System for the preparation of a fluid concentrate intended for medical use

• US 6,149,294 A
• Filed: 12/01/1997
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gambro AB (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Jonsson, Lennart, Knutsson, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): SOOHOO, TONY GLEN
• Application Number:
  US08/982,167
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 366/131, 366/132, 366/134, 366/136, 366/137, 366/152.4, 366/153.1, 366/159.1, 366/182.1, 366/182.2, 366/177.1, 366/179.1, 366/341, 222/132, 222/145.1, 222/145.5, 137/5, 137/88, 137/255, 137/256, 137/257, 137/258, 422/261, 422/281, 422/285
• US Class Current: 366/136
• 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: B01F 21/30 Workflow diagrams or layout of plants, e.g. flow charts; Details of workflow diagrams or layout of plants, e.g. controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/4021 in the form of tablets stored in containers, canisters or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/2202 Mixing compositions or mixers in the medical or veterinary field
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/56 by introducing solids in liquids, e.g. dispersing or dissolving
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/59 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/51 in which the mixture is circulated through a set of tubes, e.g. with gradual introduction of a component into the circulating flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/53 in which the mixture is discharged from and reintroduced into a receptacle through a recirculation tube, into which an additional component is introduced
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2133 Electrical conductivity or dielectric constant of the mixture
• 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: B01F 35/834 the flow of substances to be mixed circulating in a closed circuit, e.g. from a container through valve, driving means, metering means or dispensing means, e.g. 3-way valve, and back to the container

Abstract

Apparatus for the preparation of fluids intended for medical use is disclosed, including a water source and at least one cartridge or other vessel containing a solid such as a powder which is to be dissolved in the water for preparation of the desired fluid. The apparatus includes a container such that the water and a powder can be mixed and a concentrate provided in the container, and a recirculation circuit for recirculation of the water or concentrate solution into the container for further mixing of the water and powder to prepare a concentrate having a predetermined concentration.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preparing a concentrate solution which may be used as a medical solution, comprising:

a liquid supply for supplying a predetermined amount of liquid;

a mixing container adapted to receive said liquid;

a plurality of vessels containing powder therein to be partially dissolved in said liquid;

a flow path including at least one conduit for the flow of liquid from said mixing container through a selected one of said vessels and for the return flow of the liquid and dissolved powder therein to said mixing container;

a valve assembly for selectively directing the flow of said liquid and said dissolved powder to one of said plurality of vessels until a predetermined amount of said powder has been dissolved, whereupon said valve assembly will direct the flow of said liquid and dissolved powder to a further one of said vessels as said liquid and dissolved powder flow through said flow path until a concentrate solution having a desired concentration is obtained.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pump arranged within said flow path for facilitating recirculation of the liquid and dissolved powder therein.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising concentration determination means arranged within said flow path for determining the concentration of the liquid and dissolved powder and for regulating the concentration thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said concentration determination means includes a conductivity measuring device for measuring the conductivity of the liquid and dissolved powder whereby recirculation of the liquid and dissolved powder in said recirculation means can be controlled thereby.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said valve assembly is operatively associated with said conductivity measuring device whereby said valve assembly is selectively actuated direct to flow of the liquid and dissolved powder recirculating in said recirculation flow path to a selected one of said plurality of vessels.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a heating device for heating the liquid provided from said liquid supply.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a level detector arranged in said flow path for detecting when a sufficient amount of liquid has been supplied.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of vessels comprises three vessels, each of said vessels containing different powders including salt.

9. An apparatus for preparing a concentrate solution which may be used as a medical solution, comprising:

a mixing container adapted to retain a predetermined amount of liquid;

a plurality of vessels containing powder therein to be dissolved in said liquid;

flow path including at least one conduit for the flow of liquid from said mixing container through a selected one of said vessels and for the return flow of the liquid and dissolved powder therein to said mixing container;

a valve assembly for selectively directing the flow of said liquid and said dissolved power to one of said plurality of vessels until a predetermined amount of powder has been dissolved, whereupon said valve assembly will direct the flow of said liquid and dissolved powder to a further one of said vessels as said liquid and dissolved powder flow through said flow path until the concentrate solution having a desired concentration is obtained.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a pump arranged within said flow path for facilitating recirculation of the liquid and dissolved powder therein.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising concentration determination means arranged within said flow path for determining the concentration of the liquid and dissolved powder and for regulating the concentration thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said concentration determination means includes a conductivity measuring device for measuring the conductivity of the liquid and dissolved powder whereby recirculation of the liquid and dissolved powder in said recirculation means can be controlled thereby.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said valve assembly is operatively associated with said conductivity measuring device whereby said valve assembly is selectively actuated to direct the flow of the liquid and dissolved powder recirculating in said flow path to a selected one of said plurality of vessels.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a heating device for heating liquid provided to said flow path.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a level detector arranged in said flow path for detecting when a sufficient amount of liquid has been supplied.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said plurality of vessels comprises three vessels, each of said vessels containing different powders including salt.

17. A method of preparing a concentrate solution which may be used as a medical solution from an apparatus including a mixing container and a plurality of vessels each having a powder therein, said method comprising the steps of:

supplying a predetermined amount of water to the mixing container;

selectively transporting the water from said mixing container through a first one of said plurality of vessels so that a predetermined amount of the powder in said selected vessel is dissolved in the water;

terminating said flow of water through said first one of said vessels when a predetermined amount of said powder has been dissolved and the concentration of said powder in said water has reached a predetermined concentration whereupon a partially prepared concentrate solution is obtained;

selectively transporting said partially prepared concentrate solution from said mixing container to a further one of said plurality of vessels so that a predetermined amount of powder in said further selected vessel is dissolved in said partially prepared concentrate solution;

terminating the flow of the partially prepared concentrate solution through said further selected vessel when the concentration of said partially prepared concentrate solution has reached a predetermined concentration;

repeating the steps of selectively transporting said partially prepared concentrate solution from said mixing container to a further one of said vessels and dissolving a predetermined amount of powder therein until a final desired concentrate solution is obtained; and

transporting said final desired concentrate solution to a desired site.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

measuring the concentration of said powder in said partially prepared concentrate solution and terminating the flow of said partially prepared concentrate solution through a selected one of said vessels when a desired concentration has been obtained.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said measuring step comprises measuring the conductivity of the concentrate solution.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of transporting water or partially prepared concentrate solution comprises pumping said water or partially prepared solution.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of heating said water.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said water is heated to about 37°

C.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein said plurality of vessels comprises three vessels, and said powder in said vessels includes three different salts, said steps of dissolving powder comprising dissolving the salts.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of diluting or dissolving a liquid-based concentrate solution retained in a further vessel within said partially prepared concentrate solution to obtain the final concentrate solution.

25. An apparatus for preparing a concentrate solution which may be used as a medical solution comprising:

a container;

water supply means for supplying a predetermined amount of water to said container;

a plurality of vessels, each containing an in water dissolvable solid substance;

a flow path including at least one conduit for the flow of liquid between said container and said plurality of vessels, flow means for transporting said predetermined amount of water within said flow path and said container and a first of said vessels, for at least partially dissolving the solid substance of said first vessel until a partially prepared concentrate solution having a predetermined concentration is obtained, said flow means including valve means for selectively connecting said container to a further of said plurality of vessels whereby each vessel is successively incorporated one by one into the flow path so that said partially prepared solution within said flow path will at least partially dissolve the solid substance of each of said vessels until a final concentrate solution having a predetermined concentration is obtained; and

concentration determination means arranged within said flow path for determining the concentration level of the partially prepared solution within said flow path, said flow means further comprising control means for terminating the flow of solution through a selected one of said vessels, which is connected to said flow path, when a predetermined concentration level has been obtained as determined by said concentration determination means, said final concentrate solution being transported through said flow path to a desired site.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said concentration determination means comprises a conductivity meter for determining the conductivity and thus the concentration level of said partially prepared solution.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said flow means comprises pump means for pumping the partially prepared solution within the flow path.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said pump means further comprises metering means for metering the concentrate solution to an outlet conduit to withdraw said concentrate solution for use as a medical solution.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising an outlet valve for connecting said container to said outlet conduit.

30. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising heating means for heating said supplied water.

31. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said water supply means comprises valve means for terminating said supply of water when the predetermined amount of water has been supplied.

32. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said plurality of vessels contains an excess of solid substances, so that said concentrate solution can be prepared with the content of said plurality of vessels.

33. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said plurality of vessels comprises three vessels each having a different salt therein.

34. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein each of said plurality of vessels is a cartridge.

35. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising a further vessel connected in parallel with said plurality of vessels and containing a liquid-based concentrate solution intended to be included in the concentrate solution.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said further vessel is connected to said water supply means for mixing said liquid-based concentrate solution with water and supplying said mixture to said container.

37. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising a level indicator for terminating the supply of water when the predetermined amount of water has been supplied.

38. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:

a secondary vessel containing an in water dissolvable solid substance;

secondary water supply means for supplying water to said secondary vessel for dissolving said solid substance and forming a secondary concentrate solution; and

mixing means for mixing said secondary concentrate solution with said concentrate solution withdrawn from said flow means for forming said concentrate solution.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 further comprising:

a tertiary vessel containing an in water dissolvable solid substance;

tertiary water supply means for supplying water to said tertiary vessel for dissolving said solid substance and forming a tertiary concentrate solution;

mixing means for mixing said tertiary concentrate solution with said concentrate solution withdrawn from said flow means, possibly mixed with said secondary concentrate solution for forming said concentrate solution.