Joint for fluid transport lines for medical use

• US 7,785,284 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Marchesi, Gianfranco, Zaccarelli, Massimo, Baraldi, Vincenzo, Delnevo, Annalisa, Ligabue, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva; Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chapman; Ginger T
• Application Number:
  US11/898,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20080004562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 604/6.16, 604/4.01, 604/6.1, 604/6.11, 604/6.08, 604/533, 439/5, 439/87, 327/29, 327/33, 327/34, 327/37, 327/40, 327 41- 47, 327/169, 327/317, 327/379, 327/549, 327551-555, 327/603, 403/32, 210/233
• US Class Current: 604/6.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0233 Conductive materials, e.g. antistatic coatings for spark prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1418 Clips, separators or the like for supporting tubes or leads

Abstract

The joint (36) comprises a tubular body (37) having two connecting zones (38, 39) each connected by an end to a tubular element (40) of a fluid transport line, giving continuity to passage of fluid. The tubular body is made of a mixture of an electrically-conductive material such as PVC, with carbon black to give it electrical conductivity. The joint has an internal surface (41) which is destined to come into contact with the transported fluid, and an external surface which is destined to have a grounded galvanic contact. The joint is inserted in the discharge fluid drainage line of a dialyzer filter, in an apparatus for intensive treatment of acute renal insufficiency, for eliminating ECG artefacts due to functioning of peristaltic pumps in the apparatus.

Claims

1. A fluid transport apparatus, comprising:

a fluid transport line for medical use, said fluid transport line comprising at least a first part and a second part, said first and second parts being configured to contact a transported fluid, said second part including a material having an electrical conductivity greater than an electrical conductivity of a material forming said first part, said second part comprising a tubular body made of an electrically conductive material, said tubular body comprising at least one internal surface configured to contact the transported fluid;

at least one pump for circulation of the transported fluid in the fluid transport line;

at least one support element configured to receive said second part in electrical contact therewith, said support element comprising at least a first portion including an electrically conductive material, said first portion being fixed to a bearing structure, said tubular body comprising at least one external surface configured to electrically contact said first portion; and

at least one galvanic connection which connects said support element with an external mass to dissipate electrical charges possibly present in said fluid transport line, said galvanic connection terminating at said first portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tubular body further comprises a first end having a first connecting zone and a second end having a second connecting zone, said first and second ends being opposite one another.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first part includes a first tubular element and a second tubular element, said first and second tubular elements being coupled to said tubular body at said first and second connecting zones.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said tubular body has an electrical resistance between said internal surface and said external surface, said electrical resistance being comprised between 40 KΩ

and 10 MΩ

.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said electrical resistance is comprised between 200 KΩ

and 2 MΩ

.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said tubular body includes at least one plastic material, said plastic material comprising at least one additive, wherein said additive supplies electric conductivity properties to said tubular body.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said additive comprises carbon.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said plastic material comprises PVC.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said galvanic connection comprises a grounding.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said galvanic connection comprises at least one electric cable which connects said support element to a machine body, said machine body being in turn connected to ground.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising at least one electrical impedance having a predetermined entity, said electrical impedance being arranged along said galvanic connection.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the entity of said electrical impedance is greater than 0.1 MΩ

.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the entity of said electrical impedance is equal to or greater than 1.0 MΩ

.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of electrical impedances having predetermined entities, said plurality of electrical impedances being arranged in parallel along said galvanic connection.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support element comprises a second portion, said second portion being dielectric and provided with at least one organ for removable fastening of said tubular body.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid transport line comprises at least one blood withdrawal line for supplying blood from a patient to a blood treatment device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said pump comprises a blood pump for circulation of blood in said blood withdrawal line.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, said fluid transport line comprises at least one blood return line for returning treated blood from a blood treatment device to a patient.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid transport line comprises at least one drainage line for draining a discharge fluid exiting from a fluid chamber of a blood treatment device, said fluid chamber being separated from a blood chamber by a semi-permeable membrane.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said pump comprises at least one drainage pump for circulation of discharge fluid in said drainage line.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said second part is located between said fluid chamber and said drainage pump.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid transport line comprises an infusion line having a first end configured to be connected to a source of an infusion liquid, and a second end configured to be connected either directly or indirectly with a vascular system of a patient.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said pump comprises an infusion pump operatively associated to said infusion line for circulating the infusion liquid.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid transport line comprises at least one supply line for supplying an operative fluid to a fluid chamber of a blood treatment device, said fluid chamber being separated from a blood chamber by a semi-permeable membrane.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid transport line comprises at least a first infusion line for infusion of a substitution fluid to a blood withdrawal line, said blood withdrawal line being configured to supply blood from a patient to a blood treatment device.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid transport line comprises at least a second infusion line for infusion of a substitution fluid to a blood return line, said blood return line being configured to return treated blood from a blood treatment device to a patient.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material of said second part includes a plastic material, said material having at least one additive such that the material of said second part is electrically conductive.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said plastic material is elastically deformable.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said additive increases the rigidity of the material of said second part.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said additive is carbon and said plastic material is PVC.