Apparatus for fluid delivery in a dialysis clinic

• US 20030080059A1
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Peterson, Richard M. Russell
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Peterson, Richard M. Russell
• Inventors: Peterson, Michael J., Russell, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/310,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080059A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/646
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1656 Apparatus for preparing dialysates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1668 Details of containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1686 by heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/84 for treating several patients simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0431 Wall trunking
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0487 with a non-circular cross-section H02G3/0468, H02G3/0475 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/286 in walls

Abstract

A modular fluid transport system is provided for transporting fluids in a dialysis clinic from a fluid source to the dialysis machines. The system includes modular ductwork and modular fluid conduits. The connecting stations may include quick detachable interface manifolds which allow dialysis machines to be easily changed out. The components of the fluid transport system may be heat sterilized. The components of the system may be prefabricated off site and then quickly assembled in the dialysis clinic. Flexibility in the arrangement of equipment within the clinic is provided for.

Claims

1. A fluid transport system for communicating a source of fluids to at least one fluid-requiring instrument, said fluid transport system comprising:

a) modular ductwork including a plurality of removable ductwork segments defining a secondary containment chamber; and

b) a plurality of conduits received through the ductwork for carrying fluids from the source to the at least one fluid-requiring instrument, so that any fluids leaking from the conduits are caught in the secondary containment chamber.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the conduits include continuous lengths of tubing extending through at least two adjacent ductwork segments.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of said ductwork segments are mounted on an interior face of a wall of a room.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein at least some of said ductwork segments are freestanding segments extending from the wall into an interior of the room.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the freestanding ductwork segments are supported on a portable column having lockable casters engaging a floor of the room.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of said ductwork segments are freestanding segments extending from the wall into an interior of the room.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the freestanding ductwork segments are supported on a portable column having lockable casters engaging a floor of the room.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each ductwork segment comprises a single containment chamber for a plurality of fluid conduits.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each ductwork segment comprises a plurality of containment chambers, each containment chamber enclosing at least one of the conduits.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one outlet plate having a plurality of outlet ports defined therein, the outlet ports being communicated with the conduits.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a) an adapter plate having first and second sides and having a plurality of flow passages defined therethrough from the first side to the second side;

b) a first plurality of quick-connect fittings connecting the outlet ports of the outlet plate to the flow passages on the first side of the adapter plate; and

c) a second plurality of fittings connected to the flow passages on the second side of the outlet plate, for connecting the instrument to the conduits.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein each conduit of the plurality of conduits includes a plurality of removable conduit segments, each conduit segment being associated with and supported within one of the ductwork segments.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the removable conduit segments is joined to an adjacent removable conduit segment by means of a detachable coupling.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein each removable conduit segment is constructed from a material which is stable at a temperature of 105 degrees Celsius applied for a period of at least 20 hours, to facilitate heat disinfection.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each removable conduit segment is constructed of polypropylene.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein each removable conduit segment is constructed of polytetrafluoroethylene.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein each removable conduit segment is constructed of cross-linked polyethylene.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein each conduit of the plurality of conduits comprises at least one segment of flexible tubing.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said fluid-requiring instrument is a hemodialysis machine.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein one of said fluids comprises water from a reverse-osmosis purification system.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein one of said fluids comprises deionized water.

22. A portable hemodialysis treatment facility comprising:

a) a portable water purification system for preparation of water and dialysate;

b) a plurality of removable interconnecting fluid conduit segments fluidly connected to the portable water purification system for carrying fluid from the water purification system to at least one hemodialysis machine; and

c) modular ductwork including a plurality of removable ductwork segments wherein said fluid conduit segments are housed.

23. A modular fluid transmission system comprising:

a) a modular ductwork assembly including a plurality of ductwork segments and connectors on the ends of the ductwork segments for connecting adjacent ductwork segments;

b) a plurality of conduit segments mounted within each ductwork segment; and

c) a detachable coupling on at least one end of each conduit segment.

24. The modular fluid transmission system of claim 23, further comprising a support column for supporting said ductwork assembly from a floor of a room.

25. The modular fluid transmission system of claim 24 wherein said support column further comprises lockable casters contacting said floor of said room for mobility of said support column and said ductwork assembly.

26. The modular fluid transmission system of claim 23 wherein at least some of said conduit segments are rigid.

27. The modular fluid transmission system of claim 26 wherein said rigid conduit segments are composed of polymer compound which is stable at temperatures of 105 degrees Celsius for 20 hours.

28. A modular fluid transport system for providing fluids to medical equipment, said fluid transport system comprising:

a) a plurality of interchangeable conduit segments used to form a fluid conduit;

b) a detachable coupling on at least one end of each conduit segment;

c) a support for the fluid conduit; and

d) at least one connecting station for fluidly connecting the medical equipment to at least one of said interchangeable fluid conduit segments.

29. The modular fluid transport system of claim 28 wherein the support comprises a conduit housing.

30. The modular fluid transport system of claim 29 wherein the conduit housing is fastened to an interior wall of a room.

31. The modular fluid transport system of claim 30 wherein the support further includes at least one mobile ground-engaging member supporting the conduit housing.

32. The modular fluid transport system of claim 31 wherein the mobile ground-engaging member comprises a stand fitted with lockable casters.

33. The modular fluid transport system of claim 28, further comprising quick-connect fluid couplings connected to the fluid conduit segments through the connecting plate, wherein the quick connect fluid couplings fluidly connect the medical equipment to the fluid conduit.

34. The modular fluid transport system of claim 28 wherein the medical equipment comprises at least one hemodialysis machine.

35. A fluid supply connecting station for connecting a dialysis machine to a plurality of supply conduits, comprising:

a) a first manifold block having a plurality of supply passages defined therein for connection to the plurality of supply conduits, the first manifold block having a first interface surface defined thereon, each of the supply passages intersecting the first interface surface at one of a first plurality of interface ports defined on the first interface surface;

b) a second manifold block having a second interface surface and an outlet surface defined thereon, the second manifold block having a plurality of intermediate passages defined therein, each of the intermediate passages intersecting the second interface surface at one of a second plurality of interface ports complementary to the first plurality of interface ports, and each of the intermediate passages intersecting the outlet surface at one of a plurality of outlet ports;

c) a first plurality of quick-connect couplings connecting the first plurality of interface ports of the first manifold block to the second plurality of interface ports of the second manifold block; and

d) a second plurality of quick-connect couplings connected to the plurality of outlet ports for connecting the second manifold block to a first dialysis machine.

36. The fluid supply connecting station of claim 35, further comprising:

a) a third manifold block interchangeable with the second manifold block for connecting a second dialysis machine in place of the first dialysis machine; and

b) a third plurality of quick-connect couplings connected to the third manifold block for connecting the third manifold block to the second dialysis machine, the third plurality of quick-connect couplings being different from the second plurality of quick-connect couplings.

37. The fluid supply connecting station of claim 35, further comprising:

a plurality of shut-off valves, disposed in the first manifold block, each of the shut-off valves being associated with one of the ports of the first plurality of interface ports for blocking the associated port.

38. A method of installing a fluid transport system of a dialysis clinic, comprising:

a) fabricating a plurality of system modules at an off-site location, each module including a plurality of conduit segments having detachable couplings on at least one end, and a support for the conduit segments;

b) transporting the modules to a clinic site;

c) assembling the modules at the clinic site by connecting adjacent conduit segments of adjacent system modules with the detachable couplings; and

d) connecting a plurality of dialysis machines to the fluid transport system.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein:

step (a) includes providing some of the system modules with a connecting station including a first manifold block, a second manifold block and a plurality of quick connect couplings connecting the first and second manifold blocks; and

step (d) includes connecting each of the dialysis machines to the second manifold block of one of the connecting stations.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein:

step (a) includes providing each of the connecting stations with a second plurality of quick connect couplings attached to the second manifold block; and

step (d) includes connecting each of the dialysis machines to the associated second manifold block with the associated second plurality of quick connect couplings.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

removing one of the dialysis machines and its associated second manifold block and second plurality of quick connect couplings; and

replacing the removed dialysis machine with a replacement dialysis machine, a replacement second manifold block, and a replacement second plurality of quick connect couplings.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein:

step (a) includes providing each of the system modules with a ductwork segment within which the plurality of conduit segments is received; and

step (c) includes connecting adjacent ductwork segments.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the system modules are free of any dead legs of length greater than five pipe diameters.

44. A method providing instrument-specific fluid connection to a hemodialysis machine, said method comprising:

a) supplying fluids from a fluid supply source to a fluid outlet through a plurality of fluid conduits fluidly connected between the fluid supply source and the fluid outlet;

b) connecting a first adapter plate to the fluid outlet with a first plurality of quick-connect fittings;

c) connecting a first hemodialysis machine to the first adapter plate with a second plurality of quick-connect couplings;

d) disconnecting the first hemodialysis machine from the first adapter plate by releasing the second plurality of quick-connect couplings;

e) disconnecting the first adapter plate from the fluid outlet by releasing the first plurality of quick-connect couplings;

f) connecting a second adapter plate to the fluid outlet with a third plurality of quick-connect couplings; and

g) connecting a second hemodialysis machine to the second adapter plate with a fourth plurality of quick-connect couplings thereby replacing the first hemodialysis machine without interrupting fluid flow through the conduits.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein:

the first and second hemodialysis machines use different kinds of connectors, and the fourth plurality of quick-connect couplings are of different design then the second plurality of quick-connect couplings.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the fluid outlet, the adapter plate, and the first and second pluralities of quick-connect couplings are free of any dead legs of length greater than five pipe diameters.