Modular reservoir assembly for a hemodialysis and hemofiltration system

• US 9,199,022 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• 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: Fulkerson, Barry N., Smith, Mark F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Soohoo, Tony G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Keyworth, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/751,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20100252490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 604/29
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• 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 1/1656 Apparatus for preparing dialysates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/166 Heating for sterilisation A61M1/1686
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1664 with temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1666 by dissolving solids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1668 Details of containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/167 Flexible packaging for solid concentrates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/34 Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3403 Regulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3393 by weighing the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/36 related to heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/084 Supporting bases, stands for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/221 by investigating the dielectric properties using microwaves G01N22/00; measuring loss factors or dielectric constants per se G01R27/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/228 Circuits therefor measuring capacitance per se G01R27/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48707 by electrical means G01N33/49, G01N33/493 take precedence

Abstract

The present specification discloses a dialysis system having a reservoir module with a reservoir housing defining an internal space, a surface located within the internal space for supporting a container that contains dialysate, and a conductivity sensor located within the internal space, where the conductivity sensor has a coil, a capacitor in electrical communication with the coil, and an energy source in electrical communication with the circuit.

Claims

1. A reservoir module for use in a portable dialysis system comprising:

a reservoir housing having four sides, a base, and a top, wherein said four sides, base surface, and top surface define an internal space;

a reservoir pan located within said internal space for supporting a volume of dialysate, wherein said reservoir pan is further configured as a scale to measure a weight of the volume of dialysate; and

a conductivity sensor in built into a bottom surface of said reservoir pan and positioned below said volume of dialysate, wherein said conductivity sensor comprises a flat coil having a plurality of turns, a capacitor in electrical communication with said flat coil, said flat coil and capacitor defining a circuit, and an energy source in electrical communication with said circuit, wherein said flat coil generates a magnetic field and wherein said circuit is adapted to detect changes in said magnetic field.

2. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein the energy source is configured to maintain a substantially constant voltage across said capacitor.

3. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein said conductivity sensor is configured to outputs a value indicative of a sodium concentration in said dialysate based on an energy input required from said energy source to maintain the constant voltage across the capacitor.

4. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein the coil has a radius between 2 and 6 inches.

5. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein a heater is in thermal contact with said reservoir pan.

6. The reservoir module of claim 5 wherein the heater is integrated into said reservoir pan.

7. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein said scale comprises a plurality of flex points physically attached to said top.

8. The reservoir module of claim 1 further comprising a container wherein the container is a disposable bag.

9. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein said reservoir housing further comprises a gutter.

10. The reservoir module of claim 9 wherein the gutter is in fluid communication with a wetness sensor.

11. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein a door providing internal access to said reservoir housing is integrated into one of said four sides.

12. A module for use in an extracorporeal system comprising:

a housing having four sides, a base, and a top, wherein said four sides, base surface, and top surface define an internal space;

a container positioned within said internal space and adapted to contain a liquid, wherein said container comprises a bottom surface and is configured to weigh said liquid; and

a conductivity sensor located in a bottom surface of said container, wherein said conductivity sensor comprises a flat coil having a plurality of turns, a capacitor in electrical communication with said flat coil, said flat coil and capacitor defining a circuit, and an energy source in electrical communication with said circuit, wherein said flat coil generates a magnetic field, wherein said flat coil is positioned below said liquid such that at least a portion of the liquid lies within said magnetic field, and wherein said circuit is adapted to detect changes in said magnetic field.

13. The module of claim 12 wherein said conductivity sensor is configured to output a value indicative of an ion concentration in said liquid based on an energy input required from said energy source to maintain a constant voltage across the capacitor.

14. The module of claim 13 wherein said ion is a sodium ion.

15. The module of claim 12 wherein the flat coil has a radius between 2 and 6 inches.

16. The module of claim 12 wherein the energy source is adapted to maintain a substantially constant voltage across said capacitor.

17. The module of claim 12 wherein the conductivity sensor further comprises an oscillator.

18. The module of claim 12 wherein the conductivity sensor further comprises automatic gain control.