Dialysis Systems and Related Methods
First Claim
1. A dialysis system, comprising:
- a dialysis fluid cassette comprising a base and a flexible membrane attached to the base, the base and the flexible membrane forming a fluid channel therebetween;
a dialysis machine having a cassette compartment configured to receive the dialysis fluid cassette therein such that the membrane of the dialysis fluid cassette is positioned adjacent a machine block of the dialysis machine when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine;
a valve at least partially disposed in a recess defined by the machine block, the valve being substantially aligned with a portion of the fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine, the valve comprisinga valve body defining a pressure passage; and
a sealing cap disposed at a first end of the valve body such that the sealing cap closes off the pressure passage at the first end of the valve body, the sealing cap having a deformable area configured to deform outwardly away from the valve body when pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body,wherein the sealing cap is configured so that the deformable area obstructs the fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette to control dialysis fluid flow therethrough when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine and pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dialysis machine that includes a valve body defining a pressure passage and a sealing cap disposed at a first end of the valve body such that the sealing cap closes off the pressure passage at the first end of the valve body. The sealing cap has a deformable area configured to deform outwardly away from the valve body when pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body. The sealing cap is configured so that, when a dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in a cassette compartment of the dialysis machine and pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body, the deformable area obstructs a fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette to control dialysis fluid flow therethrough.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A dialysis system, comprising:
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a dialysis fluid cassette comprising a base and a flexible membrane attached to the base, the base and the flexible membrane forming a fluid channel therebetween; a dialysis machine having a cassette compartment configured to receive the dialysis fluid cassette therein such that the membrane of the dialysis fluid cassette is positioned adjacent a machine block of the dialysis machine when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine; a valve at least partially disposed in a recess defined by the machine block, the valve being substantially aligned with a portion of the fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine, the valve comprising a valve body defining a pressure passage; and a sealing cap disposed at a first end of the valve body such that the sealing cap closes off the pressure passage at the first end of the valve body, the sealing cap having a deformable area configured to deform outwardly away from the valve body when pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body, wherein the sealing cap is configured so that the deformable area obstructs the fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette to control dialysis fluid flow therethrough when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine and pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A dialysis system, comprising:
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a dialysis fluid cassette comprising a base and a flexible membrane attached to the base, the base and the flexible membrane forming a plurality of fluid channels; a dialysis machine having a cassette compartment configured to receive the dialysis fluid cassette therein such that the membrane of the dialysis fluid cassette is positioned adjacent a machine block of the dialysis machine when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine; a plurality of valves at least partially disposed in a recess defined by the machine block, each of the valves being substantially aligned with a portion of one of the fluid channels of the dialysis fluid cassette when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine, each of the valves comprising a valve body defining a pressure passage; and a sealing cap disposed at a first end of the valve body such that the sealing cap closes off the pressure passage at the first end of the valve body, the sealing cap having a deformable area configured to deform outwardly away from the valve body when pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body, wherein the sealing cap of each valve is configured so that the deformable area obstructs the aligned portion of the fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine and pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body such that the plurality of valves can be operated to control fluid flow through the dialysis fluid cassette. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 25)
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21. A method, comprising:
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inserting a dialysis fluid cassette into a cassette compartment of a dialysis machine, the dialysis fluid cassette comprising a base and a flexible membrane attached to the base, the base and the flexible membrane forming a plurality of fluid channels therebetween, the dialysis machine comprising a plurality of valves, each of the valves being aligned with one of the fluid channels of the dialysis fluid cassette; controlling dialysis fluid flow through the dialysis fluid cassette by applying fluid pressure to at least some of the valves to cause the at least some of the valves to obstruct the fluid channels of the dialysis fluid cassette that are aligned with the at least some of the valves. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 26)
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Specification