Patent Grant
7083719
The present invention generally relates to dialysis systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to automated peritoneal dialysis systems. The present invention also relates to methods of performing automated peritoneal dialysis and devices for performing same.
Due to disease, insult or other causes, a person's renal system can fail. In renal failure of any cause, there are several physiological derangements. The balance of water, minerals and the excretion of daily metabolic load is no longer possible in renal failure. During renal failure, toxic end products of nitrogen metabolism (urea, creatinine, uric acid, and others) can accumulate in blood and tissues.
Kidney failure and reduced kidney function have been treated with dialysis. Dialysis removes waste, toxins and excess water from the body that would otherwise have been removed by normal functioning kidneys. Dialysis treatment for replacement of kidney functions is critical to many people because the treatment is life saving. One who has failed kidneys could not continue to live without replacing at least the filtration functions of the kidneys.
Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are two types of dialysis therapies commonly used to treat loss of kidney function. Hemodialysis treatment utilizes the patient's blood to remove waste, toxins and excess water from the patient. The patient is connected to a hemodialysis machine and the patient's blood is pumped through the machine. Catheters are inserted into the patient's veins and arteries to connect the blood flow to and from the hemodialysis machine. As blood passes through a dialyzer in the hemodialysis machine, the dialyzer removes the waste, toxins and excess water from the patient's blood and returns the blood back to the patient. A large amount of dialysate, for example about 120 liters, is used to dialyze the blood during a single hemodialysis therapy. The spent dialysate is then discarded. Hemodialysis treatment lasts several hours and is generally performed in a treatment center about three or four times per week.
Peritoneal dialysis utilizes a dialysis solution or “dialysate”, which is infused into a patient's peritoneal cavity through a catheter implanted in the cavity. The dialysate contacts the patient's peritoneal membrane in the peritoneal cavity. Waste, toxins and excess water pass from the patient's bloodstream through the peritoneal membrane and into the dialysate. The transfer of waste, toxins, and water from the bloodstream into the dialysate occurs due to diffusion and osmosis, i.e., an osmotic gradient occurs across the membrane. The spent dialysate drains from the patient's peritoneal cavity and removes the waste, toxins and excess water from the patient. This cycle is repeated.
There are various types of peritoneal dialysis therapies, including continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (“CAPD”), automated peritoneal dialysis and continuous flow peritoneal dialysis. CAPD is a manual dialysis treatment, in which the patient connects an implanted catheter to a drain and allows a spent dialysate fluid to drain from the peritoneal cavity. The patient then connects the catheter to a bag of fresh dialysate and manually infuses fresh dialysate through the catheter and into the patient's peritoneal cavity. The patient disconnects the catheter from the fresh dialysate bag and allows the dialysate to dwell within the cavity to transfer waste, toxins and excess water from the patient's bloodstream to the dialysate solution. After a dwell period, the patient repeats the manual dialysis procedure.
In CAPD the patient performs several drain, fill, and dwell cycles during the day, for example, about four times per day. Each treatment cycle typically takes about an hour. Manual peritoneal dialysis performed by the patient requires a significant amount of time and effort from the patient. This inconvenient procedure leaves ample room for improvement and therapy enhancements to improve patient quality of life.
Automated peritoneal dialysis (“APD”) is similar to CAPD in that the dialysis treatment includes a drain, fill, and dwell cycle. APD machines, however, automatically perform three to four cycles of peritoneal dialysis treatment, typically overnight while the patient sleeps. The APD machines fluidly connect to an implanted catheter. The APD machines also fluidly connect to a source or bag of fresh dialysate and to a fluid drain.
The APD machines pump fresh dialysate from the dialysate source, through the catheter, into the patient's peritoneal cavity and allow the dialysate to dwell within the cavity so that the transfer of waste, toxins and excess water from the patient's bloodstream to the dialysate solution can take place. The APD machines then pump spent dialysate from the peritoneal cavity, though the catheter, to the drain. APD machines are typically computer controlled so that the dialysis treatment occurs automatically when the patient is connected to the dialysis machine, for example, when the patient sleeps. That is, the APD systems automatically and sequentially pump fluid into the peritoneal cavity, allow for a dwell, pump fluid out of the peritoneal cavity and repeat the procedure.
As with the manual process, several drain, fill, and dwell cycles will occur during APD. A “last fill” is typically used at the end of APD, which remains in the peritoneal cavity of the patient when the patient disconnects from the dialysis machine for the day. APD frees the patient from having to manually performing the drain, dwell, and fill steps.
However, continuing needs exist to provide improved APD systems. For example, needs exist to provide simplified APD systems that are easier for patients to use and operate. Further, needs exist to provide lower cost APD systems and APD systems which are less costly to operate. Particularly, needs exist to clinically, economically and ergonomically improve known APD systems.
APD systems need to be improved for home use. One common problem with current home systems is that they are susceptible to electrical shock due to “leakage current”. Current that flows from or between conductors insulated from one another and from earth is called “leakage current”. If any conductor is raised to a potential above earth potential, then some current is bound to flow from that conductor to earth. This is true even of conductors that are well insulated from earth, since there is no such thing as perfect insulation or infinite resistance. The amount of current that flows depends on: (i) the potential, (ii) the capacitate reactance between the conductor and earth and (iii) the resistance between the conductor and earth.
For medical equipment, several different leakage currents are defined according to the paths that the leakage currents take. An “earth leakage current” is the current which normally flows in the earth conductor of a protectively earthed piece of equipment. In medical equipment, impedance to earth from an enclosure is normally much lower through a protective earth conductor than it is through the patient. However, if the protective earth conductor becomes open circuited, the patient could be at risk of electrical shock.
“Patient leakage current” is the leakage current that flows through a patient connected to an applied part or parts. It can either flow from the applied parts via the patient to earth or from an external source of high potential via the patient and the applied parts to earth. Other types of leakage currents include “enclosure leakage current”, and “patient auxiliary current”.
Leakage currents are normally small, however, the amount of current required to produce adverse physiological effects in patients is also small. Accordingly, leakage currents must be limited as much as possible by the design of the equipment and be within safety limits.
Generally, the present invention provides improved dialysis systems and improved methods of performing dialysis. More particularly, the present invention provides systems and methods for performing automated peritoneal dialysis (“APD”). The systems and methods of the present invention automatically provide dialysis therapy by providing dialysis fluid to the patient and draining spent dialysis fluid from the patient.
Also, the systems and methods of the present invention can perform various dialysis therapies. One example of a dialysis therapy which can be performed according to the present invention includes an automatic dialysis fluid exchange of a patient fill, dwell and a patient drain. The dialysis system of the present invention can automatically perform dialysis therapy on a patient, for example, during nighttime while the patient sleeps.
To this end, in an embodiment a dialysis system is provided. The system includes a fluid supply line. A disposable unit is in fluid communication with the fluid supply line. The disposable unit has at least two flexible membranes that bond together at selected locations and to a rigid plastic piece or manifold. The membranes can be single or double layer. One preferred membrane material is described herein. The membranes seal to one another so as to define a fluid pump receptacle and a fluid heating pathway. The membranes and plastic manifold define a number of flexible valve chambers. The disposable unit also fluidly communicates with a patient line and a drain line.
The manifold and other areas of the disposable unit include reduced or tapered edges that provide an area to seal the membranes. The reduced thickness or tapered area requires less heat than the full thickness, which reduces the heat sinking disparity between the thickness of the manifold of the disposable unit and the thinner flexible membranes. The frame of the manifold is bowed or curved to provide rigidity. The frame is also asymmetrical and designed to be placed into the hardware unit in only one direction.
The hardware unit can be manually transported to a patient's home and opened so that the patient can place a disposable unit therein and closed so that the dialysis unit and the disposable unit cooperatively form a pump chamber that enables dialysis fluid to be pumped to and from the patient. The hardware unit has an enclosure that defines a pump shell, a valve actuator and a heater. The disposable unit is placed in and removed from the enclosure. The fluid pump receptacle of the disposable unit and the shell of the hardware unit form a pump chamber. The pump chamber operates with a pump actuator, which is also located inside the transportable hardware unit.
When packaged, a plurality of tubes extend from the disposable unit. The ends of the tubes have connectors that attach to a single body. The body defines or provides a plurality of tip protectors that hold the tubes in an order according to steps of the therapy. The body is configured to slide into the hardware unit of the system from one direction, so that a patient can readily pull the tubes and connectors from the tip protector organizer.
The tip protector used to house the patient fluid connector includes a hydrophobic filter that allows air but not fluid to escape. This vented tip protector enables the system to be primed without having to perform elevation balancing or controlled fluid metering. The system performs a prime by flowing fluid through the system and into the patient fluid line until the dialysate backs up against the filter, causing a fluid pressure increase, which is sensed by the system. The system then stops the pump.
The hardware unit also provides a controller. The controller includes a plurality of processors, a memory device for each processor and input/output capability. One of the processors coordinates operation of the pump actuator, the valve actuator and the heater with the various stages of dialysate flow, such as the fill, dwell and drain stages. The processor also controls or obtains feedback from a plurality of different types of sensors. The sensors include, among others, a capacitance fluid volume sensor, a dialysis fluid temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a vacuum sensor, an air detection sensor and a mechanical positioning sensor.
In an embodiment, the system uses both preset motion control and adaptive pressure control to control the pressure of fluid within the pump receptacle. The system uses a preset pump motor acceleration to overcome system compliance (i.e., membrane and tubing expansion), which would not otherwise be readily overcome by known proportional, differential or integral control. After the system overcomes compliance, the system converts to an adaptive control using adaptive techniques for controlling pressure by precisely controlling the velocity of a pump motor shaft. The adaptive parameters are modified over time to fine tune the system. This method is especially important for the patient fill and drain cycles, wherein the patient can feel pressure fluctuations. The method also readily compensates for pressure variations due to bag height, bag fullness, etc.
The capacitance fluid volume sensor indicates a volume of fluid in the pump chamber, wherein the sensor generates a voltage signal that is indicative of the volume of fluid in the receptacle. The controller receives the voltage signal and converts the signal into an amount of fluid or an amount of air within the flexible fluid receptacle of the pump chamber.
The pump actuator can be mechanically or pneumatically operated. When mechanically driven, a pump motor drives a vacuum source, such as a piston-cylinder, which pulls a vacuum on the membranes of the fluid receptacle of the disposable unit. Here, a mechanical positioning sensor, such as an encoder, senses the angle of a pump motor shaft relative to a home position and sends a signal to the controller, wherein the controller can adjust the pump motor accordingly. The encoder also provides safety feedback to the controller, whereby the controller, once therapy starts, prevents the camshaft from rotating to a position where the valves can free fill the patient. When the pump actuator is pneumatically operated, the system in an embodiment uses a vacuum pump to pull apart the membranes of the fluid receptacle. Here, the system uses a vacuum sensor to sense the state of the vacuum pump and a mechanical sensing device, such as a linear encoder, to sense the state of a pump piston.
Thus, in an embodiment, the system maintains a negative pressure on one of the membranes of the fluid receptacle of the disposable unit to pull same away from the other membrane and draw dialysis fluid into the fluid receptacle. The negative pressure on the active membrane is then released, which pushes the membrane towards the other membrane and dispels the dialysis fluid from the pump receptacle. In another embodiment, a mechanical pump piston can be pneumatically attached to one of the membranes, wherein the system mechanically pulls the membrane away from the other membrane. In an embodiment, the membrane is coupled to the pump piston through negative pressure. The pump also includes a diaphragm that is pulled to a bottom side of the piston head, wherein the membrane is pulled to a top side of same. In a further embodiment, the system mechanically pushes one of the membranes while applying the negative pressure to same.
The system also performs other necessary tasks automatically. For example, the system automatically heats the dialysate to a desired temperature while pumping dialysate to the patient. The heater heats the fluid heating pathway defined by the flexible membranes of the disposable unit. In an embodiment, the heater includes an electrical heating plate. Alternatively, or in addition to the heating plate, the heater includes an infrared heating source. In an embodiment, the fluid heating pathway and the heater define an in-line heater that heats dialysate as it travels from the supply bag to the patient.
The system employs a method of heat control that uses a knowledge-based algorithm and a fuzzy logic based algorithm. The former uses laws of physics, empirical data and sensed inputted signals. The latter inputs a difference between desired and actual temperatures and uses fuzzy logic membership functions and fuzzy logic rules. Each algorithm operates at a different update frequency. Each algorithm outputs a duty cycle, wherein the system weights the fuzzy logic based duty cycle relative to the knowledge based duty cycle and produces an overall heater control duty cycle. This method enables accurate dialysate temperature control.
The system automatically purges air from the dialysate, for example, through the pump chamber. The system also senses a total volume of fluid pumped to the patient, records and logs same. Furthermore, the system knows the instantaneous flow rate and fluid pressure of fluid entering or leaving the patient's peritoneal cavity.
The disposable unit includes a valve manifold. The manifold defines a plurality of valve chambers. The hardware unit includes a valve actuator that selectively and sequentially presses against one or more of the valve chambers. In an embodiment, a mechanically operated valve actuator includes a single camshaft and a plurality of cams. The cams press against one of the membranes of the disposable unit to engage the other membrane and block or disallow fluid flow. As stated above, the system uses a sensing device, such as a rotary encoder, to sense the angle of the camshaft relative to a home position, so that the controller can rotate the camshaft to open or close one or more valves as desired. The single camshaft toggles back and forth between: supply and pump chamber fill positions; patient drain and system drain positions; and between pump chamber fill and patient fill positions. These positions are actuated by a unique rotational position on an overall cam profile (i.e., the superposition of each of the individual cams as seen from the end of the camshaft).
The disposable unit of the present invention is provided in a variety of different forms. In an embodiment, the portion of the disposable unit forming the heating path is formed by the same membranes that seal to the rigid member or manifold that forms the valve chambers. The same membranes also form the pump receptacle. In another embodiment, the disposable unit includes a first set of membranes that form the pump receptacle and the valve manifold via the rigid member. Here, the disposable unit includes a second set of membranes, distinct from the first membranes, which form the fluid heating path. In an embodiment, medical grade tubing connects the first set of membranes to the second set. In particular, the tubing enables the fluid heating path to fluidly connect to the valve manifold.
The disposable unit in another embodiment includes a first flexible membrane and a second flexible membrane that house the pump receptacle, the fluid heating path and the rigid valve manifold. The disposable unit also includes a rigid frame that attaches to at least one of the first and second flexible membranes. The rigid frame enables a patient or operator to place the frame and the disposable unit into the enclosure of the hardware unit of the automated dialysis system. The rigid frame is sized to securely fit into a dedicated place in the enclosure. The rigid frame further holds the disposable unit stable while the patient or operator connects tubes to same. For example, the valve manifold provides ports or other types of connectors for connecting to a supply line, a drain line and a patient line. In an embodiment, the rigid frame extends around or circumvents the membranes including the pump receptacle, fluid heating path and valve manifold. In an embodiment, the rigid frame is plastic. In an embodiment, the rigid frame is bowed along at least two sides to increase the rigidly of the disposable unit and to keep the disposable unit from deforming during the heat sealing portion of its manufacture.
In an embodiment, the rigid member or manifold of the disposable unit includes interfaces that allow the membranes to be more easily sealed to the manifold. The manifold edges are tapered to reduce the heat needed to form a cohesive bond between the membranes and the plastic valve manifold. The knife-like tapered edges also reduce or eliminate the gap between the top and bottom membranes, which minimizes the opportunity for leaks to occur in the disposable unit. The chamfered edges also reduce the likelihood that the heat sealing process will bum through the membranes.
The hardware unit described above includes a display device that provides dialysis system information. The display device also enables the patient or operator to enter information and commands into the controller. For example, the display device can include an associated touch screen that enables the patient or operator to initiate automatic flow of the dialysate through the disposable unit. The system begins to pneumatically and/or mechanically pump dialysate through the pump chamber, past the in-line heater and into the patient's peritoneal cavity. Thereafter, the system automatically runs the other cycles of dialysis therapy, for example, while the patient sleeps and/or at night. The automated system not only transfers dialysate from a supply container to the patient, the system allows the dialysate to dwell inside the patient for an amount of time and automatically operates to transfer the dialysate from the patient to a drain.
The system provides a graphical user interface (“GUI”). The GUI in an embodiment employs an embedded web browser and an embedded web server. The web browser and server operate on a main microprocessor for the system. The GUI also employs instrument access and control software, which operates on the main system processor and on one or more delegate processors. The instrument access and control software controls lower level devices, such as the heater and the pump. The GUI also provides intermediate software that allows the web browser to communicate with the instrument access and control software.
The GUI displays a number of therapy set-up screens and a number of dialysis treatment screens. The set-up screens generally walk the patient through the set-up portion of the therapy. The system waits for an operator input before proceeding to the next set-up screen. The set-up screens provide information to the patient in the form of real-life images of the equipment and through animations of the actions needed to connect the system to the patient.
The therapy treatment screens display the various cycles of the therapy to the patient in real-time or substantially in-real time. The therapy treatment screens display information such as cycle time in both a graphical and quantitative manner. The therapy treatment screens do not require input from a patient, who may be sleeping while these screens are displayed. When the therapy is complete, the system once again displays a number of disconnection screens which, like the set-up screens, wait for an input from the patient before performing an action.
The treatment screens are colored and lighted for night time viewing, and may be easily seen from a distance of about ten to fifteen feet, however, the screens are lighted so as not to wake a sleeping patient. In an embodiment, the background of the screens is black, while the graphics are ruby red. In contrast, the set-up screens are lighted and colored for daytime viewing.
With the above embodiments, one advantage of the present invention is to provide improved systems and methods for performing dialysis.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide improved systems and methods for performing peritoneal dialysis.
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide an automated peritoneal dialysis system and method of operating same.
Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide an automated peritoneal dialysis system that provides dialysis therapy advantages.
Still a further advantage of the present invention is to provide an automated peritoneal dialysis system that has economic advantages.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide an automated peritoneal dialysis system that has quality of life advantages.
A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a disposable unit having bowed sides, which increase rigidity and decrease flexing of disposable unit.
Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is to provide a disposable unit having tapered interfaces that decrease the heat sinking of the semi-rigid manifold and provide a more robust seal.
Various features and advantages of the present invention can become apparent upon reading this disclosure including the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings. The advantages may be desired, but not necessarily required to practice the present invention.
The present invention relates to dialysis systems and methods of performing dialysis. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for automatically providing peritoneal dialysis therapy to patients. The present invention provides automatic multiple exchanges of dialysis fluid to and from the patient's peritoneal cavity. The automatic exchanges of dialysate include drain, fill, and dwell periods, which usually occur while the patient sleeps. A typical therapy can include three to five exchanges of dialysis fluid. The present invention, in an embodiment, provides a single pass system, wherein the dialysate passes through the peritoneal cavity only once before being disposed. While the present invention performs peritoneal dialysis, it is also suitable for other types of dialysis and other medical fluid transfer operations.
I. The System Generally
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to
In an embodiment, the system 10 includes a mechanically operated diaphragm pump 20. The mechanically operated diaphragm pump 20 employs a pump motor 22 and a linear pump actuator 24. A vacuum may also be used with the mechanical actuator for the diaphragm pump 20, as described in further detail below. In another embodiment illustrated in
In
The controller 30 includes a plurality of processors and a memory device for each processor. The processors include a main microprocessor and a number of delegate processors. The main microprocessor runs certain higher level tasks such as the graphical user interface (“GUI”) described below. The delegate processors perform lower level tasks, such as moving valves, reading sensors, controlling heater duty cycle, etc. An additional processor is provided solely for the purpose of tracking safety parameters, such as heater plate and medical fluid temperature. For purposes of the present invention, except where otherwise specified, the term “processor 34” refers collectively to all of the processors and the term “memory device 32” refers collectively to all of the corresponding memory devices.
The controller 30 also includes an input/output (“I/O”) module 36. The memory 32 stores a computer program that contains a step by step sequence for the system 10 and configures certain outputs to occur upon specified inputs. The processor 34 runs the program in memory 32. The I/O module 36 accepts signal lines from various sensors. The I/O module 36 also connects to power lines including input power lines (including if battery powered) and power lines outputted to the various electrical components.
The controller 30, in an embodiment, includes a video controller 38, which may be a video card. The controller 30 also includes a display device or video monitor 40 that displays medical treatment or dialysis information to a patient or operator. In an embodiment, the controller 30 further includes a touch screen 42 that interfaces with the video monitor 40 and electrically communicates with the I/O module 36. The touch screen 42 enables the patient or operator to input medical treatment or dialysis information into the controller 30.
The controller 30 controls the heater 16, the pump 20 and the valve actuator 26 in a number of different phases that make up a single medical or dialysis treatment. In a first pump fill phase, controller 30 activates the pump 20 to pump medical fluid or dialysate from one of the supply bags 14. In
With the membranes maintained against the interior of the pump chamber and the piston head, the controller 30 commands the linear actuator 24 to withdraw within the pump 20. The withdrawal causes the membranes inside the pump chamber to pull further apart. At this time, the controller 30 controls the valve actuator 26 so that only valve V1 is open. The pulling apart of the membranes causes a negative pressure to occur in fill line 52, wherein the negative pressure pulls medical fluid or dialysate from the supply bag 14, through the fill line 52, into a receptacle created by the opened membranes inside the pump chamber of pump 20.
In a patient fill phase, with the negative pressure still maintained by the vacuum source 44, through the pump chamber walls, on the interior membranes, the controller 30 causes the linear pump actuator 24 to move upwards within the pump 20. The upward movement of the actuator 24 and an attached piston head provides a positive mechanical pressure that closes the membrane receptacle and thereby pumps the medical fluid out of the pump 20. At this time, the controller 30 controls the valve actuator 26 so that only valves V2 and V3 are open. Consequently, all of the fluid exiting pump 20 is pumped through a heater line 54, past the in-line heater 16, through a catheter line 56, and into the patient, for example, the patient's peritoneal cavity 12. The catheter line 56 in an embodiment connects to a single lumen catheter, which is implanted into the patient 12. Although, in other embodiments, the system 10 can employ a multi-lumen catheter.
The heater 16 in an embodiment includes one or more electrical heating plates, which heat the medical fluid to roughly body temperature. The controller 30 energizes and de-energizes the heater 16 as necessary to obtain the proper fluid temperature. The controller 30 can close valves V2 and V3, located on opposing sides of the heater 16 in the heater line 54, if the medical fluid is too hot or too cold. The improperly heated dialysate does not enter the peritoneal cavity 12.
The controller 20 repeats the pump fill phase and the heater fill phase until the patient's the peritoneal cavity 12 becomes full of fluid according to the therapy protocol. In an embodiment, the volume inside the pump is about thirty to fifty milliliters, and an adult patient typically uses about two liters of dialysis fluid. Accordingly, the pump fill phase and the heater fill phase can be repeated on the order of fifty times. In an embodiment, the pump actuator 24 maintains a fluid pressure at the pump 20 of about three pounds per square inch (“psi”).
The system 10 provides a fluid volume sensor 60, which measures the actual volume of medical fluid that has been forced through the pump 20. By summing multiple individual pump volumes, the controller accurately knows how much medical fluid or dialysate has been delivered to the patient 12. The system 10 in an embodiment repeats the pump fill phase and the heater fill phase until the pump 20 has delivered a predetermined volume of medical fluid. The predetermined volume can be inputted into the controller 30 by a patient or operator via the touch screen 42.
In a dwell phase, the controller 30 lets the medical fluid or dialysate remain within the patient 12 for an amount of time, which can be controlled by the controller 30, the patient 12 or an operator. In an embodiment, the controller 30 determines the dwell time, but the patient 12 or operator can override the system 10 and command that the system 10 remove the medical fluid from the patient 12.
In a second pump fill phase, the medical fluid is removed from the patient 12. The controller 30 and the actuator 26 open valve V4, while shutting the remaining valves. With the vacuum source still maintaining a negative pressure on the membranes inside the pump 20, the linear actuator 24 withdraws the pump piston within the chamber of pump 20 and reopens the receptacle between the membranes. The negative pressure created by the opening receptacle pulls the medical fluid from the patient 12, through the catheter line 56 and into the membrane receptacle formed inside the pump 20.
In a drain phase, with the negative pressure still maintained by the vacuum source 44, through the pump chamber walls, on the interior membranes, the controller 30 causes the linear pump actuator 24 to move upwardly within the pump 20. The upward movement of the actuator 24 causes a positive mechanical pressure to close the membrane receptacle and thereby pump the medical fluid out of the pump 20. At this time, the controller 30 controls the valve actuator 26 so that only valve V5 is open. Consequently, all of the fluid exiting pump 20 is pumped through a drain line 58 and into the drain 18. Drain 18 can be a drain bag or a drain pipe inside a home, a hospital or elsewhere.
One embodiment of the fluid volume sensor 60 is described in more detail below in connection with the description of the diaphragm pump 20. Besides the fluid volume sensor 60, the system 10 includes various other desired types of sensors.
The system 10 includes temperature sensors 62, such as the sensors T1 to T4, which measure the temperature at relevant places within the system 10. In an embodiment, the sensors 62 are non-invasive, however, any other types of temperature sensors may be employed. As illustrated in
The system 10 also provides temperature sensors 62 that monitor the temperature of the heater 16. In an embodiment, the heater 16 is an in-line plate heater. The in-line plate heater 16 can have one or more heater plates, for example, two heater plates having a disposable unit placed between same. Separate temperature sensors PT1 and PT2 are provided to monitor the temperature of each of the plates of the plate heater. The system 10 can thereby control each plate heater individually.
The system 10 includes one or more air sensors 64, such as the sensor AS1, placed directly at the throat of the inlet and outlet of the pump 20. Another air sensor AS2 monitors air in the medical fluid after it leaves the heater 16 and just before the final shut-off valve V3 leading to the catheter line 56. The controller 30 monitors the air content sensed by the air sensors 64 and thereby controls the system 10 to perform any necessary air purge. The system 10 can separate and discharge the air from the fluid or simply convey the air to the drain 18. The system 10 also includes an air vent solenoid 66, which is operated by the controller 30. The air vent solenoid 66 enables the system 10 to relieve the vacuum applied to one or both of the membranes in the pump 20.
The system 10 can accumulate air for various reasons. For example, the valves V1 to V5 and fluid lines, such as lines 52, 54, 56 and 58 may contain air prior to priming the system 10. The supply bags 14 may also introduce air into the pump 20. The patient 12 can also produce certain gasses, which become entrained in the dialysate and enter the pump 20. Further, if minor leaks exist in the fluid disposable or the connections to the supply bag 14, the catheter at the patient 12, or the drain bag, the pump 20 can draw air in through the leaks.
The system 10 provides various fluid pressure sensors 68. Fluid pressure sensors FP1 and FP2 provide a redundant pressure reading of the fluid in the fill line 52 leading to the pump 60. The fluid pressure sensors 68 provide a signal to the controller 30 that indicates the respective fluid pressure at that location. Based on the signals from the pressure sensors FP1 and FP2, the controller 30 operates the fluid pumps and valves to obtain and maintain a desired fluid pressure. As stated above, the system 10 maintains the pump pressure, for example, at about three psi.
The system 10 also provides various valve pressure sensors 70. Valve pressure sensors VP1 to VP5 detect the fluid pressure at the valves V1 to V5. The system 10 further provides one or more vacuum pressure sensors 72, for example, at the vacuum source 44, to ensure that a proper vacuum is maintained on the membrane receptacle within the pump 20.
In an embodiment, the fluid pressure, valve pressure and vacuum sensors 68, 70 and 72, respectively, are non-invasive sensors. That is, the sensors do not physically contact (and possibly contaminate) the medical fluid or dialysate. Of course, the system 10 can include other flow and pressure devices, such as flow rate sensors, pressure gauges, flowmeters, or pressure regulators in any suitable quantity and at any desired location.
The system 10 also includes various positioning sensors. In an embodiment, the positioning sensors include a linear encoder 74 that monitors the position of the linear pump actuator 24 and a rotary encoder 76 that monitors the angular position of the valve actuator 26 or camshaft. An encoder is one type of positioning feedback device that can be employed. Other types of positioning feedback systems include proximity sensors and magnetic pick-ups that sense a pulse, e.g., a gear tooth of a gear attached to the camshaft, and output the pulse to a counter or microprocessor.
The encoders 74 and 76 also typically provide a pulsed output, which is sent to the controller 30. The pulsed output tells the controller 30 how many steps or how far the linear pump actuator 24 or the valve actuator 26 is from a home position or home index 78. For example, the home position 78 can be the pump fully open or pump fully closed position for the linear encoder 74 and the zero degree position for the rotary encoder 76.
In an embodiment, the encoders 74 and 76 are absolute type encoders that know the location of the home position 78 even after a power loss. In another embodiment, the encoders 74 and 76 are incremental encoders and a battery back-up is provided to the controller so that the system 10 can maintain the location of the home position 78 even when no external power is applied. Further alternatively, system 10 can be programmed to automatically move the pump actuator 24 and the valve actuator 26 upon power-up until a home position is sensed, wherein the system 10 can begin to run the main sequence.
Referring now to
In the pump fill phases, described above, the controller 30 activates the pump 120 to pump medical fluid or dialysate from one of the supply bags 14. To do so, the controller 30 commands vacuum source 44 (shown separately from motor 46 in
To draw in medical fluid, the vacuum line 148 pulls a vacuum through first and second pump chamber walls to the pair of opposing membranes inside the pump chamber. The vacuum pulls the membranes against the interior of the pump chamber. At this time, the controller 30 controls the valve actuator 26 so that only valve V1 is open. The pulling apart of the membranes causes a negative pressure to occur in fill line 52, wherein the negative pressure pulls medical fluid or dialysate from the supply bag 14, through the fill line 52, into a receptacle created by the volume between the membranes inside the pump chamber of pump 120.
In an alternative embodiment, the pump 120 maintains a constant vacuum on one of the membranes, wherein the opposing membrane does the pumping work. To pump fluid out, the vacuum on one or both membranes is released. The membranes, which have been stretched apart, spring back to a closed position. This operation is described in detail below.
The system 100 also includes a slightly different valve manifold than the system 10. The system 100 includes one less valve than the system 10, wherein the system 100 does not provide an extra valve (V3 in system 10) directly after the fluid heater 16. Obviously, those of skill in the art can find many ways to configure the valves and fluid flow lines of the systems 10 and 100. Consequently, the configuration of the valves and fluid flow lines of the systems 10 and 100 as illustrated merely represent practical examples, and the present invention is not limited to same.
II. Hardware Unit and Disposable unit
Referring now to
Once the disposable unit 160 is placed inside the hardware unit 110, the operator closes the lid 116 and uses one or more locking or latching mechanism 118 (
The hardware unit 110 in an embodiment is approximately 23 to 30 cm high and deep and in one preferred embodiment, as illustrated, about 25 cm high and deep. The hardware unit 110 in an embodiment is approximately 32 to 40 cm wide and in one preferred embodiment, as illustrated, about 34 cm wide. The internal volume of the unit 110 is therefore about 17,000 cm3 to about 36,000 cm3, and in one preferred embodiment, approximately 21,250 cm3 (1310 in3). Section view 4B aptly illustrates the many components maintained within this compact space and the efficient use of same. All these components and the hardware unit 110 have a total mass of about six to nine kilograms (kg) and in one preferred embodiment about seven kilograms.
The hardware unit 110 contains the pump 20 or 120 and the linear pump actuator 24 if system 10 is employed. The hardware unit 110 also contains the valve actuator 26 including the valve motor 28, the in-line heater 16, the various sensors, the vacuum source 44 including the air pump motor 46 and the controller 30 as well as the other hardware described above.
Referring now to
The flexible membranes 162 and 164 can be made of any suitable sterile and inert material, such as a sterile and inert plastic or rubber. For example, the membranes 162 and 164 can be buna-N, butyl, hypalon, kel-F, kynar, neoprene, nylon, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, silicone, vinyl, viton or any combination of these. One preferred material for the flexible membrane is described below in connection with
The membranes 162 and 164 are sealed together in various places to create fluid flow paths and receptacles between the membranes 162 and 164. The seals are heat seals, adhesive seals or a combination of both.
The upper and lower membranes 162, 164 are attached to the disposable unit 160 utilizing heat sealing techniques as described herein. The membranes 162 and 164 are expandable so that when the disposable unit 160 is placed between a predefined gap between the upper and lower plates of the heater 16, the membranes 162 and 164 expand and contact the heater plates. This causes conductive heating to take place between the plates of the heater 16 and the membranes 162, 164 and between the membranes and the medical fluid. The predefined gap is slightly larger than the thickness of the disposable unit 160. Specifically, when dialysate moves through the fluid heating path 180 of the disposable unit 160, the membranes 162, 164 of the spiral wound fluid heating pathway 180 expand between the spiral seal 178 and touch the plates of the heater 16.
A. Separate Sets of Membranes
The disposable unit 160 of
Separating the fluid heating path 180 from the fluid pump receptacle 172 and the valve manifold 190 enables the membranes of the respective pairs to be made of different materials. It is desirable that the membranes 162 and 164 of the heating pair 166 conduct or radiate heat efficiently. On the other hand, it is desirable that the membranes 162 and 164 of the fluid flow pair 166 withstand the forces of suction and mechanical actuation. It may therefore be desirable to use dissimilar materials for the membrane pair 166 and the membrane pair 168.
The membrane pair 166, defining the heater fluid flow path 180, additionally defines alignment holes 176 that align with pegs protruding from the base 114 or the lid 116 of the hardware unit 110. Each of the embodiments of the disposable unit 160 disclosed herein may be adapted to include alignment holes 176, which aid the patient or operator in properly placing the disposable unit 160 within the housing 112 of the hardware unit 110.
B. Rigid Frame and Bowed Sides
As shown in
In an embodiment, the housing 112 defines a pin or guide into which the frame 186 of the disposable unit 160 snugly fits.
As discussed above, the disposable unit 160 includes a valve manifold 190. In an embodiment, the valve manifold 190 is made of a rigid or semi-rigid plastic, such as, from one of or a combination of the plastics listed above for the membranes 162 and 164. The valve manifold 190 is covered on either side by the upper and lower membranes 162 and 164 to thereby create a sealed and inert logic flow path for the systems 10 and 100.
In
In an embodiment, the rigid or semi-rigid frame 186 includes bowed sides 187 and 189, as illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the sides 187 and 189 bow outward although they can alternatively bow inward. In a preferred embodiment, the sides are bowed in a direction of the plane of the frame 186 of the disposable unit 160. The bowed sides 187 and 189 increase the rigidity of the frame 186 and the disposable unit 160. The disposable unit is accordingly more easily placed in the housing 112 of the hardware unit 110. The bowed sides 187 and 189 reduce the amount of flexing or distortion of the frame 186 due to heat sealing or mechanically pressing membranes 162 and 164 onto the frame 186 and manifold 190.
C. Heat Seal Interface
Referring now to
As illustrated in
To reduce the amount of heat necessary to seal the membranes 162 and 164 to the manifold 190, the manifold 190 includes a side 193 having a lesser thickness than the remaining portion of the manifold 190. The thinner side 193 has less mass and therefore absorbs less localized heat than would a manifold of constant thickness. The side 193 also defines or includes a tapered portion 195. The tapered portion 195 provides flat surfaces on which to seal the membranes 162 and 164 and also positions the membranes 162 and 164 together so that in an embodiment a membrane to membrane seal may also be made in addition to the membrane to manifold 190 seal.
The tapered edges 195 form an interface for the membranes 162 and 164 to seal to the manifold 190, which occurs along continuous stretches of the sides 193 of the manifold 190 that require sealing or that would otherwise come into contact with the medical fluid. Therefore, as illustrated in
The ports 201, 203 and 205 also form tapered edges 207. Tapered edges 207 form an interface for heat sealing the parts to the membranes 162 and 164. As described above, the tapered edges 207 of the ports 201, 203 and 205 also enable a membrane to membrane seal to take place directly next to the membrane to tapered edge 207 seal. The tapered edges 195 and 207 in a preferred embodiment gradually taper towards the knife-like edge. In other embodiments, the tapered edges 195 and 207 may take on different forms or shapes, such as a rounded edge, a blunter edge or may simply be further reduced in thickness from side 193 of the manifold 190. As illustrated, the ports 201, 203 and 205 in an embodiment form ovular openings. The tapered ovular openings provide a smoother transition angle than would a circular outer diameter. The ovular openings perform as well as round openings from a fluid flow standpoint as long as open area of the inner oval is not less than the open area of a suitable circular port.
The ports 201, 203 and 205 also form raised portions 209. The raised portions 209 form a bead of polymeric material along the tops of the ports 201, 203 and 205 and the tapered edges 207. The beads can be additionally or alternatively placed along the tapered edges 195 and or the sides 193. The raised portions or beads 209 provide an extra thin area of plastic that melts or deforms to provide a flux-like sealant that enables the membranes 162 and 164 to seal to the manifold 190. The beads create a concentrated strip of higher temperature plastic than the surrounding plastic of the manifold 190. The membranes 162 and 164 seal to the manifold 190 without having to heat a larger area of the manifold 190. The raised portions or beads 209 help to seal curved portions and corners created by the manifold 190.
D. One-Piece Tip Protector Organizer and Vented Tip Protector
Referring now to
The one-piece tip protector organizer 270 of the present invention provides a single body 272 (which may actually be made of a plurality of pieces) that defines or provides a plurality of tip protectors 274, 276, 278 and 280. The vented tip protector 270 not only houses and protects the connectors at the ends of the tubes emanating from the disposable unit 160, the one-piece tip protector 270 also organizes and orders the tubes according to the steps of the dialysis therapy. In the illustrated embodiment, the tip protector 274 is a tip protector for a drain line connector 284 connected to a drain line 285 that leads to the appropriate port of the disposable unit 160. The tip protectors 276 and 278 are supply bag protectors that protect the connectors 286 and 288 that connect to the ends of the tubes 287 and 289 that run to a “Y” connection 287/289, wherein the leg of the “Y” connection 287/289 runs to the appropriate port of the disposable unit 160. The tip protector 280 is a patient fluid line protector. The tip protector 280 houses and protects a connector 290 that connects to patient tube 292, which runs to the appropriate port of the disposable unit 160.
Each of the tubes 285, the “Y” connection 287 and 289 and the patient fluid tube 292 in an embodiment are made of polyvinylchloride (“PVC”) having an inner diameter of 4 mm and an outer diameter of 5 mm. As illustrated, the one-piece tip protector organizer 270 is adaptable to receive and protect various types of fluid connectors. The fluid connector 284 that runs via tube 285 to the drain line port of the disposable unit 160 is in an embodiment largely the same as the port that emanates from the supply bags 14. The ports that emanate from the supply bags 14 also include a membrane that is pierced by the sharp stem of the supply bag connectors 286 and 288. The drain line connector 284 does not include the membrane of the supply bag 14 as it is not needed. The tip protector 290 that connects to the end of the patient fluid tube 292 is discussed in detail below.
In one preferred embodiment, the system 10, 100 of the present invention provides two, six liter supply bags 14. The two, six liter bags provide an economic amount of peritoneal dialysis fluid, which is enough fluid to provide a number of fill, dwell and drain cycles during the evening while the patient sleeps. The one-piece organizer 270 therefore provides two tip protectors 276 and 278, which house and protect the supply connectors 286 and 288. In alternative embodiments, the one-piece organizer 270 can define or provide any number of supply bag tip protectors. Any number of supply bags can be additionally linked via “Y” or “T” type tubing links.
The one-piece organizer 270 can provide additional tip protectors such as a last bag protector, which protects a line that runs to a bag that holds enough peritoneal fluid, e.g., two liters, for a final fill for the patient during the daytime. In this case, an additional last bag tube, not illustrated, would connect to a connector, which would be a bag piercing connector, the same as or similar to the fill bag connectors 286 and 288.
The body 272 of the tip protector organizer 270 is in an embodiment also made of PVC. The tip protectors 274, 276, 278 and 280 are injection molded or blow molded. Alternatively, the tip protectors can be separately applied to the body 272. As seen in
The one-piece organizer 270 also includes a rim 294 that extends outwardly from the main portion of the body 272, and which circumvents the main portion of the body 272. Referring now to
In one embodiment, the tip protector and organizer 270 structures the tubes 285, 287, 289 and 292 in a downwardly vertical order, such that the first tube that the patient is supposed to pull when starting the dialysis therapy is provided on top, the next tubes that the patient is supposed to pull are provided in the middle and the final tube is provided lowest on the vertically oriented one-piece organizer 270. According to one preferred protocol, the patient first removes the drain connector 284 from the tip protector 274 and runs the drain line 285 to a toilet, drain bag or other drain. The patient then removes the supply connectors 286 and 288 and punctures the supply bags 14 (
Once priming is complete, system 10, 100 prompts the patient to remove the primed patient line 292 and connect same to the transfer set implanted into the patient. The transfer set (not illustrated) includes a catheter positioned into the patient's peritoneal cavity and a tube running to the catheter. The tube also includes a connector that couples to the connector 290. At this point, system 10, 100 can begin to either drain spent peritoneal fluid from the patient 12 to the drain 18 or pull new fluid from one or both of the supply bags 14 and fill the patient's peritoneal cavity 12.
Referring now to
The system 10, 100 of the present invention provides a different apparatus and method of priming without having to calculate the amount of fluid that is needed to just reach but not surpass the patient connector of the patient fluid line.
It should be appreciated that the vented tip protector 280 including the hydrophobic membrane 300 is not limited to being placed in the one-piece tip protector organizer 270.
Hydrophobic membranes, such as the hydrophobic membrane 300 employed herein, are commercially available. One suitable hydrophobic membrane is produced by Millipore, 80 Ashby Road, Bedford, Mass. 01730.
The vented tip protector 280 and the patient fluid connector 290 also cooperate so that when the system 10, 100 is completely primed, the tip protector 280 and connector 290 minimize the amount of fluid that spills when the patient removes the patient fluid connector 290 from the tip protector 280. The connector 290 includes or provides a male lure 304 that mates with a female lure 306 best seen in
To prime the system 10, 100 the patient removes the drain line 285 from the tip protector 274 and places it into a tub, toilet or drain bag 18. The patient removes the two or more supply bag connectors 286 and 288 and punctures seal membranes (not illustrated) of the supply bags 14. System 10, 100 may then automatically begin pump priming or may begin pump priming upon a patient input. In either case, system 10, 100 pumps fluid from one or both of the supply bags 14 through the connectors 286 and 288 and tubes 287 and 289, into the disposal disposable unit 160, out the patient fluid line 292 and into the patient fluid connector 290, which is still housed in the vented tip protector 280 of the one-piece organizer 270. The organizer 270 is vertically housed in the hardware unit 110 as seen in
When the peritoneal fluid reaches the patient fluid connector 290, most all the air within the system 10 has been pushed through the hydrophobic membrane 300 attached at the end of the tip protector 280 housed in the one-piece tip protector 270. The nature of the hydrophobic membrane 300 is that it allows air to pass through but filters or does not allow water or peritoneal fluid to pass through same. Thus, when the fluid finally reaches the hydrophobic membrane 300, the lack of any additional space in which to flow fluid causes the pressure to increase within the system 10, 100. The system 10, 100 provides one or more pressure sensors, for example pressure sensors 68 (marked as FP1, FP2 and FPT in
One or more of the pressure sensors 68 sense the increase in pressure due to the peritoneal fluid backing up against the hydrophobic filter 300. The pressure sensor(s) sends a signal to the I/O module 36 of the controller 30. The controller 30 receives the signal and is programmed in memory device 32 to shut down the diaphragm pump 20, 120. In this manner, the system 10 self-primes each of the fill lines 287 and 289, the disposable unit 160 and the patient fluid line 292 automatically and without need for controlled volume calculations or gravity feeding.
System 10, 100 also includes one or more safety features that may be based upon a volume calculation. That is, under normal operations, the system 10, 100 does not control the priming using a volume calculation. However, in the case where for example the patient removes the patient fluid connector 290 from the vented tip protector 280 of the one-piece tip organizer 270 before the system 10, 100 senses a pressure increase and stops the pumps 10, 100, the system 10, 100 can employ an alarm calculation, wherein the system 10, 100 knows that it has pumped too much peritoneal fluid (e.g., a predetermined amount more than the internal volume of the system) and shuts down pump 20, 120 accordingly.
III. Membrane Material For the Disposable unit
Referring now to
The monolayer structure 312 is formed from a blend of from about 90% to about 99% by weight of a first component containing a styrene and hydrocarbon copolymer and from about 10% to about 1% of a melt strength enhancing polymer and more preferably a high melt strength polypropylene.
The term “styrene” includes styrene and the various substituted styrenes including alkyl substituted styrene and halogen substituted styrene. The alkyl group can contain from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms. Specific examples of substituted styrenes include alpha-methylstyrene, beta-methylstyrene, vinyltoluene, 3-methylstyrene, 4-methylstyrene, 4-isopropylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, o-chlorostyrene, p-chlorostyrene, o-bromostyrene, 2-chloro-4-methylstyrene, etc. Styrene is the most preferred.
The hydrocarbon portion of the styrene and hydrocarbon copolymer includes conjugated dienes. Conjugated dienes which may be utilized are those containing from 4 to about 10 carbon atoms and more specifically, from 4 to 6 carbon atoms. Examples include 1,3-butadiene, 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene), 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, chloroprene, 1,3-pentadiene, 1,3-hexadiene, etc. Mixtures of these conjugated dienes also may be used such as mixtures of butadiene and isoprene. The preferred conjugated dienes are isoprene and 1,3-butadiene.
The styrene and hydrocarbon copolymers can be block copolymers including di-block, tri-block, multiblock, and star block. Specific examples of diblock copolymers include styrene-butadiene, styrene-isoprene, and selectively hydrogenated derivatives thereof. Examples of tri-block polymers include styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, alpha-methylstyrene-butadiene-alpha-methylstyrene, and alpha-methylstyrene-isoprene-alpha-methylstyrene and selectively hydrogenated derivatives thereof.
The selective hydrogenation of the above block copolymers may be carried out by a variety of well known processes including hydrogenation in the presence of such catalysts as Raney nickel, noble metals such as platinum, palladium, etc., and soluble transition metal catalysts. Suitable hydrogenation processes which can be used are those wherein the diene-containing polymer or copolymer is dissolved in an inert hydrocarbon diluent such as cyclohexane and hydrogenated by reaction with hydrogen in the presence of a soluble hydrogenation catalyst. Such procedures are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,113,986 and 4,226,952, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.
Particularly useful hydrogenated block copolymers are the hydrogenated block copolymers of styrene-isoprene-styrene, such as a polystyrene-(ethylene/propylene)-polystyrene block polymer. When a polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene block copolymer is hydrogenated, the resulting product resembles a regular copolymer block of ethylene and 1-butene (EB). This hydrogenated block copolymer is often referred to as SEBS. When the conjugated diene employed is isoprene, the resulting hydrogenated product resembles a regular copolymer block of ethylene and propylene (EP). This hydrogenated block copolymer is often referred to as SEPS. When the conjugated diene is a mixture of isoprene and butadiene the selectively hydrogenated product is referred to as SEEPS. Suitable SEBS, SEPS and SEEPS copolymers are sold by Shell Oil under the tradename KRATON, by Kurary under the tradename SEPTON® and HYBRAR®.
The block copolymers of the conjugated diene and the vinyl aromatic compound can be grafted with an alpha,beta-unsaturated monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acid reagent. The carboxylic acid reagents include carboxylic acids per se and their functional derivatives such as anhydrides, imides, metal salts, esters, etc., which are capable of being grafted onto the selectively hydrogenated block copolymer. The grafted polymer will usually contain from about 0.1 to about 20%, and preferably from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight based on the total weight of the block copolymer and the carboxylic acid reagent of the grafted carboxylic acid. Specific examples of useful monobasic carboxylic acids include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, cinnamic acid, crotonic acid, acrylic anhydride, sodium acrylate, calcium acrylate and magnesium acrylate, etc. Examples of dicarboxylic acids and useful derivatives thereof include maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, mesaconic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, itaconic anhydride, citraconic anhydride, monomethyl maleate, monosodium maleate, etc.
The first component containing a styrene and hydrocarbon block copolymer can be modified by adding an oil, such as a mineral oil, paraffinic oil, polybutene oil or the like. The amount of oil added to the styrene and hydrocarbon block copolymer is from about 5% to about 40%. The first component can also contain a polypropylene up to about 20% by weight of the first component. One particularly suitable first component is an oil modified SEBS sold by the Shell Chemical Company under the product designation KRATON G2705.
The melt strength enhancing polymer preferably is a high melt strength polypropylene. Suitable high melt strength polypropylenes can be a homopolymer or a copolymer of polypropylene and can have free end long chain branching or not. In one preferred form of the invention, the high melt strength polypropylene will have a melt flow index within the range of 10 grams/10 min. to 800 grams/10 min., more preferably 10 grams/10 min. to 200 grams/10 min, or any range or combination of ranges therein. High melt strength polypropylenes are known to have free-end long chain branches of propylene units. Methods of preparing polypropylenes which exhibit a high melt strength characteristic have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,916,198; 5,047,485; and 5,605,936, which are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. One such method includes irradiating a linear propylene polymer in an environment in which the active oxygen concentration is about 15% by volume with high energy ionization radiation at a dose of 1×104 megarads per minute for a period of time sufficient for a substantial amount of chain scission of the linear propylene polymer to occur but insufficient to cause the material to become gelatinous. The irradiation results in chain scission. The subsequent recombination of chain fragments results in the formation of new chains, as well as joining chain fragments to chains to form branches. This further results in the desired free-end long chain branched, high molecular weight, non-linear, propylene polymer material. Radiation is maintained until a significant amount of long chain branches form. The material is then treated to deactivate substantially all the free radicals present in the irradiated material.
High melt strength polypropylenes can also be obtained as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,169, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference and made a part hereof, when a specified organic peroxide (di-2-ethylhexyl peroxydicarbonate) is reacted with a polypropylene under specified conditions, followed by melt-kneading. Such polypropylenes are linear, crystalline polypropylenes having a branching coefficient of substantially 1, and, therefore, has no free end long-chain branching and will have an intrinsic viscosity of from about 2.5 d/g to 10 dl/g.
Suitable copolymers of propylene are obtained by polymerizing a propylene monomer with an a -olefin having from 2 to 20 carbons. In a more preferred form of the invention the propylene is copolymerized with ethylene in an amount by weight from about 1% to about 20%, more preferably from about 1% to about 10% and most preferably from 2% to about 5% by weight of the copolymer. The propylene and ethylene copolymers may be random or block copolymers. In a preferred form of the invention, the propylene copolymer is obtained using a single-site catalyst.
The components of the blend can be blended and extruded using standard techniques well known in the art. The film 312 will have a thickness of from about 3 mils to about 12 mils, more preferably from 5 mils to about 9 mils.
Suitable polyolefins include homopolymers and copolymers obtained by polymerizing alpha-olefins containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and more preferably from 2 to 10 carbons. Therefore, suitable polyolefins include polymers and copolymers of propylene, ethylene, butene-1, pentene-1,4-methyl-1-pentene, hexene-1, heptene-1, octene-1, nonene-1 and decene-1. Most preferably the polyolefin is a homopolymer or copolymer of propylene or a homopolymer or copolymer of polyethylene.
Suitable homopolymers of polypropylene can have a stereochemistry of amorphous, isotactic, syndiotactic, atactic, hemiisotactic or stereoblock. In one preferred form of the invention the homopolymer of polypropylene is obtained using a single site catalyst.
It is also possible to use a blend of polypropylene and α-olefin copolymers wherein the propylene copolymers can vary by the number of carbons in the α-olefin. For example, the present invention contemplates blends of propylene and α-olefin copolymers wherein one copolymer has a 2 carbon α-olefin and another copolymer has a 4 carbon α-olefin. It is also possible to use any combination of α-olefins from 2 to 20 carbons and more preferably from 2 to 8 carbons. Accordingly, the present invention contemplates blends of propylene and α-olefin copolymers wherein a first and second α-olefins have the following combination of carbon numbers: 2 and 6, 2 and 8, 4 and 6, 4 and 8. It is also contemplated using more than 2 polypropylene and α-olefin copolymers in the blend. Suitable polymers can be obtained using a catalloy procedure.
It may also be desirable to use a high melt strength polypropylene as defined above.
Suitable homopolymers of ethylene include those having a density of greater than 0.915 g/cc and includes low density polyethylene (LDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE).
Suitable copolymers of ethylene are obtained by polymerizing ethylene monomers with an α-olefin having from 3 to 20 carbons, more preferably 3–10 carbons and most preferably from 4 to 8 carbons. It is also desirable for the copolymers of ethylene to have a density as measured by ASTM D-792 of less than about 0.915 g/cc and more preferably less than about 0.910 g/cc and even more preferably less than about 0.900 g/cc. Such polymers are oftentimes referred to as VLDPE (very low density polyethylene) or ULDPE (ultra low density polyethylene). Preferably the ethylene α-olefin copolymers are produced using a single site catalyst and even more preferably a metallocene catalyst systems. Single site catalysts are believed to have a single, sterically and electronically equivalent catalyst position as opposed to the Ziegler-Natta type catalysts which are known to have a mixture of catalysts sites. Such single-site catalyzed ethylene α-olefins are sold by Dow under the trade name AFFINITY, DuPont Dow under the trademark ENGAGE® and by Exxon under the trade name EXACT. These copolymers shall sometimes be referred to herein as m-ULDPE.
Suitable copolymers of ethylene also include ethylene and lower alkyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene and lower alkyl substituted alkyl acrylate copolymers and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers having a vinyl acetate content of from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the copolymer. The term “lower alkyl acrylates” refers to comonomers having the formula set forth in Diagram 1:
The R group refers to alkyls having from 1 to 17 carbons. Thus, the term “lower alkyl acrylates” includes but is not limited to methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate and the like.
The term “alkyl substituted alkyl acrylates” refers to comonomers having the formula set forth in Diagram 2:
R1 and R2 are alkyls having 1–17 carbons and can have the same number of carbons or have a different number of carbons. Thus, the term “alkyl substituted alkyl acrylates” includes but is not limited to methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, methyl ethacrylate, ethyl ethacrylate, butyl methacrylate, butyl ethacrylate and the like.
Suitable polybutadienes include the 1,2- and 1,4-addition products of 1,3-butadiene (these shall collectively be referred to as polybutadienes). In a more preferred form of the invention the polymer is a 1,2-addition product of 1,3 butadiene (these shall be referred to as 1,2 polybutadienes). In an even more preferred form of the invention the polymer of interest is a syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene and even more preferably a low crystallinity, syndiotactic 1,2 polybutadiene. In a preferred form of the invention the low crystallinity, syndiotactic 1,2 polybutadiene will have a crystallinity less than 50%, more preferably less than about 45%, even more preferably less than about 40%, even more preferably the crystallinity will be from about 13% to about 40%, and most preferably from about 15% to about 30%. In a preferred form of the invention the low crystallinity, syndiotactic 1,2 polybutadiene will have a melting point temperature measured in accordance with ASTM D 3418 from about 70° C. to about 120° C. Suitable resins include those sold by JSR (Japan Synthetic Rubber) under the grade designations: JSR RB 810, JSR RB 820, and JSR RB 830.
Suitable polyesters include polycondensation products of di-or polycarboxylic acids and di or poly hydroxy alcohols or alkylene oxides. In a preferred form of the invention the polyester is a polyester ether. Suitable polyester ethers are obtained from reacting 1,4 cyclohexane dimethanol, 1,4 cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid and polytetramethylene glycol ether and shall be referred to generally as PCCE. Suitable PCCE's are sold by Eastman under the trade name ECDEL. Suitable polyesters further include polyester elastomers which are block copolymers of a hard crystalline segment of polybutylene terephthalate and a second segment of a soft (amorphous) polyether glycols. Such polyester elastomers are sold by Du Pont Chemical Company under the trade name HYTREL®.
Suitable polyamides include those that result from a ring-opening reaction of lactams having from 4–12 carbons. This group of polyamides therefore includes nylon 6, nylon 10 and nylon 12. Acceptable polyamides also include aliphatic polyamides resulting from the condensation reaction of di-amines having a carbon number within a range of 2–13, aliphatic polyamides resulting from a condensation reaction of di-acids having a carbon number within a range of 2–13, polyamides resulting from the condensation reaction of dimer fatty acids, and amide containing copolymers. Thus, suitable aliphatic polyamides include, for example, nylon 66, nylon 6,10 and dimer fatty acid polyamides.
In a preferred from of the invention, the cassette 160 is fabricated from a material that is adhesively compatible with the upper and lower membrane 162, 164. What is meant by adhesive compatibility is the membrane can be attached to the cassette using standard heat sealing techniques. One particularly suitable material is a polymer blend of a polyolefin and a styrene and hydrocarbon copolymer. More particularly, the polyolefin of the polymer blend is a polypropylene and even more preferably a polypropylene copolymer with ethylene with an ethylene content of from about 1% to about 6% by weight of the copolymer. The styrene and hydrocarbon copolymer is more preferably an SEBS tri-block copolymer as defined above. The polypropylene copolymer should constitute from about 70% to about 95% and more preferably from about 80% to about 90% of the blend, and the SEBS will constitute from about 5% to about 30% and more preferably from about 10% to about 20% SEBS. In a preferred form of the invention, the polypropylene used to fabricate the cassette will have a lower melting point temperature than the high melt strength polypropylene used to fabricate the membrane. In a preferred form of the invention the polypropylene of the cassette 160 will have a melting point temperature of from about 120° C.–140° C. and for the film from about 145° C.–160° C. The cassette 160 can be injection molded from these polymer blends.
The upper and lower membranes 162, 164 are attached to the cassette 160 utilizing heat sealing techniques. The film has a peel strength of greater than 5.0 lbf/inch when tested with a tensile instrument until film failure or bond failure. Also, when the film is attached to the cassette it can be deformed under a pressure of 5 psi. The film maintains its low modulus and deformability properties even after sterilization to continue to meet the pumping requirement. The film has an extended shelf life. The film retains its pumping abilities even after two years shelf storage.
IV. Valve Actuator
Referring now to
The cams 202 drive pistons 204, which engage in a friction reduced way with the cams, for example, via rollers 206. The cams 202 drive pistons 204 up and down (only two of five cams shown having associated pistons to show other features of the actuator 26). When a cam 202 drives its associated piston 204 upward, the piston 204 engages one of the membranes 162 or 164 (typically the lower membrane 164, which is not shown in
The pistons 204 are also spring-loaded inside a respective housing 208. When the camshaft 200 turns so that a lower cam profile appears below one of the pistons 204, the spring inside the housing 208 pushes the piston 204 so that the roller 206 maintains contact with the respective cam 202. The piston 204 consequently moves away from the respective hole 192 defined by the rigid manifold 190, wherein the membrane 162 or 164, which has been stretched upward by the piston 204, springs back to its normal shape. This action starts the flow of medical fluid or dialysate through the respective valve.
The motor 28 is of a type, for example a stepper or servo motor, that can rotate a fraction of a rotation and stop and dwell for any predetermined period of time. Thus, the motor 28 can hold a valve open or closed for as long as necessary. The cams 202 are shaped to provide a unique combination of bumps and valleys for every flow situation. In certain situations, such as with valves V2 and V3 of the system 10, the valves always open and close together, so that both valves use the same cam 202 oriented in the same way on camshaft 200.
Referring now to
As illustrated above in
The valve motor 28 and the valve actuator 26 (
The lid 116 for the housing 112 of the hardware unit 110 may be freely opened by an operator or patient to load the disposable unit 160 into the hardware unit. When this occurs, the controller 30 automatically commands the camshaft to rotate so that an “all valves open” position 372, illustrated by the composite profile 370, resides beneath the rollers 206 and pistons 204. In the “all valves open” position 372, the camshaft 200 is rotated such that a depression exists under each of the pistons 204 and associated rollers 206. Accordingly, the pistons 204 sit in a relatively low position, i.e., out of the way, when the operator or patient loads the disposable unit 160 and valve manifold 190 into the hardware unit 110. This enables the patient or operator to place a disposable unit 160 into the unit 110 without encountering an obstruction or opposing force by one or more of the pistons 206.
After the patient or operator loads the disposable unit into the hardware unit 110 and closes the lid 116, the controller 30 automatically rotates the camshaft 200 so that an “all valves closed” position 386a resides beneath the pistons 204 and rollers 206. As illustrated, the “all valves closed” position 386a resides adjacent to the “all valves open” position 372. When the camshaft 200 is rotated to the “all valves closed position” 386a, no fluid can flow through the system 10, 100. As the camshaft 200 rotates from the “all valves open” position 372 to the first “all valves closed” position 386a, a mechanical interlock (not illustrated) is moved into the camshaft 200, which prevents the rotation of the camshaft 200 back to the “all valves open” position 372. This prevents uncontrolled flow of the dialysate, which could occur when each of the valve heads 192 is open, in the event that the operator tries to open the lid 116 during therapy.
In an alternative embodiment, an interlock can be provided through software. An encoder provides positional and velocity feedback to the controller 30. The controller 30 therefore knows the position of the cam shaft 200. Thus, the controller 30 is able to prevent the rotation of the camshaft 200 back to the “all valves open” position 372.
When the patient closes lid 116, a second mechanical interlock (not illustrated) locks the lid in place, so that the patient cannot open the lid 116 during therapy. The system 10, 100 senses when the patient has removed the patient fluid line 292 and connector 290 from the transfer set, which is implanted in the patient 12. Only then will the system 10, 100 allow the patient to open the lid 116. The mechanical interlocks prevent free-filling, overfilling and the patient from tampering with the system while it is running. The valve configuration provides a fail safe system that prevents fluid flow in the event of a failure or power down.
In many instances, when the patient begins dialysis therapy, the patient is already full of dialysate. In the illustrated embodiment of
Between the “from patient valve open” position 374 and the “drain valve open” position 376 resides a second “all valves closed” position 386b. Between each opening of a new valve and closing of a previously opened valve, each valve is momentarily closed. The controller 30 causes the motor (e.g., a stepper, servo or DC motor) and actuator 26 to toggle the camshaft 200 back and forth between the “from patent valve open” position 374, past the “all valves closed” position 386b, to the “drain valve open” position 376. In this manner, the pump 20, 120 is able to sequentially pull apart fluid from the patient 12 and dump it to drain 18.
When the system 10, 100 completes the initial patient drain cycle, the controller 30 causes the actuator 26 of motor 28 to rotate camshaft 200 past the “all valves closed” position 386c to the “supply valve open position” 378. To fill the patient full of fresh dialysate, the controller 30 causes the camshaft 200 to toggle back and forth between the “supply valve open” position 378 and the “to patient valve open” position 380, each time passing over the “all valves closed” position 386d. Again, for the drain and fill cycles, only one valve head 192 is open at any given period of time. The toggling always includes an “all valves closed” position between the dosing of one valve head 192 and the opening of another. The single pump sequentially pulls fluid into the disposable unit 160 and pushes fluid from same.
After the initial fill, camshaft 200 is positioned so that the camshaft 200 can once again toggle back and forth between the “from patient valve open” position 374, past the intermediate “all valves closed” position 386b, to the “drain valve open” position 376. When the patient is once again empty, the camshaft 200 is positioned so that the camshaft may be toggled back and forth between the “supply valve open” position 378 and the “to patient valve open” position 380. The system 10, 100 repeats this series of cycles as many times as necessary. Typically, the patient receives approximately 2 to 2.5 liters of dialysate in a single fill cycle. The two supply bags 14 each hold six liters of dialysate in an embodiment. This provides the system 10, 100 with four to six complete fill, dwell and drain cycles, which are provided, for example, through the night while the patient sleeps.
In many instances, the patient will receive a last bag fill at the end of the therapy, which the patient will carry for the day. To perform this procedure, the camshaft 200 toggles back and forth between the “from patient valve open” position 374 to the “drain valve open” position 376 to dump the preceding fill of peritoneal fluid to drain 18. Thereafter, the camshaft 200 is positioned to toggle back and forth between the “last bag valve open” position 382 and the “to patient valve open” position 380. In doing so, the camshaft 200 rotates past one of the all valves closed positions, namely, the “all valves closed position” 386e.
To prime the system, the camshaft 200 may be positioned and toggled in a number of different ways. In one embodiment, the camshaft 200 toggles back and forth between the “supply valve open” position 378 and the “drain valve open” position 376, passing over the “all valves closed” position 386c. This toggling in cooperation with the pumping of pump 20 or 120 causes the dialysate to flow from the supply bags 14, through the disposable unit 160, to drain 18. In another embodiment, using the vented tip protector 280 illustrated in connection with the
V. Medical Fluid Pump
A. Pump Hardware and Operation
Referring now to
The lower chamber wall 218 defines or provides a sealed aperture 219 that allows a pump piston 212 to translate back and forth within the chamber 210. The piston 212 is attached to or integrally formed with a piston head 214. The piston head 214 in an embodiment has an outer shape that is similar to or the same as an internal shape of the upper chamber wall 216.
The pump piston 212 connects to or is integrally formed with the linear actuator 24. The linear actuator 24 in an embodiment is a device, such as a ball screw, that converts the rotary motion of a motor 22 into the translational motion of the piston 212. In one preferred embodiment, the motor 22 is a linear stepper motor that outputs a translationally moving shaft. Here, the actuator 24 may simply couple the motor shaft to the piston 212. The linear or rotary stepper motor provides quiet linear motion and a very high positional resolution, accuracy and repeatability. Stepper motors are commercially available, for example, from Hayden Switch and Instrument Inc., Waterbury, Conn.
As described above, the flexible fluid receptacle 172 (seen in
Vacuum source 44 for the pump 20 is described above in connection with
The port 222 fluidly connects to channels (not illustrated) defined by the interior wall of the upper chamber wall 216. The channels extend radially outwardly from port 222 in various directions. The channels help to distribute the negative pressure applied through the port 222 to further enable the upper membrane 162 to substantially conform to the interior shape of the upper chamber wall 216. In a similar manner, the outer surface of the piston head 214 can include radially extending channels to further enable the lower membrane 164 to substantially conform, upon application of the vacuum, to the outer surface of the piston head 214.
The pump 20 also includes a diaphragm 232 tensioned between the upper and lower chamber walls 216 and 218, respectively. The diaphragm 232 defines, together with the upper chamber wall 218, a known, predictable and repeatable maximum volume of dialysate, which can be drawn from one or more of the supply bags 14 and transported to the patient 12. The diaphragm 232 also enables the volume of a partial stroke to be characterized, which also enables accurate and repeatable volume measurements.
The diaphragm 232 is disposed beneath the piston head 214 and around the piston 212. When the vacuum is applied to the port or aperture 220, the diaphragm 232, as well as the lower membrane 164, are pulled against the piston head 214. When the piston head 214 is actuated upwardly away from the lower chamber wall 218, with the vacuum applied through aperture 220, the membrane 164 and the diaphragm 232 remain drawn to the piston head 214. An inner portion of the membrane 164 conforms to the shape of the outer surface of the piston head 214. The remaining outer portion of the membrane 164 conforms to the shape of the exposed surface of the diaphragm 232.
The diaphragm 232 in an embodiment includes a flexible, molded cup-shaped elastomer and a fabric reinforcement, such as fabric reinforced ethylene propylene diene methylene (“EPDM”). The fabric can be integrally molded with the elastomer. The fabric prevents unwanted deformation of the diaphragm while under pressure. The diaphragm 232 can stretch when the piston 212 and head 214 move downwardly towards the lower chamber wall 218, pulling the diaphragm 232 along the crimped edges of the upper and lower chamber walls 216 and 218. The diaphragm 232 also moves and remains sealed to the piston head 214 when the piston 212 and head 214 move upwardly towards the upper chamber wall 216.
In operating the pump 20, negative pressure is constantly applied through the port 222 to hold the upper membrane 162 against the upper chamber wall 216. The manifold 190 of the disposable unit 160 (see
During a pump fill stroke, with the upper membrane 162 vacuum-pressed against the upper chamber wall 216, and the lower membrane 164 and the diaphragm 232 vacuum-pressed against the piston head 214, the motor 22/actuator 24 cause the piston head 214 to move downwardly towards the lower chamber wall 218, increasing the volume within the flexible receptacle 172, and producing a negative pressure within same. The negative pressure pulls dialysate from the supply bags 14 or the patient 12 as dictated by the current valve arrangement. The opened receptacle 172 fills with fluid. This process occurs when the pump moves from the position of
During a patient fill or drain stroke, again with the upper membrane 162 vacuum-pressed against the upper chamber wall 216, and the lower membrane 164 and the diaphragm 232 vacuum-pressed against the piston head 214, the motor 22/actuator 24 cause the piston head 214 to move upwardly towards the upper chamber wall 216, decreasing the volume within the flexible receptacle 172 and producing a positive pressure within same. The positive pressure pushes dialysate from the receptacle 172 to the patient 12 or the drain 18 as dictated by the current valve arrangement. The receptacle 172 closes as the lower membrane 164 moves upward towards the upper membrane 162. This process occurs when the pump moves from the position of
In the event that air (“air” for purposes of this invention includes air as well as other gases which may be present, particularly those that have escaped from the patient's peritoneal cavity) enters the fluid receptacle 172, it must be purged to maintain accuracy. It should be appreciated that if air enters between the membranes 162 and 164, the presently preferred system 10, 100 does not have the ability to pull a vacuum between the membranes 162 and 164. The elasticity of the membranes 162 and 164, however, naturally tend to purge air therefrom. In an alternative embodiment the system 10, 100 can be adapted to provide a vacuum source that pulls a vacuum between the membranes 162 and 164 to purge air therefrom.
To purge air from between the membranes, the system 10, 100 also provides a positive pressure source. In systems 10, 100, for example, the pump motor 46 can be used in reverse of normal operation and, instead of producing vacuum source 44 (
B. Capacitance Volume Sensor
Generally, the capacitance C between two capacitor plates changes according to the function C=k×(S/d), wherein k is the dielectric constant, S is the surface area of the individual plates and d is the distance between the plates. The capacitance between the plates changes proportionally according to the function 1/(R×V), wherein R is a known resistance and V is the voltage measured across the capacitor plates.
The dielectric constant k of medical fluid or dialysate is much higher than that of air, which typically fills the pump chamber 210 when the piston head 214 is bottomed out against the upper chamber wall 216, as illustrated in
As the membranes 162 and 164 expand and fill with medical fluid, the overall capacitance changes, i.e., increases. The sensor 60 generates a high impedance potential across the grounded and active capacitor plates 224 and 226. The high impedance potential is indicative of an amount of fluid in the receptacle 172. If the potential does not change over time when it is expected to change, the sensor 60 can also indicate an amount or portion of air within the receptacle 172.
A capacitance sensing circuit amplifies the high impedance signal to produce a low impedance potential. The low impedance potential is also fed back to the guard plate 228, which protects the sensitive signal from being effected by outside electrical influences. The amplified potential is converted to a digital signal and fed to the processor 34, where it is filtered and/or summed. The video monitor 40 can then be used to visually provide a volume and/or a flowrate indication to a patient or operator. Additionally, the processor 34 can use the summed outputs to control the pump 20 of the system 10, for example, to terminate dialysate flow upon reaching predetermined overall volume.
Referring now to
An opening or aperture 252 is defined between the first and second clamshell portions 246 and 248 and the flexible membranes 162 and 164. The opening 252 enables medical fluid, for example, dialysate, to enter and exit the chamber 250 between the membranes 162 and 164 in the receptacle portion 172. The receptacle portion 172 fluidly communicates with the valve manifold 190.
The empty volume state can be achieved, for example, by allowing the elastic membranes 162, 164 to return to their relaxed, unstressed state as shown in
It should be appreciated that either one or both of the membranes 162 and 164 can be moved towards and away from the clamshell portions 246 and 248 by any suitable fluid activation device. In various embodiments, the diaphragm pump is pneumatically or hydraulically actuated.
The diaphragm pump 120 of the system 100 does not require a separate piston or mechanical actuator as does the pump 20 of the system 10. The clamshell portions 246 and 248 define ports 254 and 256, respectively, to allow for movement of a displacement fluid (for example, pneumatic or hydraulic fluid) into and out of the chamber areas outside of the receptacle 172 to operate the diaphragm pump.
In an embodiment, the medical fluid, for example, dialysate, is suctioned into the receptacle 172 in the chamber 250. The receptacle 172, defined by membranes 162 and 164, may be filled with medical fluid by applying negative pressures to one or both of the chamber ports 254 and 256. The medical fluid can be emptied from the receptacle 172 by applying a positive pressure to at least one of the ports 254 and 256, or by allowing the membranes 162 and 164 to spring back into shape. In an alternative embodiment, the medical fluid, for example, dialysate, is pressurized from an external source to move in and out of the pump chamber 250 between the membranes 162 and 164.
The clamshell portions 246 and 248 form and hold the capacitor plates of the capacitance sensor 60. In an embodiment, upper clamshell portion 246 includes an active metal or otherwise conductive capacitance plate 258 between electrically insulative or plastic layers. A metal guard plate 260 is provided on the outer plastic layer of the upper clamshell portion 246. The guard plate 260 provides noise protection for the high impedance signal that transmits from the active capacitor plate 258.
As with the pump 20 of system 10, the active capacitor plate 258 of upper clamshell portion 246 of the pump 120 of the system 100 electrically couples to a capacitance sensing circuit. The guard plate 260 likewise electrically couples to the feedback loop of the capacitance sensing circuit as described above.
In an embodiment, lower clamshell portion 248 is also made of an inert plastic, wherein a metal capacitor plate 262 attaches to the outer surface of the lower clamshell portion 248. The metal capacitor plate 262 disposed on the outside of the clamshell portion 248 electrically couples to ground.
In one implementation, a negative pressure is constantly maintained at the lower port 256, so that the lower membrane 164 is pulled to conform to the inner surface of the grounded clamshell portion 248 during a multitude of fill and empty cycles. In this implementation, the upper membrane 162 does the pumping work. That is, when a negative pressure is applied to upper port 254 of upper clamshell 246, upper membrane 162 is suctioned up against and conforms with the inner surface of upper clamshell 246. This action draws fluid from the supply bag 14, through the manifold 190, and into the receptacle 172. To expel fluid, the negative pressure is released from upper port 254, wherein upper membrane 162 collapses to push the fluid from the receptacle 172. Alternatively, a positive pressure is applied through one or both ports.
In operation, the capacitance sensor 60 operates substantially as described in
As the membranes 162 and 164 expand and fill with medical fluid, the capacitance changes, i.e., increases. Each different amount of medical fluid within the chamber 250 has a unique overall capacitance. A unique capacitance value can therefore be associated with each specific fluid volume in the chamber, for example, substantially empty, partially full, or substantially full.
As an alternative to the capacitance volume sensor 60 described above, the volume of dialysate fluid flowing through the automated systems 10 and 100 can be determined using other methods, such as through an electronic balance. In such a case, the electronic balance keeps track of the amount of dialysate that is supplied to the system during a priming of the system. The electronic balance also monitors any additional dialysate added to the system during dialysis treatment.
In other alternative embodiments, any of the systems described herein can be sensed using other types of flowmeters or devices employing Boyle's Law, which are known to those of skill in the art. Further, various other types of fluid volume measurement or flowrate devices can be used with the automated systems 10 and 100, such as orifice plates, mass flow meters or other flow measuring devices known to those of skill in the art.
VI. Precision Pressure Control
As discussed above, the system 10 employs a valve actuator 24 and a pump motor 22. In one embodiment the pump motor 22 is a stepper motor. In another embodiment, the motor 22 may be a DC motor or other type of repeatable and accurately positionable motor. Each of these types of motors enable system 10 to position the piston 212 and piston head 214 very accurately within the pump chamber 210. In the case of a high precision rotary motor 22, the actuator 24 converts the rotary motion into a translation motion precisely and moves the piston 212 back and forth within the chamber 210 within the accuracy and repeatability requirement of the system. The resolution of the linear stepper motor in an embodiment is about 0.00012 inches per step to about 0.00192 inches per step.
The pump motor 22 is also programmable. The programmable nature of the pump motor 22 enables acceleration, velocity and positional data to be entered into the controller 30, wherein the controller 30 uses the information to position the piston 212 and piston head 214 within the pump chamber 210, within an appropriate amount of time, to produce a desired amount of force or fluid pressure. The ability to preset the acceleration, velocity and position of the piston head 214 provides an advantage over purely pneumatic systems that respond relatively sluggishly to pneumatic signals.
The flexible nature of the PVC medical tubing described, e.g., in connection with
The present invention uses a hybrid pressure control system that combines the ability to preset the pump piston acceleration and velocity with an adaptive pressure control scheme, which causes the pressure to achieve a desired pressure set point for any given stroke and causes the pressure to be fine tuned over time, i.e., over repeated strokes. That is, the present invention employs a method of controlling pressure within the system that seeks first to overcome system compliance and then seeks to achieve a desired pressure set point. The output of the present method of controlling pressure within the pump chamber 210 is illustrated by the velocity and pressure curves of
In general, the system 10 controls the pressure within the receptacle 172 in the pump chamber 210 by controlling the velocity of the piston 212 and piston head 214. The velocity profile 390 of
During the time period of the acceleration 394 and the max velocity 396, which is designated by the dashed vertical line 398, the corresponding pressure as illustrated by a pressure curve 401 of pressure profile 400, ramps up beginning very slowly and exponentially increasing as the time reaches that of the dashed line 398. In the initial portion of the pressure curve, i.e., just after the start of stroke position, the pressure builds slowly as the compliance in the system is taken up. As the compliance is taken up, the pressure builds at faster and faster rates.
When the pressure reaches a pressure proximity threshold 402, set in software, the software within the controller 30 converts from the previous motion (acceleration, velocity, position) control to an adaptive control. It should therefore be appreciated that the method of controlling pressure within the fluid pump of the present invention is a hybrid type of control method, employing a combination of techniques.
The motion control portion, accented by the acceleration 394 and max velocity 396, represents a period in time when the method of control is forcing the system to overcome the pressure compliance. Upon reaching the pressure proximity threshold 402, the controller 30 causes the velocity to sharply decelerate at deceleration 404. Deceleration 404 reduces the velocity of the piston 212 and piston head 214 to a velocity 406, which is a velocity that aids in the ability of the adaptive control portion of the pressure control system to achieve a pressure set point 408. That is, without the programmed deceleration 404, the adaptive control portion would have a more difficult (i.e., longer) time controlling the velocity to make the pressure reach or substantially reach the pressure set point 408.
As explained in more detail below, the acceleration 394 is adaptively controlled in an embodiment, so as to reduce the amount of initial overshoot. The adaptive control over the acceleration 394 is fine tuned over time to further reduce the amount of initial overshoot. Each of these measures affects the amount of controlled deceleration 404 needed.
After the controlled deceleration 404 reaches the velocity 406 and until the time of the second dashed line 410, the system 10 operates in an adaptive mode. The second vertical line 410 occurs near the end of the stroke. As illustrated, the adaptive portion of the stroke is broken down into a number of areas, namely area 412 and area 414. Area 412 is characterized by the overshoot or undershoot caused by the programmed acceleration 394. In applying adaptive techniques, the adjustments or parameters that overcome area 414 error are tailored in software to combat overshoot or undershoot. The area 414 focuses on attempting to minimize the error between the actual pressure curve 401 and the pressure set point 408. During the area 414, the parameters and adaptive measures are tailored in software reduce the oscillation of the pressure curve 401 to achieve a pressure set point 408 as much as possible and as quickly as possible.
Upon reaching the time denoted by the dashed line 410, the pressure control method once again resumes motion control and decelerates the velocity at a controlled and predetermined deceleration 416 down to a final travel velocity 418, which is also the initial velocity at the start of the stroke 392. In an alternative embodiment, the method can simply let the adaptive control continue past the time line 410 and attempt to achieve the final travel velocity 418. After the time line 410, the pressure along pressure curve 401 falls off towards zero pressure as illustrated by the pressure profile 400. Comparing the pressure profile 400 to the velocity profile 390, it should be appreciated that pressure remains in the receptacle 172 of the pump chamber 210 even after the stroke ends at time “t”. In some cases, the pressure overshoots as the piston 212 suddenly stops, wherein the momentum of the liquid produces a pressure spike after time “t”.
Referring now to
Next, the error 428 is entered into a PID calculation 430, which uses a proportional coefficient 432, an integral coefficient 434 and a differential coefficient 436. The output of the PID calculation 430 is an adaptive pressure change 438. The controller 30 then changes the velocity up or down to produce the pressure change 438.
In the pressure profile 400 of
As described above, a single pump 20 is used in the system 10. The single pump 20 provides positive pressure during the patient fill stroke and the pump to drain stroke. The pump 20 also provides negative pressure during the pull from supply bag 14 stroke and the pull from patient 12 stroke. Of the four strokes, it is most important to accurately control the pressure during the patient fill and patient drain stoke. It is not as critical to control the pressure when pumping fluid from the supply bags 14 or when pumping fluid from the receptacle 172 of the pump chamber 210 to drain 18. In the two positive pressure strokes, one stroke, namely the patient fill stroke, it is critical to properly control pressure. In the two negative pressure strokes, one of the strokes, namely the pull from patient stroke, it is critical to properly control pressure. In the other two strokes, pressure is controlled without taxing the controller, motor 22 and disposable unit 160 needlessly.
Referring now to
At time zero, the desired pressure 442 changes virtually instantaneously to 2000 mPSI. The desired pressure curve 442 maintains this constant 2000 mPSI until reaching approximately 1.6 seconds, at which point the desired pressure 442 returns virtually instantaneously to zero. This step by the desired pressure curve 442 represents one complete patient fill stroke, wherein one full positive up-stroke of the piston 212 and piston head 214 within the pump chamber 220 occurs. In this step it is critical to control pressure because dialysate is being pumped into the patient's peritoneal cavity 12. The actual pressure curve 444 ramps up exponentially and oscillates about the 2000 mPSI set point in the manner described in connection with
At about 1.6 seconds, i.e., when the piston head has reached the upper chamber 216 of the valve chamber 210, controller 30 stops the piston 212 from moving. The velocity of the piston head remains at zero until approximately 3.4 seconds. In this period, the valves have all been closed via one of the “all valves closed” positions illustrated in connection with
At about time 3.4 seconds, the desired pressure curve 442 switches virtuously instantaneously to −2000 mPSI. The pump 20 is now being asked to expand and form a negative pressure that pulls fluid from the supply bags 14. During this stroke, it is not as critical to control pressure as accurately in the patient fill stroke. Accordingly, the method may be programmed to bypass the motion control portion of the pressure control method and simply adaptively seek to find the pressure set point along line 442. Dialysate moves through the fluid heating path 180 of the disposable unit 160 (see
In
Referring now to
The actual pressure curve 456 of the profile 452 illustrates that the pressure is controlled to conform to the demand pressure line 454 more closely during the pull from patient portion than during the pump to drain portion of the profile 452. In an embodiment, the controller 30 is programmed to provide a motion controlled velocity 464 for a portion of the pull from patient stroke and use an adaptive control during the time “tadapt”. The method also uses, in an embodiment, a controlled deceleration 466 at the end of the pull from patient stroke. Alternatively, the method allows the PID control to seek to find zero pressure. Similarly, during the pump to drain stroke, the controller 30 can switch to PID control only.
Referring now to
In the block 476, if the current stroke error 474 is less than the previous stroke error 476, the method uses the previous coefficient because the previous coefficient is currently having a desirable result. If the current stroke error 474 is greater than the previous strokes error 476, two possibilities exist. First, the coefficient or corrective measure taken is not large enough to overcome the error increase. Here, the coefficient or corrective setting can be increased or another tactic may be employed. Second, the previous corrective procedure may be having an adverse impact, in which case the parameter connection can be reversed or another tactic can be employed. Obviously, to employ algorithm 470, the method provides that the controller 30 store the manner of the previous corrective attempts and outcomes of same. Based on what has happened previously, the controller decides to increment or decrease one or more of the parameters. The amount of increase or decrease is then applied to one or more coefficients stored in an increment table 480. The adjusted or non-adjusted increment is then summed together with the currently used one or more coefficients 482 to form an adjusted one or more coefficients 484.
Referring now to
The proximately threshold parameter 488 (illustrated by pressure line 402 in the pressure profile 400 of
The maximum travel velocity parameter 492, illustrated as line 396 in the velocity profile 390 of
The PID factors Kp, Kd and Ki, labeled 496, 498 and 502, respectively, affect the adaptive control portion of the present method but also affect, to a lesser extent, the controlled declaration at the end of the stroke. Each of the PID factors or parameters can be changed and adapted in mid-stroke. Also as illustrated in
Each of the above-described factors can be used to insulate the fluid pressure from changes in the environment outside of the system 10. For example, the factors can overcome changes due to physiological and chemical changes in the patient's abdomen. Also, the height of the patient supply bags 14 affects the initial loading of the fluid pump 20. The parameters illustrated in
Certain of the above-described factors is changed more and used more during the overshoot area 412 illustrated in the pressure profile 400 of
VII. In-line Heater
In an embodiment, the inline heater 16 includes two electrical plate heaters, which are well known to those of skill in the art. The plate heaters of the heater 16 have a smooth and flat surface, which faces the disposable unit 160. In an alternative embodiment, the automated systems 10 and 100 provide an in-line heater 16 having a plate heater in combination with an infrared heater or other convective heater.
In the alternative dual mode type heater, both the plate heater and, for example, the infrared heater are in-line heaters that heat the medical fluid that flows through the fluid heating path 180 of the disposable unit 160. The radiant energy of the infrared heater is directed to and absorbed by the fluid in the fluid heating path 180. The radiant energy or infrared heater in an embodiment is a primary or high capacity heater, which can heat a relatively large volume of cold fluid to a desired temperature in a short period of time.
The plate heater of the alternative dual mode heater in an embodiment is a secondary or maintenance heater which has a relatively lower heating capacity relative to the infrared heater. As described above, the plate heater uses electrical resistance to increase the temperature of a plate that in turn heats the fluid flowing though the path 180 adjacent to the plate.
The dual mode heater is particularly useful for quickly heating cool dialysate (high heat energy demand) supplied from one of the supply bags 14 to the automated system 10 or 100. Initial system fills can be cooler than later fills, and the system can lose heat during the dwell phase. The temperature of the dialysate at initial system fill can therefore be quite low, such as 5° C. to 10° C. if the supply bags 14 are stored in cold ambient temperature.
The plate heater and the infrared heater of the dual mode heater embodiment of the heater 16 can be arranged in various configurations relative to each other. The dual mode heaters in an embodiment are arranged so that the fluid passes by the heaters sequentially (e.g., first the plate heater and then the radiant or infrared heater). In another embodiment, the fluid passes by the heaters simultaneously (both heaters at the same time). The fluid flow path past the heaters can be a common flow path for both heaters, such as in the fluid heating path 180, or include independent flow paths for each heater.
VIII. Fuzzy Logic for Heater Control
Similar to the controlling of the fluid pressure, the control of the plate heater 16 is also subject to a number of environmental variables. For example, the ambient temperature inside the patient's home affects the amount of heat that is needed to raise the temperature of the medical fluid to a desired temperature. Obviously, the temperature of the dialysate in the supply bags 14 affects the amount of heat that is needed to raise the fluid temperature to a desired temperature. Plate heater efficiency also affects the amount of heating needed. Further, the voltage provided by the patient's home is another factor. Typically, a doctor or caregiver prescribes the temperature of the dialysate for the patient to be controlled to around a temperature of 37° C. It is, therefore, desirable to have a method of controlling the heater 16 to correct for outside temperature gradients so as to maintain the proper patient fluid temperature.
Referring now to
The knowledge-based algorithm 520 requires a number of inputs as well as a number of constant settings. For example, the control algorithm 520 requires an input pulsatile flowrate. As illustrated below, the pulsatile flowrate is actually calculated from a number of input variables. The system 10, 100 of the present invention provides fluid to the patient 12 in pulses, rather than on a continuous basis. It should be readily apparent from the discussion based on
Besides the pulsatile flowrate, the knowledge-based control algorithm 520 also receives a measured, i.e., actual, fluid inlet temperature signal. Further, the algorithm 520 stores the plate heater efficiency, which is based on empirical data. In one embodiment, the upper and lower plates of the plate heater 16 are around 95% efficient. Algorithm 520 also inputs the total heater power, which is derived from the voltage input into the system 10, 100. Residential voltage may vary in a given day or over a period of days or from place to place.
The algorithm 520 also inputs the desired outlet fluid temperature, which is a constant setting but which may be modified by the patient's doctor or caregiver. As illustrated in
With respect to the fuzzy logic-based control algorithm 530, the desired fluid temperature is inputted into a comparison point 514. The comparison point 514 outputs the difference between the desired fluid temperature and the actual measured fluid temperature exiting the heating system 548. The fuzzy logic-based control algorithm 530 therefore receives a change in temperature ΔT as an input. As described below, the fuzzy logic-based control algorithm 530 employs the concepts and strategies of fuzzy logic control to output a fuzzy logic duty cycle.
In the method 510, the knowledge-based duty cycle is adaptively weighted against the fuzzy logic-based duty cycle. In an alternative embodiment, the system predetermines a relative weight. In the method 510, the fuzzy logic-based duty cycle is weighted, i.e., provided a weight factor as illustrated in block 542. For example, if the fuzzy logic-based duty cycle is given a weight factor of one, then the fuzzy logic-based duty cycle is weighted equally with the knowledge-based duty cycle. If the fuzzy logic-based duty cycle is given a weight factor of two, the fuzzy logic-based duty cycle is given twice the weight as the knowledge-based duty cycle. The weight factor in block 542 can change over time and/or be optimized over time.
It should be appreciated that the weighting block 542 could alternatively be placed in the knowledge-based duty cycle output. As discussed below, however, the update rate of the fuzzy logic control loop is substantially higher than the update rate of the input signals entered into the knowledge-based control algorithm 520. It is therefore advantageous to weight the fuzzy logic-based duty cycle, as opposed to the knowledge-based duty cycle.
The weighted fuzzy logic-based duty cycle and the knowledge-based duty cycle are summed together at summing point 544 to produce an overall heater duty cycle. Duty cycle is one way to control the power input and, thus, the plate temperature of the heater. Controlling the duty cycle means controlling the percentage of a time period that full power is applied to the heater, for example, plate heater 16. In an alternative embodiment, the output of the parallel control algorithms 520 and 530 could be a percentage of full power applied at all times. Still further, the output of the parallel control algorithms 520 and 530 could be a percentage of full power applied for a percentage of a time period. For purposes of illustration, the method 510 is described using a duty cycle output which, as explained, is the percent of a time period that full power is applied to the heater.
As described herein, the heating system 548 (i.e., heater 16) in one preferred embodiment is a plate heater, wherein upper and lower plates are disposed about a fluid heating path of the disposable unit 160. It should be appreciated, however, that the method 510 is equally applicable to the infrared heater previously described. Further, the method 510 is equally applicable to the combination of different types of heaters, such as, the combination of a plate heater and an infrared heater.
The method 510 uses multiple temperature sensors, such as the sensors 62 illustrated in
As illustrated, before the summed heater duty cycle is inputted into the heating system 548, the system determines whether the top and bottom heating plates are already at a maximum allowable temperature. There exists a temperature above which it is not safe to maintain the plates of the plate heater. In a situation where one or both of the plates is currently at the temperature limit, the method 510 outputs a zero duty cycle, regardless of the calculations of the knowledge-based control system 520 and the fuzzy logic-based algorithm 530. To this end, the temperature of the top and bottom plates is fed back into the block 546, wherein the software only allows a heater duty cycle to be applied to the heating system 548 if the current temperature of the top and bottom plates is less than the temperature limit.
In an embodiment, if one of the plates is at the limit temperature, the method 510 provides a zero duty cycle to both plate heaters, even though one of the plate heaters may be below the temperature limit. Further, the software may be adapted so that if the actual temperature of the plate heater is very close to the limit temperature, the method 510 only allows the duty cycle be at or below a predetermined set point. In this manner, when the actual temperature is very near the limit temperature, the method 510 goes into a fault-type condition and uses a safe duty cycle.
Assuming the actual plate temperatures are below the safe temperature limit, the method 510 applies the combined heater duty cycle from the parallel control algorithms at summation point 544. The heater duty cycle applies full power for a certain percentage of a given amount of time. The given amount of time is the update speed of the fuzzy logic control loop. The fuzzy logic control loop, including the fuzzy logic control algorithm 530, updates about nine times per second in one preferred embodiment. It should be appreciated that the update rate of the fuzzy logic control loop is an important parameter and that simply increasing the update rate to a certain value may deteriorate the accuracy of the system. One range of update rates that provide good results is from about 8.5 times per second to about 9.5 times per second.
The update rate should not be evenly divisible into the frequency of the input power. For example, an update rate of nine times per second works when the AC frequency is held steady at 50 or 60 hertz. However, as is the case in some countries, the frequency may be 63 hertz. In such a case, an update rate of nine hertz will cause inaccuracy. Therefore, in one preferred embodiment, an update rate of a fraction of 1 hertz is preferred, such as 9.1 hertz. Assuming the update rate to be nine times per second, the time per update is approximately 110 milliseconds. Therefore, if the duty cycle is 0.5, i.e., half on, half off, the time at which full power is applied is 55 milliseconds. During the other 55 milliseconds, no power is applied. If the duty cycle is 90%, then full power is applied for 90% of 110 milliseconds.
The update speed of the knowledge-based control algorithm 520 is not as critical as the update speed of the fuzzy logic control loop. For one reason, the signal inputs to the algorithm 520 change gradually over time so that they do not need to be checked as often as the comparison between the desired fluid temperature and the actual fluid temperature. An update rate of about two seconds is sufficient for the signal inputs. The inputs of the control algorithm 520 can be updated from about once every half second to about once every four seconds. The knowledge-based control algorithm 520 can run on the main processor of the system 10, 100, for example, an Intel StrongARM™ Processor. To facilitate the update rate of the fuzzy logic control loop, a high speed processor, such as a Motorola Digital Signal Processor is used. The fuzzy logic-based control algorithm 530 runs, in one embodiment, on a delegate processor, e.g., a Motorola Digital Processor.
Referring now to
Another input signal that varies over time is the input voltage (“Vac”). The input voltage Vac changes over time in a single house or in different locations. Another input signal that changes over time is the measured fluid inlet temperature (“Tin”). Fluid temperature Tin is measured by one of the numerous sensors of the method 510 described above. An input which will like not change over time is the plate heater efficiency (“E”). The heater efficiency E is determined empirically. The heater efficiency E could change depending upon the pressure inside the disposable unit during heating, the material of the disposable unit and the gap tolerance between the top and bottom plate. The heater efficiency E for a particular dialysis device therefore remains substantially constant. As described above, the desired fluid temperature (“Tdesired”) may vary, depending on doctor's orders. However, for any given therapy session, Tdesired is a constant.
The knowledge-based control algorithm 520 calculates a pulsatile flowrate (“Q”) in millimeters per minute according to the formula of block 524. The formula for Q can change based on the desired units for the flowrate. In the illustrated embodiment, the formula for Q is 60,000 multiplied by the chamber volume in milliliters, the product of which is divided by T in milliseconds. Once again, the chamber volume is a constant that is a function of pump chamber wall geometry.
The knowledge-based control algorithm 520 also calculates the total heater power in Watts, as indicated by block 526. In the illustrated embodiment, the method 510 calculates the heater power by dividing Vac2 by a plate heater resistance. The knowledge-based control algorithm 520 then uses the above calculations to calculate the knowledge-based duty cycle, as indicated by block 528. The knowledge-based duty cycle equals, in one embodiment, a factor, e.g., of 0.07, multiplied by the temperature difference, AT, which equals Tdesired minus the Tin. This product is then multiplied by the pulsatile flowrate Q. The latter product is then divided by the product of the total heater power W times the heater efficiency E. The knowledge-based duty cycle is then fed into summation point 544 in combination with the fuzzy logic-based duty cycle output as illustrated by
Referring now to
Next, a number of membership functions are implemented, as indicated by block 534. In this embodiment, the algorithm 530 implements five measurement functions. Two of the measurement functions, namely, nlarge and plarge, are trapezoidal membership functions. As is known in the art of fuzzy logic, the trapezoidal membership function consists of four nodes. Three other membership functions, namely nsmall, neutral and psmall, are set up as triangle membership functions, which consists of three nodes. After setting up the membership functions as indicated by block 534, the fuzzy logic control algorithm 530 performs a fuzzification interface as indicated by block 536. In the fuzzification interface, the control algorithm 530 converts the temperature difference, ΔT, between Tdesired and Tin to a number of fuzzy sets based on the membership functions set up as indicated in block 534
Next, the control algorithm 530 applies a number of fuzzy logic heating rules as indicated by block 538. In an embodiment, the control algorithm 530 employs five fuzzy logic rules. One rules says that, if ΔT is nlarge, the output should decrease at a large pace. Another rules says that, if ΔT is nsmall, the output should decrease at a small pace. The third rule states that if ΔT is neutral, the output should be zero. A further rules states that if ΔT is psmall, the output should increase at a small pace. The final rule states that if ΔT is plarge, the output should increase at a large pace.
The next step in the fuzzy logic control algorithm 530 is to perform a defuzzification interface, as indicated by block 540. In the defuzzification interface, the output of the rules is converted to an actual or “crisp” output, which can then be translated into a duty cycle. In the defuzzification step indicated by block 590, the output of the fuzzy logic rules is converted to a “crisp” or exact number. This number is then converted to the proper output for the heater which, in this embodiment, is the fuzzy heater duty cycle.
As indicated by block 542, the next step is to determine how much weight to place on the fuzzy logic duty cycle with respect to the knowledge-based duty cycle. The weighting factor is decided by the fuzzy logic rules and the update rates of both the knowledge based and fuzzy logic based control algorithms. The weighted fuzzy logic duty cycle is then summed in summation point 544 with the knowledge-based duty cycle yielded by the knowledge-based control algorithm 520.
IX. Electrical Insulation for the System
Medical equipment and in particular equipment in intimate contact with a patient needs to be properly electrically insulated against leakage currents. Class I type of equipment provides basic insulation and a means of connecting to a protective earthing conductor in the building in which the equipment resides, which dissipates hazardous voltages if the equipment insulation fails. One primary use for the system 10, 100 of the present invention however is in a patient's home. This presents two problems for Class I devices and in particular for dialysis machines. First, in many countries and older homes, the earthing ground is faulty, unreliable or completely absent. Second, many people bypass grounding systems that do exist. The present invention overcomes this problem by providing an automated dialysis system 10, 100 that requires no earth ground. The system 10, 100 does not simply rely on the basic insulation provided by Class I devices but provides either double insulation or reinforced insulation.
Double insulation includes two layers of insulation. One layer of insulation can be the basic insulation. At 240 VAC, basic insulation typically requires four millimeters of “creepage” or 2.5 millimeters of “air clearance”. Creepage is the shortest distance between two conductive parts when both are disposed along a surface of insulation. Creepage is also the shortest distance between a conductive part and a bounding surface of a piece of equipment, wherein the conductive part and the equipment contact a piece of insulation. Air clearance is the shortest distance between two conductive parts or between a conductive part and a piece of equipment, measured through air.
The additional layer of insulation is called supplemental insulation. Supplemental insulation is independent insulation applied in addition to the basic insulation to ensure protection against electric shock if the basic insulation fails. The supplemental insulation can also be in the form of creepage and clearance.
Reinforced insulation, on the other hand, is a single layer of insulation offering the same degree of protection as double insulation. Reinforced insulation provides the electrical protection equivalent to double insulation for the rated voltage of the double insulation. For 240 VAC, used as the mains voltage of the system 10, 100, the basic insulation can withstand 1500 VAC and the supplemental insulation can withstand 2500 VAC. The single layer of reinforced insulation must therefore withstand at least 4000 VAC.
Referring now to
In
The mains part 556 feeds 240 VAC to a power supply printed circuit board (“PCB”) 558. Power supply PCB 558 includes a mains part 562 and a live part 564. For purposes of the present invention, a “mains part” is the entirety of all parts of a piece of equipment intended to have a conductive connection with the supply mains voltage. A “live part” is any part that if a connection is made to the part, the part can cause a current exceeding the allowable leakage current for the part concerned to flow from that part to earth or from that part to an accessible part of the same equipment.
As illustrated, the live parts 560 and 564 step down in voltage from the mains parts 556 and 562, respectively, to 24 VDC. Obviously, the voltage may be stepped down to other desired levels. Live part 560 feeds live part 566. Live part 566 is an inverter having a step-up transformer that outputs a voltage of 1200 Vpeak. The inverter 566 powers a number of cathode fluorescent lights, which provide backlighting for the display device 40.
Live part 560 is also electrically isolated from applied part 568, which is maintained at a zero potential. An “applied part” for purposes of the present invention is any part of the system 550 that: (i) comes into physical contact with the patient or operator performing the dialysis treatment; (ii) can be brought into contact with the patient or operator; or (iii) needs to be touched by the patient. For instance, it is possible for the patient to touch the upper or lower plates of the plate heater 16, the temperature sensors 62 and the enclosure or housing 112. The applied part 568 represents schematically the casing or insulation around the temperature sensors 62.
In an embodiment, which only includes a display device 40 and not a touch screen 42 (discussed in
The system 550 makes available an input/output port 572, which can be a serial port or an Ethernet port to connect the system 550 to an external computer, a local area network, a wide area network, an internet and the like. To electrically insulate input/output port 572, the system provides a protective covering or casing 574.
The mains part 556 powers the heater element 576, which is positioned and arranged to heat both the upper and lower plates of the plate heater 16. In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the mains part 556 powers the infrared heater discussed above. As illustrated, double insulation is maintained between the heater element 576 and the heater plate 16. The double insulation includes basic insulation B(240), rated for 240 VAC, and supplemental insulation S(240), rated for 240 VAC.
For the heater plate 16 and element 576, at least, the basic and supplemental insulation needs to be electrically insulative but thermally conductive. Polyimides, such as a Kapton®, work very well. In an embodiment, therefore, the B(240) and S(240) layers each include Kapton® tape or sheet of about 0.3 millimeters thickness. As further illustrated, another layer of basic insulation B(240), rated for 240 VAC, and another layer of supplemental insulation S(240), rated for 240 VAC, are disposed between the temperature sensor 62 and the heater plate 16. Thus the heater plate 16 is completely and doubly insulated from the remainder of the system 550. Alternatively, either of the double layers of insulation can be replaced by a single layer of reinforced insulation.
The line 552 and the neutral 554 are insulated by basic operation insulation BOP (240), rated for 240 VAC, which is the electrical insulation wrapped or extruded around the respective wires. Basic insulation B(240), rated for 240 VAC, is provided between the mains part 556 and the enclosure 112 and between the power supply PCB 558 and the enclosure. The basic insulation B(240) can be in the form of a properly separated air gap. The enclosure 112 itself provides supplemental insulation S(240) for 240 VAC. The mains part 556 is therefore doubly insulated from the outside of the enclosure 112.
Since applied part 568 is maintained at a zero operating voltage, there needs to be no additional insulation placed between the applied part 568 and the housing 112. Accordingly, there is simply an operational separation displayed figuratively as OP between the applied part 568 and the housing 112. Double insulation or reinforced insulation D/R (24) for 24 VDC is however provided between live part 560 and the applied part 568, so that applied part 568 maintains its zero potential. Basic insulation B(24), rated for 24 VDC, is provided between live part 560 and the enclosure 112. The basic insulation B(24) can be in the form of a properly separated air gap. As stated above, the enclosure 112 itself provides supplemental insulation S(240) for 240 VAC. Live part 560 is therefore doubly insulated from the outside of the enclosure 112.
No additional insulation is needed and only an operational separation OP is provided between live part 560 and the live part 566. Since live part 566 is stepped up to 1200 Vpeak, the supplemental insulation S(240) rated for only 240 VAC of the enclosure 112 should not be relied upon. Accordingly, double insulation or reinforced insulation D/R (1200) for 1200 Vpeak is provided between the live part 566 and the housing 112.
Double insulation or reinforced insulation D/R (240) for 240 VAC is provided between the mains part 556 and the live part 560. Double insulation or reinforced insulation D/R (240) for 240 VAC is also provided between the line and neutral line 554 and the upper and lower plates of plate heater 16. Still further, double insulation or reinforced insulation D/R (240) for 240 VAC is provided between the mains part 562 and the live part 564 of the power supply PCB 558. Here, in the case of double insulation, either the basic or supplementary insulation can be a properly separated creepage distance on the PCB 558.
Double insulation or reinforced insulation D/R (24) for 24 VDC is provided between the housing 112 and the display device 40. The separation between the display device 40, maintained at 24 VDC and the inverter, maintained at 1200 Vpeak is only required to be operational. Live part 566 must be separated from the outside of the housing 112 by D/R(1200) but not from the LP(24). The reason is that the LP(1200) is on the secondary side of the live part 566 and if it is shorted to the LP(24) due to a failure of the operational insulation, LP(1200) will become at most 24 VDC, providing no safety hazard.
X. Graphical User Interface
Referring now to
It should be appreciated that the GUI system 600 does not require the patient to have internet or network access in their home. Rather, the port 572 is for a maintenance person or installer to gain access to the controller 30 within the hardware unit 110. In this manner, the patient may bring their unit to a place having internet or network access, wherein the patient's software may be upgraded. The patient may then bring the unit home and operate it without having to gain internet or network access.
Using web-based software is advantageous because it is based on well established standards, so that the interface screens may be constructed using existing software components as opposed to being hand crafted. Web-based software allows for external communication and multiple access points. The software is portable. For each of these reasons, software constructed using existing software components reduces development time and cost.
The present invention includes the construction of a GUI using an embedded web browser 602. In an embodiment, the embedded web browser 602 is third party software. The embedded web browser 602 can include any third party browser that runs on a target platform and includes support for advanced features such as HTML 4.0, ECMAScript, and animated GIFs. The web browser 602 renders and supplies the various GUI screens to the video monitor 40. The web browser 602 also handles inputs made by the patient. When the operator interacts with the system (e.g., presses buttons 43, 124, 125 and 127 or turns knob 122, illustrated in
The web server 604 in turn uses a web server extension software 606 to process the interaction. The embedded web server 604 can also be any third party web server that runs on a target platform and includes support for the web server extension software 606 and that allows a dynamic definition of the information to be sent to the embedded web browser 602.
The web server extensions are developed internally using the web server extension software 606 and conform to the specification of a mechanism, such as a Servlet, which works in conjunction with the chosen embedded web server 604. The web server extension software 606 enables the web server 604 to retrieve back end and real time information from the instrument access and control software 608. There are a number of different existing web server extension technologies that may be used for the embedded web browser 602, the embedded web server 604 and the web server extension software 606, such as CGI, ASP, Servlets or Java Server Pages (“JSP”).
The web server extension software 606 interacts with the instrument access and control software 608. The instrument access and control software 608 is an internally developed operating environment for controlling the various lower level components of the system 10, 100, such as the valve motor/actuator, pump motor/actuator and heater.
Depending on the operator input and the state of the automated dialysis system 10, 100, the web server extension software 606 can interact with the instrument access and control software 608 to obtain information from same and to cause one of the devices of the system 10, 100 to take action. The web server extension software 606 then sends information to the embedded web browser 602, which may then be displayed on the display device 40. The web server extension software 606 communicates with the instrument access and control software 608 using, in an embodiment, the CORBA standard. This communication, however, may take place using various different protocols known to those of skill in the art.
During the operation of the system 10, 100, an event may occur that requires high priority information to be displayed to the operator, for example, an alarm and corresponding message either on the display device 40 or on a separate dedicated alarm display. When a high priority event occurs, the instrument access and control software 608 generates an event that is handled by an event-handling software 610, which can be developed internally. The event-handing software 610 in turn notifies the embedded web browser 602, through the use of a plug-in or a refresh request simulation from the web server 604, to refresh whatever display the web browser is currently causing to be displayed on display device 40.
The event-handing software 610 enables information to flow from the instrument access and control software 608 to the embedded web browser 602 without a request by the embedded web browser 602, wherein the web browser thereafter requests a refresh. The web server 604 then forwards the request to the web server extension software 606. The web server extension software 606 determines what information should be displayed on the display device 40 based on the state of the system 10, 110. The web server extension software 606 then relays that information back to the embedded web browser 602, which updates the display device, e.g., to show an alarm condition.
In one embodiment of the GUI system 600, the web client is internal to the hardware unit 110 of the system 10, 100. As described above in connection with
It is alternatively possible that a number of different external web clients may need to access information contained within the system 10, 100. It is therefore preferred that the HTTP commands to the embedded web server 604 not require predetermined passwords, but instead use a stronger and more flexible security system.
Referring now to
As illustrated in
A simulated or electromechanical “stop” input 124, an “OK” button 125 and a “back” button 127 are also provided. The OK button 125 enables the operator to indicate that a particular part of the set-up procedure has been completed and to prompt the GUI 600 to move on to a next step of the set-up stage or to the therapy stage. The stop button 124 enables the operator or patient to stop the set-up or therapy procedures. The system 600 may include a handshake type of response, such as “are you sure you want to stop the set-up”. Other parts of the entire procedure, such as the patient fill or drain cycles immediately stop without further input from the operator. At certain points in the procedure, the system enables the operator to move back one or more screens using the back button 127.
Referring now to
In
Screen shots of
The parameter screen presents parameter information to the patient in a hierarchy format. First, as in
Once the user selects a highlighted category 625 by pressing the OK button 125 (
The parameters 627 illustrated in
The patient can scroll through and select one of the parameters 627 for the patient preferences category 625 by rotating knob 122. In this manner, it should be appreciated that the signal knob 122 is used over and over again. This feature is in accordance with the goal of providing a simple system, wherein the patient only has to turn one knob instead of remembering which knob from a plurality of knobs applies to a particular feature. The knob 122 also enables the lettering to be bigger because the patient can scroll through to see additional parameter selections that are not displayed when the door 628 is initially displayed. That is, the functionality of the knob 122 provides freedom to the GUI 600 to not have to display all the possible parameters at once. It should be appreciated that this benefit also applies to the category selection screen of
Once the patient selects one of the parameters of the patient preferences category, e.g., by pressing the OK button 125, a second door 630 slides open, wherein the display device 40 illustrates that the patient has selected the display brightness parameter 627 of the patient preferences category 625, which is still displayed by the first door 628 in
In
The system 600 in an embodiment presents information and instructions to the operator through the various visual tools discussed above. In an alternative embodiment, in addition to the visual information and instructions 612, static images 616, animations 618, parameter information, etc., one, or more or all of the above disclosed methods of communication is presented audibly to the patient or operator through speakers 129 (
The various programs that run on the main microprocessor can also include one or more programs that activate a certain sound file at a certain time during the therapy or upon a certain event initiated by the system 600, e.g., an alarm, or upon a patient or operator input. The sound files can contain the sound of a human voice or any other type of sound. The sound files walk the patient through the set-up portion of the therapy in an embodiment. The sound files can alert a patient who has made an inappropriate input into the GUI 600, etc. The system does not activate a sound during the cycles, e.g., while the patient sleeps, in a preferred embodiment.
If the operator selects the dedicated input 43 corresponding to the log information (not illustrated), the GUI 600 displays a screen or screens that show therapy data. In an embodiment, the therapy data is presented in a number of operator selectable logs. One of the logs can be a default log that is displayed initially, wherein the operator can switch to another log via, e.g., the knob 122. The logs may pertain to the most recent therapy and/or can store data over a number of days and a number of therapies. The logs can store any type of operating parameter information such as cycle times, number of cycles, fluid volume delivered, fluid temperature information, fluid pressure information, concentration of dialysate constituents, any unusual or alarm type of events, etc.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/155,579; titled: “VENTED MEDICAL FLUID TIP PROTECTOR”, filed May 24, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,929,751.
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| Child | 11077812 | US |
