Fluid line autoconnect apparatus and methods for medical treatment system

• US 9,987,410 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2015
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Helmore, Simon C., McGill, David W., Hibbard, David J., Dale, James D., Finch, Matthew J., Bodwell, Jesse T., Demers, Jason A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bosworth, Kami A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Shefali
• Application Number:
  US14/703,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20150231320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• 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 1/1522 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 1/153 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 1/1565 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/159 specially adapted for peritoneal dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1601 Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1623 Disposition or location of membranes relative to fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1629 with integral heat exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1631 having non-tubular membranes, e.g. sheets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/166 Heating for sterilisation A61M1/1686
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1694 with recirculating dialysing liquid
• 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 1/282 Operational modes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/288 Priming priming in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3643
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1066 having protection means, e.g. sliding sleeve to protect connector itself, shrouds to protect a needle present in the connector, protective housing, isolating sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 : with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/121 : interface between cassette and base
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/122 : using evacuated interfaces to enhance contact
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 : with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/127 : with provisions for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 : with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 : with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• 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 2205/3306 : 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 2205/3379 : Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/36 : related to heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 : User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6036 : characterised by physical shape, e.g. array of activating switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/08 : Supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 : Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/105 : Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 : Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/28 : Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps tube strippers A61M1/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/281 : Automatic tube cut-off devices, e.g. squeezing tube on detection of air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16809 : by repeated filling and emptying of an intermediate volume pressure infusion using positive displacement pumps A61M5/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 : by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 : controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/0054 : particularities of the flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/02 : having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms F04B43/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/073 : the actuating fluid being controlled by at least one valve
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/08 : having tubular flexible members F04B43/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/086 : with two or more tubular flexible members in parallel F04B43/1136 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/22 : Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A medical infusion fluid handling system, such as an automated peritoneal dialysis system, may be arranged to de-cap and connect one or more lines (such as solution lines) with one or more spikes or other connection ports on a fluid handling cassette. This feature may reduce a likelihood of contamination since no human interaction is required to de-cap and connect the one or more lines and the one or more spikes. For example, the automated peritoneal dialysis system may include a carriage arranged to receive the one or more lines each having a connector end and a cap. The carriage may move along a first direction so as to move the connector ends of the one or more lines along the first direction, and a cap stripper may be arranged to engage with the caps on the one or more lines on the carriage. The cap stripper may move in a second direction transverse to the first direction, as well as to move with the carriage along the first direction.

Claims

1. A medical infusion fluid handling system, comprising:

a carriage arranged to receive a plurality of solution lines each having a connector end and a cap, the carriage being arranged to move along a first linear path so as to move the connector ends of the solution lines along the first linear path; and

a cap stripper arranged to engage with the caps on the solution lines on the carriage, the cap stripper being arranged to move in a second linear path transverse to the first linear path and to move with the carriage along the first linear path;

a housing and a door that is movably mounted to the housing;

wherein the carriage is mounted to the door, and is mounted to move along rails extending along a length of the door.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a carriage drive mounted to the housing, wherein the carriage drive engages the carriage when the door is moved to a closed position, and disengages from the carriage when the door is moved to an open position.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the cap stripper is mounted to the housing and is engageable with the carriage drive to move in the first linear path with the carriage drive.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the cap stripper includes a plurality of fork-shaped elements arranged to engage with a corresponding cap on a solution line carried by the carriage.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the fork-shaped elements is arranged to resist movement of the corresponding cap along the first linear path when engaged with the corresponding cap.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the carriage is arranged to move the solution lines and the caps along the first linear path such that the caps receive a corresponding spike cap on a fluid handling cassette mounted on the door.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the cap stripper is arranged to move in the second linear path to engage the fork-shaped elements with corresponding caps after each said cap has received the corresponding spike cap.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the cap stripper is arranged to move with the carriage along the first linear path away from the cassette with the fork-shaped elements engaged with the corresponding caps so as to remove spike caps from the fluid handling cassette.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the cap stripper is arranged to stop movement along the first linear path while the carriage continues to move away from the fluid handling cassette so as to remove the caps from the solution lines carried by the carriage.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the cap stripper is arranged to move in the second linear path to clear a path for the carriage and allow the carriage to move along the first linear path toward the fluid handling cassette to engage the connector ends of the solution lines with spikes exposed on the fluid handling cassette as a result of removal of the spike caps from the fluid handling cassette.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the cap stripper includes a stripper element mounted to a cap stripper housing, and the stripper element is moveable along the second linear path relative to the cap stripper housing.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the cap stripper includes a pneumatic bladder arranged to move the stripper element along the second linear path relative to the cap stripper housing.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the carriage drive includes a drive element and a pneumatic bladder or a screw drive to move the drive element along the first linear path.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the drive element includes two tabs that engage with corresponding slots of the carriage.

15. A medical infusion fluid handling system, comprising:

a carriage arranged to receive a plurality of solution lines each having a connector end and a cap, the carriage being arranged to move each said solution line, each said connector end and each said cap of said plurality of solution lines along a first linear path so as to connect each said cap directly to a corresponding spike cap on a fluid handling cassette;

a cap stripper arranged to engage with the caps on the solution lines on the carriage, the cap stripper being arranged to move in a second linear path transverse to the first linear path and. to move with the carriage along the first linear path; and

a housing and a door that is movably mounted to the housing,

wherein the carriage is mounted to the door and is mounted to move along rails extending along a length of the door.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a carriage drive mounted to the housing, wherein the carriage drive engages the carriage when the door is moved to a closed position, and disengages from the carriage when the door is moved to an open position.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the cap stripper is mounted to the housing and is engageable with the carriage drive to move in the first linear path with the carriage drive.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the cap stripper includes a plurality of fork-shaped elements arranged to engage with a corresponding cap on a solution line carried by the carriage.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein each of the fork-shaped elements is arranged to resist movement of the corresponding cap along the first linear path when engaged with the corresponding cap.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the carriage is arranged to move the solution lines and the caps along the first linear path such that the caps receive the corresponding spike cap on the fluid handling cassette mounted on the door.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the cap stripper is arranged to move in the second linear path to engage the fork-shaped elements with corresponding caps after each said cap has received the corresponding spike cap.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the cap stripper is arranged to move with the carriage along the first linear path away from the cassette with the fork-shaped elements engaged with the corresponding caps so as to remove spike caps from the cassette.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the cap stripper is arranged to stop movement along the first linear path while the carriage continues to move away from the cassette so as to remove the caps from the solution lines carried by the carriage.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the cap stripper is arranged to move in the second linear path to clear a path for the carriage and allow the carriage to move along the first linear path toward the cassette to engage the connector ends of the solution lines with spikes exposed on the cassette as a result of removal of the spike caps from the cassette.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the cap stripper includes a stripper element mounted to a cap stripper housing, and the stripper element is moveable along the second linear path relative to the cap stripper housing.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the cap stripper includes a pneumatic bladder arranged to move the stripper element along the second linear path relative to the cap stripper housing.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the carriage drive includes a drive element and a pneumatic bladder or a screw drive to move the drive element along the first linear path.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the drive element includes two tabs that engage with corresponding slots of the carriage.

29. The system of claim 15, wherein the cap stripper includes a plurality of rocker arms each associated with a fork-shaped element, each of the rocker arms being arranged to move to engage the corresponding spike cap.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein each of the rocker arms is arranged to engage with the corresponding spike cap only when an associated fork-shaped element engages with a cap on a solution line.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein each rocker arm is pivotally mounted to the cap stripper and includes a solution line cap engagement portion and a spike cap engagement portion, each rocker arm pivoting to engage the spike cap when the solution line cap engagement portion contacts the cap on the solution line.