Baxter Gambro MARS System
Baxter International · Model Gambro MARS System
Enhanced blood purification for the treatment of Hepatic Encephalopathy due to a decompensation of chronic liver disease , as well as drug overdose and poisonings. The Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) uses adsorber cartridges to remove drugs and toxins with an affinity for albumin. When combined with a Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) system, the MARS circuit expands the ability of the CRRT treatment to simultaneously remove not only water-soluble substances, but albumin-bound (lipophilic) substances as well. The blood in the extracorporeal circuit is pumped through the specialized MARS FLUX filter on the MARS system. Then, protein-bound and water-soluble substances pass through the membrane by diffusion and convection into the albumin-enriched dialysate. Next, the albumin dialysate passes through the Prisma® system diaFLUX filter to remove water-soluble substances, and continues through the MARS adsorbers to remove the lipophilic substances (i.e. drugs and poisons) bound to the albumin molecules in the MARS circuit. The regenerated albumin dialysate returns through the MARSFLUX filter to repeat this process for the duration of the treatment. The MARS therapy is today the most widely used extracorporeal liver support therapy. This therapy has been in clinical use outside the United States since 1993 and commercially available since 1999. The MARS system is used in 45 countries around the world and its safety and efficacy have been demonstrated by clinical experience with more than 15,000 patients (about 45,000 treatments) who have benefited from its use. The MARS® device is cleared for use in the U.S. in the treatment of drug overdose and poisonings as well as hepatic encephalopathy (HE) due to a decompensation of a chronic liver disease. It is not indicated in the U.S. as a bridge to liver transplant.
Key tips
- ·Conductivity and water-quality checks are non-negotiable before every shift - dialysate chemistry errors are a direct patient-harm mechanism.
- ·Confirm disinfection cycle completion, never assume it, after every use.
- ·Treat a blood-leak detector fault as real until proven otherwise - never silence and continue.
Typical Failure Modes
Failure patterns typical of this equipment class - general BMET reference, not verified against this exact unit's own service history unless flagged. Severity is a category-level estimate.
Blood leak detector false/real
HighSymptoms: Blood leak alarm, treatment stop.
Root cause: Optical cell dirty or true leak.
Conductivity / dialysate fault
HighSymptoms: Conductivity out of range, dialysate alarm.
Root cause: Mixing valve or sensor fault.
Ultrafiltration error
MediumSymptoms: UF inaccuracy, weight alarm.
Root cause: Balance system / scale fault.
Heparin pump fault
LowSymptoms: No infusion, air alarm.
Root cause: Occlusion or drive failure.
Serviceable Parts & Consumables
The parts a BMET typically services on this class of equipment. Service class and relative cost are general engineering estimates for the category, not figures from this unit's documentation. Part numbers appear only when pulled from this unit's own service manual. Always confirm intervals and pricing against the manufacturer.
Dialyzer (filter)
Single-use.
Class ConsumableRel. cost $$R&R Easy
Conductivity cell / sensor
Class Periodic replacementRel. cost $$R&R Moderate
Blood pump roller
Class Periodic replacementRel. cost $$R&R Fairly easy
Heparin pump syringe drive
Class Periodic replacementRel. cost $$R&R Moderate
| Part | Service class | Relative cost | R&R difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dialyzer (filter) Single-use. | Consumable | $$ | Easy |
| Conductivity cell / sensor | Periodic replacement | $$ | Moderate |
| Blood pump roller | Periodic replacement | $$ | Fairly easy |
| Heparin pump syringe drive | Periodic replacement | $$ | Moderate |
Relative cost: $ lowest · $$$$ highest service-part cost for this equipment class. Not a price.
PM Checklist
Preventive-maintenance tasks typical of this equipment class. Perform to the manufacturer's procedure and your facility's policy - this is general reference, not a schedule for this specific unit.
- ·Disinfection cycle verification
- ·Conductivity and water-quality check
- ·Blood-leak detector test
- ·Scheduled tubing / filter replacement
- ·Annual full PM
Troubleshooting Approach
A structured starting point derived from the failure modes above. Follow the manufacturer's service documentation for the actual procedure.
Symptom: Blood leak detector false/real
- Confirm the presentation - typically blood leak alarm, treatment stop - and note the exact alarm or message and the conditions when it occurs.
- Check the most likely cause first: optical cell dirty or true leak.
- Isolate the affected subsystem using the manufacturer's functional check or self-test, where one is provided.
- If the fault is confirmed and not a field adjustment, service or replace the blood tubing set / roller segment per the manufacturer's service documentation.
- Return the device to service only after the manufacturer's functional and applicable electrical-safety checks pass.
- Record the findings, any parts used, and the verification results in the maintenance history.
Symptom: Conductivity / dialysate fault
- Confirm the presentation - typically conductivity out of range, dialysate alarm - and note the exact alarm or message and the conditions when it occurs.
- Check the most likely cause first: mixing valve or sensor fault.
- Isolate the affected subsystem using the manufacturer's functional check or self-test, where one is provided.
- If the fault is confirmed and not a field adjustment, service or replace the dialyzer (filter) per the manufacturer's service documentation.
- Return the device to service only after the manufacturer's functional and applicable electrical-safety checks pass.
- Record the findings, any parts used, and the verification results in the maintenance history.
Typical Location
Where this class of equipment is typically deployed - general reference, not this unit's own placement record.
- Dialysis unit / clinic
- ICU (acute dialysis)
- Home hemodialysis
Documents & Manuals
No documents available for this device yet.
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