Dialysis fluid cassettes and related systems and methods

• US 9,101,709 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2013
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Beden, Josef, Hahmann, Uwe, Herklotz, Martin, Lauer, Martin, Manke, Joachim, Scheunert, Peter, Weis, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): CECIL, TERRY K
• Application Number:
  US13/734,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20130118970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/152 Details related to the interface between cassette and machine
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1524 the interface providing means for actuating on functional elements of the cassette, e.g. plungers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/15632 the filter being a dialyser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1601 Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1621 Constructional aspects thereof semi-permeable membranes for separation processes characterised by their properties B01D69/00; semi permeable membranes characterised by their material B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3401 Cassettes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3496 Plasmapheresis; Leucopheresis; Lymphopheresis A61M1/3472 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3621 Extra-corporeal blood circuits single-needle circuits A61M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362223 the interface being evacuated interfaces to enhance contact
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36224 with sensing means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36225 with blood pumping means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362261 at least one cassette surface or portion thereof being flexible, e.g. the cassette having a rigid base portion with preformed channels and being covered with a foil
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362264 the filter being a blood filter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/362265 Details of valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/367 Circuit parts not covered by the preceding subgroups of group A61M1/3621
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0413 Blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/122 using evacuated interfaces to enhance contact
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/126 with incorporated membrane filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 : with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/113 : in other functional devices, e.g. dialysers or heart-lung machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/268 : the displacement member being flexible, e.g. membranes, diaphragms or bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/37 : Haemodialysis, haemofiltration or diafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/427 : the force acting on the blood contacting member being hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/43 : using vacuum at the blood pump, e.g. to accelerate filling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/847 : arranged in a cassette

Abstract

A dialysis fluid cassette that includes a base and a flexible membrane attached to the base. The flexible membrane and the base cooperate to at least partially define a venting chamber and a fluid channel fluidly connected to the venting chamber.

Claims

1. A dialysis system, comprising:

a dialysis machine defining a cassette compartment and comprising a plurality of valves; and

a dialysis fluid cassette configured to be disposed within the cassette compartment, the dialysis fluid cassette comprising

a base; and

a flexible membrane attached to the base, the flexible membrane and the base cooperating to at least partially define a venting chamber and a plurality of fluid channels, at least one of the fluid channels being fluidly connected to the venting chamber, and the fluid channels being arranged to align with the valves of the dialysis machine when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed within the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine such that the valves can be activated to control fluid flow through the dialysis fluid cassette,

wherein the venting chamber and the at least one of the fluid channels are configured to generate rotational fluid flow within the venting chamber as fluid flows through the at least one of the fluid channels and into the venting chamber, and the venting chamber is configured to permit air to be released from the venting chamber to surroundings external to the dialysis fluid cassette.

2. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the dialysis fluid cassette further comprises a permeable membrane attached to the base, and the permeable membrane, the base, and the flexible membrane together define the venting chamber.

3. The dialysis system of claim 2, wherein the permeable membrane is a hydrophobic membrane.

4. The dialysis system of claim 2, wherein the permeable membrane is separate from the flexible membrane.

5. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the flexible membrane is configured so that the flexible membrane can be outwardly deformed in a direction away from the base.

6. The dialysis system of claim 5, wherein the base and the flexible membrane are configured so that the venting chamber is substantially spherical when the flexible membrane is outwardly deformed in the direction away from the base.

7. The dialysis system of claim 6, wherein the at least one of the fluid channels is configured so that fluid flowing through the at least one of the fluid channels and into the substantially spherical venting chamber enters the venting chamber in a substantially tangential direction relative to the venting chamber.

8. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the dialysis machine defines a vacuum port positioned adjacent the venting chamber of the dialysis fluid cassette when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment.

9. The dialysis system of claim 8, wherein the vacuum port is configured so that vacuum pressure can be applied to a portion of the flexible membrane via the vacuum port to deform the flexible membrane outwardly away from the base to make the venting chamber substantially spherical.

10. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the base is rigid.

11. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the flexible membrane and the base of the dialysis fluid cassette further cooperate to define a pump chamber that is arranged to align with a pump of the dialysis machine when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed within the cassette compartment of the dialysis machine such that the pump can be activated to cause fluid to flow through the dialysis fluid cassette.

12. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the fluid channels is configured so that fluid flowing through the at least one of the fluid channels and into the venting chamber enters the venting chamber in a substantially tangential direction relative to the venting chamber.

13. A dialysis fluid cassette, comprising:

a base; and

a flexible membrane attached to the base, the flexible membrane and the base cooperating to at least partially define a venting chamber and a plurality of fluid channels, at least one of the fluid channels being fluidly connected to the venting chamber, and the fluid channels being arranged to align with valves of a dialysis machine when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed within a cassette compartment of the dialysis machine,

wherein the venting chamber and the at least one of the fluid channels are configured to generate rotational fluid flow within the venting chamber as fluid flows through the at least one of the fluid channels and into the venting chamber, and the venting chamber is configured to permit air to be released from the venting chamber to surroundings external to the dialysis fluid cassette.

14. The dialysis fluid cassette of claim 13, further comprising a permeable membrane attached to the base, wherein the permeable membrane, the base, and the flexible membrane together define the venting chamber.

15. The dialysis fluid cassette of claim 14, wherein the permeable membrane is a hydrophobic membrane.

16. The dialysis fluid cassette of claim 14, wherein the permeable membrane is separate from the flexible membrane.

17. The dialysis fluid cassette of claim 13, wherein the flexible membrane is configured so that the flexible membrane can be outwardly deformed in a direction away from the base.

18. The dialysis fluid cassette of claim 17, wherein the base and the flexible membrane are configured so that the venting chamber is substantially spherical when the flexible membrane is outwardly deformed in the direction away from the base.

19. The dialysis fluid cassette of claim 18, wherein the at least one of the fluid channels and the substantially spherical venting chamber are configured so that fluid flowing through the at least one of the fluid channels and into the venting chamber enters the venting chamber in a substantially tangential direction relative to the venting chamber.

20. The dialysis fluid cassette of claim 13, wherein the base is rigid.

21. The dialysis fluid cassette of claim 13, wherein the flexible membrane and the base of the dialysis fluid cassette further cooperate to define a pump chamber that is arranged to align with a pump of a dialysis machine when the dialysis fluid cassette is disposed within a cassette compartment of the dialysis machine.

22. The dialysis fluid cassette of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the fluid channels and the substantially spherical venting chamber are configured so that fluid flowing through the at least one of the fluid channels and into the venting chamber enters the venting chamber in a substantially tangential direction relative to the venting chamber.