Fluid processing systems and methods using extracorporeal fluid flow panels oriented within a cartridge

• US 20020103453A1
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nxstage Medical Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Nxstage Medical Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Brugger, James M., Treu, Dennis M., Burbank, Jeffrey H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,852,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/4.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1611 Weight of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1639 linked by membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/34 Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3401 Cassettes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3403 Regulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/341 by measuring the filtrate rate or volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/342 Adding solutions to the blood, e.g. substitution solutions for preventing coagulation A61M1/3672
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3441 Substitution rate control as a function of the ultrafiltration rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3444 in which the collected ultra-filtrate expels an equal volume of substitution fluid from a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3448 by mechanically linked pumps in both ultra-filtrate and substitution flow line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3458 having electrolytes not present in the dialysate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/361 before treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3612 after treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362223 the interface being evacuated interfaces to enhance contact
• 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 1/362262 Details of incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362265 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3626 Gas bubble detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3639 : Blood pressure control, pressure transducers specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3646 : Expelling the residual body fluid after use, e.g. back to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/367 : Circuit parts not covered by the preceding subgroups of group A61M1/3621
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/126 : with incorporated membrane filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 : with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 : Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 : Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 : Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/35 : Communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 : remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 : sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 : User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 : with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 : providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 : Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 : Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/929 : Hemoultrafiltrate volume measurement or control processes

Abstract

A first flow path is defined within a first panel that forms a part of an extracorporeal fluid circuit. A second flow path is defined within a second panel that also forms a part of the extracorporeal fluid circuit. The first and second panels are oriented in a fluid processing cartridge for mounting as an integrated unit on a fluid processing machine and for removal as an integrated unit from the fluid processing machine.

Claims

1. A flow management system, comprising:

a first panel having a fluid pathway for passing a first fluid, the first panel comprising a first compartment to receive a volume of the first fluid;

a second panel having a fluid pathway for passing a second fluid, the second panel comprising a second compartment to receive a volume of the second fluid, the first and second panels being aligned so that the first compartment overlays the second compartment; and

a first surface and a second surface defining a gap, the first and second compartments disposed within the gap so that the second compartment bears against the second surface as the second fluid fills the second compartment and forces the first fluid out from the first compartment as the first compartment bears against the first surface.

2. The flow management system of claim 1, wherein the first panel further comprises a third compartment to receive a volume of the first fluid.

3. The flow management system of claim 1, wherein the second panel further comprises a fourth compartment to receive a volume of the second fluid.

4. The flow management system of claim 1, wherein the panels are aligned by folding.

5. The flow management system of claim 1, wherein the panels are die cut and overlay one another.

6. The flow management system of claim 1, wherein the panels are flexible.

7. The flow management system of claim 1, wherein each panel has a pattern of seals.

8. The flow management system of claim 1, wherein the first fluid is an outgoing fluid.

9. The flow management system of claim 1, wherein the second fluid is an in-going fluid.

10. A flow management system, comprising:

a first panel having a fluid pathway for passing a first fluid, the first panel comprising a first compartment to receive a volume of the first fluid, the first compartment communicating with first and second channels; and

a second panel having a fluid pathway for passing a second fluid, the second panel comprising a second compartment to receive a volume of the second fluid, the second compartment communicating with third and fourth channels,

the panels being aligned so that the first compartment overlays the second compartment, the first channel overlays the third channel, and the second channel overlays the fourth channel, so that the first fluid passes out through the first channel as the second fluid passes in through the third channel without mixing of the first and second fluids.

11. The flow management system of claim 10, wherein the first fluid from the first compartment is displaced as the second fluid fills the second compartment.

12. The flow management system of claim 10, further comprising a first surface and a second surface defining a gap, the first and second compartments disposed within the gap so that the second compartment bears against the second surface as the second fluid fills the second compartment and forces the first fluid out from the first compartment.

13. The flow management system of claim 10, wherein the first panel further comprises a third compartment to receive a volume of the first fluid.

14. The flow management system of claim 10, wherein the second panel further comprises a fourth compartment to receive a volume of the second fluid.

15. The flow management system of claim 10, wherein the panels are aligned by folding.

16. The flow management system of claim 10, wherein the panels are die cut and overlay one another.

17. The flow management system of claim 10, wherein the panels are flexible.

18. The flow management system of claim 10, wherein each panel has a pattern of seals.

19. The flow management system of claim 10, wherein the first fluid is an outgoing fluid.

20. The flow management system of claim 10, wherein the second fluid is an in-going fluid.

21. A flow management system, comprising:

a first panel having a fluid pathway for passing a first fluid, the first panel comprising a first compartment to receive a volume of the first fluid, the first compartment communicating with first and second channels;

a second panel having a fluid pathway for passing a second fluid, the second panel comprising a second compartment to receive a volume of the second fluid, the second compartment communicating with third and fourth channels, the panels being aligned so that the first compartment overlays the second compartment, the first channel overlays the third channel, and the second channel overlays the fourth channel; and

a releasable clamp that bears against the first channel and the third channel to close the first and third channels.

22. The flow management system of claim 21, wherein the releasable clamp is a solenoid clamp.

23. The flow management system of claim 21, wherein the releasable clamp is a spring loaded clamp.

24. The flow management system of claim 21, wherein the first fluid from the first compartment is displaced as the second fluid fills the second compartment.

25. The flow management system of claim 21, further comprising a first surface and a second surface defining a gap, the first and second compartments disposed within the gap so that the second compartment bears against the second surface as the second fluid fills the second compartment and forces the first fluid out from the first compartment.

29. The flow management system of claim 28, wherein the releasable clamp is a spring loaded clamp.

30. The flow management system of claim 28, wherein excess fluid is returned to the fluid source.

31. The flow management system of claim 28, wherein fluid is pumped from the source and through the channel until the compartment is filled.

32. The flow management system of claim 28, wherein the fluid source comprises a length of tubing in registry with a rotor pump.

26. A method for monitoring pressure in a blood processing system, comprising the steps of:

passing a fluid through a panel having a fluid channel, the channel having an inside surface that contacts the fluid and an outside surface, and being formed of a flexible material that distributes pressure evenly;

contacting a pressure meter with the outside surface of the fluid channel; and

operating the pressure meter to measure the pressure of the fluid passing through the fluid channel.

27. A method for detecting a blood leak in a blood processing system, comprising the steps of:

passing a fluid through a panel having a fluid channel, the channel having an inside surface that contacts the fluid and an outside surface;

positioning an optical detector adjacent the outside surface of the fluid channel;

operating the optical detector to measure the absorption spectrum of the fluid passing through the fluid channel; and

comparing the measured spectrum to the known spectrum for the fluid to determine whether the fluid is contaminated with blood.

28. A flow management system, comprising:

a panel having a fluid pathway for passing a fluid, the panel comprising a compartment to receive a volume of the fluid, the compartment communicating with a channel that communicates with a fluid source and a recirculation port; and

a releasable clamp that bears against the recirculation port to close the recirculation port, wherein fluid passes from the source and through the channel until the compartment is filled, and excess fluid passes through the recirculation port by releasing the clamp.