Volume-based priming of dialysis machines
Inventors
Plahey, Kulwinder S. • Thiebaud, Pierre • Biewer, John A.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11964088-B2
Publication Date
2024-04-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
A dialysis system may include a dialysis machine (e.g., a peritoneal dialysis machine) having a fluid system for delivering fluid (e.g., dialysate) to a patient. The dialysis machine may include at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, may cause the at least one processor to determine volume information for a fluid system of a dialysis machine, wherein the volume information may comprise a patient line volume and an accuracy adjustment volume, and to determine a priming volume to prime the fluid system with a fluid based on the volume information. Other embodiments are described.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a dialysis machine/system that performs a volume-based priming process. A controller determines a priming volume by receiving volume information associated with a fluid system of the dialysis machine and using that volume information to prime the fluid system with a fluid. The volume information includes tubing information associated with a set of patient line tubing and system element information associated with non-patient line tubing elements of the fluid system.
In this approach, the priming volume is determined based on the patient line volume and associated system element volumes that are part of the fluid system but are not the patient line. The disclosed volume-based priming process accounts for non-primed elements by optionally subtracting volume of non-primed elements from the computed priming volume. The computation includes a priming volume relationship and an accuracy adjustment.
The invention addresses limitations tied to timers, pressure, air detection, and potential over-priming bias. The volume-based priming process supports determining volume information from tubing identifiers and/or tubing geometry, and it supports deriving accuracy adjustment based on volume accuracy experiments. The disclosed system includes a controller and pump execution architecture for priming based on the determined priming volume, with optional processing for a warming pouch.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover two independent claims: a dialysis machine and a method for priming. Across these claims, the main inventive features are receiving volume information for patient line tubing and non-patient line tubing elements, and determining a priming volume based on that volume information.
Receiving volume information for patient line tubing and non-patient line tubing elements
The volume-based priming process receives volume information associated with a fluid system of the dialysis machine, wherein the volume information comprises tubing information associated with a set of patient line tubing and system element information associated with non-patient line tubing elements of the fluid system.
Determining a priming volume based on the volume information
The volume-based priming process determines the priming volume to prime the fluid system with a fluid based on the received volume information.
Performing a volume-based priming process on a dialysis machine
A dialysis machine performs a volume-based priming process operative to receive the volume information and determine the priming volume to prime the fluid system with a fluid.
Priming a fluid system using a volume-based priming process
A method primes the fluid system of a dialysis machine using a volume-based priming process comprising receiving the volume information and determining the priming volume based on the volume information.
Overall, the claims require volume-based priming that uses volume information covering both patient line tubing and non-patient line tubing elements, followed by determining a priming volume to prime the fluid system with a fluid based on that volume information.
Stated Advantages
More accurate priming.
Improved efficiency of priming.
Reduced patient involvement.
Less pressure-based bias leading to reduced over-priming.
Documented Applications
Volume-based priming for a dialysis machine fluid system, including optionally handling a warming pouch as a non-primed element.
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