Preserving sorbent devices in dialysis systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12296079-B2
Application number	US-202318321291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2023
Priority date	Nov 2, 2020
Publication date	May 13, 2025
Grant date	May 13, 2025

Abstract

A dialysis system includes a sorbent device positioned along a fluid circuit for regenerating dialysate during a dialysis treatment carried out at the dialysis system, a filter coupled to an outlet of the sorbent device such the any fluid flowing through the sorbent device must first flow through the filter before reentering the fluid circuit, and a pump positioned downstream of the filter along the fluid circuit. The pump is operable between first and second dialysis treatments carried out at the dialysis system to circulate a fluid through the sorbent device to prevent matter within the sorbent device from solidifying and circulate the fluid through the filter to remove contaminants from the fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dialysis system, comprising:
a sorbent device positioned along a fluid circuit for regenerating dialysate during a dialysis treatment carried out at the dialysis system;
a filter coupled to an outlet of the sorbent device such that any fluid flowing through the sorbent device must first flow through the filter before reentering the fluid circuit;
a pump positioned downstream of the filter along the fluid circuit, the pump being operable between first and second dialysis treatments carried out at the dialysis system to:
circulate a fluid through the sorbent device to prevent matter within the sorbent device from solidifying, and
circulate the fluid through the filter to remove contaminants from the fluid; and

a hardware module comprising:
a first bypass valve located along an inlet line of the sorbent device,
a second bypass valve located along an outlet line of the sorbent device, and
a bypass fluid line connecting the first and second bypass valves.

2. The dialysis system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a dialyzer; and
the fluid circuit, the fluid circuit being configured for circulation of the dialysate along one side the dialyzer during the dialysis treatment.

3. The dialysis system of claim 1 , further comprising a control system configured to operate the pump.

4. The dialysis system of claim 3 , wherein the pump is operable to circulate the fluid through the sorbent device and through the filter at a flow rate of about 50 mL/min to about 150 mL/min.

5. The dialysis system of claim 1 , further comprising a reusable power supply positioned along the fluid circuit and configured to power the pump.

6. The dialysis system of claim 5 , wherein the reusable power supply comprises a backup battery.

7. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the sorbent device is configured to be used during a plurality of dialysis treatments until the sorbent device has been exhausted.

8. The dialysis system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a timer for monitoring a usage life of the sorbent device; and
a control system by which the timer is implemented.

9. The dialysis system of claim 8 , wherein the control system is configured to:
determine that the sorbent device is exhausted; and
prevent the dialysis system from operating after determining that the sorbent device is exhausted.

10. The dialysis system of claim 9 , wherein the sorbent device and the filter are configured to be replaced, respectively, with a new sorbent device and a new filter.

11. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises an ultrapure filter.

12. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the filter is disposed adjacent the sorbent device.

13. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the filter is disposed atop the sorbent device.

14. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the contaminants comprise one or both of bacteria and endotoxins.

15. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises water.

16. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the pump is operable to circulate the fluid through the sorbent device and through the filter for a period of about 24 hours to about 72 hours.

17. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is unheated.

18. The dialysis system of claim 17 , wherein the fluid has a room temperature while the fluid is circulated, the room temperature being about 15° C. to about 25° C.

19. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the dialysis treatment is a first dialysis treatment, and wherein the dialysis system is configured to regenerate spent dialysate using the sorbent device during the first dialysis treatment and during a predetermined number of one or more additional dialysis treatments.

20. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the dialysis system is configured to prevent dialysate from becoming stagnant within the sorbent device.

21. The dialysis system of claim 1 , further comprising a control system configured to cause the first and second bypass valves to close if an ammonium level within the dialysate that exits the sorbent device exceeds a predetermined threshold.

22. The dialysis system of claim 21 , wherein the control system is configured to cause the dialysate exiting the sorbent device to flow through the bypass fluid line to bypass the sorbent device if the ammonium level within the dialysate that exits the sorbent device exceeds the predetermined threshold.

Assignees

• Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Yuds David
• Bartels Rachel
• Fischer Karsten

Classifications

• A61M2205/8206

  battery-operated · CPC title

• A61M1/1672

  using membrane filters, e.g. for sterilising the dialysate · CPC title

• A61M1/1647

  with flow rate measurement of the dialysis fluid, upstream and downstream of the dialyser · CPC title

• A61M1/1524

  the interface providing means for actuating on functional elements of the cassette, e.g. plungers · CPC title

• A61M1/1565

  Details of valves · CPC title