Method and an apparatus for evaluating a condition of a water purification system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12312252-B2
Application number	US-201917054891-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2019
Priority date	May 15, 2018
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

A method and apparatus for evaluating a condition of a water purification system ( 40, 110 ) comprising a water purification apparatus ( 110 ) arranged to output purified water through an outlet ( 128 ) and through at least one sterilizing grade filter ( 70 a, 70 b ) of a line set ( 40 ) fluidly connected to the outlet ( 128 ), the method comprises: monitoring a flow rate (S 1 ) correlated with the flow rate of the purified water flowing through the at least one sterilizing grade filter ( 70 a, 70 b ); monitoring a pressure (S 2 ) correlated with the pressure of the purified water flowing to the at least one sterilizing grade filter ( 70 a, 70 b ); and evaluating (S 3 ) a condition of the water purification system based on a relationship between the monitored flow rate and the monitored pressure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A water purification apparatus arranged to output purified water through an outlet port and through at least one sterilizing grade filter of a line set fluidly connected to the outlet port, the water purification apparatus comprising a control unit configured to:
monitor, by means of a flow rate sensor that is located fluidly upstream from the at least one sterilizing grade filter, a flow rate that is correlated with a flow rate of the purified water flowing through the at least one sterilizing grade filter;
monitor, by means of a pressure sensor that is located fluidly upstream from the at least one sterilizing grade filter, a pressure that is correlated with a pressure of the purified water flowing to the at least one sterilizing grade filter; and
evaluate a condition of the water purification apparatus and/or the at least one sterilizing grade filter based on whether a relationship between the monitored flow rate and the monitored pressure exceeds one or more limits indicating one or more system dysfunction criteria is fulfilled, wherein the relationship is:
(i) a ratio of the monitored flow rate to the monitored pressure, wherein:
a first system dysfunction criteria of the one or more system dysfunction criteria is fulfilled when the ratio exceeds an upper ratio limit of at least 3,
fulfillment of the first system dysfunction criteria indicating that the at least one sterilizing grade filter leaks, and
a second system dysfunction criteria of the one or more system dysfunction criteria is fulfilled when the ratio falls below a lower ratio limit of at least 0.5,
fulfillment of the second system dysfunction criteria indicating that the at least one sterilizing grade filter is clogged and a bioburden of the water purification apparatus is too large, or

(ii) a slope value of a curve of a function of a ratio of the monitored flow rate to the monitored pressure versus time, wherein the slope value extending beyond one or more slope limit values indicates another system dysfunction criteria of the one or more system dysfunction criteria is fulfilled.

2. The water purification apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the relationship indicates a permeability property of the at least one sterilizing grade filter and/or the bioburden of the water purification apparatus.

3. The water purification apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more system dysfunction criteria includes a third system dysfunction criteria, and wherein the third system dysfunction criteria is fulfilled when the slope value is positive and is greater than a positive lower slope limit value, and wherein the control unit is configured to:
determine the condition that the at least one sterilizing grade filter leaks, upon determining that the slope value is positive and is greater than the positive lower slope limit value.

4. The water purification apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more system dysfunction criteria includes a fourth system dysfunction criteria, and wherein the fourth system dysfunction criteria is fulfilled when the slope value is negative and is less than a first negative slope limit value, and wherein the control unit is configured to:
determine the condition that the at least one sterilizing grade filter is or will be clogged to a first degree and the bioburden of the water purification apparatus is too large, upon determining that the slope value is negative and is less than the first negative slope limit value.

5. The water purification apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the one or more system dysfunction criteria includes a fifth system dysfunction criteria, and wherein the fifth system dysfunction criteria is fulfilled when the slope value is negative and is less than a second negative slope limit value, wherein the second negative slope limit value is less than the first negative slope limit value, and wherein the control unit is configured to:
determine the condition that the at least one sterilizing grade filter is or will be clogged to a second degree and the bioburden of the water purification apparatus is too large, upon determining that the slope value is negative and is less than the second negative slope limit value.

6. The water purification apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the water purification apparatus is arranged to measure a plurality of flow rate values of the purified water via one or more sensors including the flow rate sensor.

7. The water purification apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the water purification apparatus is arranged to measure a plurality of pressure values of the purified water.

8. The water purification apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to present the condition of the water purification apparatus on a display.

9. The water purification apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to activate an alarm upon the relationship fulfilling at least one of the one or more system dysfunction criteria.

10. The water purification apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to stop the output of the purified water through the outlet port upon the relationship fulfilling at least one of the one or more system dysfunction criteria.

11. A water purification apparatus arranged to output purified water through an outlet port and through at least one sterilizing grade filter of a line set fluidly connected to the outlet port, the water purification apparatus comprising a control unit configured to:
monitor, by means of a flow rate sensor that is located fluidly upstream from the at least one sterilizing grade filter, a flow rate that is correlated with a flow rate of the purified water flowing through the at least one sterilizing grade filter;
monitor, by means of a pressure sensor that is located fluidly upstream from the at least one sterilizing grade filter, a pressure that is correlated with a pressure of the purified water flowing to the at least one sterilizing grade filter; and
evaluate a condition of the water purification apparatus and/or the at least one sterilizing grade filter based on whether a relationship between the monitored flow rate and the monitored pressure exceeds an upper ratio limit of at least 3 or falls below a lower ratio limit of at least 0.5 indicating a system dysfunction criteria of one or more system dysfunction criteria, wherein the relationship is a ratio of the monitored flow rate to the monitored pressure.

12. The water purification apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the relationship indicates a permeability property of the at least one sterilizing grade filter and/or a bioburden of the water purification apparatus.

13. The water purification apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the control unit is configured to:
evaluate the condition based on whether the relationship fulfils one or more of the system dysfunction criteria.

14. The water purification apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the one or more of the system dysfunction criteria comprises that the ratio exceeds the upper ratio limit indicating the condition that the at least one sterilizing grade filter leaks, or falls below the lower ratio limit indicating the condition that the at least one sterilizing grade filter is clogged and a bioburden of the water purification apparatus is too large.

15. The water purification apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the water purification apparatus is arranged to measure a plurality of flow rate values of the purified water via one or more sensors including the flow rate sensor.

Assignees

• Baxter Int
• Baxter Healthcare Sa
• Gambro Lundia Ab

Inventors

• Wictor Per-Ola
• Örndal Carl-Henry
• Lindgren Henrik
• Wellings Anders
• Szpara Edward

Classifications

• A61M1/1561

  at least one cassette surface or portion thereof being flexible, e.g. the cassette having a rigid base portion with preformed channels and being covered with a foil · CPC title

• A61M1/1566

  Means for adding solutions or substances to the treating fluid · CPC title

• A61M1/1565

  Details of valves · CPC title

• A61M1/159

  specially adapted for peritoneal dialysis · CPC title

• A61M1/1524

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