Dialysate regeneration unit
Inventors
Kreymann, Bernhard • Schreiber, Catherine Elisabeth • Al-Chalabi, Ahmed Nabeel
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8574438-B2
Publication Date
2013-11-05
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 alkalised dialysate flowing in the second flow path.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a dialysate regeneration unit for regenerating a dialysate containing carrier substances. The unit uses a first flow path and a second flow path that extend in parallel to one another. A first supply unit adds an acidic fluid to dialysate flowing in the first flow path, and a downstream detoxification unit removes toxins from the acidified dialysate.
In parallel, a second supply unit adds an alkaline fluid to dialysate flowing in the second flow path. A downstream further detoxification unit removes toxins from the alkalised dialysate flowing in the second flow path. The parallel processing enables separate detoxification of acidified and alkalised dialysate streams, after which the regenerated dialysate streams are brought together for use as regenerated dialysate.
The disclosure describes implementations in which detoxification units are realized by regeneration dialyzers, ultrafiltration, diafiltration, or precipitation. Regenerated streams may be merged and neutralized to a physiological pH, and the architecture includes dialysate regeneration circuits and reservoirs with electronic control and switching valves to alternate detoxification units and prevent clogging while maintaining detoxification performance.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims, a unit claim and a method claim. Across them, there are two principal inventive feature sets: parallel acidification and alkalization with downstream detoxification under electronic control, and a corresponding method of splitting, treating, and merging the dialysate flows.
Parallel acidic first flow path with downstream detoxification unit
A first flow path comprising 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 being adapted for removing toxins from the acidified dialysate flowing in the first flow path.
Parallel alkaline second flow path with downstream further detoxification unit
A second flow path extending in parallel to the first flow path, the second flow path comprising 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 being adapted for removing toxins from the alkalised dialysate flowing in the second flow path.
Electronic control of the dialysate regeneration unit
An electronic control unit.
Splitting, treating, and merging dialysate flows
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.
Overall, the independent claims cover a dialysate regeneration unit and corresponding method that regenerate dialysate containing carrier substances by splitting into parallel acidified and alkalised flows with downstream detoxification in each flow path, then merging the treated flows under electronic control.
Stated Advantages
Allows toxin removal from acidified and alkalised dialysate streams processed in parallel within the dialysate regeneration unit.
Helps prevent clogging and maintain detoxification performance by alternating detoxification units under electronic control.
Enables regeneration of dialysate containing carrier substances by using downstream detoxification based on acidification and alkalisation.
Documented Applications
Dialysis systems that include dialysate regeneration circuits and reservoirs for albumin/carrier-substance dialysis and regeneration of toxin-laden dialysate using parallel acidic and alkaline regeneration flow paths with switching valves.
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