Hemodialysis system with cassette and pinch clamp

• US 8,329,030 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Childers, Robert W., Kelly, Thomas D., Roger, Rodolfo
• Primary Examiner(s): DRODGE, JOSEPH W
• Application Number:
  US13/213,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20120037550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 210/141, 210/143, 210/258, 210/321.6, 210/321.71, 210645-647, 210/175, 210/184, 604/4.01, 604/5.01, 604/6.01, 604/6.09, 604/6.11, 417/474, 417/475, 417/476, 417/477.1, 417/477.2, 417/477.7, 417/447.8, 417/477.9
• US Class Current: 210/175
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/14 Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00 ; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• 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 1/153 the cassette being adapted for heating or cooling the treating fluid, e.g. the dialysate or the treating gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/155 with treatment-fluid pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1561 at least one cassette surface or portion thereof being flexible, e.g. the cassette having a rigid base portion with preformed channels and being covered with a foil
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/15625 the reservoirs acting as balance chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1565 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1601 Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1605 Physical characteristics of the dialysate fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1621 Constructional aspects thereof semi-permeable membranes for separation processes characterised by their properties B01D69/00; semi permeable membranes characterised by their material B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1635 with volume chamber balancing devices between used and fresh dialysis fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1649 with pulsatile dialysis fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/166 Heating for sterilisation A61M1/1686
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/168 Sterilisation or cleaning before or after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1686 by heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1688 with recirculation of the sterilising fluid
• 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 1/3465 using dialysate as substitution fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362227 : the interface providing means for actuating on functional elements of the cassette, e.g. plungers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36225 : with blood pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362261 : at least one cassette surface or portion thereof being flexible, e.g. the cassette having a rigid base portion with preformed channels and being covered with a foil
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362262 : Details of incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362265 : Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3643 : Priming, rinsing before or after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3644 : Mode of operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3649 : using dialysate as priming or rinsing liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3652 : using gas, e.g. air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 : with incorporated valves
• 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 2205/3313 : used specific wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 : Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 : Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 : Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6036 : characterised by physical shape, e.g. array of activating switches
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/244 : comprising multiple dialysis steps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/30 : Accessories; Auxiliary operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 : Involving pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87893 : With fluid actuator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A hemodialysis system includes (i) blood tubing; (ii) a peristaltic blood pump contacting the blood tubing to pump blood through the blood tubing; (iii) a dialyzer in fluid communication with the blood tubing; (iv) first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps; (v) a dialysate heater; (vi) a plurality of pinch valves; and (vii) a cassette including a rigid structure, a heating portion, first and second dialysate pumping tubes, and a plurality of incoming tubes, the rigid structure when the cassette is mounted for operation orienting (a) the heating portion adjacent to the dialysate heater so that dialysate can be heated by the dialysate heater, (b) the first and second dialysate pumping tubes adjacent to the first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps, and (c) the plurality of incoming tubes adjacent to the plurality of pinch valves to enable the tubes to be individually closed by the pinch valves.

Claims

1. A hemodialysis system comprising:

blood tubing;

a peristaltic blood pump contacting the blood tubing to pump blood through the blood tubing;

a dialyzer in fluid communication with the blood tubing;

first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps;

a dialysate heater;

a plurality of pinch valves aligned in a row;

a strike plate; and

a cassette including a rigid structure, a heating portion, first and second dialysate pumping tubes, and a plurality of incoming tubes entering the rigid structure along a same side of the cassette and configured to align so as to match the row of pinch valves, the rigid structure when the cassette is mounted for operation orienting (i) the heating portion adjacent to the dialysate heater so that dialysate can be heated by the dialysate heater, (ii) the first and second dialysate pumping tubes adjacent to the first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps, and (iii) the plurality of incoming tubes adjacent to the plurality of pinch valves to enable the tubes to be individually closed by the pinch valves, and

wherein the strike plate is located across from the incoming tubes so that each of the pinch valves is positioned to pinch one of the tubes against the strike plate.

2. The hemodialysis system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of incoming tubes extend from the cassette, the plurality of pinch valves residing outside of the cassette when the cassette is mounted for operation.

3. The hemodialysis system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pinch valves are automatically retracted when a door of the system is opened to facilitate the loading of the cassette.

4. The hemodialysis system of claim 1, wherein the rigid structure carries the first and second dialysate pumping tubes.

5. The hemodialysis system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of incoming tubes are stacked vertically.

6. The hemodialysis system of claim 5, wherein the tubes extend horizontally entering the cassette.

7. The hemodialysis system of claim 6, wherein the strike plate is located on a hemodialysis machine.

8. The hemodialysis system of claim 1, wherein the pinch valves are located outside of the cassette.

9. The hemodialysis system of claim 1, wherein the pinch valves are automatically operated.

10. The hemodialysis system of claim 1, wherein the movement of at least two of the pinch valves is linked.

11. The hemodialysis system of claim 10, wherein the at least two pinch valves are cam driven by a common camshaft.

12. The hemodialysis system of claim 1, which includes at least one valve actuator, and wherein the cassette includes at least one valve actuation area located within the rigid structure, the at least one valve actuation area actuated by the at least one valve actuator.

13. The hemodialysis system of claim 1, which includes electrically actuated arterial and venous line clamps in addition to the plurality of pinch valves.

14. A hemodialysis system comprising:

first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps;

a dialysate heater;

a plurality of pinch valves arranged in a row;

a strike plate;

a cassette including a rigid structure, the rigid structure supporting a heating portion, first and second dialysate pumping tubes; and

a plurality of inlet tubes arranged in a row along a same side of the rigid structure and configured to align in a row so as to match the row of pinch valves, and wherein the rigid structure when the cassette is mounted for operation orients (i) the heating portion adjacent to the dialysate heater so that dialysate can be heated by the dialysate heater, (ii) the first and second dialysate pumping tubes adjacent to the first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps, (iii) the row of inlet tubes adjacent to the plurality of pinch valves to enable the inlet tubes to be individually closed by the pinch valves, and

wherein the strike plate is located across from the plurality of inlet tubes so that each of the pinch valves is positioned to pinch one of the tubes against the strike plate.

15. The hemodialysis system of claim 14, wherein the incoming tubes are each connected to a supply of dialysate.

16. The hemodialysis system of claim 14, wherein the strike plate is located on a hemodialysis machine.

17. The hemodialysis system of claim 14, wherein the rigid structure provides rigid connectors to which the first and second dialysate pumping tubes are connected.

18. The hemodialysis system of claim 14, wherein the rigid structure defines an opening to orient the heating portion adjacent to the dialysate heater so that dialysate can be heated by the dialysate heater.