Pumping cassette

• US 10,077,766 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2017
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Demers, Jason A., Wilt, Michael J., Grant, Kevin L., Dale, James D., Tracey, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LETTMAN, BRYAN MATTHEW
• Application Number:
  US15/635,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20180038357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• 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 1/1561 at least one cassette surface or portion thereof being flexible, e.g. the cassette having a rigid base portion with preformed channels and being covered with a foil
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/15625 the reservoirs acting as balance chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1565 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1605 Physical characteristics of the dialysate fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1639 linked by membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1656 Apparatus for preparing dialysates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1664 with temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1666 by dissolving solids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/287 Dialysates therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3324 PH measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/113 in other functional devices, e.g. dialysers or heart-lung machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/268 the displacement member being flexible, e.g. membranes, diaphragms or bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/37 Haemodialysis, haemofiltration or diafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/427 : the force acting on the blood contacting member being hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/43 : using vacuum at the blood pump, e.g. to accelerate filling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/837 : Aspects of flexible displacement members, e.g. shapes or materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/847 : arranged in a cassette
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/849 : Disposable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/851 : Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/892 : Active valves, i.e. actuated by an external force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/894 : Passive valves, i.e. valves actuated by the blood
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/02 : of two or more fluids at the same time
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/06 : the pumps being all of reciprocating positive-displacement type
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 41/06 : Combinations of two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/00 : Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for elastic fluids F04B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/026 : each plate-like pumping flexible member working in its own pumping chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/06 : Pumps having fluid drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/0736 : with two or more pumping chambers in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/02 : having bellows
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/0536 : the actuating fluid being controlled by one or more valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/02 : Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/22 : by means of valves F04B49/03 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/06 : Venting
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/10 : Valves; Arrangement of valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/16 : Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 7/02 : the valving being fluid-actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 9/109 : having plural pumping chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 3/00 : Arrangements for supervising or controlling working operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 : With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0379 : By fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2521 : Flow comparison or differential response
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85978 : With pump
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86139 : Serial

Abstract

A pumping cassette including a housing having at least two inlet fluid lines and at least two outlet fluid lines. At least one balancing pod within the housing and in fluid connection with the fluid paths. The balancing pod balances the flow of a first fluid and the flow of a second fluid such that the volume of the first fluid equals the volume of the second fluid. The balancing pod also includes a membrane that forms two balancing chambers. Also included in the cassette is at least two reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pumps. The pumps are within the housing and they pump the fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet line and pump the second fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet.

Claims

1. A fluid-balancing cassette comprising:

a first and a second fluid-balancing pod, each pod having a first port separated from an opposing second port by a flexible membrane, the flexible membrane dividing the fluid-balancing pod into variable volume first and second chambers, wherein a total fluid volume of the fluid-balancing pod is a sum of the volumes of the first and second chambers;

a first and a second diaphragm pump, an outlet of the first diaphragm pump having a valved connection to the second port of the first fluid-balancing pod and an outlet of the second diaphragm pump having a valved connection to the second port of the second fluid-balancing pod, wherein a full stroke volume of each diaphragm pump matches the total fluid volume of the fluid-balancing pod to which it is connected;

a first fluid flowpath connecting a first inlet of the cassette to a first outlet of the cassette, wherein the first fluid flowpath has separate valved connections to the first port of the first fluid-balancing pod and to the first port of the second fluid-balancing pod; and

a second fluid flowpath connecting a second inlet of the cassette to a second outlet of the cassette, wherein the second fluid flowpath has separate valved connections to an inlet of the first diaphragm pump and to an inlet of the second diaphragm pump, wherein

the fluid-balancing cassette is configured to allow a full stroke volume of the first or the second diaphragm pump, which contains a second fluid received from the second inlet to displace a substantially equal volume of a first fluid contained within the first or second fluid-balancing pod, the first fluid having previously been received by the first or second fluid-balancing pod from the first inlet.

2. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 1, further comprising a third diaphragm pump having a valved connection to a third fluid flowpath that connects the second inlet to the second outlet, bypassing the first and second fluid-balancing pods.

3. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 1, wherein the first fluid flowpath comprises a sensor cell located between the first fluid inlet and the first port, respectively, of the first and second fluid-balancing pods.

4. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 3, wherein the sensor cell comprises two or three sensor element housings configured to mate with temperature or conductivity probes to detect temperature or conductivity of the first fluid.

5. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 1, wherein the first fluid flowpath comprises a first branch connected to the first port of the first fluid-balancing pod and a second branch connected to the first port of the second fluid-balancing pod, each said branch comprising a first branch valve configured to direct an incoming first fluid to the first or second fluid-balancing pod.

6. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 5, wherein each said branch comprises a second branch valve downstream of each of the first ports of the first and second fluid-balancing pods, respectively, wherein the fluid-balancing cassette is configured for filling each fluid-balancing pod with the first fluid through operation of the first and second branch valves.

7. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 1, wherein the second fluid flowpath comprises a first branch connected to the inlet of the first diaphragm pump and a second branch connected to the inlet of the second diaphragm pump, each said branch comprising a pump inlet valve upstream of each diaphragm pump, a pump outlet valve located between each diaphragm pump and the second port of each of the fluid-balancing pods, and a branch outlet valve downstream of the second port of each of the fluid-balancing pods, wherein the fluid-balancing cassette is configured for filling each fluid-balancing pod with the second fluid through operation of the pump inlet valves, the pump outlet valves, and the branch outlet valves.

8. A fluid-balancing cassette comprising:

a first and a second fluid-balancing pod, each pod having a first port separated from an opposing second port by a flexible membrane, the flexible membrane dividing the fluid-balancing pod into variable volume first and second chambers, wherein a total fluid volume of the fluid-balancing pod is a sum of the volumes of the first and second chambers;

a first and a second diaphragm pump, an outlet of the first diaphragm pump having a valved connection to the second port of the first fluid-balancing pod and an outlet of the second diaphragm pump having a valved connection to the second port of the second fluid-balancing pod, wherein a full stroke volume of each diaphragm pump matches the total fluid volume of the fluid-balancing pod to which it is connected;

a first fluid flowpath connecting a first inlet of the cassette to a first outlet of the cassette, wherein the first fluid flowpath has separate valved connections to the first port of the first fluid-balancing pod and to the first port of the second fluid-balancing pod;

a second fluid flowpath connecting a second inlet of the cassette to a second outlet of the cassette, wherein the second fluid flowpath has separate valved connections to an inlet of the first diaphragm pump and to an inlet of the second diaphragm pump; and

a third fluid flowpath comprising a third diaphragm pump, having a valved connection to the second inlet and second outlet of the cassette, and bypassing the first and second fluid-balancing pods, wherein

the fluid-balancing cassette is configured to allow the full stroke volume of the first or the second diaphragm pump, which contains a second fluid received from the second inlet to displace a substantially equal volume of a first fluid contained within the first or second fluid-balancing pod, the first fluid having previously been received by the first or second fluid-balancing pod from the first inlet.

9. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 8, wherein the first fluid flowpath comprises a sensor cell located between the first fluid inlet and the first port, respectively, of the first and second fluid-balancing pods.

10. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 9, wherein the sensor cell comprises two or three sensor element housings configured to mate with temperature or conductivity probes to detect temperature or conductivity of the first fluid.

11. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 8, wherein the first fluid flowpath comprises a first branch connected to the first port of the first fluid-balancing pod and a second branch connected to the first port of the second fluid-balancing pod, each said branch comprising a first branch valve configured to direct an incoming first fluid to the first or second fluid-balancing pod.

12. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 11, wherein each said branch comprises a second branch valve downstream of each of the first ports of the first and second fluid-balancing pods, respectively, wherein the fluid-balancing cassette is configured for filling each fluid-balancing pod with the first fluid through operation of the first and second branch valves.

13. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 8, wherein the second fluid flowpath comprises a first branch connected to the inlet of the first diaphragm pump and a second branch connected to the inlet of the second diaphragm pump, each said branch comprising a pump inlet valve upstream of each diaphragm pump, a pump outlet valve located between each diaphragm pump and the second port of each of the fluid-balancing pods, and a branch outlet valve downstream of the second port of each of the fluid-balancing pods, wherein the fluid-balancing cassette is configured for filling each fluid-balancing pod with the second fluid through operation of the pump inlet valves, the pump outlet valves, and the branch outlet valves.

14. A fluid-balancing cassette comprising:

a first and a second fluid-balancing pod, each pod having a first port separated from an opposing second port by a flexible membrane, the flexible membrane dividing the fluid-balancing pod into variable volume first and second chambers, wherein a total fluid volume of the fluid-balancing pod is a sum of the volumes of the first and second chambers;

a first and a second diaphragm pump, an outlet of the first diaphragm pump having a valved connection to the second port of the first fluid-balancing pod and an outlet of the second diaphragm pump having a valved connection to the second port of the second fluid-balancing pod, wherein a full stroke volume of each diaphragm pump matches the total fluid volume of the fluid-balancing pod to which it is connected;

a first fluid flowpath connecting a first inlet of the cassette to a first outlet of the cassette, wherein the first fluid flowpath has separate valved connections to the first port of the first fluid-balancing pod and to the first port of the second fluid-balancing pod, and wherein the first fluid flowpath comprises a sensor cell located between the first fluid inlet and the first port, respectively, of the first and second fluid-balancing pods; and

a second fluid flowpath connecting a second inlet of the cassette to a second outlet of the cassette, wherein the second fluid flowpath has separate valved connections to an inlet of the first diaphragm pump and to an inlet of the second diaphragm pump, wherein

the fluid-balancing cassette is configured to allow a full stroke volume of the first or the second diaphragm pump, which contains a second fluid received from the second inlet to displace a substantially equal volume of a first fluid contained within the first or second fluid-balancing pod, the first fluid having previously been received by the first or second fluid-balancing pod from the first inlet.

15. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 14, further comprising a third diaphragm pump having a valved connection to a third fluid flowpath that connects the second inlet to the second outlet, bypassing the first and second fluid-balancing pods.

16. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 14, wherein the sensor cell comprises two or three sensor element housings configured to mate with temperature or conductivity probes to detect temperature or conductivity of the first fluid.

17. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 14, wherein the first fluid flowpath comprises a first branch connected to the first port of the first fluid-balancing pod and a second branch connected to the first port of the second fluid-balancing pod, each said branch comprising a first branch valve configured to direct an incoming first fluid to the first or second fluid-balancing pod.

18. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 17, wherein each said branch comprises a second branch valve downstream of each of the first ports of the first and second fluid-balancing pods, respectively, wherein the fluid-balancing cassette is configured for filling each fluid-balancing pod with the first fluid through operation of the first and second branch valves.

19. The fluid-balancing cassette of claim 14, wherein the second fluid flowpath comprises a first branch connected to the inlet of the first diaphragm pump and a second branch connected to the inlet of the second diaphragm pump, each said branch comprising a pump inlet valve upstream of each diaphragm pump, a pump outlet valve located between each diaphragm pump and the second port of each of the fluid-balancing pods, and a branch outlet valve downstream of the second port of each of the fluid-balancing pods, wherein the fluid-balancing cassette is configured for filling each fluid-balancing pod with the second fluid through operation of the pump inlet valves, the pump outlet valves, and the branch outlet valves.