Hemofiltration system and method

A multipurpose hemofiltration system and method are disclosed for the removal of fluid and/or soluble waste from the blood of a patient. The system and method are equally applicable to adult, pediatric and neonatal patients. In one embodiment, the system continuously monitors the weight of infusate in a first reservoir and drained fluid in a second reservoir and compares those weights to corresponding predetermined computed weights. When necessary, the pumping rates of the infusate, drained fluid and blood are adjusted in order to achieve a preselected amount of fluid removal from the patient's blood in a preselected time period. Application of this system and method provide repeatable and highly precise results. Alternatively, predetermined patient parameters can be monitored and the adjustment of pumping rates may be responsive to these monitored parameters. Suitable patient parameters are arterial pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure, mean arterial pressure, capillary wedge pressure, systemic vascular resistance, cardiac output, mixed venous O2 saturation, arterial O2 saturation, blood pressure, heart rate, patient weight, and hematocrit.