Dialysate regeneration unit
Inventors
Kreymann, Bernhard • Schreiber, Catherine Elisabeth • Al-Chalabi, Ahmed Nabeel
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-8377308-B2
Publication Date
2013-02-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
A dialysate regeneration unit adapted for regenerating a dialysate containing carrier substances comprises a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path comprises a first supply unit adapted for adding an acidic fluid to the dialysate flowing in the first flow path, and a detoxification unit located downstream of the first supply unit. The detoxification unit is adapted for removing toxins from the acidified dialysate flowing in the first flow path. The second flow path extends in parallel to the first flow path. The second flow path comprises a second supply unit adapted for adding an alkaline fluid to the dialysate flowing in the second flow path, and a further detoxification unit located downstream of the second supply unit. The further detoxification unit is adapted for removing toxins from the alkalized dialysate flowing in the second flow path.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a dialysate regeneration unit for regenerating dialysate containing carrier substances. The unit includes a first flow path that contains a first supply unit adapted for adding an acidic fluid to dialysate flowing in the first flow path, and a detoxification unit located downstream of the first supply unit for removing toxins from the acidified dialysate. In parallel, the unit includes a second flow path extending in parallel to the first flow path, with a second supply unit adapted for adding an alkaline fluid to the dialysate flowing in the second flow path and a further detoxification unit located downstream of the second supply unit for removing toxins from the alkalised dialysate.
The regeneration unit operates by splitting dialysate into a first flow and a second flow, acidifying the first flow by adding an acidic fluid, and alkalising the second flow by adding an alkaline fluid. Toxins in the acidified dialysate are removed by filtrating, dialysing, precipitating or diafiltrating, and toxins in the alkalized dialysate are removed by corresponding downstream detoxification. The acidified and alkalised streams are then merged to regenerate a dialysate containing carrier substances.
According to the described embodiments, the regenerated dialysate is obtained at a physiological pH range. The merging of acidified dialysate and alkalised dialysate supports pH adjustment by flow rates so that the regenerated dialysate is within a physiological pH range, including a pH between 6 and 8 with a preferred range. In further embodiments, detoxification units are implemented as regeneration dialyzers, ultrafiltration devices, or diafiltration devices, and switching valves can alternately route the acidified and alkalised flows between detoxification units to maintain function and avoid operational issues.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims covering both a unit and a corresponding method. Across the independent claims, the core inventive structure consists of splitting dialysate into parallel acidic and alkaline flow paths, adding respective acidic and alkaline fluids, detoxifying downstream in corresponding units, and merging the processed streams to regenerate dialysate containing carrier substances.
Parallel acidic and alkaline flow paths with downstream detoxification
A dialysate regeneration unit for regenerating a dialysate containing carrier substances with a first flow path comprising a first supply unit adapted for adding an acidic fluid to the dialysate and a detoxification unit located downstream of the first supply unit for removing toxins from the acidified dialysate, and a second flow path extending in parallel comprising a second supply unit adapted for adding an alkaline fluid to the dialysate and a further detoxification unit located downstream of the second supply unit for removing toxins from the alkalised dialysate.
Splitting, acidification, alkalisation, detoxification, and merging
A method for regenerating a dialysate containing carrier substances comprising splitting a flow of dialysate into a first flow and a second flow, adding an acidic fluid to the first flow of dialysate, removing toxins by filtrating, dialysing, precipitating or diafiltrating the acidified first flow of dialysate, adding an alkaline fluid to the second flow of dialysate, removing toxins by filtrating, dialysing, precipitating or diafiltrating the alkalized second flow of dialysate, and merging the first and the second flow of dialysate.
The independent claims define regeneration of dialysate containing carrier substances by operating two parallel streams: one acidified with an acidic fluid and detoxified downstream, and one alkalised with an alkaline fluid and detoxified downstream, followed by merging to regenerate the dialysate. The method claim mirrors this unit architecture as a corresponding sequence of splitting, adding acidic/alkaline fluids, toxin removal by specified unit operations, and merging.
Stated Advantages
Physiological pH adjustment of the regenerated dialysate via merging acidified and alkalised dialysate and pH adjustment by flow rates.
Documented Applications
Regenerating a dialysate containing carrier substances for removal of protein-bound toxins by processing dialysate through acidified and alkalised parallel flow paths with downstream detoxification units.
Interested in licensing this patent?