Dialysate regeneration system for portable human dialysis

• US 20050150832A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemical Technologies, Inc. (Newpark Resources Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Chemical Technologies, Inc. (Newpark Resources Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tsukamoto, Takuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,435,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/638
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1696 with dialysate regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/06 Specific process operations in the permeate stream
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/2623 Ion-Exchange
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/2626 Absorption or adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/2649 Filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/243 Dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/244 comprising multiple dialysis steps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/30 Accessories; Auxiliary operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture

Abstract

A dialysate regeneration chamber is provided. In one embodiment, the dialysate regeneration chamber may include a toxin trap configured to selectively trap toxins and repel select cations.

Claims

1. A dialysate regeneration chamber comprising:

a toxin trap configured to selectively trap toxins and repel select cations.

2. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 1, further comprising a semi-permeable membrane.

3. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 1, wherein the toxin trap includes an ion-selective barrier.

4. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 3, wherein the ion-selective barrier includes a physical barrier.

5. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 3, wherein the ion-selective barrier is a hydrocarbon barrier.

6. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 5, wherein the ion-selective barrier includes a plurality of hydrocarbon chains.

7. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 3, wherein the ion-selective barrier is hydrophobic.

8. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 1, wherein the toxin trap includes an activated carbon fiber.

9. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 8, wherein the activated carbon fiber is an ion-selective activated carbon fiber.

10. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 8, wherein the activated carbon fiber is an ion-selective urease-immobilized activated carbon fiber.

11. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 8, wherein the toxin trap includes a charged microporous region.

12. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 1, wherein the toxin trap includes at least one enzyme configured to hydrolyze urea.

13. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 12, wherein the toxin trap includes an immobilized urease.

14. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 1, wherein the toxin trap is configured to substantially eliminate urea from a dialysate.

15. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 1, wherein the toxin trap is configured to substantially eliminate uric acid from a dialysate.

16. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 1, wherein the toxin trap is configured to substantially eliminate creatinine from a dialysate.

17. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 1, wherein the select cations include one of Ca^2+,Mg²⁺, K⁺, or Na⁺.

18. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 1, wherein the select cations are essential cations.

19. A dialysis system comprising the dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 1.

20. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 1 for use in a hemodiaylsis system.

21. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 1 for use in a peritoneal dialysis system.

22. A dialysate regeneration chamber configured to generate refreshed dialysate from toxin-laden dialysate, the dialysate regeneration chamber comprising:

a dialysate regeneration fabric configured to selectively effect substantial uptake of toxins from the toxin-laden dialysate to form a refreshed dialysate, the dialysate regeneration fabric further configured to minimize uptake of non-toxins; and

an outflow for release of the refreshed dialysate.

23. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 22, further comprising an inflow configured to receive the toxin-laden dialysate.

24. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 22, further comprising an elimination port configured to permit toxins to exit the dialysis regeneration chamber.

25. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 22, wherein the dialysate regeneration fabric comprises ion-selective activated fibers.

26. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 25, wherein the dialysate regeneration fabric comprises ion-selective urease-immobilized fibers.

27. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 22, wherein the dialysate regeneration fabric comprises ion-selective urease-immobilized fibers synthesized by oxidizing a fiber, attaching at least one lipid chain, and covalently attaching at least one or more enzymes.

28. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 22, wherein the dialysate regeneration fabric comprises:

Ion-selective urease-immobilized activated fibers comprising;

a fiber with a pore configured to retain charged ions;

a hydrophobic ion-selective barrier substantially comprised of lipid chains attached to the fiber and configured to extend substantially away from the pore of the fiber; and

a urease disposed substantially within the ion-selective barrier.

29. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 28, wherein the charged ions include ammonium ions.

30. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 22, wherein the dialysate regeneration fabric is further configured to minimize the uptake of essential cations.

31. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 30, wherein the essential cations include Ca^2+,Mg²⁺, K⁺, or Na⁺.

32. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 22 configured to be used in a dialysis system, and further configured to regenerate a volume of refreshed dialysate by effecting substantial uptake of toxins from a volume of spent dialysate.

33. A method of generating a toxin trap, the method comprising:

oxidizing a fiber; and

attaching a fatty acid to generate an ion-selective barrier, wherein the fatty acid extends away from the activated carbon fiber.

34. The method of claim 33 further providing an ion exchange resin coupled to the activated carbon fiber.

35. A regeneration cartridge made in accordance with the method of claim 33.

36. The method of claim 33, further providing immobilizing a urease on the activated carbon fiber.

37. A system capable of removing wastes from blood, the system comprising:

a dialysis chamber comprising a dialysate compartment, a blood compartment, and a semi-permeable membrane disposed substantially between the dialysate compartment and the blood compartment; and

a dialysate regeneration chamber further comprising a dialysate regeneration fabric.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the dialysate regeneration chamber is configured to refresh spent dialysate from the dialysis chamber.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the dialysate regeneration chamber comprises ion-selective urease-immobilized activated fibers.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the system is portable.

41. The system of claim 37, further comprising a dialysate reservoir.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the dialysate may be recirculated in a closed loop including the dialysate compartment and the dialysate regeneration chamber.

43. The system of claim 39 wherein the ion-selective urease-immobilized activated fibers may be configured to trap uremic toxins.

44. The system of claim 38 for use for hemodialysis treatment.

45. The system of claim 37 for use for peritoneal dialysis treatment.