Dialysis apparatus with regulated mixing of the dialysis solution

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG.
1 shows a dialysis apparatus 10.
The dialysis apparatus consists essentially of a unit 12 for production of the dialysis solution and a dialyzer 14 connected with unit 12, followed downstream by a pump 16 to produce a vacuum in the dialyzer on the side of the dialysis fluid.
Unit 12 is simplified; its main component is a mixing unit 18 (not detailed) which is connected through line 20 to a tank 22 containing concentrate solution.
In line 20 a controllable pump 24 is provided in order to feed the concentrate into the mixing unit 18.
The mixing unit 18 is also connected via line 26 to a fresh water supply 28.
The water arriving in the mixing unit 18 is heated by a heater (not shown) to about the body temperature of the patient.
The pump 24 is operative to draw concentrate from tank 22 which is then mixed in the mixing unit with the heated tap water.
In the mixing unit 18, the excess gas dissolved in the dialyzing solution is separated.
Otherwise gas would be released in the dialyzer 14 where a certain vacuum prevails.
From mixing unit 18 line 30 routes the dialysis solution to the dialyzer 14.
A first detector 32 is provided in line 30 which will measure at least one concentration parameter of the electrolytes contained in the dialysis solution.
Normally, this will be the concentration of sodium salts, since the latter makes up at least 90% of the conductivity value.
Preferably, however, the sum of all concentrate parameters will be measured, since all concentrations are commonly present in the same proportions.
This is due to the fact that only one type of concentrate solution is used.
As explained hereafter, the use of a concentrate solution containing such a mixture of all electrolytes is nevertheless not necessari1y mandatory.
Thus, it is possible for the electrolyte salt to be present in the form of a concentrate which is fed into the mixing unit 18 through a feeder system corresponding essentially to line 20 and pump 24.
A sodium salt, particularly sodium chloride, could preferably be present in the form of its concentrate and the other electrolytes in another concentrate