Method and apparatus for cleaning a dialysate circuit downstream of a dialyzer
First Claim
1. An apparatus for reducing deposits in a portion of a dialysate circuit located downstream of a membrane fluid treatment device in a dialysis machine while not contaminating a portion of the dialysate circuit located upstream of the membrane fluid treatment device, said apparatus comprising:
- a first tubing connector selectively connectable and disconnectable with a bypass block connector of the dialysate circuit;
a backflow prevention valve in fluid communication with the first tubing connector;
an injection connector in fluid communication with the backflow prevention valve and adapted for fluid communication with a source of fluid; and
a second tubing connector selectively connectable and disconnectable with the dialysate circuit in fluid communication with the injection connector;
wherein said backflow prevention valve is oriented to allow flow only in a direction from the first connector to the second connector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for cleaning of a dialysate circuit located downstream of the dialyzer in a dialysis machine is described. The method comprises injecting a cleaning agent into the dialysis machine at a point between the dialyzer inlet port and the downstream dialysate circuit in an amount sufficient to substantially reduce the deposit in said downstream dialysate circuit; permitting flow of the agent towards the downstream dialysate circuit; and substantially preventing flow of the agent toward the dialyzer inlet port. The injection adaptor apparatus comprises an injection connector downstream of a backflow prevention valve, and two flanking tubing connectors. The apparatus is inserted at a point downstream of the dialyzer inlet port, and cleaning agent is injected into the injection connector. An adaptor to facilitate handling of cleaning agent during manual agent injection is also described. Additionally, an automated agent injection apparatus is described.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for reducing deposits in a portion of a dialysate circuit located downstream of a membrane fluid treatment device in a dialysis machine while not contaminating a portion of the dialysate circuit located upstream of the membrane fluid treatment device, said apparatus comprising:
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a first tubing connector selectively connectable and disconnectable with a bypass block connector of the dialysate circuit; a backflow prevention valve in fluid communication with the first tubing connector; an injection connector in fluid communication with the backflow prevention valve and adapted for fluid communication with a source of fluid; and a second tubing connector selectively connectable and disconnectable with the dialysate circuit in fluid communication with the injection connector; wherein said backflow prevention valve is oriented to allow flow only in a direction from the first connector to the second connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification