A method and apparatus for ultrafiltration of blood operating by removing blood
from a peripheral blood vessel at a rate of less than two percent of total cardiac
output of a patient, extracting fluid at a rate of 0.1 liter to 1.0 liters per
hour while retaining cells and proteins in the blood, and returning the concentrated
blood to a secondary blood vessel is disclosed. Blood is removed and returned using
small gage needles. As a pump circulates blood from the patient, a filter removes
ultrafiltrate from the blood using duty cycle or pump control, and a transparent
container collects the removed fluid.
