PERITONEAL DIALYSIS PATIENT CONNECTION SYSTEM USING ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT EMITTING DIODES

• US 20090012459A1
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2007
• 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: Nakajima, Takeshi, Okuda, Minoru, Sobue, Katsuyoshi, Matsuzaki, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 8,197,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/159 specially adapted for peritoneal dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/28 Peritoneal dialysis ; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/285 Catheters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/167 with energizing means, e.g. light, vibration, electricity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/16 having provision for disinfection or sterilisation A61M39/143 takes precedence; methods or apparatus for disinfection or sterilisation A61L2/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/18 Methods or apparatus for making the connection under sterile conditions, i.e. sterile docking

Abstract

A light applicator for a peritoneal dialysis conduit connection includes a housing having a inner surface; a plurality of ultraviolet (“UV”) light-emitting diodes (“LED'"'"'s”) positioned on the inner surface of the housing; and circuitry connected to the UV-LED'"'"'s such that power can be supplied to energize the UV-LED'"'"'s simultaneously.

Claims

1. A light applicator for a peritoneal dialysis conduit connection comprising:

a housing having a inner surface;

a plurality of ultraviolet (“

UV”

) light-emitting diodes (“

LED'"'"'s”

) positioned on the inner surface of the housing; and

circuitry connected to the UV-LED'"'"'s such that power can be supplied to energize the UV-LED'"'"'s simultaneously.

2. The light applicator of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the housing includes a UV reflective surface.

3. The light applicator of claim 1, wherein the housing is operable and closeable to accept a peritoneal dialysis tubing connector.

4. The light applicator of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the housing is at least substantially cylindrical, the UV-LED'"'"'s spaced circumferentially about the inner surface.

5. The light applicator of claim 1, wherein the UV-LED'"'"'s are spaced apart in a array about the inner surface of the housing.

6. The light applicator of claim 1, wherein the UV-LED'"'"'s in combination provide at least 0.2 Joules/cm² of radiant energy in less than one minute.

7. The light applicator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the UV-LED'"'"'s has at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

(i) having a peak wavelength of about 280 nanometers; and

(ii) a power output of about one milliWatt.

8. The light applicator of claim 1, wherein the housing is at least one of:

(i) less than or equal to 15 mm in inner diameter; and

(ii) less than or equal to 50 mm in length.

9. The light applicator of claim 1, wherein the UV-LED'"'"'s in combination supply enough energy to provide sufficient genocidal effectiveness to a peritoneal dialysis conduit connection in less than one minute.

10. A peritoneal dialysis patient assist device comprising:

a body configured to accept a first connector in fluid communication with a patient'"'"'s indwelling catheter and a second connector in fluid communication with a supply of dialysate, the body further configured to mate the first and second connectors; and

a plurality of ultraviolet (“

UV”

) light-emitting diode (“

LED'"'"'s”

) positioned with respect to the body so as to direct radiant energy towards the mating of the first and second connectors.

11. The peritoneal dialysis patient assist device of claim 10, which includes a housing enclosing the body, the housing having an inner surface, the UV-LED'"'"'s positioned on the inner surface.

12. The peritoneal dialysis patient assist device of claim 11, wherein the housing includes at least one of:

(i) an apparatus enabling the housing to open and close to receive the body; and

(ii) a UV light reflecting inner surface.

13. The peritoneal dialysis patient assist device of claim 10, which includes circuitry connected to the UV-LED'"'"'s such that power can be supplied to energize the UV-LED'"'"'s (i) simultaneously, (ii) sequentially or (iii) simultaneously and sequentially.

14. The peritoneal dialysis patient assist device of claim 10, wherein the body is made of a UV light-transmissive material.

15. The peritoneal dialysis patient assist device of claim 10, wherein the body is configured to translate the first and second connectors to mate and disconnecting the connectors.

16. A peritoneal dialysis system comprising:

a cycler;

a disposable cassette operable with the cycler;

a supply bag connected to the disposable cassette;

a supply line extending from the disposable cassette, the supply line terminating at a supply connector;

a body configured to connect the supply connector to a patient connector in fluid communication with a patient'"'"'s indwelling catheter; and

a housing placeable around the body and including a plurality of ultraviolet (“

UV”

) light-emitting diodes (“

LED'"'"'s”

) positioned to direct energy towards at least one of the supply and patient connectors.

17. The peritoneal dialysis system of claim 16, wherein the supply connector has at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

(i) being a female connector;

(ii) having a pierceable diaphragm; and

(iii) being at least partially opaque to UV light.

18. The peritoneal dialysis system of claim 16, wherein the at least one UV-LED is powered (i) via a battery or (ii) via alternating current power.

19. The peritoneal dialysis system of claim 16, which includes a transfer set, the transfer set connecting the patient connector to the indwelling catheter.

20. The peritoneal dialysis system of claim 16, wherein the housing is hinged or halved to fit around the connecting body.