Blood leak monitoring method and apparatus

摘要

A method for monitoring for leaks or disconnections in an extracorporeal blood circuit, comprising the steps of operating a blood pump to circulate blood through an extracorporeal blood circuit; opening a shunt connection between the arterial and venous blood flow portions; sensing the presence of air from any leaks or disconnections within the venous blood flow portion, and taking corrective action if the presence of air is noted. The shunt connection is typically periodically but only briefly opened, to check for leaks in the typically positive pressure portion of the venous set.