Enhanced Extracorporeal Blood Treatment Apparatus with Advanced Temperature and Pressure Control

Publication ID: 24-11857715_0001_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Enhanced Extracorporeal Blood Treatment Apparatus with Advanced Temperature and Pressure Control,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857715_0001_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857715_0001_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,715.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

An improved extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus that incorporates advanced temperature and pressure control features, ensuring safer and more efficient patient treatment.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent, 'Extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus', addresses the need for an apparatus that combines blood treatment with blood warming. However, it has limitations in terms of temperature and pressure control, which can lead to inadequate blood treatment and patient safety risks. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing advanced temperature and pressure control features.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The enhanced extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus comprises a blood treatment device, a blood warmer, and an extracorporeal blood circuit with a heating zone, temperature sensor, and control unit for regulating the temperature of the blood during treatment. Additionally, the apparatus includes a variable flow rate controller for adjusting the flow rate of the blood and a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure of the blood. The control unit and blood pump are designed to maintain a predetermined temperature range and pressure range, ensuring optimal blood treatment conditions.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce the novel features of advanced temperature and pressure control, which are not present in the original patent. The inventive step lies in the integration of these features to create a more efficient, safer, and patient-centric extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include the use of different types of temperature sensors, pressure sensors, or control units. Variations may also involve the integration of additional features, such as air trapping devices or secondary post-infusion lines, to further enhance the apparatus's functionality.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The enhanced extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus has significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, particularly in the fields of hemodialysis, blood transfusion, and cardiovascular surgery. The target market includes hospitals, clinics, and medical research institutions.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61M1/369
A A61 A61M1/3623
A A61 A61M1/3626
A A61 A61M1/3627
A A61 A61M1/3643
A A61 A61M39/28
A A61 A61M2205/3344
A A61 A61M2205/36

Field of Art

Medical device engineering, specifically extracorporeal blood treatment systems, involving complex fluid handling, temperature control, and medical device integration with emphasis on blood circuit management and patient safety technologies

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer with expertise in medical device design, fluid dynamics, thermal control systems, and medical device regulatory compliance, typically holding a master's degree with 3-5 years of specialized experience in medical device development

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the PTD's variations represent predictable engineering improvements to the source patent's extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus. The additional temperature and pressure control features are logical extensions of existing blood treatment technologies, utilizing standard sensor and control unit configurations that would be readily apparent to a skilled practitioner seeking to optimize patient treatment parameters.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Extracorporeal blood circuit with blood return line and heating zone
PTD Variation
Adding a temperature sensor and control unit to regulate blood temperature during treatment
Obviousness Reasoning
Integrating temperature monitoring is a known technique for precise thermal management in medical devices, representing a predictable solution for improving treatment precision
Source Patent Element
Blood treatment apparatus with blood warmer
PTD Variation
Implementing a variable flow rate controller to adjust blood flow during treatment
Obviousness Reasoning
Flow rate control is a standard design optimization technique in medical fluid handling systems, offering predictable benefits in treatment customization
Source Patent Element
Extracorporeal blood circuit with return lines
PTD Variation
Adding a pressure sensor and control unit to monitor and regulate blood pressure
Obviousness Reasoning
Pressure monitoring is a well-established safety mechanism in medical fluid systems, representing a finite and obvious solution for patient safety
Source Patent Element
Blood treatment apparatus with multiple lines and control mechanisms
PTD Variation
Developing a method for priming the circuit with temperature monitoring and controlled warming
Obviousness Reasoning
Circuit priming techniques are standard in medical device design, with temperature control being a logical extension of existing priming protocols
Source Patent Element
Basic extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus
PTD Variation
Comprehensive integration of temperature, pressure, and flow rate control systems
Obviousness Reasoning
Combining multiple control parameters is a predictable engineering approach to enhancing medical device performance and patient safety
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857715, the variations disclosed herein would be obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art of extracorporeal blood treatment systems. The incremental improvements in temperature, pressure, and flow rate control represent predictable engineering solutions that would be readily conceived by a skilled practitioner seeking to optimize medical device performance and patient treatment outcomes.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,715
TitleExtracorporeal blood treatment apparatus
Assignee(s)Gambro Lundia AB