Portable peristaltic pump for peritoneal dialysis

• US 6,234,992 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sorenson Development, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sorenson Development, Incorporated
• Inventors: Sorenson, James L., Herbst, Royce, Haight, Levoy G., Winterton, Reed F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kennedy, Sharon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Serke, Catherine
• Application Number:
  US09/679,939
• Time in Patent Office: 230 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4-1-, 604/19, 604/27-34, 604/153, 604/155, 417/477.2, 417/477.6, 417/477.9, 417/477-2-4, 417/44.2
• US Class Current: 604/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1524 the interface providing means for actuating on functional elements of the cassette, e.g. plungers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/155 with treatment-fluid pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/156 Constructional details of the cassette, e.g. specific details on material or shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1565 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/159 specially adapted for peritoneal dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/28 Peritoneal dialysis ; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/281 Instillation other than by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/282 Operational modes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/281 Automatic tube cut-off devices, e.g. squeezing tube on detection of air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0209 Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1276 Means for pushing the rollers against the tubular flexible member
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers

Abstract

A pump assembly for ambulatory peritoneal dialysis transfer procedures includes a portable power supply geared to drive a high-volume peristaltic pump. A cassette of the pump comprises an encasement; tubing including an inner portion positioned within the encasement, a patient-side portion for connection to an indwelling peritoneal dialysis catheter and an opposing portion connectable to a system for containment and communication of a peritoneal dialysis solution which may be one single-compartment bag assembly; a safety valve for selectively occluding and permitting the communication of the solution through the inner portion; and a filter preferably interposed along the patient-side portion which filters air and particles from peritoneal dialysate that is flowing toward a patient and which allows peritoneal dialysate to flow substantially freely and unfiltered away from the patient.

Claims

1. A method of performing a peritoneal dialysis procedure on a patient which permits that patient to remain ambulatory during infusion and evacuation of dialysate solution, comprising the steps of:

associating a detachable, disposable peritoneal dialysis transfer set with a portable pumping device, said transfer set including;

a length of medical tubing, constituting a bidirectional flow path for dialysate solution between an indwelling patient catheter tube and a dialysate containment system, said length of medical tubing having first and second ends;

a first coupling, carried at said first end of said length of medical tubing for connection to a said catheter tube;

structure in fluid flow communication with said length of medical tubing, constituting means for directing fresh dialysate solution traveling through said tubing towards said first end through a first travel path and directing spent dialysate solution traveling through said tubing towards said second end through a second travel path;

a biofilter in circuit with said first travel path; and

a second coupling, carried at said second end of said length of medical tubing for connection to a dialysate containment system; and

said portable pumping device being constructed and arranged so that it is capable of raising the hydrostatic head of dialysate solution within said first travel path sufficiently to pass through said biofilter at rates at least as high as those obtainable through said first travel path in the absence of said biofilter by gravity flow from said assembly for containment of dialysate solution;

said transfer set, pumping device and dialysate containment system all being shaped and dimensioned so that they are suitable for attachment to a patient for ambulatory transport by said patient during infusion and exhaustion of dialysate solution;

operating said portable pumping device to infuse peritoneal dialysate solution from the dialysate containment system to the patient;

waiting for a period of time sufficient to allow dialysis within the patient;

operating said portable pumping device to evacuate the dialysate solution from the peritoneal cavity of the ambulatory patient to the dialysate containment system; and

disassociating the transfer set from the pumping device to enable disposal of said transfer set and said dialysate containment system.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said pumping device is a high-volume peristaltic pump assembly, comprising

a portable power supply;

a motor, powered by said power supply, and including;

a driven shaft capable of clockwise and counterclockwise rotation;

a displacement impeller assembly, mounted to turn within an impeller chamber in response to rotation of said driven shaft, and including;

a plurality of roller elements carried through a circular travel path within said impeller chamber,

said travel path being situated partially within a zone which presents a receptacle opening into said impeller chamber; and

said transfer set comprises;

a cassette configured to install within said receptacle opening to occupy said zone, constituting an encasement for a segment of said length of medical tubing, including a reaction surface constructed and arranged closely to approach said travel path when said cassette is installed within said receptacle opening; and

said length of medical tubing includes an intermediate segment positioned within said cassette adjacent said reaction surface.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said peristaltic pump assembly further comprises:

a check valve assembly in fluid flow communication with said length of medical tubing, structured and arranged to include said biofilter.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said transfer set further comprises a safety valve for selectively permitting flow of a dialysate solution through said length of medical tubing.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said safety valve is carried by said cassette, and is structured and arranged so that it is normally biased closed and is urged open upon installation of said cassette in said receptacle.

6. A method of performing a peritoneal dialysis procedure on a patient who may be ambulatory not only during dialysis but also during infusion and evacuation of a dialysate, comprising the steps of:

associating a portable peristaltic pump with a detachable, disposable peritoneal dialysis transfer set, said transfer set including;

an encasement;

a tube, a middle portion of which is locatable within the encasement, including;

a patient end for releaseable fluid connection to an indwelling peritoneal dialysis tube, and

an opposite end for fluid connection with a dialysate containment system;

check valve means in fluid communication with said tube for preventing passage of air bubbles and particles as a dialysate solution is pumped through the check valve means toward the peritoneal cavity of the patient and for allowing at least substantially free unfiltered flow of the dialysate solution away from the patient;

operating the portable pump to infuse peritoneal dialysate solution from the dialysate containment system through the patient end and releasably connected indwelling tube to the patient;

optionally temporarily disassociating the portable pump from the transfer set without disconnection of the patient end from the indwelling peritoneal dialysis tube;

waiting for a period of time sufficient to allow dialysis within the patient;

reassociating the optionally disconnected portable pump to the transfer set;

operating the portable pump to evacuate the dialysate solution from the peritoneal cavity of the ambulatory patient to the dialysate containment system; and

disassociating the transfer set from the pump to enable disposal of the transfer set and containment system.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said containment system comprises one single-compartment dialysate container.