Peritoneal dialysis system having phase change material (“PCM”) heat exchange
Inventors
Fallman, Oskar Erik Frode Styrbjorn
Assignees
Vantive Health GmbH • Gambro Lundia AB • Vantive US Healthcare LLC
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Publication Number
US-12433981-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system includes a PD fluid pump, a PD fluid heater positioned and arranged to heat fresh PD fluid pumped by the PD fluid pump, and a phase change material (“PCM”) device positioned and arranged to receive fresh PD fluid heated by the PD fluid heater. The PCM device includes a PCM having a melting temperature selected so that the PCM solidifies when underheated fresh PD fluid contacts the PCM transferring heat to the underheated fresh PD fluid. Alternatively or additionally, the PD system may include a different PCM device having a PCM with a melting temperature selected so that the PCM melts when overheated fresh PD fluid contacts the PCM thereby removing heat from the overheated fresh PD fluid. A configuration for the PCM device is also disclosed.
Core Innovation
A peritoneal dialysis (PD) system includes a PD fluid pump and a PD fluid heater positioned and arranged to heat fresh PD fluid pumped by the PD fluid pump. The system further includes a phase change material (PCM) device positioned and arranged to receive the fresh PD fluid that is heated by the PD fluid heater. The PCM device includes a PCM having a melting temperature selected so that the PCM solidifies when the fresh PD fluid is underheated and contacts the PCM, transferring heat to the underheated fresh PD fluid.
The PCM device is further positioned to receive used PD fluid, and the melting temperature of the PCM is selected so that the PCM melts when the used PD fluid contacts the PCM, removing heat from the used PD fluid. In this way, heat from used PD fluid is used to drive PCM melting while heat is delivered to underheated fresh PD fluid through PCM solidification during contact.
The PD system architecture additionally includes configurations where the PCM device is prepared to be in a melted state prior to underheated fresh PD fluid contacting the PCM, by flowing heated priming fluid past the PCM or flowing used PD fluid past the PCM. The system also supports separate conductive wall separation of the PCM from heated priming fluid or used PD fluid, and dual-lumen patient line routing with selective valves to route fresh PD fluid through the PCM device and used PD fluid through the PCM device.
Claims Coverage
The document provides four independent claim scopes centered on a PD system that combines a PD fluid heater with one or more PCM devices that solidify or melt based on fresh-fluid underheating or used-fluid/overheated conditions. The independent claims collectively introduce about five main inventive feature elements across the claim set.
Fresh PD heating with inline PCM-based underheating mitigation
A peritoneal dialysis (PD) system comprising a PD fluid pump; a PD fluid heater positioned and arranged to heat fresh PD fluid pumped by the PD fluid pump; and a phase change material (PCM) device positioned and arranged to receive the fresh PD fluid that is heated by the PD fluid heater, the PCM device including a PCM having a melting temperature selected so that the PCM solidifies when the fresh PD fluid is underheated and contacts the PCM, transferring heat to the underheated fresh PD fluid.
PCM melting for used PD fluid heat removal
The PCM device is further positioned to receive used PD fluid, the melting temperature of the PCM selected so that the PCM melts when the used PD fluid contacts the PCM, removing heat from the used PD fluid.
Conductive wall separation with pre-melting before underheated contact
A conductive wall configured to separate the PCM from heated priming fluid or used PD fluid, wherein the PD system is configured to melt the PCM prior to the underheated fresh PD fluid contacting the PCM, the melting caused by flowing the heated priming fluid past the PCM or flowing the used PD fluid past the PCM.
Dual lumen fresh/used routing with selective valves through the PCM device
A dual lumen patient line; a fresh PD fluid line for fluid communication with a fresh PD fluid lumen of the dual lumen patient line; a used PD fluid line for fluid communication with a used PD fluid lumen of the dual lumen patient line; and at least one valve positioned and arranged to selectively allow the fresh PD fluid to flow through the PCM device and the used PD fluid to flow through the PCM device.
Two PCM devices for underheated solidification and overheated melting
A first PCM device positioned and arranged to receive the fresh PD fluid that is heated by the PD fluid heater, the first PCM device including a first PCM having a melting temperature selected so that the first PCM solidifies when the fresh PD fluid is underheated and contacts the first PCM, transferring heat to the underheated fresh PD fluid; and a second PCM device including a second PCM having a second melting temperature selected so that the second PCM melts when the fresh PD fluid is overheated and contacts the second PCM, removing heat from the overheated fresh PD fluid.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is a PD system that heats fresh PD fluid and uses one or more PCM devices whose melting temperature is selected so that PCM solidifies to transfer heat to underheated fresh PD fluid and melts to remove heat from used PD fluid or overheated fresh PD fluid. Additional covered variations include conductive wall separation and pre-melting of PCM using heated priming fluid or used PD fluid, and dual-lumen patient line configurations with valve-controlled routing.
Stated Advantages
Mitigating underheating of fresh PD fluid by transferring heat to underheated fresh PD fluid via PCM solidification.
Removing heat from used PD fluid by melting the PCM when used PD fluid contacts the PCM.
Removing heat from overheated fresh PD fluid by melting a second PCM selected to melt when fresh PD fluid is overheated.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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