Cassette for delivering fluids, especially dialysis fluids

• US 6,743,201 B1
• Filed: 04/01/1999
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): BIANCO, PATRICIA
• Application Number:
  US09/285,120
• Time in Patent Office: 1,888 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4.01, 604/6.11, 604/6.13, 604/152, 604/153, 604/5-1-, 604/6.09, 604/6.1, 604/28-29, 604/113-14, 604/131, 604/141, 422/46, 422/44, 210/258, 210/252, 210/321, 210/64, 210/175, 210/321.72, 210/181-183, 210/645-46, 210/650, 210/255-56, 210/257.1, 210/259-61, 210/176-78, 607/96, 607/104-105, 607/113-114, 392/311, 392/465, 392/472, 392/473, 392/479-83, 392/485-89, 219/385-86, 219/520-21, 219/524-25, 219/528, 165/58, 165/61, 165/64, 165/46, 165/168-84, 137/334-341
• US Class Current: 604/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/153 the cassette being adapted for heating or cooling the treating fluid, e.g. the dialysate or the treating gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/154 with sensing means or components thereof
• 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 1/166 Heating for sterilisation A61M1/1686
• 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 2205/127 with provisions for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media

Abstract

A cassette for delivering fluids, especially dialysis fluids, with connecting elements for connecting solution bags and lines leading to the patient for to the dialysis machine, with at least one delivery chamber with an inlet and outlet, with lines for carrying the fluids supplied and delivered, with the walls of the lines being designed at least in some sections so that the lines can be closed by applying a compressive force acting on the walls. Heating and delivery of fluids, in particular dialysis fluids, can be performed effectively and simply by providing at least one area in the cassette where the lines are arranged in such a way that the medium in the lines can be heated to a predetermined set point by means of a heating device arranged outside the cassette. A dialysis machine, in particular for carrying out peritoneal dialysis, hemofiltration and plasma filtration, with a recess or device to accommodate a cassette according to the present invention and with a pump unit for operating the delivery chambers of the cassette. A heating device is provided in the dialysis machine, arranged in the area of the recesses or devices to accommodate the cassette. A method of delivering, balancing, metering and heating a medical fluid, where a fluid conveyed through the lines or at least one delivery chamber is also exposed to heating energy at the same time.

Claims

1. A cassette for delivering fluids, comprising:

a) at least one inlet line for receiving fluids;

b) an outlet line for providing fluid to a patient;

c) a heating line for containing the fluids while the fluids are heated, the heating line in fluid connection with the outlet line;

d) a delivery chamber having at least one chamber inlet in fluid connection with the at least one inlet line and a chamber outlet connected to the heating line;

e) a base structure forming the walls of the inlet line, outlet line, heating line, and forming a portion of the walls of the delivery chamber; and

f) a film covering the delivery chamber and forming a remaining portion of the walls of the delivery chamber, wherein the film covering the delivery chamber is elastic and is constructed to be deflected by a pump;

 

wherein the heating line is arranged such that a first segment of the heating line is exposed on one side of the cassette and a second segment of the heating line is exposed on the opposite side of the cassette so that the fluids within the heating line may be heated by a heating device located outside the cassette while the fluids are contained in the heating line.

2. The cassette of claim 1, wherein the delivery chamber is arranged within the cassette such that fluid within the chamber may be heated by a heating device located outside the cassette.

3. The cassette of claim 1, wherein the heating line is arranged in a spiral that allows heating of the fluid within the heating line by a heating device located outside the cassette.

4. A cassette for delivering fluids, comprising:

a) at least two inlet lines for receiving fluid;

b) an outlet line for providing fluid to a patient;

c) a heating line for containing the fluids while the fluids are heated, the heating line in fluid connection with the outlet line;

d) a first delivery chamber having at least one chamber inlet in fluid connection with at least one inlet line and a chamber outlet in fluid connection with the heating line;

e) a second delivery chamber having at least one chamber inlet in fluid connection with at least one inlet line and a chamber outlet in fluid connection with the heating line;

f) a base structure having channels forming a portion of the walls of the inlet line, outlet line, heating line, and recesses forming a portion of the walls of the first and second delivery chambers; and

g) film covering both sides of the base structure and forming a remaining portion of the walls of the inlet line, the outlet line, the heating line, the first delivery chamber, and the second delivery chamber, wherein the remaining portion of the walls of the first delivery chamber and the second delivery chamber are elastic and constructed to be deflected by a pump;

 

wherein the heating line is arranged such that the remaining portion of the walls of a first segment of the heating line is exposed on one side of the cassette and the remaining portion of the walls of a second segment of the heating line is exposed on the opposite side of the cassette so that the fluids within the heating line may be heated by a heating device located outside the cassette while the fluids are contained in the heating line.

5. The cassette of claim 4, wherein the remaining portion of the walls of the inlet, outlet, and heating lines are elastic and may be compressed with a compressive force, thereby allowing control of the flow of fluid within the cassette.

6. The cassette of claim 5, wherein the compressive force is pneumatic force.

7. The cassette of claim 5, wherein the compressive force is mechanical force.

8. The cassette of claim 4, wherein the pump is a piston pump.

9. The cassette of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the heating line is arranged in a spiral.

10. The cassette of claim 4, wherein the base structure is formed of plastic.

11. The cassette of claim 4, wherein the base structure includes at least one holder for mounting a sensor.

12. The cassette of claim 11, wherein the base structure is provided with at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of pressure sensors, temperature sensors, and flow rate sensors.

13. The cassette of claim 4, wherein the first and second segments of the heating line are in fluid communication.