Smart dialysis bag detection system
Inventors
Garza, Hernando Garrido • Saldivar, Gilberto Romero • Plahey, Kulwinder • Hernandez, Irving Uziel
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12403231-B2
Publication Date
2025-09-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A dialysis machine (e.g., a peritoneal dialysis (PD) machine) can include a safety feature that enables the dialysis machine to automatically identify the connections made by a user in preparation for treatment. A smart connector is disclosed that uses a split RFID device that is operational when a first portion of the connector is mated to a second portion of the connector, and is not operational when the first portion is disconnected from the second portion. In an embodiment, the split RFID device incorporates an RFID chip in the first portion of the connector and an antenna in the second portion of the connector. In an embodiment, the RFID chip can store a tag that encodes information that indicates a formulation or a volume of a dialysis bag connected to the ports of a disposable cassette such that the dialysis machine can automatically discover the configuration of the dialysis setup.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a smart-dialysis-bag detection safety system in which connectors attached to dialysis fluid lines include a split passive RFID device that becomes enabled only when two connector portions are mated. A reader is configured to wirelessly access information from the connectors and collects information that indicates dialysate formulation and dialysate bag volume, and can optionally include cassette port identification to tie the accessed information to specific cassette ports.
A controller receives the accessed information from the reader and uses it for safety checks against prescription information, including determining whether accessed formulations differ between dialysate bags and generating an alarm or alert on mismatch. The controller can use information history to detect newly connected bags and can adjust operation of at least one component based on the detected dialysate types and volumes.
The system further encodes constituent-concentration-volume combinations in connector tags, where each tag comprises a chip, memory, and an antenna, and the memory includes multiple bits specifying an index. The index indicates a constituent-concentration-volume combination, which indicates that a corresponding dialysate bag contains a volume of a formulation and that the formulation includes a constituent at a concentration. The disclosed connector architecture includes male and female connector portions with split RFID functionality distributed across portions, and enables wireless polling of connected connectors by a PD/cycler reader.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are three: a dialysis system, a method for operating a dialysis system, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Across these claims, the coverage centers on wirelessly accessing connector information that indicates dialysate formulations and volumes, adjusting dialysis system operation based on that information, and mixing specified volumes to create mixed dialysate solution, with connector tags that encode constituent-concentration-volume combinations via chip, memory, and antenna.
Dialysis system with wirelessly accessed connector information
A dialysis system including a plurality of dialysate bags, fluid lines coupled to the bags, connectors attached to the fluid lines, a reader configured to wirelessly access information from the connectors, and a disposable cassette having a plurality of ports fluidly coupled to respective connectors, wherein accessed information indicates a first formulation of a first dialysate bag and a second formulation of a second dialysate bag for respective ports.
Controller adjusts operation based on accessed formulation information
A controller receiving the accessed information and adjusting operation of at least one component based on the accessed information, wherein adjusting includes determining that the first formulation differs from the second formulation based on the accessed information.
Create mixed dialysate solution by mixing volumes from dialysate bags
Determining that the first formulation is different than the second formulation based on the accessed information and mixing a first volume of the first formulation from the first dialysate bag with a second volume of the second formulation from the second dialysate bag to create a volume of mixed dialysate solution.
Connector tags encode constituent-concentration-volume combinations
Each connector includes a tag comprising a chip, memory, and an antenna, wherein the memory of the tag includes multiple bits that specify an index, and the index indicates a constituent-concentration-volume combination, which indicates that a corresponding dialysate bag contains a volume of a formulation and that the formulation includes a constituent at a concentration.
Method for operating dialysis system using wireless connector access
A method for operating a dialysis system including wirelessly accessing information from a plurality of connectors attached to fluid lines coupled to dialysate bags and fluidly coupled to ports of a disposable cassette, receiving the accessed information at a controller indicating first and second formulations for respective dialysate bags, and adjusting operation of at least one component based on the accessed information, including determining that the formulations differ and mixing volumes from the bags to create a mixed dialysate solution.
Non-transitory instructions for operating dialysis system with mixing and connector tags
A non-transitory computer-readable medium with processor-executable instructions facilitating accessing information from a plurality of connectors, receiving the accessed information indicating first and second dialysate bag formulations, adjusting operation of at least one component based on the accessed information including determining that formulations differ and mixing volumes to create a mixed dialysate solution, where connector tags comprise a chip, memory, and antenna with memory bits specifying indexes that indicate constituent-concentration-volume combinations.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage requires connector-associated tags that encode dialysate constituent-concentration-volume combinations and a reader/controller architecture that wirelessly accesses the connector information, determines formulation differences, and adjusts operation including mixing volumes from dialysate bags to create mixed dialysate solution; corresponding functionality is recited for the system, method, and computer-readable medium.
Stated Advantages
Allows determining that accessed dialysate formulations differ between dialysate bags based on accessed information.
Enables mixing volumes of formulations from different dialysate bags to create mixed dialysate solution.
Supports safety checks by comparing accessed information to prescription information and issuing an alarm or alert on mismatches.
Enables detection of newly connected dialysate bags using tag history.
Enables detecting an empty dialysis bag based at least in part on accessed information.
Documented Applications
Smart-dialysis-bag detection safety system for peritoneal dialysis (PD) machines/PD cyclers using connector RFID/NFC access to support safety checks during treatment.
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