Drop-in blood treatment cartridge with filter

• US 20050010158A1
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• 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.
• Application Number:
  US10/913,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20050010158A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/6.90
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/15625 the reservoirs acting as balance chambers
• 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 1/3444 in which the collected ultra-filtrate expels an equal volume of substitution fluid from a reservoir
• 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 1/362265 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• 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 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration

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 blood treatment system, comprising:

a fluid circuit including blood lines connectable to a patient blood access and fluid lines connectable to a source of fluid used in performing a blood treatment;

a generally planar support supporting said blood and fluid lines in a generally planar arrangement forming a cartridge;

a blood processing machine defining a slot configured to receive said cartridge;

said blood processing machine including at least a pump actuator and a sensor engageable with respective portions of said fluid circuit;

a blood treatment filter integrated in said fluid circuit and forming a part of said cartridge such that when said cartridge is inserted in said slot, said filter is positioned to permit said slot to be closed around said cartridge thereby engaging said at least a pump actuator and a sensor with said respective portions.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said filter forms an integrated part with said cartridge.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein said planar support element includes a tray-shaped element.

4. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a latching mechanism configured to close said slot.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein said planar support element includes a plastic tray.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein said planar support element includes a key to fit in only one orientation in said slot.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein said planar support element includes a tray-shaped element, said filter being an integrated part of said tray-shaped element.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein said filter is pre-connected to blood lines of said fluid circuit.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein said filter is pre-connected to blood lines of said fluid circuit and said planar support element includes a tray-shaped element, said filter being an integrated part of said tray-shaped element.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein said filter is pre-connected to blood lines of said fluid circuit, said blood processing machine has a housing with brackets configured to hold said filter.

11. A blood treatment system, comprising:

a fluid circuit cartridge containing a fluid circuit including blood lines connectable to a patient blood access and fluid lines connectable to a source of fluid used in performing a blood treatment;

a planar support element supporting said blood and fluid lines to form a cartridge;

a blood processing machine defining a closeable slot configured to receive said cartridge;

said blood processing machine including at least a pump actuator and a sensor engageable with respective portions of said fluid circuit;

a blood treatment filter connected in said fluid circuit and forming a part of said cartridge such that when said cartridge is inserted in said slot, said filter is positioned outside said slot;

said cartridge engaging said at least a pump actuator and a sensor with said respective portions when said slot is closed.

12. A system as in claim 11, wherein said filter forms an integrated part with said cartridge.

13. A system as in claim 11, wherein said support element includes a tray-shaped element and said support element is generally planar in shape.

14. A system as in claim 11, further comprising a latching mechanism configured to close said slot.

15. A system as in claim 11, wherein said planar support element includes a plastic tray.

16. A system as in claim 11, wherein said planar support element includes a key to fit in only one orientation in said slot.

17. A system as in claim 11, wherein said planar support element includes a tray-shaped element, said filter being an integrated part of said tray-shaped element.

18. A system as in claim 11, wherein said filter is pre-connected to blood lines of said fluid circuit.

19. A system as in claim 11, wherein said filter is pre-connected to blood lines of said fluid circuit and said planar support element includes a tray-shaped element, said filter being an integrated part of said tray-shaped element.

20. A blood treatment system, comprising:

a blood processing machine having a slot with multiple actuators and sensors located within said slot;

said slot being open in a loading configuration of said blood processing machine and closed in an operational configuration of said blood processing machine;

a fluid circuit including a blood processing filter and blood lines connectable between a patient blood access and said filter and fluid lines connectable to a source of fluid used in performing a blood treatment;

a generally planar support element supporting said blood and fluid lines in a generally planar arrangement forming a cartridge;

said filter being directly attached to said planar support element and configured to permit said cartridge to be inserted in said slot while said blood processing machine is in a loading configuration in which said slot is open and to permit fluid and blood to flow in said fluid circuit when said slot is closed.

21. A system as in claim 20, wherein said planar support element includes a tray-shaped element.

22. A system as in claim 20, further comprising a latching mechanism configured to close said slot.

23. A system as in claim 20, wherein said planar support element includes a plastic tray.

24. A system as in claim 20, wherein said planar support element includes a key to fit in only one orientation in said slot.

25. A system as in claim 20, wherein:

said fluid circuit includes at least one of containers, peristaltic pump headers, sensing stations, and valve stations;

said blood processing machine includes equipment engageable with said at least one of said containers, peristaltic pump headers, sensing stations, and valve stations; and

said planar support element is configured to expose said at least one of said containers, peristaltic pump headers, sensing stations, and valve stations for engagement with said equipment on said fluid processing machine.

26. A system as in claim 20, wherein said blood processing machine includes an engagement element configured to engage said planar support element and thereby position and orient said cartridge within said slot when said cartridge is placed in said slot.

27. A system as in claim 20, wherein said blood processing machine includes a chassis and a door and said slot is defined by a gap between said chassis and said door.

28. A system as in claim 20, wherein said blood processing machine includes a chassis and a door and said slot is defined by a gap between said chassis and said door, said door and said chassis being connected by rails and said door being movable with respect to said chassis such that when said cartridge is placed in said slot said slot is closed around said cartridge.

29. A system as in claim 20, wherein said planar support element includes a tray-shaped element and said tray-shaped element includes chamber support portions to accommodate the expansion of portions of said fluid circuit.

30. A system as in claim 20, wherein said planar support element includes a tray-shaped element, said tray-shaped element includes chamber support portions to accommodate the expansion of portions, and said blood processing machine includes door chambers to receive said chamber support portions.