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Publication Number
US-12314067-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
In one aspect, a valve actuation system includes a drive unit including an actuator configured to engage and move multiple valves disposed within a fluid cassette to selectively open and close each valve of the multiple valves and a positioning frame disposed adjacent the fluid cassette and along which the drive unit can be moved in three dimensions to align the actuator with a selected valve of the multiple valves.
Core Innovation
The disclosure describes a dialysis valve actuation system in which a drive unit includes an actuator configured to engage and move a plurality of valves disposed within a fluid cassette so as to selectively open and close each valve of the plurality of valves. The drive unit is positioned by a positioning frame disposed adjacent the fluid cassette and along which the drive unit is moved in three dimensions to align the actuator with a selected valve.
In the disclosed embodiments, the positioning frame enables alignment by moving the drive unit along three dimensions, including embodiments using first linear rail, second linear rail, and third linear rail. The disclosure further describes controlling the actuator so that it mates with complementary valve features and applies force to rotate rotary valves into open and closed orientations, including using encoder-based positioning and initialization of a valve state.
The dialysis machine and dialysis system are described as including the cassette and the valve actuation system within a housing, together with a control unit configured to govern and control movements of the valve actuation system. The disclosure also describes traversal timing constraints for moving the drive unit along the rails and positions the drive unit and actuator to selectively operate multiple valves carried by the fluid cassette in a dialysis machine context, including fluid conditioning/hemodialysis/PD.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001 and clm-00014. Across these claims, the inventive structure centers on a dialysis machine/system housing with a valve actuation system that includes a drive unit and actuator, a fluid cassette carrying a plurality of valves, and a positioning frame that moves the drive unit in three dimensions to align the actuator with a selected valve, with a control unit governing the actuation movements.
Three-dimensional actuator alignment to selected valve in a fluid cassette
A drive unit comprising an actuator engages and moves a plurality of valves disposed within a fluid cassette to selectively open and close each valve, and a positioning frame disposed adjacent the fluid cassette along which the drive unit can be moved in three dimensions to align the actuator with a selected valve.
Actuator engages valves in cassette and selectively opens and closes
An actuator configured to engage and move the plurality of valves disposed within the fluid cassette to selectively open and close each valve of the plurality of valves.
Control unit controls valve actuation system movements
A control unit configured to control movements of the valve actuation system.
Claim coverage centers on a dialysis machine/system that selectively actuates multiple valves in a disposable fluid cassette by using a drive unit with an actuator and a positioning frame that moves in three dimensions to align the actuator with a selected valve, with the dialysis system further including a control unit that controls the valve actuation system movements.
Stated Advantages
Simplifies dialysis system design by reducing dedicated mechanisms and control algorithms per valve.
Documented Applications
Dialysis systems used for fluid conditioning/hemodialysis/PD, including embodiments that include a dialysis machine with a cassette and valve actuation system and a control unit for actuating multiple valves in the fluid cassette.
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