Methods for providing kidney dialysis equipment and services

• US 20030209475A1
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1991
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Perterson, Bruce A., Hogard, Michael E., Kelly, Thomas D., Elsen, Raymond, Smejtek, Dalibor J., Connell, Mark E., Johnson, Harley D., Preston, William G. Jr., Bedient, Robert A., Long, Jean McEvoy
• Granted Patent: US 7,351,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1607 before use, i.e. upstream of dialyser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1613 Profiling or modelling of patient or predicted treatment evolution or outcome
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/165 with a dialyser bypass on the dialysis fluid line
• 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 1/168 Sterilisation or cleaning before or after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1684 Checking the module characteristics before reuse
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1686 by heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1688 with recirculation of the sterilising fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/169 using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1692 Detection of blood traces in dialysate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1694 with recirculating dialysing liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/341 by measuring the filtrate rate or volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3626 Gas bubble detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1005 Detection of disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3313 used specific wavelengths
• 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 2205/3334 : Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 : Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/929 : Hemoultrafiltrate volume measurement or control processes

Abstract

A number of improvements relating to methods and apparatuses for kidney dialysis are disclosed. These include a method providing an apparatus for dialyzing to a consumer, with the apparatus including a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery system for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a dialyzer, and a user/machine interface having a touch screen to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the apparatus for use in dialysis and to enable a user though touching the indicium to effect a change in the parameter. The method also includes providing supplies that are useable with the apparatus to the consumer.

Claims

1. A method of generating revenues through the supply of dialysis apparatuses comprising:

providing an apparatus for dialyzing to a consumer, the apparatus including a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery system for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a dialyzer, and a user/machine interface comprising a touch screen adapted to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the apparatus for use in dialysis and to enable a user though touching the indicium to effect a change in the parameter; and

providing supplies that are useable with the apparatus to the consumer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen interface is operable to allow the consumer to view operating parameters of the apparatus.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

repeatedly providing the supplies to the consumer during an operational life of the apparatus.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dialysate parameter comprises one of dialysate temperature and dialysate concentration.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the supplies comprise at least one of a dialyzer, a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port;

a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline solution, a dialysate filter, dialysate, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and disinfectants.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the supplies are provided to the consumer separately.

7. The method according to 1, wherein more than one of the supplies are provided to the consumer at a time.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing the apparatus with a memory card interface operable to read and write data from and to a memory card; and

providing at least one memory card to the consumer for use with the apparatus.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is used for hemodialysis.

10. A method for supplying dialysis equipment comprising:

providing a dialysis machine to a consumer, the dialysis machine comprising a touch screen interface that is operable to allow the consumer to at least one of modify and view operating parameters of the dialysis machine and configured to operate with one or more consumable supplies that are consumed during a prescribed number of dialysis processes; and

providing, repeatedly, at least one of the one or more consumable supplies to the consumer in order to allow the customer to repeat a number of dialysis processes.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the consumable supplies comprise at least one of a dialyzer, a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port;

a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline solution, a dialysate filter, dialysate solution, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and disinfectants.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein each of the consumable supplies are provided separately.

13. The method according to 10, wherein more than one of the consumable supplies are provided to the consumer at a time.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the dialysis machine is used for hemodialysis.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

providing the dialysis machine with a memory card interface operable to read and write data from and to a memory card;

providing and distributing at least one memory card to the consumer for use with the dialysis machine.

16. A method of providing a dialysis machine and auxiliary supplies for the dialysis machine to a consumer, the method comprising:

providing a dialysis machine for use in dialysis, the dialysis machine including a touch screen interface adapted to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis machine and to effect a change in the parameter after a touch input at the indicium;

providing the dialysis machine to a consumer; and

providing auxiliary supplies that are useable with the dialysis machine to the consumer.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the touch screen interface is operable to allow the consumer to at least one of modify and view operating parameters of the dialysis machine.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the touch screen interface is added to allow the consumer to view and modify operating parameters chosen from the group consisting of an ultrafiltration profile, a sodium profile, a bicarbonate profile, a blood pump flow rate, a treatment time, a desired ultrafiltration removal volume, a dialysate flow rate, a dialysate temperature, a blood pressure measurement schedule and alarms, and a heparin prescription.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising repeatedly providing the auxiliary supplies to the consumer during an operational life of the dialysis machine.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the auxiliary supplies comprise at least one of a dialyzer, a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port;

a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline solution, a dialysate filter, dialysate solution, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and disinfectants.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein the auxiliary supplies are provided separately to the consumer.

22. The method according to 16, wherein groups of the auxiliary supplies are provided to the consumer.

23. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

providing the apparatus with a memory card interface operable to read and write data from and to a memory card; and

providing at least one memory card to the consumer for use with the apparatus.

24. The method according to claim 16, wherein the dialysis is hemodialysis.

25. A method for providing consumable supplies comprising:

providing one or more disposable supplies configured for use with a dialysis machine comprising a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery apparatus for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a dialyzer, and a user/machine interface operably coupled to the delivery apparatus, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen adapted to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis machine and to receive a touch initiated signal to effect a change in the parameter.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein at least one of the one or more consumable supplies is replaced after a predetermined number of operation cycles of the dialysis machine.

27. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

repeatedly providing the one or more consumable supplies to the consumer over an operating lifetime of the dialysis machine.

28. The method according to claim 25, further comprising distributing the one or more consumable supplies to the consumer.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein the consumable supplies are chosen from the group consisting of a dialyzer, a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port;

a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline solution, a dialysate filter, dialysate solution, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and disinfectants.

30. The method according to claim 25, wherein the dialysis machine is configured with a memory card interface operable to read and write data from and to a memory card, the method further comprising:

providing at least one memory card to the consumer for use with the dialysis machine.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising providing the at least one memory card to the consumer.

32. The method according to claim 25, wherein the dialysis is hemodialysis.

33. A method of supplying dialyzers comprising:

providing a dialysis machine to a consumer, the machine comprising a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery apparatus for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a replaceable dialyzer, and a user/machine interface operably coupled to the delivery apparatus, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen adapted to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis machine and to receive a touch initiated signal to effect a change in the parameter; and

providing at least one dialyzer to the consumer for use with the dialysis machine.

34. A method of supplying a dialysate solution comprising:

providing a dialysis machine to a consumer, the machine comprising a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery apparatus for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a replaceable dialyzer, and a user/machine interface operably coupled to the delivery apparatus, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen adapted to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis machine and to receive a touch initiated signal to effect a change in the parameter;

providing dialysate solution to the consumer for use with the dialysis machine.

35. A method of dialysis comprising:

providing a dialysis machine to a consumer, the machine comprising a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery apparatus for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a replaceable dialyzer, and a user/machine interface operably coupled to the delivery apparatus, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen adapted to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis machine and to receive a touch initiated signal to effect a change in the parameter;

repeatedly providing to a consumer for use with the dialysis machine a dialyzer and a dialysate solution.

36. A method of using a dialyzer and a dialysis solution comprising:

providing a dialysis machine to a consumer, the machine comprising a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery apparatus for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a replaceable dialyzer, and a user/machine interface operably coupled to the delivery apparatus, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen adapted to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis machine and to receive a touch initiated signal to effect a change in the parameter;

providing to a patient using the dialysis machine, a dialyzer and dialysate solution for use with the dialysis machine.

37. A method for the use of a dialysis apparatus comprising:

providing a dialysis apparatus for use in dialysis to a consumer, the dialysis apparatus comprising a dialysate-delivery system for supplying dialysate to a dialyzer, the dialysate-delivery system comprising at least one unit selected from the group consisting of (i) a dialysate-preparation unit, (ii) a dialysate-circulation unit, (iii) an ultrafiltrate-removal unit, and (iv) a dialysate-monitoring unit; and

a user/machine interface operably connected to the dialysate-delivery system, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen that displays information corresponding to a setting of a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis apparatus, the touch screen being operable to display an indicium permitting the user to perform, using the touch screen, at least one step of a procedure for changing the setting of the parameter, and to display a time-variable profile of the operational parameter, the profile being representable as a plot of coordinates, the plot being with respect to an ordinate of values of the operational parameter and a time-based abscissa; and

providing supplies that are useable with the dialysis apparatus to the consumer.

38. A method for the use of a dialysis apparatus comprising:

providing a dialysis apparatus for use in dialysis to a consumer, the dialysis apparatus comprising a dialysate pump for circulating dialysate at a dialysate conductivity through a dialysate circuit including a dialysate compartment for a dialyzer, and a controller operable to receive non-conductivity data concerning a particular selection of dialysate to be circulated and to calculate from the data an expected conductivity reading of the dialysate; and

providing supplies that are useable with the apparatus to the consumer.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the supplies comprise at least one of the dialyzer and the dialysate.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the supplies include at least one of a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port;

a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline solution, a dialysate filter, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and disinfectants.