Dialysis system having an autoconnection mechanism

• US 10,293,091 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2016
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Childers, Robert W., Lee, Patrick, Kopychev, Andrey, Reitz, Douglas, Roger, Rodolfo, Steck, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert, Andrew M
• Application Number:
  US15/002,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20160136345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/14 Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/152 Details related to the interface between cassette and machine
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/153 the cassette being adapted for heating or cooling the treating fluid, e.g. the dialysate or the treating gas
• 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 1/1565 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/159 specially adapted for peritoneal dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1601 Control or regulation
• 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 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• 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 39/165 Shrouds or protectors for aseptically enclosing the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/162 Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1626 Needle protectors therefor in combination with syringes A61M5/3202; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A dialysis system including a disposable fluid pumping cassette including at least one flexible membrane attached to a housing and at least one port extending from the housing, the at least one port including a spike; at least one dialysis fluid supply in fluid communication with at least one tubing and tubing connector; an autoconnection device including a shuttle for moving the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port, the autoconnection device including at least one lead screw in mechanical communication with the shuttle, a motor and power transmission equipment to transmit power from the motor to the at least one lead screw; and a controller programmed to operate the motor to move the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port of the disposable fluid pumping cassette.

Claims

1. A dialysis system comprising:

a disposable fluid pumping cassette including at least one flexible membrane attached to a housing and at least one port extending from the housing, the at least one port including a spike;

at least one dialysis fluid supply in fluid communication with at least one tubing and tubing connector;

an autoconnection device including a shuttle for moving the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port, the autoconnection device including at least one lead screw in mechanical communication with the shuttle, a motor and power transmission equipment to transmit power from the motor to the at least one lead screw; and

a controller programmed to operate the motor to move the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port of the disposable fluid pumping cassette.

2. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the power transmission equipment is configured to operate with the motor to produce a desired speed for moving the shuttle.

3. The dialysis system of claim 2, wherein the power transmission equipment includes a timing belt in mechanical communication with the motor to produce the desired speed for moving the shuttle.

4. The dialysis system of claim 2, wherein the power transmission equipment includes a gear reduction in mechanical communication with the motor to produce the desired speed for moving the shuttle.

5. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the lead screw is in threaded communication with the shuttle.

6. The dialysis system of claim 1, which includes two lead screws in mechanical communication with opposing ends of the shuttle.

7. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the shuttle grasps the at least one tubing and tubing connector.

8. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the shuttle includes at least one channel for accepting the at least one tubing and tubing connector.

9. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the shuttle includes at least one occluder for occluding the at least one tubing.

10. The dialysis system of claim 1, which includes a sensor operating with the controller to operate the motor to move the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port in a desired manner.

11. The dialysis system of claim 9, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

12. The dialysis system of claim 9, wherein the sensor is mounted to and moves with the shuttle.

13. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to operate the motor to move the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards and away from the spike of the at least one port of the disposable fluid pumping cassette.

14. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the at least one connector is provided with a cap, and wherein the controller is programmed to operate the motor to move the at least one tubing and tubing connector (i) away from the disposable fluid pumping cassette to remove the cap from the connector and (ii) towards the disposable fluid pumping cassette to cause the spike to spike the connector.

15. The dialysis system of claim 14, wherein the at least one port is provided with a cap, and wherein the controller is further programmed between (i) and (ii) to (iii) cause a finger to be rotated to remove the cap from the at least one port.

16. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the at least one lead screw is a ballscrew that operates using ball bearings.