Dialysis machine support assemblies and related systems and methods

• US 9,186,449 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Singh, Gurpreet, Farrell, Sean, Young, Michael David
• Primary Examiner(s): Bosques, Edelmira
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swanson, Leah
• Application Number:
  US13/286,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20130106609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 604 27- 29, 108/20, 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/160, 108/106, 187203-221, 248/637, 248/676, 248/679, 5 1/1, 560/0, 561/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1522 the interface being evacuated interfaces to enhance contact
• 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 1/154 with sensing means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/155 with treatment-fluid pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1561 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 1/1565 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/159 specially adapted for peritoneal dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/28 Peritoneal dialysis ; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/288 Priming priming in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3643
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/10 with powered movement mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/121 interface between cassette and base
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/084 Supporting bases, stands for equipment

Abstract

This application relates to a dialysis machine support assembly that includes a platform configured to support a dialysis machine and a drive assembly configured to move the platform vertically. A control unit can monitor input data from a sensor of the dialysis machine when the dialysis machine is supported by the platform and can operate the drive assembly to adjust a vertical position of the platform based on the input data.

Claims

1. A dialysis machine support assembly comprising:

a platform configured to support a dialysis machine;

a drive assembly configured to move the platform vertically; and

a control unit configured to

monitor input data from a sensor that is disposed along a fluid path between a dialysis fluid pump chamber of the dialysis machine and a patient during treatment, when the dialysis machine is supported by the platform, and

operate the drive assembly to adjust a vertical position of the platform based on the input data.

2. The dialysis machine support assembly of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly can move the platform along a vertical distance that is 24-48 inches.

3. The dialysis machine support assembly of claim 1, further comprising a device configured to prevent the platform from rotating about the drive assembly when the platform moves vertically.

4. The dialysis machine support assembly of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly comprises:

a leadscrew fixed to a base;

a leadscrew nut that is rotatably coupled to the platform and configured to engage the leadscrew; and

a motor that is mechanically connected to the leadscrew nut and configured to rotate the leadscrew nut.

5. The dialysis machine support assembly of claim 4, wherein the motor is an electric motor configured to be electrically connected to the control unit.

6. The dialysis machine support assembly of claim 4, wherein:

the leadscrew has a recess formed longitudinally along the leadscrew; and

the platform has a tab that is sized to fit within the recess and travel along the recess when the platform moves vertically.

7. The dialysis machine support assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

multiple legs; and

a stationary platform disposed on top of the multiple legs.

8. The dialysis machine support assembly of claim 7, further comprising a base from which the multiple legs extend upwardly.

9. The dialysis machine support assembly of claim 8, further comprising multiple wheels secured to a bottom of the base to support the dialysis machine support assembly.

10. The dialysis machine support assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor, and the input data is pressure data.

11. The dialysis machine support assembly of claim 10, wherein the control unit adjusts the vertical position of the platform when the pressure data exceeds a maximum pressure or falls below a minimum pressure.

12. The dialysis machine support assembly of claim 11, further comprising;

a base from which the drive assembly upwardly extends; and

a stationary platform located above the base and fixed relative to the base,

wherein the drive assembly is configured to adjust the vertical position of the platform to a first height that is above the stationary platform and to a second height that is below the stationary platform, and the platform is configured to move through a recess defined by the stationary platform.

13. A dialysis system comprising:

a dialysis machine; and

a dialysis machine support assembly comprising;

a platform configured to support the dialysis machine; and

a drive assembly configured to move the platform vertically,

wherein the dialysis machine is disposed on the platform,

wherein the dialysis machine or the dialysis machine support assembly comprises a control unit configured to

monitor input data from a sensor of the dialysis machine, and

operate the drive assembly to adjust a vertical position of the platform based on the input data.

14. The dialysis system of claim 13, wherein the dialysis machine is a peritoneal dialysis cycler.

15. The dialysis system of claim 13, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor, and the input data is pressure data.

16. The dialysis system of claim 15, wherein the control unit adjusts the vertical position of the platform when the pressure data exceeds a maximum pressure or falls below a minimum pressure.

17. The dialysis system of claim 16, further comprising:

a base from which the drive assembly upwardly extends; and

a stationary platform located above the base and fixed relative to the base,

wherein the drive assembly is configured to adjust the vertical position of the platform to a first height that is above the stationary platform and to a second height that is below the stationary platform, and the platform is configured to move through a recess defined by the stationary platform.

18. The dialysis system of claim 13, wherein the sensor is disposed along a fluid path between a dialysis fluid pump chamber of the dialysis machine and a patient.

19. The dialysis system of claim 13, wherein the control unit comprises a microprocessor of the dialysis machine.

20. A dialysis machine support assembly, comprising:

a base;

multiple wheels disposed along a bottom surface of the base;

a drive assembly extending upward from the base;

a vertically moveable platform secured to a moving portion of the drive assembly, the vertically moveable platform being configured to support a dialysis machine, and a vertical position of the vertically moveable platform being controlled by the drive assembly;

multiple legs extending upward from the base;

a stationary platform disposed on top of the multiple legs, the stationary platform defining a recess that is sized to receive the vertically moveable platform;

multiple hooks extending from sides of the stationary platform, the hooks being configured to support dialysate bags fluidly connected to the dialysis machine during a dialysis treatment; and

a control unit configured to

monitor input data from a sensor that is disposed along a fluid path between a dialysis fluid pump chamber of the dialysis machine and a patient during treatment, when the machine is supported by the vertically moveable platform, and

operate the drive assembly to adjust the vertical position of the vertically moveable platform based on the input data,

wherein, the drive assembly is configured to move the vertically moveable platform above and below a height at which the patient is positioned during the dialysis treatment.

21. The dialysis machine support assembly of claim 20, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor, and the input data is pressure data.

22. The dialysis machine support assembly of claim 21, wherein the control unit adjusts the vertical position of the vertically moveable platform when the pressure data exceeds a maximum pressure or falls below a minimum pressure.

23. The dialysis machine support assembly of claim 22, wherein the stationary platform is located above the base and fixed relative to the base, the drive assembly is configured to adjust the vertical position of the vertically moveable platform to a first height that is above the stationary platform and to a second height that is below the stationary platform, and the vertically movable platform is configured to move through the recess defined by the stationary platform.