Dialysis Systems and Methods

• US 20110017665A1
• Filed: 07/28/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Zatezalo, Douglas Mark, Mullner, James Matthew, Updyke, Palmer David, Lipps, Benjamin Joseph, Sandford, Harold Frederick, Beiriger, Michael James
• Granted Patent: US 8,889,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/638
• 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 1/3472 with treatment of the filtrate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/082 Mounting brackets, arm supports for equipment

Abstract

This disclosure generally relates to dialysis systems and related methods. In one aspect of the invention, a dialysis system includes a device configured so that a medical fluid can pass therethrough, and the device is adapted to remove one or more substances from the medical fluid as the medical fluid passes through the device. The dialysis system can also include a sodium control system adapted to alter a sodium concentration of the medical fluid.

Claims

1. A dialysis system, comprising:

a device configured so that a dialysis solution can pass therethrough, the device being adapted to remove one or more substances from the dialysis solution as the dialysis solution passes through the device;

a fluid line in fluid communication with the device; and

a sodium control system in fluid communication with the fluid line, the sodium control system being adapted to alter a sodium concentration of solution passing through the fluid line.

2. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the fluid line is arranged so that solution exiting the fluid line enters the device.

3. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the fluid line is arranged so that solution exiting the device enters the fluid line.

4. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the sodium control system is adapted to introduce a diluent into the fluid line.

5. The dialysis system of claim 4, wherein the diluent comprises tap water.

6. The dialysis system of claim 4, wherein the sodium control system comprises a container that contains the diluent, and the sodium control system further comprises a pump arranged to move the diluent from the container to the fluid line.

7. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the sodium control system is adapted to introduce sodium into the fluid line.

8. The dialysis system of claim 7, wherein the sodium is in the form of a sodium chloride solution.

9. The dialysis system of claim 7, wherein the sodium control system comprises a container that contains a sodium solution, and the sodium control system further comprises a pump arranged to move the sodium solution from the container to the fluid line.

10. The dialysis system of claim 9, wherein the sodium control system further comprises a diluent source, and the pump is arranged to move diluent from the diluent source to the fluid line.

11. The dialysis system of claim 10, wherein the sodium control system further comprises one or more valves that can be actuated to control movement of the sodium solution and the diluent to the fluid line.

12. The dialysis system of claim 1, further comprising a conductivity meter that is adapted to measure conductivity of the solution passing through the fluid line, the conductivity meter being in communication with the sodium control system.

13. The dialysis system of claim 12, wherein the sodium control system is adapted to alter the sodium concentration of the solution passing through the fluid line based on an output signal of the conductivity meter.

14. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a sorbent cartridge.

15. The dialysis system of claim 14, wherein the sorbent cartridge comprises at least one layer of material capable of regenerating spent dialysis solution.

16. The dialysis system of claim 15, wherein a layer of the sorbent cartridge comprises sodium zirconium carbonate.

17. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the dialysis system comprises a module fluidly coupled to a dialysis machine.

18. A dialysis system, comprising:

a dialysis machine; and

a module connected to the dialysis machine, the module configured to retain a device adapted to remove one or more substances from a dialysis solution as the dialysis solution passes through the device after exiting the dialysis machine, wherein the module is configured to be releasably fluidly coupled to the dialysis machine, the module further comprises a sodium control system that is adapted to alter the sodium concentration of the dialysis solution, and the sodium control system is arranged to alter the sodium concentration of the dialysis solution before the dialysis solution passes through the device.

19. The dialysis system of claim 18, wherein the dialysis machine is a hemodialysis machine.

20. The dialysis system of claim 18, wherein the device comprises a sorbent cartridge.

21. A method, comprising:

removing one or more substances from spent dialysis solution by passing the spent dialysis solution through a device; and

altering the sodium concentration of solution entering or exiting the device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the method comprises altering the sodium concentration of solution entering the device.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising passing the solution exiting the device through a dialysis machine.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the device comprises a sorbent cartridge.