Modular reservoir assembly for a hemodialysis and hemofiltration system

• US 10,670,577 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2017
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• 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 Neil, Smith, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Keyworth, Peter
• Application Number:
  US15/666,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20180017542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• 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 surface, and a top surface, wherein said four sides, base surface, and top surface define an internal space;

a container adapted to contain dialysate;

a scale comprising a plurality of flex points physically attached to the housing and a surface located within the internal space for supporting the container; and

a conductivity sensor located within the internal space and configured to generate a value indicative of a sodium concentration in the dialysate while the dialysate is in the container, wherein the conductivity sensor comprises a coil in a circuit and an energy source in electrical communication with the circuit.

2. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein the circuit comprises a capacitor and wherein the energy source maintains a substantially constant voltage across the capacitor.

3. The reservoir module of claim 2 wherein the conductivity sensor outputs the value indicative of the sodium concentration in the dialysate based on an energy input required from the 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 4 wherein the coil generates a magnetic field.

6. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein the surface is a flat pan.

7. The reservoir module of claim 6 wherein a heater is in thermal contact with the pan.

8. The reservoir module of claim 7 wherein the heater is integrated into the pan.

9. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein the container is a disposable bag.

10. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein the reservoir housing further comprises a gutter.

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

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

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

a housing having four sides, a base surface, and a top surface, wherein the four sides, base surface, and top surface define an internal space and wherein the housing comprises a wetness sensor;

a container positioned within the internal space and adapted to contain a liquid;

a scale comprising a plurality of flex points physically attached to the housing and a surface located within the internal space for supporting the container; and

a conductivity sensor located within the internal space and configured to generate a value indicative of an ion concentration in the liquid while the liquid is in the container, wherein the conductivity sensor comprises a coil in a circuit and an energy source in electrical communication with the circuit.

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

15. The module of claim 13 wherein the coil has a radius between 2 and 6 inches.

16. The module of claim 13 wherein the energy source is adapted to maintain a substantially constant voltage across the capacitor in the circuit.

17. The module of claim 13 wherein the conductivity sensor further comprises an oscillator.