Device for the treatment of a medical fluid

• US 7,988,686 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Scherer, Joerg, Schneider, Hans-Peter, Herklotz, Martin, Beden, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): KOHARSKI, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US12/318,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20090216211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 604/29, 604/30, 604/403, 604/151, 604/65, 604/890.1, 604/5.01, 604/6.11, 604/4.01, 604/6.01, 417/395, 417/477.2, 417/46, 417/479
• US Class Current: 604/890.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3621 Extra-corporeal blood circuits single-needle circuits A61M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362223 the interface being evacuated interfaces to enhance contact
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/367 Circuit parts not covered by the preceding subgroups of group A61M1/3621
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/122 using evacuated interfaces to enhance contact

Abstract

A device for the treatment of a medical fluid including a permanently installed fluid treatment machine and a cassette with fluid-carrying channels as well as an elastic matt placed between these two items. The matt channels are recessed in the elastic matt and are provided with slits. Via the matt channels, an optimized vacuum distribution takes place and the slits serve the purpose of removing air between the cassette and the fluid treatment machine.

Claims

1. A device for the treatment of a medical fluid, said device comprising a permanently installed fluid treatment machine, a cassette with fluid carrying channels and an elastic matt placed between the fluid treatment machine and the cassette, said elastic matt including matt channels recessed therein, with paths of said matt channels respectively corresponding with paths of the fluid-carrying channels of the cassette, and with slits being provided in the matt channels which extend from the matt channels to a side of said matt facing the cassette such that said slits overlie said cassette fluid-carrying channels, each slit defining a first area and a second area of the elastic matt adjacent to each said slit, said first and second adjacent areas being configured to form an opening when vacuum is applied, said opening enabling air gas to be extracted from between the fluid treatment machine and the cassette.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the slits along the matt channels are repeatedly interrupted for short intervals to form slitted areas and non-slitted areas.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the matt channels in the slitted areas are more deeply recessed than in the non-slitted areas.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic matt further includes connection channels having a shallower depth than a depth of said matt channels.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said connection channels extend to provide a continuous path around interruptions in the matt channels which are intended for attachment of machine-mounted pump membranes and valves.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic matt is exchangeable.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic matt is sealable in a perimeter area of the cassette by putting pressure onto a circumferential seal edge contained within the cassette area.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said slits are configured to act as lip seals.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second adjacent areas are configured to return to an original position in equilibrium to close said opening.

10. A device for the treatment of a medical fluid, said device comprising a permanently installed fluid treatment machine and an elastic matt for attaching a cassette with fluid-carrying channels, said elastic matt including matt channels recessed therein with a path of said matt channels being arranged to correspond with a path of fluid-carrying channels of a cassette to be attached, said matt channels having slits provided therein that extend from within the matt channels to an opposite side of the matt, each slit defining a first area and a second area of the elastic matt adjacent to each said slit, said first and second adjacent areas being configured to form an opening when vacuum is applied, said opening enabling air gas to be extracted from between the fluid treatment machine and the cassette.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the elastic matt further includes connection channels having a shallower depth than a depth of said matt channels.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the slits along the matt channels are repeatedly interrupted for short intervals to form slitted areas and non-slitted areas.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the matt channels in the slitted areas are more deeply recessed than in the non-slitted areas.

14. The device according to claim 10, wherein said slits are configured to act as lip seals.

15. The device according to claim 10, wherein said first and second adjacent areas are configured to return to an original position in equilibrium to close said opening.

16. An elastic matt for use in a device for the treatment of a medical fluid, said device including a permanently installed fluid treatment machine and a cassette with fluid carrying channels, said elastic matt comprising a plurality of matt channels recessed in the elastic matt with paths of said matt channels respectively corresponding with paths of the fluid-carrying channels of the cassette, said matt channels having a plurality of slits therein that extend from the matt channels to a side of said matt that faces the cassette, each slit defining a first area and a second area of the elastic matt adjacent to each said slit, said first and second adjacent areas being configured to form an opening when vacuum is applied, said opening enabling air gas to be extracted from between the fluid treatment machine and the cassette, said elastic matt being placed between the fluid treatment machine and the cassette with said matt channels and slits in alignment with said cassette fluid-carrying channels.

17. The matt according to claim 16, wherein the elastic matt further includes connection channels having a shallower depth than a depth of said matt channels.

18. The matt according to claim 16, wherein the slits along the matt channels are repeatedly interrupted for short intervals to form slitted areas and non-slitted areas.

19. The matt according to claim 18, wherein the matt channels in the slitted areas are more deeply recessed than in the non-slitted areas.

20. The matt according to claim 16, wherein said slits are configured to act as lip seals.

21. The matt according to claim 16, wherein said first and second adjacent areas are configured to return to an original position in equilibrium to close said opening.