REAGENT SUPPLY FOR A HEMODIALYSIS SYSTEM

• US 20100051551A1
• Filed: 08/27/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Grant, Kevin L., Demers, Jason A., Wilt, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,425,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/646
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1656 Apparatus for preparing dialysates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1668 Details of containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3622 with a cassette forming partially or totally the blood circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36225 with blood pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362261 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 1/362263 Details of incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362266 Means for adding solutions or substances to the blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3623 Means for actively controlling temperature of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6045 having complementary physical shapes for indexing or registration purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 Colour codes

Abstract

A reagent supply arrangement for a hemodialysis system may include an E-prong connector having three parallel prongs with two outer prongs arranged in a common plane and a center prong arranged above the common plane, a first supply line for a first reagent connected in fluid communication with one of the outer prongs, a second supply line for a second reagent connected in fluid communication with the other of the outer prongs, a liquid line connected in fluid communication with the center prong, and a container for housing the first reagent having an inlet connected to the liquid line and an outlet connected to the first supply line for the first reagent. The E-prong connector may help prevent the improper connection to the dialysis unit, e.g., because the prong arrangement ensures connection in only one way to the dialysis unit.

Claims

1. A reagent supply arrangement for a hemodialysis system, including:

an E-prong connector, having three parallel prongs with two outer prongs arranged in a common plane and a center prong arranged above the common plane;

a first supply line for a first reagent connected in fluid communication with one of the outer prongs;

a second supply line for a second reagent connected in fluid communication with the other of the outer prongs;

a liquid line connected in fluid communication with the center prong; and

a container for housing the first reagent having an inlet connected to the liquid line and an outlet connected to the first supply line for the first reagent.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the container includes a bicarbonate material suitable for use in generating a dialysate for the hemodialysis system.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the liquid line is a water supply line that provides water to the container.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the first supply line is a bicarbonate supply line that provides bicarbonate material and water to the E-prong connector.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the second supply line is an acid supply line that provides acid material to the E-prong connector.

6. The arrangement of claim 5, wherein the acid supply line includes a connector opposite the E-prong connector.

7. The arrangement of claim 6, further comprising an acid bag spike removably engaged with the connector of the acid supply line.

8. The arrangement of claim 7, wherein the acid bag spike includes a spike member and a pair of spring clips at an end of the acid bag spike opposite the connector of the acid supply line.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the spike member and the spring clips are molded as a single unitary piece.

10. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the acid bag spike includes a pinch clamp to occlude flow in the acid bag spike.

11. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the spike member and the spring clips are arranged to enable the spring clips to maintain engagement of the spike member with an acid supply.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the spring clips are manipulable to allow disengagement of the spring clips and the spike member from the acid supply.

13. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the spring clips are joined together at center portions by a connecting bar such that the spring clips and the connecting bar form an “

H”

shape.

14. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the spring clips include a barb member at a distal end.

15. A method for operating a hemodialysis system, comprising:

providing a dialysis unit having an enclosure for containing suitable components for performing hemodialysis including a dialyzer, one or more pumps to circulate blood through the dialyzer, a source of dialysate, and one or more pumps to circulate the dialysate through the dialyzer, the enclosure including a housing supporting the components, the housing having a front panel at which blood circuit connections and dialysate fluidic connections are made;

providing a reagent supply including an E-prong connector having three parallel prongs with two outer prongs arranged in a common plane and a center prong arranged above the common plane, a first supply line for a first reagent connected in fluid communication with one of the outer prongs, a second supply line for a second reagent connected in fluid communication with the other of the outer prongs, a liquid line connected in fluid communication with the center prong, and a container for housing the first reagent having an inlet connected to the liquid line and an outlet connected to the first supply line for the first reagent; and

connecting the E-prong connector of the reagent supply to a connection point at the front panel of the dialysis unit, thereby allowing the dialysis unit to provide water to the liquid line of the reagent supply, and allowing the dialysis unit to receive the first and second reagents from the first and second supply lines.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the container includes a bicarbonate material suitable for use in generating a dialysate, the first supply line is a bicarbonate supply line that provides bicarbonate material and water to the E-prong connector, and the second Is supply line is an acid supply line that provides acid material to the E-prong connector.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

attaching an acid bag spike to the second supply line.