[A flow divider which permits, during hemodialysis, the continuous collection of a representative sample of...

Dialysis efficiency is evaluated by the measurement of transfer of urea as well as of other important solutes such as sodium, potassium, phosphates etc. from the blood to the dialysate. These determinations are usually made by using clearances, but, because of the internal dynamics in the blood itself, reliable measurements taken in this way are impossible for most of the solutes of interest. Our system avoids these difficulties and provides accurate results. A reference method requires the determination of the volume and the concentration of the effluent dialysate. This is used in research work, but for obvious reasons, it is not suitable to a daily clinical context. Several authors proposed a system based on a pump, in order to sample continuously a fraction of the dialysate. However, they have to assume a constant flow of the latter. The system described here has the advantage of collecting a representative sample of the whole dialysate regardless of flow and concentrations variations during dialysis. It is suitable to a clinical context, easy to use and silent.