Inline heater for a peritoneal dialysis system
Inventors
Jain, Hemanth Kumar • Nellikunje, Krishnaraja • Gunasekaran, Thisanth
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12318517-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and devices are provided for heating an infusible liquid. The inline heater includes a fluid flow channel defined by a conduit for flowing an infusible liquid through a first portion of the conduit having a first cross-sectional dimension to a second portion of the conduit having a smaller second cross-sectional dimension. A nozzle is disposed in the first portion of the conduit. A heating element in thermal communication with an outer surface of the second portion of the conduit conducts heat through the conduit into the infusible liquid. The nozzle is positioned to spray the infusible liquid about a circumference of an inner wall of the second portion of the conduit to provide increased heat transfer from the heating element to the infusible liquid. The inline heater may be formed as a cassette for use in a dialysis machine.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an inline heater and a dialysis-machine cassette for heating dialysate in peritoneal dialysis. A cassette is positionable within a cavity of a dialysis machine and is fluidly connectable to a patient and a dialysate source for transferring a dialysate therebetween. The cassette includes a fluid flow channel defined by a conduit with a first portion having a first cross-section and a second portion having a second cross-section greater than the first cross-section.
In the conduit, the dialysate flows from the dialysate source through the first portion into the second portion, and a heating element is in thermal communication with an outer surface of the second portion of the conduit. Heat is conducted through the conduit into the dialysate. A nozzle disposed in the first portion includes at least one opening to spray the dialysate about the circumference of an inner wall of the second portion, providing increased heat transfer from the heating element to the dialysate.
The disclosed heating approach includes increased heat transfer driven by the nozzle spraying dialysate along the inner wall of the larger conduit portion. The system also includes heating control and monitoring using a temperature sensor and a PID fuzzy logic temperature controller. An integrated cassette package for a disposable dialysis-machine arrangement is described, together with system-level components for peritoneal dialysate generation and sterilization.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim is directed to a dialysis-machine cassette with an internal inline heating arrangement that combines a two-diameter conduit, an external heating element, and a nozzle that sprays dialysate around the inner wall of the larger conduit portion. The main inventive features in the dependent claims refine conduit positioning, define the heat-transfer path, specify direct contact between the heating element and the conduit outer surface, and add a disposable cassette limitation.
Two-diameter conduit fluid flow channel
A fluid flow channel defined by a conduit, wherein the dialysate flows from a dialysate source through a first portion of the conduit having a first cross-section to a second portion of the conduit having a second cross-section, wherein the first cross-section is less than the second cross-section.
Heating element thermally communicates with outer surface of larger conduit portion
A heating element in thermal communication with an outer surface of the second portion of the conduit to conduct heat through the conduit into the dialysate.
Nozzle spraying about circumference of inner wall for increased heat transfer
A nozzle disposed in the first portion of the conduit and having at least one opening to spray the dialysate about the circumference of an inner wall of the second portion of the conduit to provide increased heat transfer from the heating element to the dialysate.
Inlet and outlet series positioning of first and second conduit portions
The cassette includes a fluid flow channel with an inlet and an outlet where the first conduit portion is positioned in series between the inlet and the second conduit portion, and the second conduit portion is positioned in series between the first conduit portion and the outlet.
Thermal conduction from outer surface to inner surface of second conduit portion
A heating element transfers heat to dialysate via thermal conduction of the heat from the outer surface of the second portion of the conduit to the inner surface of the second portion of the conduit.
Direct contact between heating element and outer surface of second conduit portion
A heating element is directly contacting the outer surface of the second portion of the conduit.
Disposable cassette
The cassette is disposable.
Overall claim coverage centers on heating dialysate in a cassette using thermal conduction from a heating element coupled to an outer surface of a larger conduit portion, while a nozzle in a smaller conduit portion sprays dialysate around the circumference of an inner wall of the larger portion to provide increased heat transfer. Dependent limitations further specify series positioning of conduit portions, define the conduction path from outer surface to inner surface, require direct contact, and constrain the cassette to be disposable.
Stated Advantages
Provides increased heat transfer from the heating element to the dialysate.
Documented Applications
A cassette usable in a dialysis machine for transferring dialysate between a dialysate source and a patient for peritoneal dialysis.
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