Dialysate regeneration system for portable human dialysis

• US 7,435,342 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Menon; Krishnan S
• Application Number:
  US11/020,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20050150832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 210/195.2
• 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, wherein the toxin trap includes an ion-selective urease-immobilized activated carbon fiber.

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 includes a long chain hydrocarbon moiety.

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

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 a charged microporous region.

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

10. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 9, wherein the toxin trap includes an immobilized urease.

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

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

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

14. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 1, wherein the select cations include one of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, or Na⁺.

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

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

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

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

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

a dialysate regeneration fabric including ion-selective urease immobilized carbon fibers, the 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.

20. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 19, further comprising an inflow configured to receive the toxin-laden dialysate.

21. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 19, further comprising an elimination port configured to permit toxins to exit the dialysis regeneration chamber.

22. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 19, 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.

23. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 19, wherein the dialysate regeneration fabric comprises:

ion-selective urease-immobilized activated carbon 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.

24. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 23, wherein the charged ions include ammonium ions.

25. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 19, wherein the dialysate regeneration fabric is further configured to minimize the uptake of essential cations.

26. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 25, wherein the essential cations include Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, or Na⁺.

27. The dialysate regeneration chamber of claim 19 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.