System for preparing a fluid intended for a medical procedure by mixing at least one concentrate in powder form with water

• US 4,784,495 A
• Filed: 12/10/1987
• Issued: 11/15/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gambro AB (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Jonsson, Dan, Knutsson, Stefan L., Jonsson, Lennart U. P., Carlsson, Per-Olov A. V., Tryggvason, Ragnar, Jonsson, Sven
• Primary Examiner(s): JENKINS, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/130,879
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 366/150, 366/151, 366/159, 366/160, 366/161, 366/162, 366/163, 366/166, 366/16, 366/17, 366/19, 366/21, 366/140, 366/142, 137/88, 137/98, 137/92, 137/93
• US Class Current: 366/151.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1656 Apparatus for preparing dialysates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1666 by dissolving solids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1668 Details of containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1674 using UV radiation sources for sterilising the dialysate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/082 Mounting brackets, arm supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/40 Mixing liquids with liquids; Emulsifying
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/82 by adding a material to be mixed to a mixture in response to a detected feature, e.g. density, radioactivity, consumed power or colour
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2499 Mixture condition maintaining or sensing

Abstract

A system for preparing a fluid intended for a medical procedure substantially at the time of use by mixing of at least one concentrate in powder form with water. The system includes a reservoir for a source of water, at least one vessel containing a concentrate in powder form and a concentrate fluid circuit for withdrawing a small quantity of water from the reservoir and passing same through the vessel containing the concentrate in powder form in order to dissolve the concentrate to produce a concentrate fluid, and for then conducting the concentrate fluid to a primary fluid circuit communicating with the reservoir so that the produced concentrate fluid is mixed with the rest of the water withdrawn from the reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, the vessel comprises a self-contained cartridge containing a quantity of concentrate in powder form therein which is suitable for one treatment procedure. The system is intended in particular for the preparation of fluids for use in connection with medical procedures such as hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration and hemofiltration. However, it may also be used for the preparation of fluids for other medical procedures or treatments as well.

Claims

1. A system for preparing a fluid for a medical procedure by mixing of at least one concentrate in powder form with water, said system comprising:

a source of water;

a vessel for containing a concentrate in powder form;

first fluid conducting means having a first end communicating with said source of water for withdrawing water from said source of water, and a second end for delivering a prepared solution;

second fluid conducting means communicating with said source or water and with an inlet of said vessel for introducing water from said source of water into said vessel to produce a concentrate fluid containing dissolved powder concentrate in water;

third fluid conducting means communicating with an outlet of said vessel and with a mixing point in said first fluid conducting means intermediate said first and second ends for conducting said concentrate fluid from said vessel into said first fluid conducting means to be mixed with fluid being conducted through said first fluid conducting means to thereby produce a prepared solution in said first fluid conducting means for delivery to said second end of said first fluid conducting means;

measuring means in said first fluid conducting means downstream of said mixing point for measuring the composition of the prepared solution obtained by mixing of said concentrate fluid and water in said first fluid conducting means; and

flow regulating means in said third fluid conducting means responsive to said measuring means for controlling the flow of said concentrate fluid from said vessel.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said source of water comprises a reservoir for containing water.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said measuring means comprises a conductivity measuring device.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said flow regulating means comprises a throttling device.

5. The system of claim 4 further including a suction pump arranged in said first fluid conducting means downstream of said mixing point for conducting water from said reservoir through said first fluid conducting means and for conducting water from said reservoir through said second and third fluid conducting means.

6. The system of claim 5 further including a throttling device arranged in said first fluid conducting means intermediate said reservoir and said mixing point, and further including a deaerating device arranged in said first fluid conducting means downstream of said suction pump.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said flow regulating means comprises a suction pump.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said inlet of said vessel is at the top thereof and said outlet of said vessel is at the bottom thereof so that water is conducted through said vessel from the top thereof to the bottom thereof to thereby maintain a relatively constant concentration level of dissolved powder concentrate in said third fluid conducting means.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said vessel includes a vent opening therein arranged at the top of said vessel.

10. The system of claim 9 further including a fluid line communicating with said vent opening in said vessel and having shut-off means arranged therein operative to prevent the flow of liquid from said vessel through said fluid line.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said flow regulating means comprises a suction pump arranged in said third fluid conducting means and wherein said fluid line communicates with said third fluid conducting means upstream of said suction pump.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said first fluid containing means includes a suction pump arranged therein for withdrawing water from said source of water, and wherein said fluid line communicates with said first fluid conducting means upstream of said suction pump.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said shut-off means comprises a hydrophobic filter arranged in said fluid line.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein said shut-off means comprises a housing arranged in said fluid line and having an expansible body provided therein adapted to expand upon liquid being drawn into said housing to prevent the further flow of fluid through said housing.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said shut-off means comprises an adjustable throttling device in said fluid line adapted to be closed after deaeration of said vessel.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said vessel comprises a first vessel containing a fluid concentrate in powder form, and wherein said system further includes a source of second concentrate fluid and means for introducing said second concentrate fluid into said first fluid conducting means to be mixed with said first concentrate fluid and water being conducted through said first fluid conducting means.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said source of second concentrate fluid comprises a source of second concentrate in liquid form.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said mixing point comprises a first mixing point, and wherein said means for introducing comprises fourth fluid conducting means communicatig with said source of second concentrate and with a second mixing point in said first fluid conducting means intermediate said first and second ends and spaced from said first mixing point for conducting said second concentrate fluid into said first fluid conducting means.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein said source of second concentrate fluid comprises a second vessel containing a second concentrate in powder form, and fourth fluid conducting means communicating with said source of waer and an inlet of said second vessel for introducing water from said source of water into said second vessel to produce said second concentrate fluid.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said mixing point comprises a first mixing point;

and wherein said means for introducing comprises fifth fluid conducting means communicating with an outlet of said second vessel and with a second mixing point in said first fluid conducting means intermediate said first and second ends and spaced from said first mixing point for conducting said second concentrate fluid into said first fluid conducting means.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein said vessel contains a concentrate in powder form having a particle size which is greater than 100 microns.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said concentrate in powder form comprises a bicarbonate material having a particle size between 130 and 500 microns.

23. The system of claim 1 further including water determining means for determining if water is present in said vessel.

24. The system of claim 23 further including alarm means for generating an alarm signal if water is present in said vessel prior to start-up of said system, said alarm means being responsive to said water determining means.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein said vessel comprises a self-contained cartridge containing a quantity of concentrate in powder form therein which is suitable for one treatment procedure.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said cartridge comprises a closed vessel having penetrable membranes at said inlet and said outlet thereof, and wherein said second and third fluid conducting means communicate with said inlet and said outlet respectively of said closed vessel through said penetrable membranes.

27. The system of claim 26 further including connecting devices for controlling said second and third fluid conducting means to said cartridge vessel, said connecting devices each having a first end for penetrating one of said penetrable membranes and a second end to which one of said fluid conducting means is connected.

28. The system of claim 27 further including a holder for holding said vessel and wherein said connecting devices are mounted to said holder.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein the contents of said cartridge are internally sterilized.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the contents of said cartridge are sterilized by means of radiation.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the contents of said cartridge are sterilized by means of gamma radiation.

32. The system of claim 25 wherein said cartridge contains a bicarbonate material in powder form, the quantity of said bicarbonate material in said cartridge being on the order of 400 to 900 grams.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the quantity of bicarbonate material contained in said cartridge is approximately 600 grams.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein said bicarbonate material comprises sodium bircarbonate material.

35. The system of claim 25 wherein said cartridge contains a salt material in powder form, the quantity of salt material contained in said cartridge being on the order of 1,000 to 3000 grams.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the quantity of salt material contained in said cartridge is on the order of 1,300 to 2,700 grams.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the quantity of salt material contained in said cartridge is approximately 1,400 grams.

38. The system of claim 35 wherein said salt material comprises sodium chloride material.

39. The system of claim 1 wherein said vessel comprises a first vessel containing a first concentrate in powder form;

and wherein said system further includes a second vessel containing a second concentrate in powder form, a source of liquid concentrate, fourth fluid conducting means communicating with said source of water for introducing water into said second vessel to produce a second concentrate fluid containing dissolved second powder concentrate therein and for conducting said second concentrate fluid from said second vessel into said first fluid conducting means intermediate said first and second ends to be mixed with fluid being conducted through said first fluid conducting means, and fifth fluid conducting means communicating with said source of liquid concentrate for withdrawing liquid concentrate from said source of liquid concentrate and introducing said liquid concentrate into said first fluid conducting means intermediate said first and second ends to be mixed with fluid being conducted through said first fluid conducting means, whereby said prepared solution is comprised of said first concentrate fluid, said second concentrate fluid and said liquid concentrate mixed with water withdrawn from said source of water through said first fluid conducting means.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein said first vessel contains a bicarbonate material in powder form, and said second vessel contains a salt material in powder form.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein said liquid concentrate contains a substance selected from the group consisting of an acid, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and glucose.

42. The system of claim 1 wherein said first fluid conducting means includes primary flow regulating means for regulating the flow of fluid through said first fluid conducting means, said primary flow regulating means being operative to provide a flow rate of up to at least 500 ml./min. through said first fluid conducting means downstream of said mixing point.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein said flow regulating means in said third fluid conducting means is operative to provide a flow rate of up to at least 30 ml./min. of concentrate fluid through said third fluid conducting means.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein said primary flow regulating means is operative to provide a flow rate of up to approximately 1,000 ml./min. through said first fluid conducting means downstream of said mixing point and said flow regulating means in said third fluid conducting means is operative to provide a flow rate of up to approximately 40 ml./min. through said third fluid conducting means.

45. The system of claim 1 further including means for priming said system, said means for priming including valve means in said third fluid conducting means intermediate said vessel and said flow regulating means and a priming fluid line connected to said valve means and to said first fluid conducting means intermediate said source of water and said mixing point, said valve means being operative to open said priming line to communicate with said third fluid conducting means for priming of said system and operative to close communication between said priming line and said third fluid conducting means after said system has been primed.

46. The system of claim 1 further including means for disinfection of said system, said means for disinfection including a source of disinfecting solution and disinfecting fluid lines for interconnecting said first, second and third fluid conducting means in a manner to conduct disinfecting solution from said source of disinfecting solution through said fluid conducting means, said measuring means and said flow regulating means.

88. The system of claim 37 wherein the quantity of bicarbonate material in said first cartridge is on the order of 400 to 900 grams, and wherein the quantity of salt material contained in said second cartridge is on the order of 1,000 to 3,000 grams.

89. The system of claim 88 wherein said bicarbonate material comprises sodium bicarbonate material and said salt material comprises sodium chloride material.

47. A system for preparing a fluid for a medical procedure by mixing of at least one concentrate in powder form with water, said system comprising:

a source of water;

a vessel for containing a concentrate in powder form;

first fluid conducting means having a first end communicating with said source of water for withdrawing water from said source of water, and a second end for delivering a prepared fluid;

second fluid conducting means communicating with said source of water and with an inlet of said vessel for introducing water withdrawn from said source of water into said vessel to produce a first concentrate fluid containing dissolved powder concentrate in water;

third fluid conducting means communicating with an outlet of said vessel and with a first mixing point in said first fluid conducting means intermediate said first and second ends for conducting said first concentrate fluid from said vessel into said first fluid conducting means to be mixed with fluid being conducted through said first fluid conducting means;

a source of second concentrate fluid;

fourth fluid conducting means having a first end communicating with said source of second concentrate fluid and a second end communicating with said first fluid conducting means at a second mixing point intermediate said first and second ends of said first fluid conducting means for introducing into said first fluid conducting means said second concentrate fluid to be mixed with fluid being conducted through said first fluid conducting means, to thereby produce a prepared solution in said first fluid conducting means downstream of said first and second mixing points for delivery to said second end of said first fluid conducting means, said prepared solution being comprised of said first concentrate fluid and said second concentrate fluid mixed with water withdrawn from said source of water through said first fluid conducting means.

48. The system of claim 47 further including first and second measuring means in said first fluid conducting means, said first measuring means being downstream of said first mixing point and operative to measure the composition of fluid in said first fluid conducting means downstream of said first mixing point and said second measuring means being downstream of said second mixing point and operative to measure the composition of fluid in said first fluid conducting means downstream of said second mixing point.

49. The system of claim 48 further including first flow regulating means responsive to said first measuring means for controlling the flow of said first concentrate fluid through said third fluid conducting means, and second flow regulating means responsive to said second measuring means for controlling the flow of said second concentrate fluid through said fourth fluid conducting means.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein said first and second flow regulating means each comprise a suction pump.

51. The system of claim 49 further including a throttling device, a suction pump and a dearating device arranged in said first fluid conducting means.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein said throttling device, said suction pump and said dearating device are all arranged in said first fluid conducting means downstream of said source of water and upstream of both of said first and second mixing points.

53. The system of claim 48 wherein said first and second measuring means each comprise a conductivity measuring device.

54. The system of claim 47 wherein said inlet of said vessel is at the top thereof and said outlet of said vessel is at the bottom thereof so that water is conducted through said vessel from the top thereof to the bottom thereof to thereby maintain a relatively constant concentration level of dissolved powder concentration in said third fluid conducting means.

55. The system of claim 47 wherein said source of second concentrate fluid comprises a source of second concentrate in liquid form.

56. The system of claim 47 wherein said vessel contains a concentrate in powder form having a particle size which is greater than 100 microns.

57. The system of claim 47 further including water determining means for determining if water is present in said vessel.

58. The system of claim 57 further including alarm means for generating an alarm signal if water is present in said vessel prior to start-up of said system, said alarm means being responsive to said water determining means.

59. The system of claim 47 wherein said vessel comprises a self-contained cartridge containing a quantity of concentrate in powder form therein which is suitable for one treatment procedure.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein said cartridge comprises a closed vessel having penetrable membranes at said inlet and said outlet thereof, and wherein said second and third fluid conducting means communicate with said inlet and said outlet respectively of said closed vessel through said penetrable membranes.

61. The system of claim 60 further including connecting devices for connecting said second and third fluid containing means to said cartridge vessel, said connecting devices each having a first end for penetrating one of said penetrable membranes and a second end to which one of said fluid conducting means is connected.

62. The system of claim 61 further including a holder for holding said vessel and wherein said connecting devices are mounted to said holder.

63. The system of claim 59 wherein the contents of said cartridge are internally sterilized.

64. The system of claim 59 wherein said cartridge contains a bicarbonate material in powder form, the quantity of said bicarbonate material in said cartridge being on the order of 400 to 900 grams.

65. The system of claim 59 wherein said cartridge contains a salt material in powder form, the quantity of salt material contained in said cartridge being on the order of 1,000 to 3,000 grams.

66. The system of claim 47 wherein said source of water comprises a reservoir for containing water.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein said source of second concentrate fluid comprises a second vessel containing a second concentrate in powder form and fifth fluid conducting means communicating with said reservoir and an inlet of said secod vessel for introducing water from said reservoir into said second vessel to produce said second concentrate fluid.

68. The system of claim 66 wherein said vessel comprises a first vessel containing a first concentrate in powder form and said source of second fluid concentrate comprises a source of liquid concentrate;

and wherein said system further includes a second vessel containing a second concentrate in powder form, fifth fluid conducting means communicating with said reservoir for introducing water from said reservoir into said second vessel to produce a third concentrate fluid containing dissolved second powder concentrate therein and for conducting said third concentrate fluid from said second vessel into said first fluid conducting means intermediate said first and second mixing points to be mixed with fluid being conducted through said first fluid conducting means, whereby said prepared solution is comprised of said first concentrate fluid, said second concentrate fluid and said third concentrate fluid mixed with water withdrawn from said reservoir through said first fluid conducting means.

69. The system of claim 68 wherein said first vessel contains a bicarbonate material in powder form and said second vessel contains a salt material in powder form.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein said second concentrate fluid contains a substance selected from the group consisting of an acid, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and glucose.

71. The system of claim 66 further including means for priming said system, said means for priming including valve means in said third fluid conducting means intermediate said vessel and said flow regulating means and a priming fluid line connected to said valve means and to said first fluid conducting means intermediate said reservoir and said mixing point, said valve means being operative to open said priming line to communicate with said third fluid conducting means for priming of said system and operative to close communication between said priming line and said third fluid conducting means after said system has been primed.

72. The system of claim 66 further including means for disinfection of said system, said means for disinfection including a source of disinfecting solution and disinfecting fluid lines for interconnecting means in a manner to conduct disinfecting solution from said source of disinfecting solution through said fluid conducting means, said measuring means and said flow regulating means.

73. A system for preparing a fluid for a medical procedure by mixing of at least two concentrates in powder form with water, said system comprising:

a source of water;

a first vessel for containing a first concentrate in powder form;

a second vessel for containing a second concentrate in powder form, said second concentrate being different from said first concentrate;

first fluid conducting means having a first end communicating with said source of water for withdrawing water from said source of water, and a second end for delivering a prepared solution;

a concentrate fluid circuit communicating with said source of water and with said first fluid conducting means intermediate said first and second ends of said first fluid conducting means for conducting fluid containing water from said source of water through said concentrate fluid circuit and into said first fluid conducting means upstream of said second end of said first fluid conducting means to be mixed with fluid being conducted throough said first fluid conducting means to thereby produce a prepared solution for delivery to said second end of said first fluid conducting means, said prepared solution being comprised of fluid from said concentrate fluid circuit mixed with water withdrawn from said source of water; and

said concentrate fluid circuit including first connection means at a first location in said concentrate fluid circuit for connecting said first vessel to said concentrate fluid circuit so as to introduce fluid containing water from said source of water into said first vessel to dissolve said first concentrate and to withdraw fluid containing said dissolved first concentrate from said first vessel, and second connection means at a second location in said concentrate fluid circuit for connecting said second vessel to said concentrate fluid circuit so as to introduce fluid containing water from said source of water into said second vessel to dissolve said second concentrate and to withdraw fluid containing said dissolved second concentrate from said second vessel, said first and second connection means being different from one another so that said first vessel is only connectable to said concentrate fluid circuit at said first location by said first connection means and said second vessel is only connectable to said concentrate fluid circuit at said second location by said second connection means.

74. The system of claim 73 wherein said source of water comprises a reservoir for containing water.

75. The system of claim 74 wherein said concentrate fluid circuit includes second and third fluid conducting means, said second fluid conducting means including said first connecting means therein and communicating with said reservoir and with a first mixing point in said first fluid conducting means intermediate said first and second ends, and said third fluid conducting means containing said second connection means therein and communicating with said reservoir and with a second mixing point in said first fluid conducting means intermediate said first and second ends, said first and second mixing points being spaced from one another in said first fluid conducting means, said second fluid conducting means introducing water from said reservoir into said first vessel to produce a first concentrate fluid containing dissolved first concentrate in water and conducting said first concentrate fluid from said first vessel into said first fluid conducting means at said first mixing point to be mixed with fluid being conducted through said first fluid conducting means, and said third fluid conducting means introducing water from said reservoir into said second vessel to produce a second concentrate fluid containing dissolved second concentrate in water and conducting said second concentrate fluid from said second vessel into said first fluid conducting means at said second mixing point to be mixed with fluid being conducted through said first fluid conducting means, to thereby produce a prepared solution in said first fluid conducting means downstream of said first and second mixing points for delivery to said second end of said first fluid conducting means, said prepared solution being comprised of said first concentrate fluid and said second concentrate fluid mixed with water withdrawn from said reservoir through said first fluid conducting means.

76. The system of claim 75 wherein said first vessel has a first configuration and said second vessel has a second different configuration;

and wherein said first connection means comprises a first holder configured to hold a vessel having said first configuration and said second connection means comprises a second holder configured to hold a vessel having said second configuration.

77. The system of claim 76 wherein said second fluid conducting means comprises a first fluid line which communicates with said reservoir and with an inlet to said first vessel and a second fluid line which communicates with an outlet of said first vessel and said first fluid conducting means at said first mixing point, and wherein said third fluid conducting means comprises a third fluid line which communicates with said reservoir and an inlet to said second vessel, and a fourth fluid line which communicates with an outlet of said second vessel and said first fluid conducting means at said second mixing point.

78. The system of claim 77 wherein said inlets of said first and second vessels are at the top of said vessels and said outlets of said first and second vessels are at the bottom of said vessels so that water is conducted through each of said vessels from the top thereof to the bottom thereof to thereby maintain relatively constant concentration levels of dissolved powder concentrate in said second and fourth fluid lines, respectively.

79. The system of claim 77 wherein said first holder includes an inlet connector and an outlet connector which communicate with said inlet and said outlet, respectively, of said first vessel when said first vessel is held by said first holder;

wherein said second holder includes an inlet connector and an outlet connector which communicates with said inlet and said outlet, respectively, or said second vessel when said second vessel is held by said second holder; and

wherein said first and second fluid lines are connected to said inlet connector and said outlet connector, respectively, of said first holder, and said third fluid and fourth fluid lines are connected to said inlet connector and said outlet connector, respectively, of said second holder.

80. The system of claim 75 further including a source of liquid concentrate and means for introducing said liquid concentrate into said first fluid conducting means at a third mixing point in said first fluid conducting means intermediate said first and second ends to be mixed with fluid being conducted through said first fluid conducting means, whereby said prepared solution is comprised of said first concentrate fluid, said second concentrate fluid and said liquid concentrate mixed with water withdrawn from said reservoir through said first fluid conducting means.

81. The system of claim 74 wherein said first vessel contains a bicarbonate material in powder form and said second vessel contains a salt material in powder form.

83. The system of claim 74 further including means for disinfection of said system, said means for disinfection including a source of disinfecting solution and disinfecting fluid lines for interconnecting said first fluid conducting means and said concentrate fluid circuit in a manner to conduct disinfecting solution from said source of disinfecting solution through said first fluid conducting means and said concentrate fluid circuit.

84. The system of claim 73 wherein said first and second vessels each comprise a self-contained cartridge containing a quantity of concentrate in powder form therein which is suitable for one treatment procedure.

85. The system of claim 84 wherein each of said cartridges comprises a closed vessel having penetrable membranes at an inlet and an outlet of said closed vessel, and wherein said first connection means is connected to said first vessel through said penetrable membranes and said second connection means is connected to said second vessel through said penetrable membranes.

86. The system of claim 85 wherein each of said first and second vessels comprises a self-contained cartridge containing a quantity of concentrate in powder form therein which is suitable for one treatment procedure.

87. The system of claim 86 wherein said first cartridge contains a bicarbonate material in powder form and said second cartridge contains a salt material in powder form.

90. The system of claim 84 wherein the contents of said cartridges are internally sterilized.

82. The system of calim 74, further including means for priming said system, said means for priming including valve means in said concentrate fluid circuit downstream of each of said first and second vessels and a priming fluid line connected to said valve means and to said first fliud conducting means intermediate said reservoir and the location said concentrate fluid circuit communicates with said first fluid conducting means, said valve means being operative to open said priming lines to communication with said concentrate fluid circuit for priming said system and operative to close communication between said priming line and said concentrate fluid circuit after said system has been primed.

91. A system for preparing a fluid for a medical procedure by mixing of at least one concentrate in powder form with water, said system comprising:

a source of water;

a vessel for containing a concentrate in powder form, said vessel including an inlet at the top thereof and an outlet at the bottom thereof;

first fluid conducting means having a first end communicating with said source of water for withdrawing water from said source of water, and a second end for delivering a prepared solution;

second fluid conducting means communicating with said source of water and with said inlet of said vessel for introducing water from said source of water into the top of said vessel to produce a concentrate fluid containing dissolved powder concentrate in water; and

third fluid conducting means communicating with said outlet of said vessel and with a mixing point in said first fluid conducting means intermediate said first and second ends for conducting said concentrate fluid from the bottom of said vessel into said first fluid conducting means to be mixed with fluid being conducted through said first fluid conducting means to thereby produce a prepared solution in said first fluid conducting means for delivery to said second end of said first fluid conducting means, whereby water is conducted through said vessel from the top thereof to the bottom thereof to thereby maintain a relatively constant concentration level of dissolved powder concentrate in said third fluid conducting means.

92. The system of claim 91 wherein said vessel includes a vent opening therein arranged at the top of said vessel.

93. The system of claim 92 futher including a fluid line communicating with said vent opening in said vessel and having shut-off means arranged therein operative to prevent the flow of liquid from said vessel through said fluid line.

94. The system of claim 93 wherein said flow regulating means comprises a suction pump arranged in said third fluid conducting means and wherein said fluid line communicates with said third fluid conducting means upstream of said suction pump.

95. The system of claim 93 wherein said first fluid conducting means includes a suction pump arranged therein for withdrawing water from said source of water, and wherein said fluid line communicates with said first fluid conducting means upstream of said suction pump.

96. The system of claim 93 wherein said shut-off means comprises a hydrophobic filter arranged in said fluid line.

97. The system of claim 93 wherein said shut-off means comprises a housing arranged in said fluid line and having an expansible body provided therein adapted to expand upon liquid being drawn into said housing to prevent the further flow of fluid through said housing.

98. The system of claim 93 wherein said shut-off means comprises an adjustable throttling device in said fluid line adapted to be closed after deaeration of said vessel.

99. The system of claim 91 wherein said vessel contains a concentrate in powder form having a particle size which is greater than 100 microns.

107. The system of claim 91 wherein said source of water comprises a reservoir for containing water.

100. The system of clain 91 wherein said vessel comprises a self-contained cartridge containing a quantity of concentrate in powder form therein which is suitable for one treatment procedure.

101. The system of claim 100 wherein said cartridge comprises a closed vessel having penetrable membranes at said inlet and said outlet thereof, and wherein said second and third fluid conducting means communicate with said inlet and said outlet respectively of said closed vessel through said penetrable membranes.

102. The system of claim 101 further including connecting devices for connecting said second and third fluid conducting means to said cartridge vessel, said connecting devices each having a first end for penetrating one of said penetrable membranes and a second end to which one of said fluid conducting means is connected.

103. The system of claim 102 further including a holder for holding said vessel and wherein said connecting devices are mounted to said holder.

104. The system of claim 100 wherein the contents of said cartridge are internally sterilized.

105. The system of claim 100 wherein said cartridge contains a bicarbonate material in powder form, the quantity of said bicarbonate material in said cartridge being on the order of 400 to 900 grams.

106. The system of claim 100 wherein said cartridge contains a salt material in powder form, the quantity of salt material contained in said cartridge being on the other of 1,000 to 3,000 grams.

108. A system for preparing a fluid for a medical procedure by mixing of at least one concentrate in powder form with water, said system comprising:

a vessel for containing a concentrate in powder form;

first fluid conducting means having a first end for communicating with a source of water to withdraw water into said first fluid conducting means and a second end for delivering a prepared solution;

second fluid conducting means having a first end for communicating with a source of water and a second end communicating with an inlet of said vessel for introducing water into said vessel to produce a concentrate fluid concentrate dissolved powder concentrate in water;

third fluid conducting means communicating with an outlet of said vessel and with a mixing point in said first fluid conducting means intermediate said first and second ends for conducting said concentrate fluid form said vessel into said first fluid conducting means to be mixed with fluid being conducted through said first fluid conducting means to thereby produce a prepared solution in said first fluid conducting means for delivery to said second end of said first fluid conducting means;

measuring means in said first fluid conducting means downstream of said mixing point for measuring the composition of the prepared solution obtained by mixing of said concentrate fluid and water in said first fluid conducting means; and

flow regulating means in said third fluid conducting means responsive to said measuring means for controlling the flow of said concentrate fluid from said vessel.

109. The system of claim 108 further including a common source of water for said first and second fluid conducting means, said first ends of said first fluid conducting means and said second fluid conducting means each communicating with said common source of water.

110. The system of claim 109 wherein said common source of water comprises a reservoir for containing water.