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HEMODIALYSIS BASICS
The blood monitor controls and supervises the entire blood circuit.
The purpose of the blood monitor is to pass blood from the access through the arterial blood line to the
dialyzer, after which it is returned to you via the venous blood line. This is done at a continuous flow and
controlled speed.
The blood pump is placed before the dialyzer.
Safety features built into the system monitor the pressure of the blood flow coming out of and being
returned to the access.
An air detector is incorporated into the blood circuit in order to prevent possible air being returned to
the access.
The Blood Monitor
Arterial line clamp
Pressure measurement (arterial)
Heparin line
Dialyzer
Venous line clamp/
Priming detector
Blood in
Blood out
Venous access
Arterial access
Pressure
measurement
(venous)
Blood pump
Air detector
Blood is withdrawn
from the patient access,
creating a negative
pressure (pre-pump),
referred to as arterial
pressure
Blood exits the dialyzer and
is propelled back to the
patient, creating a positive
pressure, referred to as
venous pressure
Blood is propelled
through the dialyzer,
creating a positive
pressure (post-pump)