Peritoneal dialysis system having air-aided pumping sequences
Inventors
Fallman, Oskar Erik Frode Styrbjorn • Ericson, Bjorn • Jansson, Olof Christer
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12458739-B2
Publication Date
2025-11-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system having an air-aided pumping sequence is disclosed herein. In an example, a PD system includes a housing, a PD fluid pump housed by the housing, an airtrap, a fluid line extending from the airtrap, a fluid line valve positioned and arranged to operate with the fluid line, a gas line extending from an upper portion of the airtrap, and a gas line valve positioned and arranged to operate with the gas line. The system also includes a control unit configured to cause the fluid line valve to close, the gas line valve to open, and the PD fluid pump to pump gas from the airtrap into the gas line after a patient drain to create a pocket of gas in the fluid line and push residual used PD fluid towards a drain line.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an automated peritoneal dialysis (PD) system with an airtrap, a fluid line extending from the airtrap, a fluid line valve positioned and arranged to operate with the fluid line, a gas line extending from an upper portion of the airtrap, and a gas line valve positioned and arranged to operate with the gas line. A control unit is configured to cause the fluid line valve to close and the gas line valve to open after a patient drain.
After the patient drain, the control unit causes the PD fluid pump to pump gas from the airtrap into the gas line to create a pocket of gas in the fluid line. The gas pocket acts to push residual used PD fluid towards a drain line while reducing mixing and fresh fluid needed for flushing.
The disclosed system sequences valves after a patient drain so that gas pocket formation and gas pocket travel in the fluid line advance the residual used PD fluid to the drain line. The system is described as using mostly reusable fluid lines and a control unit, and it references operational features including feedback control using pressure/temperature sensors, optional laminar-flow operation, and the use of multiple sequential gas pockets.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim is directed to the overall PD system architecture and the specific valve-and-pump sequence that forms a gas pocket after a patient drain to advance residual used PD fluid to a drain line. Dependent claims refine the gas-pocket behavior and associated operational constraints using additional sensing, flow regime, and volume considerations.
Valve sequence to form a gas pocket after patient drain
A control unit configured to cause the fluid line valve to close, the gas line valve to open, and the PD fluid pump to pump gas from the airtrap into the gas line after a patient drain to create a pocket of gas in the fluid line and push residual used PD fluid towards a drain line.
Gas pocket to separate residual used PD fluid from fresh PD fluid
The control unit configured to cause the PD fluid pump to make a gas pocket separate residual used PD fluid from fresh PD fluid used to advance an air pocket.
Laminar flow with fresh PD fluid advancing the gas pocket
A control unit configured to supply fresh PD fluid advancing a gas pocket with laminar flow.
Predetermined gas-pocket volume
The control unit configured to operate the PD fluid pump to make the gas pocket have a predetermined volume.
Monitoring using a level sensor during gas pocket formation
The PD system includes a level sensor associated with the airtrap, and the control unit configured to monitor output from the level sensor while the PD fluid pump forms a pocket of gas.
Overall, the claims are centered on forming a pocket of gas in a fluid line after a patient drain by controlling fluid-line and gas-line valves and pumping gas from an airtrap, with additional refinements including separation of residual used and fresh PD fluid, optional laminar-flow constraints, a predetermined gas-pocket volume, and level-sensor monitoring.
Stated Advantages
Pushes residual used PD fluid towards a drain line.
Reduces mixing.
Reduces fresh fluid needed for flushing.
Documented Applications
Automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) cycler/system operation after a patient drain using gas pockets to advance residual used PD fluid to a drain line.
Gas handling associated with disinfection-related connectors using a filtered air vent arrangement with hydrophobic sterile filtration and valve-controlled air intake/exhaust (as described in the document).
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