Patent Application
20220333362
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The subject technology is in the technical field of medical waste removal into municipal sewer systems, particularly in a residential setting.
Dialysis is, of course, the replacement or imitation of kidney processes to remove excess water and waste from the blood, so as to facilitate the body to produce red blood cells. When kidneys fail to do this, then the process must be done by other means. In the past, persons needing dialysis would have to travel to a dialysis center periodically, to have this service performed. Recent technological advances now enable persons who need this assistance to have it done in their homes or other residential setting; sometimes an assistant is needed, and sometimes the person requires no assistance. However, dialysis in a residential setting requires the proper equipment and infrastructure.
In addition to proper equipment, power, water, chemical solutions, communication in case assistance is needed, lighting, and comfortable furniture, a drainage system is required to dispose of the waste and excess water that the home dialysis process removes. Such waste may be properly and legally disposed into the municipal sewer system.
Several drainage systems have been, and are currently used for this. All involve a drainage line to carry the waste away from a source, and to a portal into which the waste is conveyed into the sewer system. Most, if not all, interface with a system that allows water to flow to assist disposal, such as use in conjunction with a sink or toilet. Consider first a tundish, which is a funnel fining installed on pipes into which the drainage line is placed. Consider also systems such as disclosed by DiMaggio in U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,179, Mounting Assembly For Waste Line of a Medical Treatment Apparatus, and other references in that family of applications by DiMaggio. Here, the drainage line brings waste into a sink or toilet.
In all of the above, water via faucet or toilet flush can be used to help move the waste down the drain. Also, in all of the above, the drainage systems rely on gravity, air pressure, weight, and water seeking its own level to move the waste. No additional pumping or other force is applied from the dialysis machine. This makes such disposal different from forced disposal into the sewer system, such as from a dishwasher, as disclosed by Vila in U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,803, Extendable P-Trap Dishwasher Waste Port. Waste water from a dishwasher may alternately be channeled through a garbage disposal, or directly into pipes just below a sink through use of a tailpiece with side arm. A problem with the tailpiece and side arm for dialysis waste removal is that waste water may splash up into the sink. A problem with conducting dialysis waste through a garbage disposal is that waste water may splash up into the sink when the garbage disposal is used. A problem with the tailpiece and side arm for dialysis waste removal is that waste water may splash up into the sink.
What is needed is a system in a residential setting that carries dialysis waste to a sewer line safely, so as not to contaminate other areas, and is easily removed when dialysis is no longer needed in the residence.
The subject technology is a system and a method for its use. The system includes a conduit carrying dialysis waste from a source to a plumbing trap specifically designed for quick connection to the conduit, and adapted to receive dialysis waste that is delivered via gravity, air pressure, weight, and water seeking its own level to move the waste.
The subject technology will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the subject technology is shown. However, persons of ordinary skill in the appropriate arts may modify the subject technology described here while still achieving the favorable results. Accordingly, the description which follows is to be understood as being a broad, teaching disclosure directed to persons of ordinary skill in the appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon the subject technology.
Certain definitions are used herein:
“Clearing” is a process of removing liquid that may remain in a conduit, forcing the liquid out generally by raising one end of the conduit and intermediate sections of the conduit while the other end delivered liquid to a container or a drainage system.
A “conduit” is a drainage line, or “drain line,” that carries dialysis liquid waste from a source such as a dialysis machine, to a destination, for disposal into a municipal sewer system.
“Dialysis tubing” are the paired connections to a patient's artery and vein, typically in the patient's arm, for delivering blood from the artery to the dialysis machine and returning cleansed blood to patient's vein.
A “plumbing trap” is a drainpipe fixture between a sink's drain and a municipal sewer system, provided with a curve or bend which holds water as a barrier to prevent sewer gasses from entering through the sink. Liquid poured into the sink passes through the plumbing trap, leaving an amount of liquid in the curved portion to create the barrier. Common implementations for plumbing traps are called “J bends” and “P traps.”
An “inlet” is a side portal into a plumbing fixture, such as a drainpipe or a plumbing trap, providing an alternative entry for liquid.
A “quick connection” is a device for connecting a conduit to an inlet.
The following reference numbers are used throughout the drawings and this specification.
Typically, when dialysis equipment and infrastructure is installed in a residential setting it remains for a long term of days, weeks, months, or years, until no longer needed or until replaced. When the equipment is removed, care must be taken not to spill the waste.
The subject technology, as a system and method, calls for long-term substitution of existing, standard plumbing traps with the plumbing trap 110. Use of the plumbing trap 110 eliminates the need to drill a hole in existing standard plumbing traps, and then having to cover the hole when dialysis is not needed. The method of turning the assembled bracket to cover the hole does not provide good seal, and is in effect a scar on the plumbing. The scar indicates that the residential plumbing system was used for medical waste. That information could cause loss of market value for the home.
The system and method disclosed here provide several advantages, including:
While the foregoing written description enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. Unless claimed, particular system architecture and algorithms shown are not critical, but represent one or more embodiments.
