Methods for providing kidney dialysis equipment and services

• US 7,351,340 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Hogard, Michael E., Kelly, Thomas D., Elsen, Raymond, Smejtek, Dalibor J., Connell, Mark E., Johnson, Harley D., Preston, William G. Jr., Bedient, Robert A., Peterson, Bruce A., Long, Jean McEvoy
• Primary Examiner(s): DRODGE, JOSEPH W
• Application Number:
  US10/461,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20030209475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 210/85, 210/87, 210/90, 210/96.2, 210/321.65, 210/321.72, 210/321.69, 210/636, 210/739, 210/745, 210/929, 210/96.1, 210/103, 210/134, 210/137, 210/138, 210/143, 210/257.2, 210/259, 210/321.6, 210645-647, 210/650, 210/767, 604/4.01, 604/5.01, 604/6.01, 604/6.09, 604 65- 67, 345/173, 345/156, 700/273, 700/83, 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 210/645
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1607 before use, i.e. upstream of dialyser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1613 Profiling or modelling of patient or predicted treatment evolution or outcome
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/165 with a dialyser bypass on the dialysis fluid line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1656 Apparatus for preparing dialysates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1664 with temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1666 by dissolving solids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/168 Sterilisation or cleaning before or after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1684 Checking the module characteristics before reuse
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1686 by heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1688 with recirculation of the sterilising fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/169 using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1692 Detection of blood traces in dialysate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1694 with recirculating dialysing liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/341 by measuring the filtrate rate or volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3626 Gas bubble detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1005 Detection of disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3313 used specific wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3324 PH measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 : Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 : Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• 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: Y10S 210/929 : Hemoultrafiltrate volume measurement or control processes

Abstract

A number of improvements relating to methods and apparatuses for kidney dialysis are disclosed. These include a method providing an apparatus for dialyzing to a consumer, with the apparatus including a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery system for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a dialyzer, and a user/machine interface having a touch screen to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the apparatus for use in dialysis and to enable a user though touching the indicium to effect a change in the parameter. The method also includes providing supplies that are useable with the apparatus to the consumer.

Claims

1. A method for the use of a dialysis apparatus comprising:

providing a dialysis apparatus for use in dialysis to a consumer, the dialysis apparatus comprising a dialysate-delivery system for supplying dialysate to a dialyzer, the dialysate-delivery system comprising at least one unit selected from the group consisting of (i) a dialysate-preparation unit, (ii) a dialysate-circulation unit, (iii) an ultrafiltrate-removal unit, and (iv) a dialysate-monitoring unit; and

a user/machine interface operably connected to the dialysate-delivery system, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen that displays information corresponding to a setting of a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis apparatus, the touch screen being operable to display an indicium permitting the user to perform, using the touch screen, at least one step of a procedure for changing the setting of the parameter, and to display a time-variable profile of the operational parameter, the profile being representable as a plot of coordinates, the plot being with respect to an ordinate of values of the operational parameter and a time-based abscissa;

distinguishing past from future time intervals of the operational parameter during treatment by coloring the past and future time intervals within the plot of the time-variable profile differently; and

providing supplies that are useable with the dialysis apparatus to the consumer, the supplies including at least one of a dialyzer, a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port, a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline, a dialysate filter, dialysate concentrate, a drip chamber, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and a disinfectant.