Systems and methods for handling air and/or flushing fluids in a fluid circuit

• US 20040222139A1
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 7,226,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/254
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/288 Priming priming in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3643
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3462 Circuits for the preparation thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3468 using treated filtrate as substitution fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3643 Priming, rinsing before or after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3644 Mode of operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3646 Expelling the residual body fluid after use, e.g. back to the body

Abstract

Systems and methods handle air and rinsing fluid during fluid processing. The systems and methods eliminate air from a fluid processing system prior to, during, and after use. The systems and methods provide a connector assembly for establishing fluid flow from a fluid source. The connector assembly has discrete first and second passages that prevent communication between the fluid in first passage and the fluid in the second passage. Prior to system use, the connector assembly may be utilized in a priming function to remove residual air from a fluid circuit prior to use. The connector assembly may also be utilized after use to perform a rinse-back function.

Claims

1. A fluid processing system comprising

a fluid circuit including an inlet and an outlet, and

a connector assembly constructed for coupling to a fluid source, the connector assembly including a first fluid passage coupled to the outlet of the fluid circuit and a second fluid passage that does not communicate with the first fluid passage and is coupled to the inlet of the fluid circuit, whereby fluid can be circulated by the connector assembly through the fluid source in a loop that includes the fluid circuit to collect in the fluid source air residing in the fluid circuit;

wherein the fluid circuit includes a blood processing element.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the blood processing element includes a filter.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said filter includes a hemofilter to remove toxins from blood.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the fluid circuit comprises at least a portion of a hemofiltration system.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the fluid circuit comprises at least a portion of a hemodialysis system.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the fluid source includes a container and the connector assembly is releasably coupled to the fluid container which are preconnected and sterilized as a unit.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the fluid circuit forms at least a portion of a dialysis system.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the apparatus comprises at least a portion of a blood processing system.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the apparatus comprises at least a portion of a hemofiltration system.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the fluid container is preconnected to the fluid circuit by said connector assembly and sterilized to form a disposable kit.

12. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the apparatus forms at least a portion of a hemodiafiltration system.

13. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the apparatus forms at least a portion of a dialysis system.

8. A fluid processing apparatus comprising

a fluid container, and

a connector assembly coupled to the fluid container, the connector assembly including a first fluid passage releasably coupled by a luer connector to an outlet of a fluid circuit and a second fluid passage that does not communicate with the first fluid passage and releasably coupled by a luer connector to a inlet of the fluid circuit, whereby fluid can be circulated by the connector assembly through the fluid container in a loop that includes the fluid circuit to collect in the fluid source air residing in the fluid circuit.