Priming, integrity and head height methods and apparatuses for medical fluid systems
First Claim
1. A dialysis machine under control of a processor, the machine comprising:
- an actuation unit configured to accept a disposable medical fluid cassette that includes a flexible membrane, the cassette arranged to receive a medical fluid;
the actuation unit and the processor operable to;
in a first integrity test, provide a positive pressure to an outer surface of the membrane of the cassette and measure a decay of the positive pressure on the outer surface; and
in a second integrity test, provide positive pressure to an inner surface of the membrane of the cassette and measure a decay of the positive pressure on the inner surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved integrity test, priming sequence and bag height detection tests, apparatuses and methods for a medical fluid delivery system are provided. The integrity test includes a plurality of air pressure decay tests, using positive and negative pressure. The priming sequence includes pumping fluid through a portion of a patient line to be primed to overcome air in the line and other potential obstacles. The head height test measures a pressure build-up or drop-off within a pump chamber of a membrane pump. The measured pressure corresponds to a head height between a fluid supply and the pump or between the pump and a fluid drain. A determination is made whether the corresponding head height is acceptable.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A dialysis machine under control of a processor, the machine comprising:
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an actuation unit configured to accept a disposable medical fluid cassette that includes a flexible membrane, the cassette arranged to receive a medical fluid;
the actuation unit and the processor operable to;
in a first integrity test, provide a positive pressure to an outer surface of the membrane of the cassette and measure a decay of the positive pressure on the outer surface; and
in a second integrity test, provide positive pressure to an inner surface of the membrane of the cassette and measure a decay of the positive pressure on the inner surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A dialysis machine under control of a processor, the machine comprising:
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an actuation unit configured to accept a disposable medical fluid cassette, the cassette having a plurality of fluid lines, each of the fluid lines enclosed so that the sterility of air within the lines is maintained prior to use in treatment, the cassette arranged to receive a medical fluid; and
wherein the actuation unit and the processor are operable;
(i) to provide air pressure to an inner surface of the membrane of the cassette and (ii) to measure a decay of the pressure, (iii) while the fluid lines are enclosed and before any of the fluid lines is connected to a fluid supply. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An improved integrity test method for a dialysis machine having an actuation unit operable with a disposable cassette, the method comprising:
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testing a pressure holding capacity of the cassette first; and
testing an operation of the actuation unit second so that a user can determine, after a test failure, whether the failure is due to a failure in the cassette or a failure in the actuation unit. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of priming a fluid line in communication with a fluid pump and a fluid bag located upstream from the pump, the method comprising:
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(a) pumping fluid through a portion of the fluid line; and
(b) enabling a remainder of the fluid line to be primed via gravity. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of priming a fluid line in communication with a fluid pump and a fluid bag located upstream from the pump, the method comprising:
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(a) pumping fluid through a portion of the fluid line; and
(b) detecting that a patient clamp has not been removed properly from the fluid line by sensing a lack of an expected pressure drop upon pumping the fluid through the portion of the fluid line. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A method of verifying head height for a medical fluid system that includes a fluid supply and a fluid pump, the fluid pump including a flexible membrane located inside a pump chamber, the method comprising:
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(a) gravity filling at least a portion of the fluid pump with fluid from the supply, the fluid moving the flexible membrane within the chamber;
(b) measuring an air pressure in the chamber on an opposite side of the moved membrane from the fluid, the air pressure indicative of a head height of the supply; and
(c) determining if the head height is acceptable. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of verifying head height for a medical fluid system that includes a fluid drain and a fluid pump, the fluid pump including a flexible membrane located inside a pump chamber, the method comprising:
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(a) removing fluid from the fluid pump to the fluid drain via gravity, the fluid removal moving the flexible membrane within the chamber;
(b) measuring an air pressure in the chamber on an opposite side of the moved membrane from the fluid, the air pressure indicative of a head height between the fluid pump and the fluid drain; and
(c) determining if the head height is acceptable. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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Specification