Abstract
To prevent potential dialysis-related accidents such as inadvertent air embolism, the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy has recommended changing the postdialysis rinsing procedure from the conventional airdriven to saline-available rinsing method. We designed and developed a new dialysis machine function that can support safeguards required during the rinsing process. The support function was easily added to the new system within a short period with minimal expense. This function allows air bubble detection by a sensor and a venous pressure warning system that automatically becomes set when switching to the rinsing process, which leads to precise volume control of the saline infusion for rinsing at a predetermined setting.
In addition, we designed and developed an automatic draining system using ultrafiltration, which could drain saline retained in the dialyzer and blood tube after rinsing.
We concluded that these changes provided a well-operated and safe automatic rinsing system for all kinds of dialysers without additional expense for treatment of medical waste.
