The measurement of blood flow in a dialysis shunt is obtained by injection of
an indicator material into a venous line leading from dialysis equipment to the
shunt. The blood flow in an arterial line leading from the shunt at a location
downstream of the venous line to the dialysis equipment is monitored by an arterial
line sensor for the presence of the indicator material. A detector connected to
the sensor provides a dilution curve in response to the presence of the indicator
material and the blood flow in the shunt is calculated from the area under the
dilution curve. The locations of the arterial and venous lines in the shunt can
be reversed to obtain a measurement of blood recirculation from the venous line
into the arterial line.
