Dialysis systems and methods

• US 9,821,107 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2015
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2010
• 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: Weaver, Colin, Crnkovich, Martin Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): BASS, DIRK R
• Application Number:
  US14/965,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20160114092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1601 Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3607 Regulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3624 Level detectors; Level control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3627 Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3639 Blood pressure control, pressure transducers specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3641 Pressure isolators
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0413 Blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/702 automatically during use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/707 Testing of filters for clogging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/296 : Acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0092 : Pressure sensor associated with other sensors, e.g. for measuring acceleration or temperature G01L9/025, G01L9/045, G01L9/065, G01L9/085, G01L9/105, G01L9/125, G01L19/02, G01L19/04 take precedence; measuring two or more variable G01D21/02; temperature sensors with pressure compensation G01K1/26

Abstract

This invention relates to dialysis systems and methods. In some implementations, a method includes applying vacuum pressure to a device of a dialysis system, and then determining, based on a detected fluid level or measured pressure, whether the device is functioning properly.

Claims

1. A dialysis system, comprising:

an air release device comprising a vent;

a level detector configured to detect a level of fluid within the air release device; and

a control unit connected to the level detector, wherein the control unit is programmed to

apply a vacuum pressure to the air release device, and then

determine whether the air release device is functioning properly based on the detected level of fluid within the air release device when the vacuum pressure is applied to the air release device.

3. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein:

the air release device comprises a housing defining a liquid chamber,

the vent is disposed at an end of the liquid chamber, and

the vacuum pressure is applied to the liquid chamber of the air release device.

4. The dialysis system of claim 3, wherein the control unit is programmed to determine that the vent of the air release device is functioning properly based on determining that air is being drawn into the liquid chamber through the vent.

5. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the level detector comprises a transmitter configured to emit ultrasonic signals and a receiver adapted to receive ultrasonic signals.

6. The dialysis system of claim 1, further comprising:

first and second fluid lines connected to the air release device, and

a pump configured to circulate fluid from the first fluid line to the air release device to the second fluid line during dialysis treatment.

7. The dialysis system of claim 6, wherein the control unit is configured to close off the second fluid line and operate the pump in a manner to circulate fluid from the second fluid line to the air release device to the first fluid line to apply the vacuum pressure to the air release device.

8. The dialysis system of claim 6, wherein the pump is a drug pump configured to introduce fluid into the first fluid line when operated in a first direction and is configured to draw fluid out of the first fluid line when operated in a second direction.

9. The dialysis system of claim 8, wherein the control unit is programmed to operate the pump in the second direction to apply the vacuum pressure to the air release device.

10. The dialysis system of claim 1, further comprising:

a dialyzer fluidly connected to the air release device,

a first fluid line connecting a first pump to the dialyzer, and

a second fluid line connecting a second pump to the dialyzer,

wherein the first pump is configured to circulate a first fluid from the first fluid line through the dialyzer during dialysis treatment, and

wherein the second pump is configured to circulate a second fluid from the dialyzer through the second fluid line during the dialysis treatment.

11. The dialysis system of claim 10, wherein the control unit is programmed to stop the first pump to close off the first fluid line and operate the second pump in a manner to circulate fluid from the second fluid line to the dialyzer to apply the vacuum pressure to the air release device.

21. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is programmed to

apply vacuum pressure to a chamber of the air release device,

after applying the vacuum pressure to the air release device, detect the level of fluid within the chamber of the air release device using the level detector, and

determine, based on the detected level of fluid in the chamber of the air release device, whether air is being drawn into the chamber through the vent.

2. A dialysis system, comprising:

an air release device comprising a vent;

a fluid line fluidly connected to the air release device;

a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure of fluid within the fluid line; and

a control unit connected to the pressure sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to

apply a vacuum pressure to the air release device, and then

determine whether the air release device is functioning properly based on the measured pressure of fluid within the fluid line when the vacuum pressure is applied to the air release device.

12. The dialysis system of claim 2, wherein:

the air release device comprises a housing defining a liquid chamber, and

the vent is disposed at an end of the liquid chamber.

13. The dialysis system of claim 12, wherein the control unit is programmed to determine that the vent of the air release device is functioning properly based on determining that air is being drawn into the liquid chamber through the vent.

14. The dialysis system of claim 2, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a pressure transducer.

15. The dialysis system of claim 2, wherein the fluid line is a first fluid line connected to the air release device, and the dialysis system further comprises:

a second fluid line connected to the air release device, and

a pump configured to circulate fluid from the first fluid line to the air release device to the second fluid line during dialysis treatment.

16. The dialysis system of claim 15, wherein the control unit is programmed to close off the second fluid line and operate the pump in a manner to circulate fluid from the second fluid line to the air release device to the first fluid line to apply the vacuum pressure to the air release device.

17. The dialysis system of claim 15, wherein the pump is a drug pump configured to introduce fluid into the first fluid line when operated in a first direction and is configured to draw fluid out of the first fluid line when operated in a second direction.

18. The dialysis system of claim 17, wherein the control unit is programmed to operate the pump in the second direction to apply the vacuum pressure to the air release device.

19. The dialysis system of claim 2, further comprising:

a dialyzer fluidly connected to the air release device,

a first fluid line connecting a first pump to the dialyzer, and

a second fluid line connecting a second pump to the dialyzer,

wherein the first pump is configured to circulate a first fluid from the first fluid line through the dialyzer during dialysis treatment, and

wherein the second pump is configured to circulate a second fluid from the dialyzer through the second fluid line during the dialysis treatment.

20. The dialysis system of claim 19, wherein the control unit is programmed to stop the first pump to close off the first fluid line and operate the second pump in a manner to circulate fluid from the second fluid line to the dialyzer to apply the vacuum pressure to the air release device.

22. The dialysis system of claim 2, wherein the control unit is programmed to

apply vacuum pressure to a chamber of the air release device,

after applying the vacuum pressure to the air release device, measure the pressure within the fluid line using the pressure sensor, and

determine, based on the measured pressure in the fluid line, whether air is being drawn into the chamber through the vent.