Apparatus for conducting fluids in a dialysis system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for conducting fluids in a dialysis system having a dialyzer, a source of dialysis fluid for the dialyzer, heating means for heating dialysis fluid before introduction into the dialyzer, and pump means for pumping heated dialysis fluid to and through the dialyzer, said fluid conducting apparatus comprising:
- a heating chamber for cooperation with said heating means to heat fluid introduced into said heating chamber, said heating chamber comprising a collapsible member having an inlet for introducing dialysis fluid into said collapsible member and an outlet for withdrawing fluid from said collapsible member;
first fluid conducting means for connection to the source of dialysis fluid and to said inlet of said heating chamber collapsible member for delivering dialysis fluid from the source of dialysis fluid to said heating chamber collapsible member;
second fluid conducting means for connection to said outlet of said heating chamber collapsible member, the dialyzer, and the pump means for conducting fluid from said heating chamber collapsible member to and through the dialyzer; and
shut-off means associated with said second fluid conducting means for terminating the flow of fluid from said heating chamber collapsible member to the dialyzer to prevent the emptying of fluid from said heating chamber collapsible member, said shut-off means comprising first and second flexible wall portions of said heating chamber collapsible member, said first and second flexible wall portions being juxtaposed to one another and arranged to be free to more between an open, separated position and a closed, abutting position, and said outlet of said heating chamber collapsible member being positioned in said first flexible wall portion so that when the amount of fluid being withdrawn from said heating chamber collapsible member exceeds the amount of fluid being introduced into said heating chamber collapsible member and the amount of fluid in said heating chamber collapsible member falls below a predetermined value, said first and second flexible wall portions are caused to move towards said closed, abutting position whereby said second flexible wall portion closes said outlet in said first flexible wall portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Fluid conducting apparatus is disclosed for a dialysis system having a dialyzer, a source of dialysis fluid for the dialyzer, a heating chamber for heating dialysis fluid before introduction into the dialyzer, and pump means for pumping heated dialysis fluid from the heating chamber to and through the dialyzer. The fluid conducting apparatus includes first and second fluid conducting means. The first fluid conducting means is adapted to be connected to the source of dialysis fluid and to the heating chamber for introducing dialysis fluid into the heating chamber, and the second fluid conducting means is adapted to be connected to the heating chamber, the dialyzer and the pump means for conducting the fluid from the heating chamber to and through the dialyzer. The apparatus also includes shut-off means adapted to terminate the flow of heated dialysis fluid from the heating chamber to the dialyzer when the rate of flow of fluid out of the chamber exceeds the rate of flow of fluid into the chamber. In this way, the heating chamber will not be emptied of dialysis fluid.
82 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus for conducting fluids in a dialysis system having a dialyzer, a source of dialysis fluid for the dialyzer, heating means for heating dialysis fluid before introduction into the dialyzer, and pump means for pumping heated dialysis fluid to and through the dialyzer, said fluid conducting apparatus comprising:
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a heating chamber for cooperation with said heating means to heat fluid introduced into said heating chamber, said heating chamber comprising a collapsible member having an inlet for introducing dialysis fluid into said collapsible member and an outlet for withdrawing fluid from said collapsible member; first fluid conducting means for connection to the source of dialysis fluid and to said inlet of said heating chamber collapsible member for delivering dialysis fluid from the source of dialysis fluid to said heating chamber collapsible member; second fluid conducting means for connection to said outlet of said heating chamber collapsible member, the dialyzer, and the pump means for conducting fluid from said heating chamber collapsible member to and through the dialyzer; and shut-off means associated with said second fluid conducting means for terminating the flow of fluid from said heating chamber collapsible member to the dialyzer to prevent the emptying of fluid from said heating chamber collapsible member, said shut-off means comprising first and second flexible wall portions of said heating chamber collapsible member, said first and second flexible wall portions being juxtaposed to one another and arranged to be free to more between an open, separated position and a closed, abutting position, and said outlet of said heating chamber collapsible member being positioned in said first flexible wall portion so that when the amount of fluid being withdrawn from said heating chamber collapsible member exceeds the amount of fluid being introduced into said heating chamber collapsible member and the amount of fluid in said heating chamber collapsible member falls below a predetermined value, said first and second flexible wall portions are caused to move towards said closed, abutting position whereby said second flexible wall portion closes said outlet in said first flexible wall portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An improved dialysis system for treating a first fluid with dialysis fluid, the system comprising:
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a dialyzer in which the treatment occurs; a source of dialysis fluid for said dialyzer; a heating chamber having heating means for heating the dialysis fluid before being conducted to said dialyzer, said heating chamber comprising a collapsible member having an inlet for introducing dialysis fluid into said collapsible member and an outlet for withdrawing fluid from said collapsible member; first fluid conducting means for delivering dialysis fluid from said source of dialysis fluid to said heating chamber collapsible member; second fluid conducting means for conducting fluid from said heating chamber collapsible member to and through said dialyzer; first pump means in said second fluid conducting means for pumping through said second fluid conducting means dialysis fluid from said heating chamber collapsible member to and through said dialyzer; and shut-off means associated with said second fluid conducting means for terminating the flow of fluid from said heating chamber collapsible member to said dialyzer to prevent emptying of fluid from said heating chamber collapssible member, said shut-off means comprising first and second flexible wall portions of said heating chamber collapsible member, said first and second flexible wall portions being juxtaposed to one another and arranged to be free to move between an open, separated position and a closed, abutting position, and said outlet of said heating chamber collapsible member being positioned in said first flexible wall portion so that when the amount of fluid being withdrawn from said heating chamber collapsible member exceeds the amount of fluid being introduced into said heating chamber collapsible member and the amount of fluid in said heating chamber collapsible member falls below a predetermined value, said first and second flexible wall portions are caused to move towards said closed, abutting position whereby said second flexible wall portion closes said outlet in said first flexible wall portion. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification