Dialysis system having autoconnection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9242034-B2
Application number	US-201213493743-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2012
Priority date	Jul 5, 2007
Publication date	Jan 26, 2016
Grant date	Jan 26, 2016

Abstract

A dialysis system includes a dialysis machine including at least one fluid pump, and an autoconnection mechanism including a moveable holder; a plurality of pierceable connectors each held by the moveable holder of the autoconnection mechanism, each of the pierceable connectors in fluid communication with a source of medical fluid; a plurality of spikes each held fixed by the dialysis machine, each of the spikes in fluid communication with a disposable component that is positioned and arranged to operate with the at least one fluid pump; and wherein the moveable holder is moved automatically by the autoconnection mechanism, so that (i) the spikes pierce the pierceable connectors and (ii) the sources of medical fluid can communicate with the disposable component positioned and arranged to operate with the at least one fluid pump.

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A dialysis system comprising:
a dialysis machine including
at least one fluid pump actuator, and
an autoconnection mechanism including a moveable holder;

a plurality of pierceable connectors each initially including a protective cap and each held by the moveable holder of the autoconnection mechanism, each of the plurality of pierceable connectors in fluid communication with a source of medical fluid;
a plurality of spikes each held fixed by a rigid housing of a disposable cassette including a flexible membrane attached to the housing, each of the plurality of spikes including a sharp or blunt piercing edge, the disposable cassette positioned and arranged to operate with the at least one fluid pump actuator and for the sharp or blunt piercing edges of the spikes to face the plurality of pierceable connectors; and
wherein the moveable holder is moved automatically by the autoconnection mechanism, so that (i) the protective caps are removed from the plurality of pierceable connectors, (ii) the plurality of spikes pierce the plurality of pierceable connectors and (iii) the sources of medical fluid can communicate with the disposable cassette.

2. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the autoconnection mechanism includes an electrical motor positioned and arranged to move the moveable holder.

3. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the autoconnection mechanism includes an electrical motor that rotates a member so that the moveable holder can be moved.

4. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spikes extend from an end of the disposable cassette.

5. The dialysis system of claim 1 , which includes an annular structure surrounding each of the plurality of spikes for guiding the pierceable connectors.

6. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pierceable connectors are in fluid communication with tubes that are in turn in fluid communication with the sources of medical fluid.

7. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the sources of medical fluid are dialysis fluid sources.

8. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid pump actuator is a peristaltic pump actuator.

9. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the disposable cassette includes a valve associated with each of the plurality of spikes.

10. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spikes are also each initially protected by a cap that is removed by the autoconnection mechanism.

11. The dialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the autoconnection mechanism includes an electrical motor and a rotational to translational conversion apparatus positioned and arranged to convert a rotational output of the electrical motor to a translational movement of the moveable holder.

12. A dialysis system comprising:
a dialysis machine including
a fluid pump actuator, and
an autoconnection mechanism including a moveable holder and at least one electrical motor positioned and arranged to move the moveable holder;

a pierceable connector held by the moveable holder of the autoconnection mechanism, the pierceable connector in fluid communication with a source of medical fluid;
a disposable cassette including a rigid housing and a flexible membrane attached to the housing, and a spike held fixed by the disposable cassette, the spike including a sharp or blunt piercing edge and a protective cap, the disposable cassette positioned and arranged to (a) enable the flexible membrane to operate with the fluid pump actuator, (b) allow the protective cap to be removed from the spike, and (c) place the sharp or blunt piercing edge inline with the pierceable connector; and
wherein the moveable holder is moved automatically by actuating the at least one electrical motor of the autoconnection mechanism, so that (i) the protective cap is removed from the spike, (ii) the pierceable connector is moved to be pierced by the spike and (iii) the source of medical fluid can fluidly communicate with the disposable cassette for fluid pumping by the fluid pump actuator from the source of medical fluid.

13. The dialysis system of claim 12 , wherein the spike is surrounded by an annular structure.

14. The dialysis system of claim 12 , wherein the pierceable connector is covered by a cap that is removed before the pierceable connector is spiked by the spike.

15. The dialysis system of claim 14 , wherein the autoconnection mechanism is operated to automatically remove the cap from the pierceable connector.

16. The dialysis system of claim 14 , wherein the pierceable connector cap is rotatably removed by the autoconnection mechanism before the pierceable connector is spiked by the spike.

17. The dialysis system of claim 14 , wherein the spike cap and the pierceable connector cap are collectively removed before the pierceable connector is spiked by the spike.

18. The dialysis system of claim 13 , wherein the annular structure extends continuously around the spike.

19. The dialysis system of claim 12 , wherein the spike and the pierceable connector form a first mated pair, and which includes a second spike having an annular structure and a second pierceable connector forming a second mated pair.

Assignees

• Childers Robert W
• Lee Patrick
• Kopychev Andrey
• Reitz Douglas
• Roger Rodolfo
• Steck John F
• Baxter Int
• Baxter Healthcare Sa

Inventors

• Childers Robert W
• Lee Patrick
• Kopychev Andrey
• Reitz Douglas
• Roger Rodolfo
• Steck John F

Classifications

• A61M5/1626

  Needle protectors therefor (in combination with syringes A61M5/3202; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001) · CPC title

• A61M39/165

  Shrouds or protectors for aseptically enclosing the connector · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• A61M1/14 Primary

  Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators (semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00){; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis} · CPC title

• A61M5/162

  Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube {; Connections between reservoir and tube (in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14)} · CPC title