Connector adapted to connect a storage container for solution ingredients to a medical apparatus

• US 6,468,424 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Schulz, Wolfgang, Dönig, Rainer, Döpper, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, SUN U
• Application Number:
  US09/281,909
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 141/67, 141/83, 141/326, 141/346, 210/647, 210/321.71, 210/232, 210/240, 439/488, 439/489, 439/491, 439/955, 235/375, 235/462.01, 235/454, 235/462.02, 235/462.04, 604/404
• US Class Current: 210/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1656 Apparatus for preparing dialysates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1668 Details of containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dialysis machine with a device for preparing dialysis solutions. Simple and reliable preparation of dialysis fluids of different concentrations is achieved by the fact that the device has a detector device, at least two connections and at least two interchangeable storage containers to hold the solution ingredients to be metered, each being connected to at least one connector, and with the connectors being connectable to the connections, and with the connectors or the areas of a connecting tube near the connectors having identification means which can be detected by the detector device. The present invention also relates to a connector for connecting a storage container with solution ingredients to a medical apparatus, where the connector or areas of a connecting tube near the connector has identification means. The present invention also relates to a method of detecting a connection of a solution ingredient storage container. A simple and reliable implementation of the method is guaranteed by the fact that the connector is provided with identification means and is attached to a matching component, and a reader unit determines the type and position of the connector.

Claims

1. A connector adapted to connect a storage container for solution ingredients to a medical apparatus, the connector being disposed adjacent an outlet of the storage container and comprising an identifier, the identifier comprising a bar code, the identifier indicating a type and quantity of the solution ingredients, the identifier being arranged to indicate a position of the connector to determine incomplete connection to the medical apparatus, wherein the bar code indicates a pattern when the connection is complete, and a different pattern when the connection is incomplete.

2. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein the bar code extends circumferentially around the identifier.

3. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein the medical apparatus is a dialysis machine.