Dialysis systems and related methods

• US 8,366,921 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2012
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Beden, Josef, Braun, Juergen, Schneider, Hans-Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): CECIL, TERRY K
• Application Number:
  US13/401,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20120181231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 210/97, 210/321.6, 210/321.71, 604/6.1, 604/6.11
• US Class Current: 210/97
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/152 Details related to the interface between cassette and machine
• 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 1/15632 the filter being a dialyser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1601 Control or regulation
• 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 1/3401 Cassettes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3496 Plasmapheresis; Leucopheresis; Lymphopheresis A61M1/3472 takes precedence
• 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 1/36224 with sensing means or components thereof
• 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 1/362264 the filter being a blood filter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362265 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/367 Circuit parts not covered by the preceding subgroups of group A61M1/3621
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0413 Blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/122 using evacuated interfaces to enhance contact
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/126 with incorporated membrane filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 : with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/113 : in other functional devices, e.g. dialysers or heart-lung machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/268 : the displacement member being flexible, e.g. membranes, diaphragms or bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/37 : Haemodialysis, haemofiltration or diafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/427 : the force acting on the blood contacting member being hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/43 : using vacuum at the blood pump, e.g. to accelerate filling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/847 : arranged in a cassette

Abstract

A dialysis machine that includes a valve body defining a pressure passage and a sealing cap disposed at a first end of the valve body such that the sealing cap closes off the pressure passage at the first end of the valve body. The sealing cap has a deformable area configured to deform outwardly away from the valve body when pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body. The sealing cap is configured so that, when a dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in a cassette compartment of the dialysis machine and pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body, the deformable area obstructs a fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette to control dialysis fluid flow therethrough.

Claims

1. A dialysis system, comprising:

a dialysis fluid cassette comprising a base and a flexible membrane attached to the base, the base and the flexible membrane forming a fluid channel therebetween;

a dialysis machine having a cassette compartment configured to receive the dialysis fluid cassette therein such that the membrane of the dialysis fluid cassette is positioned adjacent a machine block of the dialysis machine when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine;

a valve at least partially disposed in a recess defined by the machine block, the valve being substantially aligned with a portion of the fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine, the valve comprising

a valve body defining a pressure passage; and

a sealing cap disposed at a first end of the valve body such that the sealing cap closes off the pressure passage at the first end of the valve body, the sealing cap having a deformable area configured to deform outwardly away from the valve body when pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body,

wherein the flexible membrane and the deformable area of the sealing cap are configured to deform together so that the deformable area obstructs the fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette to control dialysis fluid flow therethrough when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine and pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body.

2. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the dialysis machine further comprises a pressurized air source fluidly connected to the pressure passage of the valve body such that pressurized air can be delivered from the pressurized air source to the pressure passage of the valve body.

3. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the dialysis machine further comprises a vacuum source fluidly connected to the pressure passage of the valve body such that vacuum pressure can be applied to the pressure passage of the valve body by the pressurized air source to move the deformable area of the sealing cap from an outwardly deformed position to an undeformed or an inwardly deformed position.

4. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the dialysis machine further comprises an inflatable pad capable of pressing the dialysis fluid cassette against the machine block.

5. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the dialysis machine comprises a door that, when closed, cooperates with the machine block to define the cassette compartment.

6. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein, when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment, the flexible membrane of the dialysis fluid cassette is substantially parallel to an adjacent face of the machine block.

7. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the sealing cap has a radially inwardly directed projection configured to prevent direct contact of the valve body with the deformable area of the sealing cap.

8. The dialysis system of claim 1, further comprising a fastening component coupled to a second end of the valve body opposite the first end, the fastening component configured to abut the machine block to secure the valve to the machine block.

9. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the dialysis fluid cassette is disposable.

10. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the sealing cap is detachable from the valve body.

11. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein dialysate flows through the fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette during operation of the dialysis system.

12. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the dialysis system is a hemodialysis system.

13. The dialysis system of claim 12, wherein blood flows through the fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette during operation of the hemodialysis system.

14. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the base is rigid.

15. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the base defines a recessed region and comprises raised rims extending outward from a planar surface of the base along edges of the recessed region, the raised rims configured to contact the flexible membrane when the flexible membrane is pressed against the base to form the fluid channel between the flexible membrane and the recessed region of the base.

16. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the base and the flexible membrane form a pump chamber therebetween, and the pump chamber is connected to the fluid channel such that operation of the valve can control fluid flow to or from the pump chamber.

17. A dialysis system, comprising:

a dialysis fluid cassette comprising a base and a flexible membrane attached to the base, the base and the flexible membrane forming a plurality of fluid channels;

a dialysis machine having a cassette compartment configured to receive the dialysis fluid cassette therein such that the membrane of the dialysis fluid cassette is positioned adjacent a machine block of the dialysis machine when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine;

a plurality of valves at least partially disposed in a recess defined by the machine block, each of the valves being substantially aligned with a portion of one of the fluid channels of the dialysis fluid cassette when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine, each of the valves comprising

a valve body defining a pressure passage; and

a sealing cap disposed at a first end of the valve body such that the sealing cap closes off the pressure passage at the first end of the valve body, the sealing cap having a deformable area configured to deform outwardly away from the valve body when pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body,

wherein the flexible membrane and the deformable area of the sealing cap of each valve are configured to deform together so that the deformable area obstructs the aligned portion of the fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine and pressurized fluid is introduced into the pressure passage of the valve body such that the plurality of valves can be operated to control fluid flow through the dialysis fluid cassette.

18. The dialysis system of claim 17, wherein the dialysis machine further comprises a pressurized air source fluidly connected to the pressure passage of the valve body of each valve such that pressurized air can be delivered from the pressurized air source to the pressure passage of the valve body each valve.

19. The dialysis system of claim 17, wherein the dialysis machine further comprises a vacuum source fluidly connected to the pressure passage of the valve body of each valve such that vacuum pressure can be applied to the pressure passage of the valve body of each valve by the vacuum source to move the deformable area of the sealing cap from an outwardly deformed position to an undeformed or an inwardly deformed position.

20. The dialysis system of claim 17, wherein a plurality of pump chambers are formed between the base and the flexible membrane of the dialysis fluid cassette, and the dialysis machine comprises a plurality of pumps, each of the pumps being aligned with one of the pump chambers, and each of the fluid channels being connected to one or more of the pump chambers such that the pumps can be operated to force dialysis fluid through the fluid channels of the dialysis fluid cassette.