In-line heating of dialysis fluids

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021069399-A1
Application number	US-201916565653-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 10, 2019
Priority date	Sep 10, 2019
Publication date	Mar 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Dialysis systems and methods for operating dialysis machines (e.g., peritoneal dialysis machines) for conducting dialysis treatments are disclosed. The dialysis system may include a dialysis machine for transferring dialysate to a patient from a dialysate source. The dialysate may flow from the dialysate source through a cartridge or cassette (e.g., a disposable cartridge or cassette) positionable within the dialysis machine. The cassette includes a fluid flow channel. The dialysis machine includes a heating chamber for in-line heating of the dialysate in the fluid flow channel. The fluid flow channel is arranged and configured to provide turbulent flow of the dialysate through the fluid flow channel to provide increased heat transfer from the heating chamber to the dialysate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A dialysis system for conducting a dialysis treatment, comprising:
a dialysis machine for transferring dialysate to a patient from a dialysate source, the dialysis machine including a cavity and a heating chamber to heat the dialysate to a predetermined temperature; and a disposable cassette positionable within the cavity, the cassette being in fluid communication with the patient and the dialysate source, the cassette including a fluid flow channel; wherein the fluid flow channel is arranged and configured to provide turbulent flow of dialysate through the fluid flow channel to provide increased heat transfer from the heating chamber to the dialysate.

2 . The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow channel is arranged and configured to achieve a Reynold's Number (Nr) of 4,000 or greater.

3 . The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow channel is arranged and configured with a cross-sectional area of between 1.0 mm 2 and 2.1 mm 2 .

4 . The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow channel has a width of approximately 2 mm and a height of approximately 1 mm.

5 . The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow channel includes a plurality of projections extending from an inner surface thereof, the plurality of projections protruding into a path of the dialysate.

6 . The dialysis system of claim 1 , further comprising a header coupled to the fluid flow channel, the header subdividing a first pathway of the fluid flow channel into a plurality of downstream, parallel fluid flow pathways.

7 . The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow channel includes a first stage and a second stage, the first stage of the fluid flow channel being arranged and configured to provide turbulent flow of dialysate through the first stage of the fluid flow channel to provide increased heat transfer from the heating chamber to the dialysate, the second stage of the fluid flow channel being arranged and configured to provide laminar flow of dialysate through the second stage of the fluid flow channel.

8 . The dialysis system of claim 7 , wherein the second stage of the fluid flow channel is in series with the first stage of the fluid flow channel.

9 . The dialysis system of claim 8 , wherein the fluid flow channel includes an inlet and an outlet, the first stage of the fluid flow channel being positioned in series between the inlet and the second stage of the fluid flow channel, the second stage of the fluid flow channel being positioned in series between the first stage of the fluid flow channel and the outlet.

10 . The dialysis system of claim 7 , wherein the heating chamber includes first and second heating elements for heating the first and second stages of fluid flow channel, respectively.

11 . The dialysis system of claim 1 , further comprising a thermal gel pouch positioned between a heating element of the heating chamber and the cassette, the pouch being in direct contact with the heating element and the cassette.

12 . A disposable cassette positionable within a cavity of a dialysis machine that includes a heating chamber, the cassette being in fluid communication with a patient and a dialysate source for transferring dialysate therebetween, the disposable cassette comprising:
a fluid flow channel arranged and configured to provide turbulent flow of dialysate through the fluid flow channel to provide increased heat transfer from the heating chamber to the dialysate.

13 . The cassette of claim 12 , wherein the fluid flow channel is arranged and configured to achieve a Reynold's Number (Nr) of 4,000 or greater.

14 . The cassette of claim 12 , wherein the fluid flow channel is arranged and configured with a cross-sectional area of between 1.0 mm 2 and 2.1 mm 2 .

15 . The cassette of claim 12 , wherein the fluid flow channel has a width of approximately 2 mm and a height of approximately 1 mm.

16 . The cassette of claim 12 , wherein the fluid flow channel includes a plurality of projections extending from an inner surface thereof, the plurality of projections protruding into a path of the dialysate.

17 . The cassette of claim 12 , further comprising a header coupled to the fluid flow channel, the header subdividing a first pathway of the fluid flow channel into a plurality of downstream, parallel fluid flow pathways.

18 . The cassette of claim 12 , wherein the fluid flow channel includes a first stage and a second stage, the first stage of the fluid flow channel being arranged and configured to provide turbulent flow of dialysate through the first stage of the fluid flow channel to provide increased heat transfer from the heating chamber to the dialysate, the second stage of the fluid flow channel being arranged and configured to provide laminar flow of dialysate through the second stage of the fluid flow channel.

19 . The cassette of claim 18 , wherein the second stage of the fluid flow channel is in series with the first stage of the fluid flow channel.

20 . The cassette of claim 18 , wherein the fluid flow channel includes an inlet and an outlet, the first stage of the fluid flow channel being positioned in series between the inlet and the second stage of the fluid flow channel, the second stage of the fluid flow channel being positioned in series between the first stage of the fluid flow channel and the outlet.

21 . A dialysis system for conducting a dialysis treatment, comprising:
a dialysis machine for transferring dialysate to a patient from a dialysate source, the dialysis machine including a cavity and a heating chamber to heat the dialysate to a predetermined temperature; and a disposable cassette positionable within the cavity, the cassette being in fluid communication with the patient and the dialysate source, the cassette including a fluid flow channel; wherein the heating chamber includes one or more pouches positioned between a heating element of the heating chamber and the cassette, the one or more pouches being in contact with the heating element and the cassette to provide for improved heat distribution from the heating element to the dialysate.

22 . The dialysis system of claim 21 , wherein the one or more pouches are thermal gel pouches.

Assignees

• Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Egley Bert D
• Moss Jon F

Classifications

• A61M2206/14

  Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws · CPC title

• A61M1/166 Primary

  Heating (for sterilisation A61M1/1686) · CPC title

• A61M2205/127

  with provisions for heating or cooling · CPC title

• A61M1/1664

  with temperature control · CPC title

• A61M2206/11

  Laminar flow · CPC title