JPS6115701B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning a hollow fiber hemodialyzer after use.

Hemodialyzers, which are widely used as artificial kidneys, are disposable products and are discarded after one use for safety reasons.However, due to the increasing cost of dialysis therapy, used blood Insurance organizations and the like are paying attention to the idea of cleaning and reusing dialyzers.

In fact, this kind of thing is being done overseas, and some research institutions are also experimenting with it.

However, although the cleaning methods used in these methods are extremely simple, there remain serious doubts as to their effectiveness. That is, it is simply washed with physiological saline or the like (for about one hour) and then sterilized with formalin, which does not sufficiently remove blood deposits and the like.

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and
The object thereof is to provide a cleaning method and apparatus for removing membrane deposits in a hollow fiber hemodialyzer after use.

What achieves the above purpose is to alternately flow washing liquid and gas inside the hollow fiber of a hollow fiber hemodialyzer;
When the cleaning liquid flows inside the hollow fibers, a higher pressure is applied to the insides of the hollow fibers than on the outside, and when gas flows into the insides of the hollow fibers, This is a method for cleaning a hollow fiber hemodialyzer in which a higher pressure is applied to the outside of the thread than to the inside. Furthermore, a flow path for flowing the washing liquid from the washing liquid source into the pressure holding tank, a pump incorporated in the flow path, a pressure holding tank, and communication from the pressure holding tank to the blood passage of the dialyzer. a flow path separated from the flow path from the pressure tank and communicating with the dialysate inlet passage of the dialyzer; and a flow path communicating with the dialysate outlet passage of the dialyzer;
A check valve provided in a flow path communicating with the blood path of the dialyzer; a branch path provided in the check valve that communicates the flow path with outside air when the check valve is closed; and a flow path on-off valve provided upstream of the check valve, a valve controller for automatically opening and closing the flow path on-off valve, and a flow path provided in the flow path communicating with the dialysate inlet passage of the dialyzer. A flow rate regulating valve is provided in a flow path communicating with the dialysate outlet passage of the dialyzer, and when the flow path opening/closing valve is closed and air is flowing inside the hollow fiber of the dialyzer, the Further, when the flow path opening/closing valve is opened so that a higher pressure is applied than inside the hollow fiber, and the washing liquid is flowing inside the hollow fiber of the dialyzer,
This is a cleaning device for a hollow fiber type hemodialyzer, which is equipped with a pressure regulating valve that is adjusted so that a higher pressure is applied to the inside of the hollow fiber than to the outside of the hollow fiber.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

In the drawings, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals.
FIG. 1 is a flow sheet of a cleaning apparatus used to carry out the method of one embodiment of the present invention.

An activated carbon column 4 and a sterilization filter 5 are usually incorporated in the flow path 3 for flowing the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid source 1 into the pressure holding tank 2, and a pump 6 for flowing the cleaning liquid is installed. has been done.

The activated carbon column 4 and sterilization filter 5 are incorporated to make the cleaning solution harmless to the human body, that is, sterile and pyrogen-free, so depending on the cleaning solution used, These may not be necessary in some cases, and they can be omitted if the cleaning liquid is processed outside the device.

If tap water is used as a cleaning solution, it will need to be treated with something like the one mentioned above, but with RO water (water filtered through a reverse osmosis membrane), this need is almost eliminated. . pump 6
Various types can be used, such as a gear type and a roller type. In the case of a roller type, the flow path 3 is usually formed of a soft tube, such as soft vinyl chloride resin, and in the case of a gear type, a stainless steel tube is used. be done.

Next, this device includes a flow path 9 communicating from the pressure holding tank 2 to the blood passage (inside the hollow fiber membrane) 8 of the hollow fiber hemodialyzer 7, and further from the tank 2 to the flow path 9.
It has a flow path 11 which is fractionated with the dialyzer 7 and communicates with the dialysate inlet path 10 (outside the hollow fiber membrane) of the dialyzer 7.

and a flow path 19 communicating with the dialysate outlet path 18
has.

The pressure holding tank 2 only communicates with other parts through a flow path 9 and a flow path 11, and constitutes one sealed chamber. When the air in the tank 2 is compressed and the check valve 12 is opened as described below, the washing liquid flows into the blood passage 8 through the passage 9.

As a result, a high pressure corresponding to the air compressed in the tank is applied from the inside of the hollow fiber to the outside. A branch passage 13 is provided in the flow passage 9 via a check valve 12, and the passage 13 further communicates with the outside air through a sterilization filter 14. Here, the check valve 12 opens when a pressure above a certain predetermined level is applied to the valve 12 from the flow path 9 on the upstream side of the valve 12, and closes when the pressure is lower than that, and opens the branch passage 13 instead. It communicates with the flow path 9 and allows air to flow into the flow path 9.

A flow path opening/closing valve 15 is attached to the flow path 9 on the upstream side of the check valve 12, and the valve 15 is controlled by a valve controller 16 to close or open the flow path 9.

The valve controller 16 operates to open the valve 15 when the atmospheric pressure in the pressure holding tank 2 reaches a desired pressure;
You can use a device that closes when the pressure drops to a certain level, or you can measure the time required to obtain the desired high-pressure cleaning solution in advance and operate it based on that. You can also use
Various things are possible.

Further, a flow rate regulating valve 17 is installed in the flow path 11, so that the flow rate of the cleaning liquid flowing outside the hollow fibers can be changed. Channel 19
is equipped with a pressure regulating valve 20 for controlling the pressure applied from the outside to the inside of the hollow fiber.

This pressure regulating valve 20 causes a pressure higher than that inside the hollow fiber on the outside of the hollow fiber when the flow path opening/closing valve 15 is closed and air is flowing into the inside of the hollow fiber of the dialyzer (when the washing liquid is not flowing). Further, when the flow path opening/closing valve is opened and the washing liquid is flowing inside the hollow fiber of the dialyzer, the pressure is adjusted to be higher inside the hollow fiber than outside the hollow fiber.

It is convenient to further incorporate pressure gauges 21 and 22 into the flow paths 9 and 11 as necessary.

In this apparatus, the flow rate of the pump 6, the flow rate regulating valve 17, and the pressure regulating valve 20 are positioned depending on the dialyzer to be cleaned.

That is, it is necessary to select and determine the optimum pressure that will not cause the hollow fibers to burst or collapse. It is understood from increasing the air pressure in the tank 2 that the valve 17 should be adjusted so that the flow rate in the flow path 11 is at least lower than the flow rate of the pump.

Further, the volume of the pressure holding tank 2 is determined as a design issue depending on the required pressure.

Next, the operation of this device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows a state in which high-pressure cleaning liquid is flowing inside the hollow fiber, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which air is flowing.

A cleaning solution is flowed throughout the apparatus, and the flow path 9 and flow path 11 are connected to the dialyzer to create the state shown in FIG. 1. The washing liquid is pumped into the tank 2 at a rate of 5/min by the pump 6, the flow rate adjustment valve 17 is adjusted so that the flow rate of the channel 11 is 100 ml/min, and the washing liquid is fed into the hollow fibers of the dialyzer. The pressure regulating valve 20 is adjusted so that a pressure of about 100 mmHg is applied from the outside to the inside of the hollow fiber when no water is flowing.

The valve 15 is controlled by a controller 16 to be repeatedly opened and closed at 2-second intervals, and high-pressure cleaning liquid of about 760 mmHg flows into the tank 2 during the 2 seconds that the valve 15 is closed.

When the valve 15 is opened as shown in FIG. 2, sufficient pressure is applied to open the check valve 12, so the flow path 9 is communicated, the cleaning liquid flows, and the branch path 13 is blocked. Air no longer enters the flow path 9. At this time, pressure is applied from the inside of the hollow fiber to the outside. After 2 seconds, when the valve 15 is closed as shown in FIG. 3, the branch passage 13 and the flow passage 9 are communicated with each other by the check valve 12, so that sterile air is supplied from the passage 13 through the sterilization filter 14 to the hollow fibers of the dialyzer. It flows inside. At this time, pressure is applied from the outside of the hollow fiber to the inside. During the 2 seconds that valve 15 is closed, tank 2
As the water level within the tank 2 rises, the air pressure inside the tank 2 rises, and prepares for sending out a predetermined high-pressure cleaning liquid.

After about 30 minutes of repeating these operations, the yellow discoloration of the hollow fibers that had been removed by ordinary washing disappeared, and there was almost no cloudy substance in the discharged washing solution.

As detailed above, according to the method and apparatus of the present invention, unlike cleaning using only a liquid, since the air-liquid interface is used, the impact force is strong, and it is effective for removing adhesion inside the hollow fibers. In addition, pressure is applied to the membrane alternately from the inside of the hollow fiber to the outside and from the outside to the inside, which further shakes the deposits, so that the deposits can be effectively washed away.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flow sheet of a washing device used to carry out the method of this embodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are flow sheets for explaining the operation of the washing device. 1...Washing liquid source, 2...Pressure holding tank, 3...
... Channel, 6... Pump, 7... Dialyzer, 8... Blood channel, 9... Channel, 10... Dialyzer inlet channel,
11... Channel, 12... Check valve, 13... Branch passage, 15... Channel opening/closing valve, 16... Valve controller, 17... Flow rate adjustment valve, 18... Dialyzer outlet passage, 19... ...Flow path, 20...Pressure adjustment valve.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1 A hollow fiber type hemodialyzer consists of alternately flowing a cleaning liquid and gas inside the hollow fibers, and continuously flowing the cleaning liquid outside the hollow fibers. A method for cleaning a hollow fiber hemodialyzer in which a higher pressure is applied to the inside of the hollow fiber than the outside when gas flows through the hollow fiber, and a higher pressure is applied to the outside of the hollow fiber than the inside when gas flows into the hollow fiber. . 2. A flow path for flowing the washing liquid from the washing liquid source into the pressure holding tank, a pump incorporated in the flow path, a pressure holding tank, and communication from the pressure holding tank to the blood passage of the dialyzer. a flow path separated from the flow path from the pressure tank and communicating with the dialysate inlet passage of the dialyzer; a flow path communicating with the dialysate outlet passage of the dialyzer; and a blood passage of the dialyzer. a check valve provided in a flow path communicating with the check valve; a branch passage provided in the check valve and communicating the flow path with outside air when the check valve is closed; and a branch passage in the flow path and upstream of the check valve. a flow path opening/closing valve provided in the dialyzer, a valve controller for automatically opening and closing the flow path opening/closing valve, and a flow rate adjustment valve provided in a flow path communicating with the dialysate inlet passage of the dialyzer; When the flow path opening/closing valve provided in the flow path communicating with the dialysate outlet passage of the dialyzer is closed and air is flowing into the hollow fibers of the dialyzer, a higher pressure is created outside the hollow fibers than inside the hollow fibers. When the flow path on-off valve is opened and the washing liquid is flowing inside the hollow fiber of the dialyzer, the pressure is adjusted so that a higher pressure is applied inside the hollow fiber than outside the hollow fiber. A cleaning device for a hollow fiber hemodialyzer, comprising a valve.