FLUID LINE AUTOCONNECT APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT SYSTEM

• US 20110106002A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: DEKA Research & Development
• Inventors: Finch, Matthew J., Bodwell, Jesse T., Demers, Jason A., Helmore, Simon C., Dale, James D., McGill, David W., Hibbard, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,022,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/29
• 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 1/1522 the interface being evacuated interfaces to enhance contact
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1524 the interface providing means for actuating on functional elements of the cassette, e.g. plungers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/153 the cassette being adapted for heating or cooling the treating fluid, e.g. the dialysate or the treating gas
• 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 1/1565 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/159 specially adapted for peritoneal dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1601 Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1623 Disposition or location of membranes relative to fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1629 with integral heat exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1631 having non-tubular membranes, e.g. sheets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/166 Heating for sterilisation A61M1/1686
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1694 with recirculating dialysing liquid
• 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 1/282 Operational modes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/288 Priming priming in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3643
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1066 having protection means, e.g. sliding sleeve to protect connector itself, shrouds to protect a needle present in the connector, protective housing, isolating sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 : with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/121 : interface between cassette and base
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/122 : using evacuated interfaces to enhance contact
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 : with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/127 : with provisions for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 : with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 : with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 : Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 : Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 : Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 : Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/36 : related to heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 : User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6036 : characterised by physical shape, e.g. array of activating switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/08 : Supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 : Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/105 : Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 : Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/28 : Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps tube strippers A61M1/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/281 : Automatic tube cut-off devices, e.g. squeezing tube on detection of air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16809 : by repeated filling and emptying of an intermediate volume pressure infusion using positive displacement pumps A61M5/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 : by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 : controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/0054 : particularities of the flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/02 : having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms F04B43/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/073 : the actuating fluid being controlled by at least one valve
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/08 : having tubular flexible members F04B43/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/086 : with two or more tubular flexible members in parallel F04B43/1136 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/22 : Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A medical infusion fluid handling system, such as an APD system, may be arranged to de-cap and connect one or more lines (30) (such as solution lines) with one or more spikes (160) or other connection ports on a fluid handling cassette (24). This feature may reduce a likelihood of contamination since no human interaction is required to de-cap and connect the lines and spikes. For example, an APD system may include a carriage (146) arranged to receive a plurality of solution lines (30) each having a connector end (31a) and a cap (31). The carriage may move along a first direction so as to move the connector ends of the solution lines along the first direction, and a cap stripper (149) may be arranged to engage with caps on the solution lines on the carriage. The cap stripper may move in a second direction transverse to the first direction, as well as to move with the carriage along the first direction.

Claims

1. A fluid line connection system for a peritoneal dialysis system, the fluid line connection system comprising:

a fluid handling cassette comprising;

a generally planar body with at least one pump chamber formed as a depression in a first side of the body and a plurality of flowpaths for fluid;

a plurality of dialysate solution line spikes located at a first end of the body, the solution line spikes being in fluid communication with the at least one pump chamber via at least one flowpath and arranged so that the spikes are generally co-planar with the generally planar body of the fluid handing cassette; and

a carriage arranged to receive a plurality of solution lines, each solution line having a connector end, wherein the carriage is arranged to automatically fluidly connect a connector end of a solution line with a corresponding spike.

2. The fluid connection system of claim 1, wherein the carriage is arranged to move the solution lines and respective caps along a first direction substantially parallel to the generally planar body of the fluid handling cassette.

3. The fluid connection system of claim 1, wherein the carriage includes a plurality of grooves that each receives a corresponding solution line.

4. The fluid connection system of claim 1, further comprising a housing that encloses components of the system and a door that is movably mounted to the housing.

5. The fluid connection system of claim 4, wherein the carriage is mounted to the door.

6. The fluid connection system of claim 4, wherein the carriage is mounted to move along rails extending along the length of the door.

7. The fluid connection system of claim 5, further comprising a carriage drive mounted to the housing, wherein the carriage drive engages the carriage when the door is moved to a closed position, and disengages from the carriage when the door is moved to an open position.

8. The fluid connection system of claim 7, wherein the carriage drive includes a drive element and a pneumatic bladder or screw drive to move the drive element along the first direction.

9. The fluid connection system of claim 8, wherein the drive element includes two tabs that engage with corresponding slots of the carriage.

10. The fluid connection system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of spike caps, each spike cap covering a respective solution line spike.

11. The fluid connection system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of solution line caps each covering a connector end of a respective solution line.

12. The fluid line connection system of claim 11, further comprising a cap stripper arranged to remove one or more solution line caps from a connector end of a solution line.

13. The fluid line connection system of claim 10, further comprising a cap stripper arranged to remove one or more spike caps from a spike on the cassette.

14. The fluid line connection system of claim 12, wherein the cap stripper is arranged to remove one or more solution line caps from a connector end of a solution line, and remove one or more spike caps from a spike on the cassette while the one or more solution line caps are secured to a corresponding one of the spike caps.

17. The fluid line connection system of claim 12, wherein the cap stripper is mounted to the housing and is engageable with the carriage drive to move in a first direction with the carriage drive.

20. The fluid line connection system of claim 2, wherein the carriage is arranged to move solution lines and respective caps along the first direction such that the caps receive a spike cap on a solution line spike of the fluid handling cassette.

24. The fluid line connection system of claim 12, wherein the cap stripper is arranged to move in a second direction to clear a path for the carriage and allow the carriage to move along a first direction toward the cassette to engage solution line connector ends with solution line spikes exposed on the cassette as a result of removal of spike caps from the cassette.

15-16. -16. (canceled)

18-19. -19. (canceled)

21-23. -23. (canceled)

25-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A medical infusion fluid handling system, comprising:

a carriage arranged to receive a plurality of solution lines each having a connector end and a cap, the carriage being arranged to move along a first direction so as to move the connector ends of the solution lines along the first direction; and

a cap stripper arranged to engage with caps on the solution lines on the carriage, the cap stripper being arranged to move in a second direction transverse to the first direction and to move with the carriage along the first direction.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the carriage includes a plurality of grooves that each receive a corresponding solution line.

32. The system of claim 30, further comprising a housing that encloses components of the system and a door that is movably mounted to the housing, wherein the carriage is mounted to the door.

36. The system of claim 3235, wherein the cap stripper is mounted to the housing and is movable in the first direction with the carriage.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the cap stripper includes a plurality of fork-shaped elements arranged to engage with a corresponding cap on a solution line carried by the carriage.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein each of the fork-shaped elements is arranged to resist movement of a corresponding cap along the first direction when engaged with the cap.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the carriage is arranged to move solution lines and respective caps along the first direction such that the caps receive a spike cap on a fluid handling cassette mounted on the door.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the cap stripper is arranged to move in the second direction to engage the fork-shaped elements with corresponding caps after the caps have received a corresponding spike cap.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the cap stripper is arranged to move with the carriage along the first direction away from the cassette with the fork-shaped elements engaged with corresponding caps so as to remove spike caps from the cassette.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the cap stripper is arranged to stop movement along the first direction while the carriage continues to move away from the cassette so as to remove the caps from the solution lines carried by the carriage.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the cap stripper is arranged to move in the second direction to clear a path for the carriage and allow the carriage to move along the first direction toward the cassette to engage solution line connector ends with spikes exposed on the cassette as a result of removal of spike caps from the cassette.

48. The system of claim 30, wherein the cap stripper includes a plurality of rocker arms each associated with a fork-shaped element, each of the rocker arms being arranged to move to engage a spike cap.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein each of the rocker arms is arranged to engage with a corresponding spike cap only when the associated fork-shaped element engages with a cap on a solution line.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein each rocker arm is pivotally mounted to the cap stripper and includes a solution line cap engagement portion and a spike cap engagement portion, the rocker arm pivoting to engage a spike cap when the solution line cap engagement portion contacts a solution line cap.

51. The system of claim 30, wherein the medical infusion fluid handling system is a peritoneal dialysis system and the plurality of solution lines includes at least one dialysate solution line.

33-35. -35. (canceled)

44-47. -47. (canceled)

52. A method for connecting fluid lines in a medical infusion fluid handling system, comprising:

providing a plurality of solution lines each having a connector end and a cap;

providing a fluid handling cassette having a plurality of spikes each covered by a spike cap;

enclosing the connector ends of the plurality of solution lines with caps covering the connector ends and the plurality of spikes with spike caps covering the spikes in a space that prevents human touch of the caps or spike caps;

removing the caps from the connector ends of the plurality of solution lines without removing the caps or connector ends from the space;

removing the spike caps from the spikes without removing the spike caps or spikes from the space;

engaging the caps with respective ones of the spike caps;

fluidly connecting the plurality of connector ends to corresponding spikes while maintaining the connector ends and spikes in the space and protected from human touch.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

disconnecting the plurality of connector ends from the corresponding spikes; and

replacing the caps on the plurality of connector ends and the spike caps on the corresponding spikes.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the fluid handling cassette includes at least one pump that moves fluid provided in at least one of the solution lines, the method further comprising:

pumping fluid from at least one of the solution lines into a human body.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the steps of removing caps, removing the spike caps and engaging the caps with respective ones of the spike caps comprises:

moving each of the caps, while covering respective connector ends, into engagement with a corresponding spike cap;

removing the spike caps from corresponding spikes while the spike caps are engaged with the caps; and

removing the caps from respective connector ends of the solution lines while the caps are engaged with the spike caps.

56-59. -59. (canceled)