Dialysis systems and methods

• US 8,500,994 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2010
• 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: Weaver, Colin, Crnkovich, Martin Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): BASS, DIRK R
• Application Number:
  US12/683,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20110163030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 210/120
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1601 Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3607 Regulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3624 Level detectors; Level control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3627 Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3639 Blood pressure control, pressure transducers specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3641 Pressure isolators
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0413 Blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/702 automatically during use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/707 Testing of filters for clogging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/296 : Acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0092 : Pressure sensor associated with other sensors, e.g. for measuring acceleration or temperature G01L9/025, G01L9/045, G01L9/065, G01L9/085, G01L9/105, G01L9/125, G01L19/02, G01L19/04 take precedence; measuring two or more variable G01D21/02; temperature sensors with pressure compensation G01K1/26

Abstract

This invention relates to dialysis systems and methods. In some implementations, a method includes applying vacuum pressure to a device of a dialysis system, and then determining, based on a detected fluid level or measured pressure, whether the device is functioning properly.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

applying vacuum pressure to an air release device of a dialysis system, the air release device comprising

a housing that defines a liquid chamber, and

a vent disposed at an end of the liquid chamber;

after applying the vacuum pressure to the air release device, detecting a fluid level within the air release device; and

determining, based on the fluid level within the air release device, whether air is being drawn into the liquid chamber through the vent.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the vent of the air release device is functioning properly based on the determination of whether air is being drawn into the liquid chamber through the vent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid level within the air release device is detected by a level detector of the dialysis system, and the level detector is positioned adjacent the air release device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the level detector is connected to a control unit of the dialysis system in a manner such that signals related to the detected fluid level can be transmitted to the control unit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein applying vacuum pressure to the air release device comprises closing off lines upstream and downstream of the air release device and activating a pump to draw fluid out of the air release device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein closing off the line upstream of the air release device comprises turning off a pump configured to circulate fluid through the air release device, and closing off the line downstream of the air release device comprises clamping the line downstream of the air release device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the pump that is activated to draw fluid out of the air release device is an ultrafiltration pump.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising misbalancing a balancing chamber that is in fluid communication with the air release device to draw the fluid out of the air release device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the dialysis system comprises first and second lines connected to the air release device and a pump configured to circulate fluid from the first line to the air release device to the second line during dialysis treatment, and wherein applying vacuum pressure to the air release device comprises closing off the second line and operating the pump in a manner to circulate fluid from the second line to the air release device to the first line.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating to a user that the air release device is not functioning properly if, based on the fluid level within the air release device, it is determined that the air release device is not functioning properly.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein indicating to the user that the air release device is not functioning properly comprises disabling one or more functions of the dialysis system.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying positive pressure to the air release device after applying the vacuum pressure such that air drawn into the air release device by the vacuum pressure is forced out of the air release device by the positive pressure.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the dialysis system is a hemodialysis system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method is performed during hemodialysis treatment.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the method is performed before hemodialysis treatment.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid level within the air release device is detected by a level detector of the dialysis system, and the level detector is positioned adjacent the liquid chamber at a location that is spaced apart from the vent.