diaphragm pump (10) according to claim 2, wherein the diaphragm cage (13) has a wall or consists of this, wherein the wall has a plurality of through openings for the passage of working fluid. 4. diaphragm pump (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, additionally having a discharge opening (19) for discharging working fluid from the interior of the pump housing (15), wherein the supply opening (17) with a Supply line (17a) and / or the discharge opening (19) are connected to a discharge line (19a) in fluid communication, and wherein the supply line (17a) and / or the discharge line (19a) each have a valve (17b, 19b) and / or each have a hydrophobic filter (17c, 19c), and wherein the supply opening (17) and the discharge opening (19) can be designed as separate openings or as an opening and / or the supply line (17a) and the discharge line (19a) as separate lines or can be designed as a line. 5. Diaphragm pump (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pump housing (15) further comprises: a first opening (15in) for receiving a cross section of the inlet line (301in) of the pump hose section (301); and a second opening (15out) for receiving a cross section of the outlet line (301out) of the pump tube section (301); wherein the first opening (15in) and the second opening (15out) are configured to the inlet line (301in) and received therein. To lead the outlet line (301out) fluid-tight into the interior of the pump housing (15) or out of its interior. 6. Diaphragm pump system (50), which has a plurality of diaphragm pumps (10) according to one of the preceding claims, but at least one first diaphragm pump (10) with a first pump housing (15), a second diaphragm pump (20) with a second pump housing (25 ), a third diaphragm pump (30) with a third pump housing (35) and a fourth diaphragm pump (40) with a fourth pump housing (45), of which at least two diaphragm pumps (10, 20) are fluidically parallel to one another, and / or at least two diaphragm pumps (10, 30) are arranged fluidically in series with one another, the first diaphragm pump (10) to fourth diaphragm pump (40) being designed according to one of the preceding claims. 7. Diaphragm pump system (50) according to claim 6, connected to a pump hose section (301) which has a plurality of pump diaphragms (311, 321, 331, 341), one pump diaphragm (311, 321, 331, 341) inside each a pump housing (15, 25, 35, 45) of the plurality of diaphragm pumps (10, 20, 3040) is arranged, the pump diaphragms (311, 321, 331, 341) by means of a common Inlet line (301in) of the pump hose section (301) for admitting the fluid to be pumped into the spaces enclosed at least in sections by means of the pump membranes (311, 321, 331, 341) and by means of a common outlet line (301out) of the pump hose section (301) for discharging the means of the pump membranes (311, 321, 331, 341) conveyed fluids from these spaces are fluidically connected to one another. 8. diaphragm pump system (50) according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein upstream and / or downstream at least one or each of the diaphragm pumps (10, 20, 30, 40) and / or each of the pump diaphragms (311, 321, 331, 341), and / or between diaphragm pumps (10, 20, 30, 40) and / or pump diaphragms (311, 321, 331, 341) arranged fluidically in series with one another, one or precisely one valve (VI, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6), with one or precisely one valve (V7, V8) being arranged in or on the common inlet line (301in) and / or in or on the common outlet line (301out), and the valves (VI, ..., V8) can be operated independently of one another. 9. Diaphragm pump system (50) according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the valves (17b, 27b, 37b, 47b) in the inlet lines (17a, 27a, 37a, 47a) and / or the valves (19b, 29b, 39b, 49b) are arranged in the discharge lines (19a, 29a, 39a, 49a) of the diaphragm pumps (10, 20, 30, 40) in such a way that some or all of them can be actuated independently of one another. 10. Diaphragm pump system (50) according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein at least one of the diaphragm pumps (10, 20, 30 40), or parts thereof, is arranged in or on a disposable item, in particular on a cassette or blood cassette. 11. Method for conveying fluid, with the following steps: Providing a diaphragm pump (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5; Providing a source (Q) with a working fluid, connected to the supply line (17a) and / or the discharge line (19a) of the diaphragm pump (10); the method further comprising the steps of: a) closing the valve (17b) of the supply line (17a); b) opening the valve (19b) of the discharge line (19a) to lower the pressure or to generate negative pressure inside the pump housing (15) of the diaphragm pump (10) with or by means of the discharge of working fluid from the interior through the discharge opening (19); c) closing the valve (19b); d) opening the valve (17b) to increase the pressure or to generate overpressure inside the Pump housing (15) of the diaphragm pump (10) with or by means of supply of working fluid through the supply opening (17); and e) performing steps a) to d) multiple times in the order given above. 12. Method for conveying fluid, with the following steps: Providing a diaphragm pump system (50) according to any one of claims 6 to 10; Provision of a source (Q) with a working fluid, connected to each of the supply lines (17a, 27a, 37a, 47a) of the diaphragm pumps (10, 20, 30, 40) and optionally also to their respective discharge lines (19a, 29a, 39a, 49a); 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein by means of the first and the second diaphragm pump (10) or (20) in total an always the same or continuous flow of the fluid to be conveyed is generated in the inlet line (301in), and / or by means of of the third and fourth diaphragm pumps (30) or (40) in total in the outlet line (301out) a pulsed flow of the fluid to be conveyed is generated. 14. Conveying system for conveying fluid, preferably designed as a blood treatment device, particularly preferably as a device for renal replacement therapy, with at least one diaphragm pump system (50) according to one of claims 6 to 10; at least one source (Q) with a working fluid, connected to the respective supply opening (17, 27, 37, 47) and optionally also with the discharge opening (19, 29, 39, 49) of the diaphragm pumps (10, 20, 30, 40); Actuators arranged to operate the valves (VI, ... V8); and a control device (150), or connected thereto, the control device (150) being programmed to cause, monitor and / or control all automatic steps. 15. Pump hose section (301) for use with a membrane pump (10), which has: at least one, preferably four, Pump membrane (s) (311), which at least partially encloses a space, for insertion or arrangement in a pump housing (15) of a membrane pump (10); at least or precisely one inlet line (301in) for admitting fluid to be pumped into the space enclosed at least in sections by the pump membrane (311); and at least or precisely one outlet line (301out) for discharging the pumped fluid out of the space enclosed at least in sections by the pump membrane (311).