Connection structure and blood purifying device
Inventors
Ito, Hikaru • Henmi, Fumitoshi • Suzuki, Takayuki • Toyoda, Masahiro
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12102746-B2
Publication Date
2024-10-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
A connection structure includes a chamber comprising a hollow housing, a diaphragm dividing the inside of the housing into a first space and a second space, and an output port outputting a gas in the second space with deformation of the diaphragm caused by pressure of a fluid flowing into the first space; a connection part comprising a coupling connected to the output port and being attached to a pressure detection device comprising a pressure sensor for detecting pressure of the gas output from the coupling; and a seal member being sandwiched between a side surface of the output port and a side surface of the coupling and moving while changing a sealing position when connecting or extracting the chamber to/from the connection part.
Core Innovation
A connection structure includes a chamber having a hollow housing and a diaphragm dividing the inside into a first space and a second space. When fluid flows into the first space, deformation of the diaphragm causes outputting of gas in the second space via an output port. A pressure detection device having a pressure sensor detects pressure of the gas output from a coupling connected to the output port.
The coupling is attached to the output port and includes a first stopper and a second stopper. A seal member is sandwiched between an outer surface of the output port and an inner surface of the coupling, and moves while changing a sealing position when connecting or extracting the chamber to/from the connection part. The seal member fits into a space surrounded by the inner surface of the coupling, the first stopper, and the second stopper during the connection/disconnection.
The structure further specifies tapered shapes on at least one of the outer surface of the output port and the inner surface of the coupling, and configurations in which the coupling has an insertion opening connected to a gas flow route with a first stopper on an insertion-opening end side and a second stopper formed by a bottom surface of the insertion opening. In some variants, the chamber has a cylindrical insertion part and the connection part has a cylindrical guide part, connected by inserting the insertion part into an opening of the guide part.
The concept is extended to a dialysis blood purifying device in which the connection structure is used for pressure detection of circulating human blood or dialysate with a disposable liquid circuit, and the seal member can be on a durable blood purifying device-main body rather than discarded with the disposable liquid circuit.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim coverage centers on a connection structure that combines a diaphragm chamber for converting fluid pressure to gas pressure with a pressure detection coupling, where a moving, sandwiched seal member is retained in a defined space bounded by stopper features during repeated connecting and extracting. One additional independent coverage block is directed to use in a blood purifying device with a liquid circuit and pressure detection.
Diaphragm chamber converting fluid pressure to gas output
A chamber comprising a hollow housing, a diaphragm dividing an inside into a first space and a second space, and an output port outputting a gas in the second space with deformation of the diaphragm caused by pressure of a fluid flowing into the first space.
Pressure-detecting coupling with stopper-bounded seal fit
A connection part comprising a coupling connected to the output port and being attached to a pressure detection device comprising a pressure sensor for detecting pressure of the gas output from the coupling, wherein the coupling includes a first stopper and a second stopper.
Moving sandwiched seal member with changing sealing position during connection/disconnection
A seal member being sandwiched between an outer surface of the output port and an inner surface of the coupling and moving while changing a sealing position when connecting or extracting the chamber to/from the connection part, the seal member fits into a space surrounded by the inner surface of the coupling, the first stopper, and the second stopper.
Across the independent claim coverage, the invention centers on a diaphragm-based gas output from a chamber driven by fluid pressure, a coupling to a pressure detection device with stopper features, and a seal member sandwiched between the output port and coupling that moves to change sealing position while fitting into a stopper-bounded space during repeated connecting and extracting.
Stated Advantages
Reduces rubbing and durability loss by enabling the seal member to move and change sealing position during repeated chamber connection/disconnection.
Enables replacement cost reduction by using a seal member on a durable blood purifying device-main body rather than discarding the seal with a disposable liquid circuit.
Improves pressure-detection stability by maintaining seal durability over many insertion/extraction cycles.
Documented Applications
A dialysis blood purifying device including a connection structure, a liquid circuit that circulates human blood or dialysate, and a main body attached via the connection structure for purifying the blood while detecting the pressure of the circulating blood or dialysate.
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