DEGASSING SYSTEM FOR DIALYSIS

• US 20180243494A1
• Filed: 01/31/2018
• Published: 08/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mozarc Medical US LLC
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Meyer, Thomas E., Schmidt, Samuel J., Hajko, William P., Gomes, II, Carl Wilbert
• Granted Patent: US 10,874,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1658 Degasification
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1696 with dialysate regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3386 Low level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0036 Flash degasification the other groups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0047 Atomizing, spraying, trickling
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0063 Regulation, control including valves and floats for construction and details of valves F16K
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0068 General arrangements, e.g. flowsheets B01D19/0063 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a degassing vessel and related systems and methods that can remove certain gases such as carbon dioxide from a dialysis system with minimal foaming inside the degassing vessel. The invention further relates to mechanical systems and methods for degassing a dialysate or any fluid used for, during or resulting from dialysis.

Claims

1. A degassing vessel for use in dialysis;

comprising;

a fluid inlet in the degassing vessel fluidly connectable to a dialysate flow path;

a liquid outlet in the degassing vessel fluidly connectable to the dialysate flow path;

a gas outlet fluidly connectable to a vacuum pump; and

a degas sprayer fluidly connected to the fluid inlet.

2. The degassing vessel of claim 1, the degas sprayer directing liquid downwardly into the degassing vessel.

3. The degassing vessel of claim 1, wherein the degassing vessel comprises a spray chamber and a float chamber;

the spray chamber fluidly connected to the float chamber;

wherein the degas sprayer is positioned above the spray chamber.

4. The degassing vessel of claim 3, the spray chamber having a substantially conical shape.

5. The degassing vessel of claim 3, the liquid outlet positioned in a bottom portion of the spray chamber.

6. The degassing vessel of claim 3, the gas outlet positioned between the spray chamber and the float chamber.

7. The degassing vessel of claim 3, further comprising a level sensor in the float chamber.

8. The degassing vessel of claim 7, wherein the level sensor comprises one or more of:

a float with a magnet and a linear array of Hall effect sensors, an ultrasonic sensor, and a capacitive sensor.

9. The degassing vessel of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor in the liquid outlet.

10. The degassing vessel of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor in the gas outlet.

11. The degassing vessel of claim 1, further comprising a valve positioned between the gas outlet and the vacuum pump.

12. The degassing vessel of claim 1, further comprising a vent valve positioned between a vent and the gas outlet.

13. A system comprising:

a dialysate flow path comprising a degassing flow loop;

the degassing flow loop comprising a degassing vessel having a fluid inlet fluidly connected to a degas sprayer at a top portion of the degassing vessel, a liquid outlet at a bottom portion of the degassing vessel, and a gas outlet at a top portion of the degassing vessel;

a vacuum pump fluidly connected to the gas outlet;

a first fluid line fluidly connecting the liquid outlet to a second fluid line fluidly connected to the fluid inlet, the first fluid line comprising a fluid pump;

a third fluid line fluidly connecting the second fluid line to the dialysate flow path; and

a controller controlling the vacuum pump and the fluid pump.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the degassing flow loop is parallel to the dialysate flow path;

and wherein a flow rate of the degassing flow loop is controlled independently of a flow rate of the dialysate flow path.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a first pressure sensor in the degassing flow loop upstream of the fluid inlet and a second pressure sensor in the degassing flow loop in the gas outlet.

16. The system of claim 15, the controller controlling a first valve positioned between the vacuum pump and the gas outlet and/or a vent valve positioned between a vent and the gas outlet based on an absolute pressure in a headspace of the degassing vessel.

17. The system of claim 16, the controller controlling the first valve and/or the vent valve to maintain a carbon dioxide level in the third fluid line of between 40 mmHg and 150 mmHg pCO2.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising at least one valve positioned in the third fluid line between the gas outlet and a vent.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising an ambient pressure sensor.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the degassing vessel comprises a level sensor in communication with the controller;

the level sensor comprising one or more of;

a float with a magnet and a linear array of Hall effect sensors, an ultrasonic sensor, and a capacitive sensor.