DYNAMIC WEIGHT BALANCING OF FLOW IN KIDNEY FAILURE TREATMENT SYSTEMS

• US 20080093276A1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Hogard, Michael E., Roger, Rodolfo G., Kelly, Thomas D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,496,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/14 Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1605 Physical characteristics of the dialysate fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1613 Profiling or modelling of patient or predicted treatment evolution or outcome
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/28 Peritoneal dialysis ; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/284 Continuous flow peritoneal dialysis [CFPD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/341 by measuring the filtrate rate or volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3393 by weighing the reservoir

Abstract

A kidney failure treatment system includes: (i) a dialysate supply; (ii) a weighing device; a control container coupled operably to the weighing device; (iii) a diffusion membrane; (iv) a drain; first and second pumps; (v) a first fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the dialysate supply and the diffusion membrane, the first fluid conduit coupled operably to the first pump; (vi) a second fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the control container and the drain, the second fluid conduit coupled operably to the first pump; and (vii) a third fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the diffusion membrane and the control conduit, the third fluid conduit coupled operably to the second pump.

Claims

1. A kidney failure treatment system comprising:

a dialysate supply;

a weighing device;

a control container coupled operably to the weighing device;

a diffusion membrane;

a drain;

first and second pumps;

a first fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the dialysate supply and the diffusion membrane, the first fluid conduit coupled operably to the first pump;

a second fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the control container and the drain, the second fluid conduit coupled operably to the first pump; and

a third fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the diffusion membrane and the control container, the third fluid conduit coupled operably to the second pump.

2. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 1, wherein the dialysate supply includes at least one of:

a container of fresh dialysate and an online dialysate generation system.

3. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 1, wherein the diffusion membrane is selected form the group consisting of:

a dialyzer, a hemofilter and a patient'"'"'s peritoneum.

4. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 1, wherein the drain is of a type selected from the group consisting of:

a drain container and a house drain.

5. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second pumps is of a type selected from the group consisting of:

a peristaltic pump and a membrane pump.

6. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second and third conduits includes tubing.

7. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 1, which includes a logic implementor coupled operably to the weighting device, the logic implementor configured to maintain a desired weight of fluid in the control container.

8. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 7, wherein the logic implementor is configured such that the desired weight of fluid stays at least substantially constant over time or increase over time.

9. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 7, wherein the logic implementor includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of:

a processor, a random access memory, a read only memory and an application specific integrated circuit.

10. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 1, wherein the first pump, first conduit and second conduit are configured and arranged such that the first pump pumps fluid at an at least substantially same rate through the first and second fluid conduits.

11. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 10, wherein the first pump is a peristaltic pump, the first and second conduits are first and second tubes, and wherein the first and second tubes are placed collectively around a head of the peristaltic pump.

12. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 1, which includes a flow equalization apparatus coupled fluidly to the first and second conduits and operably with the first pump, the flow equalization apparatus configured to:

(i) determine and/or (ii) compensate for unequal flow caused by the first pump through the first and second conduits.

13. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 12, wherein the flow equalization apparatus is of a type selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a bypass conduit coupled fluidly to the first and third conduits, the bypass conduit enabling a difference of flow through the first and second conduits to be sensed;

(ii) first and second loop-closing conduits in fluid communication with the first and second conduits, respectively, forming closed loops around the first pump, respectively, and first and second valves coupled operably with the first and second closed loops, respectively, enabling dialysate to flow selectively through the first and second closed loops;

(iii) a plurality of valved conduits connected fluidly to the first and second conduits upstream and downstream of the first pump, enabling dialysate from the dialysate supply and the control container to be pumped selectively through the first and second conduits; and

(iv) wherein the control container is divided into fresh dialysate and spend dialysate portions, the first conduit placed in fluid communication with an inlet of the fresh dialysate portion, the second conduit placed in fluid communication with the inlet of the fresh dialysate portion and an outlet of the spent dialysate portion, and the third conduit placed in fluid communications with an inlet of the spent dialysate portion.

14. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 1, which includes at least one valve coupled operably to at least one of the first, second and third conduits.

15. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 1, which includes a fluid heater configured and arranged to heat dialysate residing at or flowing from the dialysate supply.

16. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 1, wherein the supply bag is divided into fresh and spent dialysate chambers.

17. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the conduits is placed in fluid communication with the fresh dialysate chamber and at least one of the other conduits is placed in fluid communication with the spent dialysate chamber.

18. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 1, which includes at least one pressure transducer and/or relief valve coupled operably to at least one of the first, second and third conduits.

19. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 1, wherein the weighing device is configured such that:

(i) the control container hangs from the weighing device;

(ii) the control container resides on the weighing device;

or (iii) the control container resides inside a bin, the bin supported by the weighing device.

20. A kidney failure treatment system comprising:

a dialysate supply;

a weighing device;

a control container coupled operably to the weighing device;

a diffusion membrane;

a drain;

a pump;

a first fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the dialysate supply and the diffusion membrane, the first conduit coupled operably to the pump;

a second fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the control container and the drain, the second conduit coupled operably to the pump;

first and second loop-closing conduits in fluid communication with the first and second conduits, respectively, forming first and second closed loops around the pump, respectively; and

first and second valves coupled operably with the first and second closed loops, respectively, enabling dialysate to flow selectively through the first and second closed loops.

21. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 20, which is configured such that fresh dialysate is enabled to flow through the first closed loop and spent dialysate is enabled to flow through the second closed loop.

22. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 20, which includes a third valve coupled operably with the first loop-closing conduit downstream of the first closed loop and a fourth valve coupled operably with the second loop-closing conduit downstream of the second closed loop.

23. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 20, which includes at least one of:

(i) a first pressure relief valve coupled operably with the first closed loop, the first pressure relief valve enabling flow of dialysate through the first closed loop to occur when the dialysate upstream of the first pressure relief valve reaches a certain pressure and (ii) a second pressure relief valve coupled operably with the second closed loop, the second pressure relief valve enabling flow of dialysate through the second closed loop to occur when the dialysate upstream of the second pressure relief valve reaches a certain pressure.

24. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 20, which includes a third fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the diffusion membrane and the control container, the pump being a first pump, the third fluid conduit coupled operably to a second pump.

25. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 24, wherein at least one of the first and second pumps is of a type selected from the group consisting of:

a peristaltic pump and a membrane pump.

26. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 20, wherein the diffusion membrane is selected form the group consisting of:

a dialyzer, a hemofilter and a patient'"'"'s peritoneum.

27. A kidney failure treatment system comprising:

a dialysate supply;

a weighing device;

a control container coupled operably to the weighing device;

a diffusion membrane;

a drain;

a pump;

a first fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the dialysate supply and the diffusion membrane, the first conduit coupled operably to the pump;

a second fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the control container and the drain, the second conduit coupled operably to the pump; and

a bypass conduit coupled fluidly to the first conduit and the control container, the bypass conduit configured to enable a difference of dialysate flow through the first and second conduits to be sensed.

28. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 27, which includes a third fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the diffusion membrane and the control conduit, the pump being a first pump, and the third fluid conduit coupled operably to a second pump.

29. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 28, wherein the bypass conduit is coupled fluidly to the first and third conduits.

30. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 28, wherein at least one of the first and second pumps is of a type selected from the group consisting of:

a peristaltic pump and a membrane pump.

31. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 28, which includes a first valve coupled operably with the bypass conduit and a second valve coupled operably with the third conduit, between the second pump and the control container.

32. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 31, wherein the first conduit is coupled operably to at least one of:

a third valve and a pressure regulator.

33. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 27, which includes a logic implementor coupled operably to the weighing device, the logic implementor configured to cause the second pump to compensate for a sensed difference in flow through the first and second conduits.

34. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 33, wherein the logic implementor is configured to cause the second pump to:

(i) increase in speed if the weight of fluid in the control container decreases when fluid is allowed to flow through the bypass conduit; and

(ii) decrease in speed if the weight of fluid in the control container increases when fluid is allowed to flow through the bypass conduit.

35. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 27, wherein the diffusion membrane is selected form the group consisting of:

a dialyzer, a hemofilter and a patient'"'"'s peritoneum.

36. A kidney failure treatment system comprising:

a dialysate supply;

a weighing device;

a control container coupled operably to the weighing device;

a diffusion membrane;

a drain;

a pump;

a first fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the dialysate supply and the diffusion membrane, the first conduit coupled operably to the pump;

a second fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the control container and the drain, the second conduit coupled operably to the pump; and

first and second fluid pathways each connected fluidly to the first and second fluid conduits upstream of the pump, third and fourth fluid pathways each connected fluidly to the first and second fluid conduits downstream of the pump, the first, second, third and fourth fluid pathways configured to enable dialysate from the supply and the control container to be alternated through the first and second fluid conduits.

37. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 36, which includes first, second, third and fourth valves coupled operably with the first, second, third and fourth fluid pathways, respectively.

38. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 37, which includes fifth and sixth valves coupled operably with the first and second fluid conduits upstream of the pump and seventh and eighth valves coupled operably with the first and second fluid conduits downstream of the pump.

39. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 38, wherein the first, second, third and fourth valves are opened in a first dialysate flow state and the fifth, sixth, seventh and eight valves are opened in a second dialysate flow state.

40. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 36, which includes first and second valves coupled operably to the first and second fluid conduits upstream of the pump and third and fourth valves coupled operably to the first and second fluid conduits downstream of the pump.

41. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 36, which includes a third fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the diffusion membrane and the control conduit, the pump a first pump, and the third fluid conduit coupled operably to a second pump.

42. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 41, wherein at least one of the first and second pumps is of a type selected from the group consisting of:

a peristaltic pump and a membrane pump.

43. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 36, wherein the diffusion membrane is selected form the group consisting of:

a dialyzer, a hemofilter and a patient'"'"'s peritoneum.

44. A kidney failure treatment system comprising:

a dialysate supply;

a weighing device;

a control container coupled operably to the weighing device;

a diffusion membrane;

a drain;

first, second and third pumps;

a first fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the dialysate supply and the diffusion membrane, the first fluid conduit coupled operably to the first pump;

a second fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the diffusion membrane and the control container, the second fluid conduit coupled operably to the second pump; and

a third fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the control container and the drain, the third fluid conduit coupled operably to the third pump.

45. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 44, which includes a logic implementor coupled operably to the weighing device, the logic implementor configured to cause at least one of:

(i) flow through the first conduit to at least substantially match flow through the third conduit; and

(ii) flow through the second conduit to be set to remove a desired amount of fluid from a patient.

46. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 44, which includes a logic implementor coupled operably to the first, second and third pumps, the logic implementor configured to cause the first, second and third pumps to do at least one of:

(i) at least substantially match flow through the first and third conduits; and

(ii) remove a desired amount of fluid from a patient via the second conduit.

47. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 44, wherein at least one of the first, second and third pumps is of a type selected from the group consisting of:

a peristaltic pump and a membrane pump.

48. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 44, wherein the diffusion membrane is selected form the group consisting of:

a dialyzer, a hemofilter and a patient'"'"'s peritoneum.

49. A kidney failure treatment system comprising:

a dialysate supply;

a weighing device;

a control container coupled operably to the weighing device, the control container divided into fresh dialysate and spent dialysate portions;

a diffusion membrane;

a drain;

first and second pumps;

a first fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the dialysate supply and the diffusion membrane, the first fluid conduit coupled operably to the first pump;

a second fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the diffusion membrane and the drain, the second fluid conduit coupled operably to the second pump; and

a third fluid conduit coupled fluidly to at least one of the fresh and spent portions of the control container, the third fluid conduit coupled operably to the first pump.

50. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 49, wherein the third fluid conduit is coupled fluidly to an inlet of the fresh portion of the control container, and which includes a fourth conduit coupled fluidly to an outlet of the fresh portion.

51. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 50, wherein the fourth fluid conduit is coupled fluidly to the first conduit.

52. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 49, wherein the third fluid conduit is coupled fluidly to an outlet of the spent portion of the control container, and which includes a fourth fluid conduit coupled fluidly to an inlet of the spent portion.

53. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 52, wherein the fourth fluid conduit is coupled fluidly to the second conduit.

54. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 49, wherein at least one of the first, second and third fluid conduits is coupled mechanically to its respective first or second pump.

55. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 49, wherein the third fluid conduit is coupled fluidly to at least one of the dialysate supply and the drain.

56. The kidney system of claim 49, which includes a fresh-portion-valve-state in which fresh dialysate can be pumped to and from the fresh portion of the control container.

57. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 56, wherein at least one of a spent-portion-inlet and spent-portion-outlet valve is closed in the fresh-portion-valve-state.

58. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 56, wherein the first pump pumps fresh dialysate to and from the fresh portion in the fresh-portion-valve-state.

59. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 56, which is configured such that at least one of:

(i) spent dialysate can be pumped from the diffusion membrane to the drain; and

(ii) fresh dialysate can be pumped to the diffusion membrane in the fresh-portion-valve-state.

60. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 56, which includes a spent-portion-valve-state in which spent dialysate can be pumped to and from the spent portion of the control container.

61. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 49, wherein the second pump is configured to pump spent dialysate to the drain.

62. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 49, which includes a spent-portion-valve-state in which spent dialysate can be pumped to and from the spent portion of the control container.

63. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 62, wherein at least one of a fresh-portion-inlet and fresh-portion-outlet valve is closed in the spent-portion-valve-state.

64. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 62, wherein at least one of:

(i) the first pump is configured to pump spent dialysate from the spent portion of the control containers; and

(ii) the second pump is configured to pump fresh dialysate to the spent portion in the spent-portion-valve-state.

65. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 62, which is configured such that at least one of:

(i) fresh dialysate can be pumped to the diffusion membrane; and

(ii) spent dialysate can be pumped to the drain in the spent-portion-valve-state.

66. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 62, wherein the first pump is configured to pump:

(i) spent dialysate from the spent portion to drain; and

(ii) fresh dialysate from the supply to the diffusion membrane in the spent-portion-valve state.

67. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 49, wherein the dialysate supply includes at least one of:

a container of fresh dialysate and an online dialysate generator system.

68. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 49, wherein the diffusion membrane is selected form the group consisting of:

a dialyzer, a hemofilter and a patient'"'"'s peritoneum.

69. A kidney failure treatment system comprising:

a dialysate supply;

a weighing device;

a control container coupled operably to the weighing device, the control container divided into fresh dialysate and spent dialysate portions;

a diffusion membrane;

a drain;

first, second and third pumps;

a first fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the dialysate supply and the diffusion membrane, the first fluid conduit coupled operably to the third pump;

a second fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the diffusion membrane and the drain, the second fluid conduit coupled operably to the fourth pump; and

a third fluid conduit coupled fluidly to at least one of the fresh and spent portions of the control container, the third fluid conduit coupled operably to the third pump.

70. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 69, wherein the third fluid conduit is coupled fluidly to an inlet of the fresh portion of the control container and which includes a fourth conduit coupled fluidly to an outlet of the fresh portion.

71. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 70, wherein the fourth fluid conduit is coupled fluidly to the first conduit.

72. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 69, wherein the third fluid conduit is coupled fluidly to an outlet of the spent portion of the control container, and which includes a fourth fluid conduit coupled fluidly to an inlet of the spent portion.

73. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 72, wherein the fourth fluid conduit is coupled fluidly to the second fluid conduit.

74. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 69, wherein at least one of the first, second and third fluid conduits is coupled mechanically to its respective first, second or third pump.

75. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 69, wherein the third fluid conduit is coupled fluidly to at least one of the dialysate supply and the drain.

76. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 69, which includes a fresh-portion-valve-state in which fresh dialysate can be pumped to and from the fresh portion of the control container.

77. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 76, wherein at least one of a spent-portion-inlet and spent-portion-outlet valve is closed in the fresh-portion-valve-state.

78. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 76, wherein at least one of:

(i) the first pump is configured to pump fresh dialysate from the fresh portion;

(ii) the second pump is configured to pump spent fluid from the diffusion membrane; and

(iii) the third pump is configured to pump fresh fluid to the fresh portion in the fresh-portion-valve-state.

79. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 76, which includes a spent-portion-valve-state in which spent dialysate can be pumped to and from the spent portion of the control container.

80. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 69, which includes a spent-portion-valve-state in which spent dialysate can be pumped to and from the spent portion of the control container.

81. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 80, wherein at least one of a fresh-portion-inlet and fresh-portion-outlet valve is closed in the spent-portion-valve-state.

82. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 80, wherein at least one of:

(i) the first pump is configured to pump fresh dialysate from the supply to the diffusion membrane;

(ii) the second pump is configured to pump spend dialysate from the diffusion membrane to the spent portion; and

(iii) the third pump is configured to pump fluid from the spent portion to the drain during spent-portion-valve state.

83. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 69, wherein the dialysate supply includes at least one of:

a container of fresh dialysate and an online dialysate generation system.

84. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 69, wherein the diffusion membrane is selected form the group consisting of:

a dialyzer, a hemofilter and a patient'"'"'s peritoneum.

85. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 69, which includes a logic implementor coupled operably to the weighting device, the logic implementor configured to maintain a desired weight of fluid in the control container.

86. The kidney failure treatment system of claim 85, wherein the logic implementor is configured such that the desired weight of fluid stays at least substantially constant over time or increase over time.