CASSETTE ALIGNMENT AND INTEGRITY TESTING FOR DIALYSIS SYSTEMS

• US 20080132828A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• 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: Howard, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,744,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1522 the interface being evacuated interfaces to enhance contact
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/154 with sensing means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/155 with treatment-fluid pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1561 at least one cassette surface or portion thereof being flexible, e.g. the cassette having a rigid base portion with preformed channels and being covered with a foil
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1562 Details of incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1565 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1696 with dialysate regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/28 Peritoneal dialysis ; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/281 Instillation other than by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/284 Continuous flow peritoneal dialysis [CFPD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/122 using evacuated interfaces to enhance contact

Abstract

A method for aligning a disposable cassette within a dialysis machine includes actuating a pump head toward the disposable cassette and to contact a pumping portion of the disposable cassette and shift the disposable cassette if need be into proper operational alignment and locking the disposable cassette in place.

Claims

1. A method for aligning a disposable cassette within a dialysis machine comprising the steps of:

actuating a pump head toward the disposable cassette and to contact a pumping portion of the disposable cassette and shift the disposable cassette if need be into proper operational alignment; and

locking the disposable cassette in place.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein actuating the pump head includes moving a pump piston.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes actuating a plurality of pump heads toward the disposable cassette.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein actuating the pump head includes using a positive or negative pressure source.

5. The method of claim 1, which includes the step of locking a door and enclosing the disposable cassette before actuating the pump head.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pumping portion of the disposable cassette includes at least one flexible membrane.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein locking the disposable cassette in place includes moving a member mechanically.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein locking the disposable cassette in place includes inflating a bladder.

9. The method of claim 1, which includes the step of sensing a resistance to movement of the pump head caused by the disposable cassette and causing a response based on the resistance.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the response is selected from the group consisting of:

an output to proceed with the therapy, a disposable cassette misalignment output and a disposable cassette integrity problem output.

11. The method of claim 1, which includes orienting the cassette horizontally or vertically with respect to the pump head.

12. A method for diagnosing an integrity problem with a disposable cassette used in a dialysis machine comprising the steps of:

actuating a pump head toward the disposable cassette;

sensing a resistance to movement of the pump head caused by the disposable cassette; and

sending a disposable cassette integrity problem output based on the resistance sensed.

13. The method of claim 12, which includes the step of comparing the resistance sensed to a resistance expected and sending the disposable cassette integrity problem output based on the resistance sensed and the comparison.

14. The method of claim 12, which includes orienting the cassette horizontally or vertically with respect to the pump head.

15. A system for performing a dialysis treatment comprising:

a pump actuator operable with a flexible portion of a disposable cassette; and

a controller connected operably to the pump actuator, the controller configured to cause a pump head of the actuator to contact the flexible portion and move the disposable cassette if need be into proper operational alignment.

16. The system of claim 15, the controller configured to cause the pump head to contact the flexible portion before the disposable cassette is locked for fluid pumping.

17. The system of claim 15, which includes a plurality of flexible portions of the disposable cassette and a plurality of pump heads operable with the flexible portions, the controller configured to command the pump heads to contact the respective flexible portions to move the disposable cassette if need be into proper operational alignment.

18. The system of claim 15, which is further configured to determine that the disposable cassette has an integrity problem based on a sensed resistance applied by the flexible portion to the pump head.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the treatment is selected from the group consisting of:

continuous flow peritoneal dialysis, tidal flow peritoneal dialysis, automated peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis and hemofiltration.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the pump actuator includes a pump spring that is moved via positive or negative pressure.