Portable hemodialysis assembly with ammonia sensor

• US 10,016,550 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2015
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diality, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EasyDial, Inc.
• Inventors: Giordano, Renato, Corder, Rodney
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Heidi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Varma, Akash
• Application Number:
  US14/680,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20160074567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 210 962
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1524 the interface providing means for actuating on functional elements of the cassette, e.g. plungers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/154 with sensing means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/155 with treatment-fluid pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/156 Constructional details of the cassette, e.g. specific details on material or shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/15632 the filter being a dialyser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1601 Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1603 Regulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1605 Physical characteristics of the dialysate fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1609 after use, i.e. downstream of dialyser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1621 Constructional aspects thereof semi-permeable membranes for separation processes characterised by their properties B01D69/00; semi permeable membranes characterised by their material B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1645 with mechanically linked peristaltic dialysis fluid pumps one upstream, the other one downstream of the dialyser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1654 Dialysates therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1658 Degasification
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1672 using membrane filters, e.g. for sterilising the dialysate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1696 with dialysate regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/267 used for pumping
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362227 the interface providing means for actuating on functional elements of the cassette, e.g. plungers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36224 with sensing means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36225 with blood pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36226 : Constructional details of cassettes, e.g. specific details on material or shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362264 : the filter being a blood filter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3626 : Gas bubble detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3661 : for haemodialysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/125 : with incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/126 : with incorporated membrane filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/127 : with provisions for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 : Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/27 : preventing use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 : Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 : Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 : Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3327 : Measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 : Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3337 : Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 : Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 : by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 : with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/75 : with filters

Abstract

A portable hemodialysis system is provided including a disposable cartridge and a reused dialysis machine. The disposable cartridge includes a dialysate flow path and a blood flow path which flow in opposite directions through a dialyzer. The disposable cartridge includes a filter for removing waste products from the dialysate, and pressure and fluid flow sensors for measuring the pressure and fluid flow in the dialysate flow path and blood flow path. Preferably, the filter has a vapor membrane for releasing gases including ammonia, but not liquids such as the dialysate. The reused dialysis machine possesses a reservoir for dialysate, an ammonia sensor adjacent to the vapor membrane, a level sensor, a blood leak sensor, a venous blood line pressure sensor, a venous blood line bubble detector, pump motors, and a processor connected to the motors and sensors for controlling and monitoring hemodialysis treatment.

Claims

1. A hemodialysis system comprising:

an arterial blood line for connecting to a patient'"'"'s artery for collecting blood from a patient;

a venous blood line for connecting to a patient'"'"'s vein for returning blood to a patient;

a reusable dialysis machine and a disposable cartridge wherein said disposable cartridge is connectable and disconnectable to said reusable dialysis machine;

said disposable cartridge having;

a dialyzer;

a blood flow path connected to said arterial blood line and said venous blood line for transporting blood from a patient through said dialyzer and back to a patient;

a dialysate flow path, isolated from the blood flow path, for transporting a dialysate from a reservoir to said dialyzer and back to the reservoir;

a filter connected to said dialysate flow path downflow from said dialyzer for removing uremic toxins from said dialysate flow path, said filter positioned within a housing having a vapor membrane which permits ammonia gas to pass through said vapor membrane but not dialysate liquid;

said reusable dialysis machine including;

a reservoir for storing a dialysate solution in fluid connection to said a dialysate flow path;

an ammonia sensor adjacent to said vapor membrane for sensing ammonia gas released through said vapor membrane from said filter; and

a processor connected to said ammonia sensor for monitoring said ammonia sensor, and said processor for ceasing hemodialysis treatment if said ammonia sensor senses ammonia above a predetermined threshold.

2. The hemodialysis system of claim 1, wherein said ammonia sensor incorporates a chemical sensor layer including tin dioxide (SnO₂).

3. The hemodialysis system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first pump including a first pump motor and a first pump actuator connected to said dialysate flow path upflow from said dialyzer for pumping dialysate through said dialysate flow path to said dialyzer;

a second pump including a second pump motor and a second pump actuator connected to said dialysate flow path downflow from said dialyzer for pumping dialysate through said dialysate flow path; and

a third pump including a third pump motor and a third pump actuator connected to said blood flow path for pumping blood through said blood flow path.