Method for stabilizing dialysate consumption flow, corresponding apparatus and central dialysate preparation and distribution system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11771809-B2
Application number	US-201817255337-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2018
Priority date	Jun 26, 2018
Publication date	Oct 3, 2023
Grant date	Oct 3, 2023

Abstract

A method for stabilizing dialysate consumption flow in a central distribution loop for a plurality of dialysis machines comprises: coordinating each dialysate dispensing cycle of active ones of the dialysis machines; calculating dialysate or concentrates consumption based on amount required in each dialysate dispensing cycle of the active dialysis machines; and preparing the dialysate based on the calculated dialysate or concentrates consumption required by the active dialysis machines. Also a corresponding apparatus and a corresponding central dialysate preparation and distribution system are disclosed, wherein the apparatus at least comprises: a coordinating module configured to coordinate each dialysate dispensing cycle of active ones of the dialysis machines; a calculating module configured to calculate dialysate or concentrates consumption based on amount required in each dialysate dispensing cycle of the active dialysis machines; and a mixing control module, for preparing the dialysate based on the calculated dialysate or concentrates consumption.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for stabilizing dialysate consumption flow in a central distribution loop ( 21 ) for a plurality of dialysis machines ( 3 ), wherein said method comprises steps as follows:
coordinating each dialysate dispensing cycle of active ones of the dialysis machines ( 3 );
calculating dialysate or concentrates consumption based on amount required in each dialysate dispensing cycle of the active dialysis machines ( 3 ); and
preparing the dialysate based on the calculated dialysate or concentrates consumption required by the active dialysis machines ( 3 ).

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
triggering individual dialysate dispensing sequences in the dialysate dispensing cycle of the active dialysis machines ( 3 ) in a predetermined order and/or a predetermined time interval.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises:
dividing each dialysate dispensing cycle equally by the number of the active dialysis machines ( 3 ) which are operated in a same dialysate flow rate, in which the dialysate dispensing sequences of the active dialysis machines ( 3 ) are carried out successively in the predetermined time interval.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises:
dividing the active dialysis machines ( 3 ) into at least two groups based on different dialysate flow rates; in which each group of active dialysis machines ( 3 ) is operated in a same dialysate flow rate.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the method further comprises:
coordinating each dialysate dispensing cycle of one group of active dialysis machines ( 3 ) independently from other groups of active dialysis machines ( 3 ).

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein
the individual dialysate dispensing sequences in the dialysate dispensing cycle of each group of active dialysis machines ( 3 ) are triggered in a predetermined order and/or a predetermined time interval.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
adjusting the dialysate dispensing cycle until the current dialysate dispensing cycle is completed when a treatment parameter or the number of the active dialysis machines ( 3 ) is changed.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
recalculating the dialysate or concentrates consumption based on the amount required in the next dialysate dispensing cycle.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
distributing a certain amount of dialysate via the active dialysis machine ( 3 ) to a drain piping in a predetermined interval to refresh the dialysate in the central distribution loop ( 21 ) when no dialysate consumption is made beyond a predetermined period; and/or
preventing the dialysate from flowing into a dialyzer of an individual dialysis machine ( 3 ) once a dialysate preparation error is detected; and/or
preventing the dialysate from flowing into respective dialysis machine ( 3 ) once a dialysate flow error in the dialysis machine ( 3 ) is detected.

10. An apparatus ( 4 ) for stabilizing dialysate consumption flow in a central distribution loop ( 21 ) for a plurality of dialysis machines ( 3 ), said apparatus ( 4 ) at least comprising:
a coordinating module ( 41 ) configured to coordinate each dialysate dispensing cycle of active ones of the dialysis machines ( 3 );
a calculating module ( 42 ) configured to calculate dialysate or concentrates consumption based on amount required in each dialysate dispensing cycle of the active dialysis machines ( 3 ); and
a mixing control module ( 43 ), for preparing the dialysate based on the calculated dialysate or concentrates consumption.

11. The apparatus ( 4 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the apparatus ( 4 ) further comprises:
a triggering module ( 44 ) configured to trigger individual dialysate dispensing sequences in the dialysate dispensing cycle of the active dialysis machines ( 3 ) in a predetermined order and/or a predetermined time interval.

12. The apparatus ( 4 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the apparatus ( 4 ) further comprises:
a first dividing module ( 45 ) configured to divide each dialysate dispensing cycle equally by the number of the active dialysis machines ( 3 ) which are operated in a same dialysate flow rate, in which the dialysate dispensing sequences of the active dialysis machines ( 3 ) are carried out successively in the predetermined time interval; and/or
a second dividing module ( 46 ) configured to divide the active dialysis machines ( 3 ) into at least two groups based on different dialysate flow rates; in which each group of active dialysis machines ( 3 ) is operated in a same dialysate flow rate.

13. The apparatus ( 4 ) according to claim 12 , wherein
the coordinating module ( 41 ) is further configured to coordinate each dialysate dispensing cycle of one group of active dialysis machines ( 3 ) independently from other groups of active dialysis machines ( 3 ); and/or
the individual dialysate dispensing sequences in the dialysate dispensing cycle of each group of active dialysis machines ( 3 ) are triggered in a predetermined order and/or a predetermined time interval.

14. The apparatus ( 4 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
an adjusting module ( 47 ) configured to adjust the dialysate dispensing cycle until the current dialysate dispensing cycle is completed when a treatment parameter or the number of the active dialysis machines ( 3 ) is changed.

15. The apparatus ( 4 ) according to claim 14 , wherein
the calculating module ( 42 ) is further configured to recalculate the dialysate or concentrates consumption based on the amount required in the next dialysate dispensing cycle.

16. The apparatus ( 4 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a distribution module ( 48 ) configured to distribute a certain amount of dialysate in a predetermined interval to refresh the dialysate in the central distribution loop ( 21 ) when no dialysate consumption is made beyond a predetermined period; and/or
a preventing module ( 49 ), configured for preventing the dialysate from flowing into a dialyzer of an individual dialysis machine once a dialysate preparation error is detected; and/or for preventing the dialysate from flowing into a respective dialysis machine ( 3 ) once a dialysate flow error in the dialysis machine ( 3 ) is detected.

17. A central dialysate preparation and distribution system for stabilizing dialysate consumption flow in a central distribution loop ( 21 ) for a plurality of dialysis machines ( 3 ), the system comprising a central control module configured to perform the method according to claim 1 .

18. The central dialysate preparation and distribution system according to claim 17 , wherein the central dialysate preparation and distribution system comprises:
a dialysate preparation unit ( 1 ) which comprises one or more mixing chamber(s) ( 11 ), a circulation tube ( 12 ) and/or a buffer tank ( 13 ); and/or
a dialysate distribution unit ( 2 ) configured to distribute the prepared dialysate to the dialysis machines ( 3 ) through the central distribution loop ( 21 ) which fluidly connects the dialysate preparation unit ( 1 ) with the dialysis machines ( 3 ).

19. The central dialysate preparation and distribution system according to claim 18 , wherein the dialysate distribution unit further comprises a flow monitoring device installed in each dialysis machine ( 3 ) or arra

Assignees

• Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland Gmbh

Inventors

• Jor Kee

Classifications

• A61M1/1656 Primary

  Apparatus for preparing dialysates · CPC title

• A61M1/1649

  with pulsatile dialysis fluid flow · CPC title

• A61M1/1694

  with recirculating dialysing liquid · CPC title

• A61M2205/3334

  Measuring or controlling the flow rate · CPC title

• A61M2205/84

  for treating several patients simultaneously · CPC title