Cassette for dialysis

Abstract

A cassette (14) for dialysis which can be attached to and detached from a dialysis device body (12) comprises a composite valve structure (70). The composite valve structure (70) includes one inflow port (79) for dialysate, and a plurality of valve ports (74). Each of the plurality of valve ports (74) has a hollow cylindrical shape in which a port hole (76) is formed. The composite valve structure (70) can switch between a state in which the one inflow port (79) communicates with one port hole (76), and a state in which the one inflow port (79) communicates with two or more port holes (76).

Description

Dialysis cassette

[0001] The present invention relates to a dialysis cassette for use in an automated peritoneal dialysis system.

[0002] For example, an automated peritoneal dialysis system is known, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-182254. The automated peritoneal dialysis system comprises a dialysis device main body having a housing and a dialysis cassette that can be attached to and detached from a slot provided in the dialysis device main body. The dialysis cassette is a fluid circuit component that includes a flow path, a pump unit, and multiple valves. A dialysis solution bag containing dialysis solution is connected to the dialysis cassette. The dialysis solution in the dialysis solution bag is sucked by the pump unit of the dialysis cassette and flows into the flow path of the dialysis cassette. The dialysis solution is pushed out of the flow path by the pump unit and delivered into the patient's peritoneal cavity. The pump unit also sucks the dialysis solution (effluent) from the patient's peritoneal cavity into the flow path and pushes the effluent from the flow path into a drainage container connected to the dialysis cassette.

[0003] JP 2016-182254 A

[0004] It is desirable that the structure of the dialysis cassette be as simple as possible.

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] (1) A first aspect of the present disclosure is a dialysis cassette detachable from a dialysis device main body. The dialysis cassette includes: a cassette main body to which a dialysate bag and a drainage container are connected; a pump unit provided in the cassette main body for delivering dialysate from the dialysate bag toward a patient and delivering the dialysate from the patient toward the drainage container; and a valve structure provided in the cassette main body having a plurality of valve units switchable between a state in which the dialysate from the dialysate bag toward the patient via the pump unit and a state in which the dialysate from the patient toward the drainage container via the pump unit.

[0007] At least some of the valve structures have a composite valve structure including one inlet for the dialysate and a plurality of hollow cylindrical valve ports each having a porthole formed therein, and the composite valve structure is switchable between a state in which the inlet communicates with one of the portholes and a state in which the inlet communicates with two or more of the portholes.

[0008] In this way, the cassette body constituting the dialysis cassette has a composite valve structure that can switch between a state in which one inlet communicates with one porthole and a state in which one inlet communicates with two or more portholes, thereby simplifying the configuration of the cassette body.

[0009] (2) In the dialysis cassette described in the above item (1), the composite valve structure may have one valve chamber into which the dialysis fluid flows from one of the inlets, and multiple valve ports may be provided within one valve chamber.

[0010] With this configuration, after the dialysate is circulated from the inlet through the valve chamber to the porthole, the dialysate flow path can be switched so that the dialysate flows from another porthole in the same valve chamber to the porthole through the valve chamber. In this case, a flow path between the two valve ports is not required. This simplifies the configuration of the cassette body.

[0011] It is also possible to communicate the two portholes via the valve chamber when one porthole of two or more valve ports and another porthole of two or more valve ports are open in the same valve chamber, and in this case, no flow path is required between the two valve ports.

[0012] (3) In the dialysis cassette described in the above item (2), the port hole of one of the valve ports may be in communication with a flow path leading to the pump unit.

[0013] In this case, the length of the flow path leading to the pump section can be shortened.

[0014] (4) In the dialysis cassette described in the above item (1), the cassette body has a front surface which is one end surface in the thickness direction of the cassette body and a back surface which is the opposite surface to the front surface, a front surface-side flow path is formed on the front surface, and a first back surface-side flow path, a second back surface-side flow path, and an intermediate back surface-side flow path are formed on the back surface, the plurality of valve ports include a first valve port and a second valve port, the composite valve structure includes a first valve chamber surrounding the first valve port and a second valve chamber surrounding the second valve port, and the cassette a communication hole communicating the intermediate back-side flow path and the front-side flow path is formed along the thickness direction of the cassette body, the communication hole being one of the inlets; a first through hole communicating the first valve chamber and the intermediate back-side flow path and a second through hole communicating the second valve chamber and the intermediate back-side flow path are formed along the thickness direction of the cassette body, the porthole of the first valve port communicating with the first back-side flow path and the porthole of the second valve port communicating with the second back-side flow path.

[0015] According to this configuration, for example, by opening the first porthole of the first valve port and closing the second porthole of the second valve port, the dialysate can be sent from the inlet to the first back-side flow path through the intermediate back-side flow path, the first through-hole, the first valve chamber, and the first porthole. Alternatively, by opening the first porthole of the first valve port and the second porthole of the second valve port, the dialysate can be sent from the second back-side flow path to the first back-side flow path through the second porthole, the second valve chamber, the second through-hole, the intermediate back-side flow path, the first through-hole, the first valve chamber, and the first porthole.

[0016] In this way, even in the configuration of the above item (4), it is possible to switch the dialysate delivery route.

[0017] (5) In the dialysis cassette described in any one of items (1) to (4) above, the cassette body may have a base member provided with a plurality of the valve ports and a flexible sheet covering an end face of the base member in the thickness direction, and the porthole may be opened and closed by displacing a portion of the flexible sheet facing the valve port by a valve drive unit of the dialysis device body.

[0018] This configuration makes it easy to open and close the porthole.

[0019] According to the present invention, the configuration of the cassette body in the dialysis cassette can be simplified.

[0020] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an automated peritoneal dialysis system equipped with a dialysis cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the specific configuration of the dialysis cassette. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the dialysis cassette. Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the composite valve structure taken along the thickness direction of the cassette body. Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the composite valve structure when the dialysis fluid supply path is switched from the fluid supply path shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the composite valve structure. Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the composite valve structure when the dialysis fluid supply path is switched from the fluid supply path shown in Fig. 6.

[0021] In the following description, a user refers to an operator who operates the automated peritoneal dialysis system 10 shown in FIG. 1. A typical example of a user is patient C, but the user is not limited to patient C. The user may also be a medical professional such as a doctor. In addition, in the following, to easily distinguish between the dialysate delivered from the dialysate bag 40 shown in FIG. 3 to patient C and the dialysate delivered from patient C to the drainage container 46, the former will be referred to as "dialysate" and the latter will be referred to as "drainage."

[0022] The automated peritoneal dialysis system 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a dialysis device main body 12 and a dialysis cassette 14. The dialysis device main body 12 comprises a cassette mounting section 120. The cassette mounting section 120 has a slot 122 capable of accommodating the dialysis cassette 14 and a lid member 124 capable of opening and closing an opening 123 of the slot 122. The front surface of the dialysis device main body 12 is provided with a start button 125 for instructing the device to start operation and a stop button 126 for instructing the device to stop operation. The front surface of the dialysis device main body 12 is also provided with a touch panel 128 that functions as a display section and an input section. A user can input various setting information via the touch panel 128.

[0023] Although not shown in the figure, the dialysis device main body 12 further includes a pump drive unit that operates the pump unit 30 of the dialysis cassette 14, a valve drive unit that operates the multiple valve units 34 of the dialysis cassette 14, and a heating mechanism that heats the heating unit 36 ​​of the dialysis cassette 14, as described below.

[0024] The dialysis cassette 14 includes a cassette body 16 that is detachable from the slot 122 of the dialysis device body 12. The dialysis cassette 14 further includes a plurality of first connection ports 22, a second connection port 24, a third connection port 26, a pump unit 30, and a valve structure 35. The valve structure 35 includes a plurality of valve units 34.

[0025] A plurality of first connection ports 22, second connection ports 24, and third connection ports 26 are provided on the cassette body 16. A dialysate bag 40 containing dialysate is connected to each of the plurality of first connection ports 22 via a supply tube 42. The base end of a dialysis tube 44 is connected to the second connection port 24. The tip of the dialysis tube 44 is inserted into the abdominal cavity of the patient C. A drainage container 46 is connected to the third connection port 26 via a discharge tube 48.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the cassette body 16 includes a plate-shaped base member 18 and a plurality of flexible sheets 20 fixed to the base member 18. The base member 18 is made of a resin material. Examples of resin materials that may be used for the base member 18 include hard resins such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and polycarbonate. Hereinafter, the end face of the base member 18 facing upward in FIG. 2 will be referred to as the "front face 19 a," and the end face facing downward in FIG. 2 will be referred to as the "back face 19 b." The front face 19 a is one end face in the T direction, which is the thickness direction of the cassette body 16 (base member 18). The back face 19 b is the other end face in the thickness direction (T direction) of the cassette body 16, and is the surface opposite the front face 19 a. The W direction is the width direction of the cassette body 16.

[0027] 2, the flexible sheets 20 include a first sheet 21a, a second sheet 21b, and a third sheet 21c. The first sheet 21a and the second sheet 21b are attached to the front surface 19a of the base member 18 in a liquid-tight manner. The third sheet 21c is attached to the back surface 19b of the base member 18 in a liquid-tight manner.

[0028] The base member 18 constituting the cassette body 16 has a flow path 50. The base member 18 is provided with a pump unit 30 that delivers the dialysis fluid, a plurality of valve units 34 that can be opened and closed, and a heater 36 that heats the dialysis fluid.

[0029] 3 , the pump unit 30 has a pump chamber 32 that is recessed from the front surface 19a of the base member 18 toward the back surface 19b. The pump unit 30 has a supply port 31 and a discharge port 33. The supply port 31 is an inlet through which the dialysate and the effluent flow into the pump chamber 32, and the discharge port 33 is an outlet through which the dialysate and the effluent flow out of the pump chamber 32. In the illustrated example, one pump unit 30 is provided, but two or more pump units 30 may be provided.

[0030] The pump chamber 32 is covered by the first sheet 21a. Although not shown in detail, a pump drive unit provided in the dialysis device main body 12 can pull or press a portion of the first sheet 21a corresponding to the pump unit 30 (hereinafter referred to as the "pump region"). The pump drive unit can, for example, apply negative pressure to the pump region of the first sheet 21a to pull the pump region away from the base member 18, thereby drawing dialysate from the dialysate bag 40 into the pump unit 30. On the other hand, the pump drive unit can apply positive pressure to the pump region of the first sheet 21a to push the pump region toward the base member 18, thereby discharging dialysate from the pump unit 30. In this way, the pump unit 30 serves to circulate the dialysate in the dialysate bag 40 through the flow path 50 via the first connection port 22 and supply it to the dialysis tube 44 from the second connection port 24. That is, the pump unit 30 draws the dialysate from the dialysate bag 40 and delivers it to the patient C.

[0031] Furthermore, after the dialysis fluid delivery path is switched, the pump drive unit applies negative pressure to the pump region of the first sheet 21a in the same manner as described above, thereby drawing the dialysis fluid from the patient C into the pump unit 30. Furthermore, the pump drive unit applies positive pressure to the pump region of the first sheet 21a in the same manner as described above, thereby discharging the dialysis fluid from the pump unit 30. As a result, the pump unit 30 serves to circulate the dialysis fluid (drained fluid) in the abdominal cavity of the patient C through the flow path 50 via the second connection port 24, and deliver it from the third connection port 26 to the drainage container 46. That is, the pump unit 30 aspirates the drained fluid in the abdominal cavity of the patient C and pushes it out into the drainage container 46.

[0032] The flow path 50 includes a first line 52a, a second line 52d, a third line 52e, and a fourth line 52f. The first line 52a is a portion of the flow path 50 that extends from the first connection port 22 to the pump unit 30, and the second line 52d is a portion of the flow path 50 that extends from the pump unit 30 to the second connection port 24. The third line 52e is a portion of the flow path 50 that extends from the second connection port 24 to the pump unit 30, and the fourth line 52f is a portion of the flow path 50 that extends from the pump unit 30 to the third connection port 26.

[0033] The first line 52a and the third line 52e join upstream of the pump unit 30 to form an inlet line 52b. The downstream end of the inlet line 52b is connected to the supply port 31. The upstream end of the outlet line 52c is connected to the discharge port 33. A second line 52d and a fourth line 52f branch off from the outlet line 52c.

[0034] As can be seen from the above, the dialysis fluid transfer path from the dialysis fluid bag 40 to the patient C is the supply tube 42, the first connection port 22, the first line 52a, the inflow line 52b, the pump unit 30 (the supply port 31, the pump chamber 32, and the discharge port 33), the outflow line 52c, the second line 52d, the second connection port 24, and the dialysis tubing 44. The dialysis fluid transfer path from the patient C to the drainage container 46 is the dialysis tubing 44, the second connection port 24, the third line 52e, the inflow line 52b, the pump unit 30 (the supply port 31, the pump chamber 32, and the discharge port 33), the outflow line 52c, the fourth line 52f, the third connection port 26, and the discharge tube 48.

[0035] In reality, the flow path 50 has a front-side flow path 52S formed on the front surface 19a of the base member 18, and a back-side flow path 52R formed on the back surface 19b of the base member 18. The front-side flow path 52S mainly includes a second heating flow path 102, which is part of the second line 52d, and a valve chamber 72, which will be described later. The rest of the flow path 50, excluding the second heating flow path 102 and the valve chamber 72, constitutes the back-side flow path 52R.

[0036] A plurality of valve units 34 are disposed in the flow path 50. The plurality of valve units 34 constitute a valve structure 35. Hereinafter, the valve unit 34 provided in the valve structure 35 at the connection point between the first connection port 22 and the first line 52a will be referred to as the first valve unit 54. The valve unit 34 provided in the inlet line 52b of the valve structure 35 will be referred to as the composite valve structure 70, and the valve unit 34 provided in the outlet line 52c of the valve structure 35 will be referred to as the third valve unit 58. The valve unit 34 provided in the valve structure 35 upstream of the second line 52d will be referred to as the fourth valve unit 60, and the valve unit 34 provided in the valve structure 35 downstream of the second line 52d will be referred to as the fifth valve unit 62. The valve unit 34 provided in the valve structure 35 at the connection point between the second line 52d and the second connection port 24 will be referred to as the sixth valve unit 64. The valve portion 34 of the valve structure 35 provided at the connection point between the second connection port 24 and the third line 52 e is a composite valve structure 70. Of the multiple valve portions 34, the valve portion 34 provided at the connection point between the fourth line 52 f and the third connection port 26 is referred to as an eighth valve portion 68. The composite valve structure 70 serves as a second valve portion between the first valve portion 54 and the third valve portion 58, and a seventh valve portion between the sixth valve portion 64 and the eighth valve portion 68.

[0037] The composite valve structure 70 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. In Fig. 4, portions of the first line 52a, the inlet line 52b, and the third line 52e are shown as the back surface side flow path 52R.

[0038] In the illustrated example, the composite valve structure 70 has a common valve chamber 71. The common valve chamber 71 is one valve chamber 72. The common valve chamber 71 is recessed from the front surface 19a side toward the back surface 19b side of the base member 18. A first valve port 75a and a second valve port 75b are provided within the common valve chamber 71. That is, in this embodiment, two valve ports 74 are provided within the common valve chamber 71 (one valve chamber 72). However, the number of valve ports 74 provided in the common valve chamber 71 may be three or more.

[0039] The first valve port 75a is hollow cylindrical, and the inner hole of the first valve port 75a is a first porthole 77a. The second valve port 75b is also hollow cylindrical, and the inner hole of the second valve port 75b is a second porthole 77b. The first porthole 77a and the second porthole 77b penetrate the base member 18 in the thickness direction (direction T).

[0040] The composite valve structure 70 has one inlet 79 provided in the valve chamber 72. The inlet 79 is a communication hole 78 that penetrates the base member 18 in the thickness direction (direction T). The communication hole 78 is the downstream end of the third line 52e.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a state in which the first seat 21a is separated from the upper surface of the first valve port 75a, thereby opening the first porthole 77a, and the first seat 21a is separated from the upper surface of the second valve port 75b, thereby opening the second porthole 77b. In this state, the communication hole 78 can communicate with both the first porthole 77a and the second porthole 77b. Therefore, the first line 52a can communicate with the inlet line 52b via the first porthole 77a, the common valve chamber 71, and the second porthole 77b. Furthermore, the third line 52e can communicate with the inlet line 52b via the communication hole 78, the common valve chamber 71, and the first porthole 77a. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the sixth valve unit 64 (see FIG. 3) is closed. This prevents the dialysate that flows from the first line 52a into the common valve chamber 71 via the first porthole 77a from flowing through the third line 52e.

[0042] 5 shows a state in which the second porthole 77b is open and the first seat 21a is in close contact with the upper surface of the first valve port 75a, closing the first porthole 77a. In this state, the communication hole 78 is only capable of communicating with the second porthole 77b. Therefore, when the sixth valve unit 64 is opened and waste liquid flows through the third line 52e, the waste liquid flows into the common valve chamber 71 via the communication hole 78 and then moves to the inlet line 52b via the second porthole 77b.

[0043] 3 , each of the first valve section 54, the third valve section 58, the fourth valve section 60, the fifth valve section 62, and the eighth valve section 68 has one valve port 74 provided in one valve chamber 72. A porthole 76 is formed in the valve port 74. In this embodiment, the third valve section 58, the fourth valve section 60, and the fifth valve section 62 have a communication hole 78, while the first valve section 54, the sixth valve section 64, and the eighth valve section 68 do not have a communication hole 78.

[0044] The first sheet 21a covers the common valve chamber 71 and the valve chamber 72 so that the first porthole 77a, the second porthole 77b, and the other portholes 76 can be individually opened and closed. Although not shown in detail, the valve drive unit provided in the dialysis machine main body 12 has multiple pressing units. The multiple pressing units can individually press portions of the first sheet 21a facing the first valve port 75a, the second valve port 75b, and the other valve ports 74 toward the respective valve ports 74, 75a, and 75b, thereby individually closing the respective portholes 76, 77a, and 77b. Alternatively, the multiple pressing units can individually open the respective portholes 76, 77a, and 77b by pulling portions of the first sheet 21a facing the respective valve ports 74, 75a, and 75b away from the respective valve ports 74, 75a, and 75b. In this manner, the first seat 21a and the valve ports 74, 75a, 75b constitute the opening and closing portion of the valve portion 34.

[0045] As can be understood from the above, the valve driving unit can selectively open and close each valve of the valve unit 34. This allows, for example, a path to be formed in the flow path 50 for sending dialysate from the dialysate bag 40 to the patient C. Alternatively, a path to be formed in the flow path 50 for sending drained fluid from the patient C to the drainage container 46 can be formed.

[0046] The heating section 36 has a first heating flow path 100 and a second heating flow path 102, which are the main parts of the second line 52d. The first heating flow path 100 is a serpentine groove and is part of the back surface side flow path 52R. The second heating flow path 102 is a serpentine groove and is the main part of the front surface side flow path 52S.

[0047] Although not shown, the heating mechanism provided in the dialysis device main body 12 has a first heater and a second heater that face each other. When the cassette main body 16 is inserted (mounted) in the slot 122, the first heater faces the first heating flow path 100, and the second heater faces the second heating flow path 102. The heating mechanism heats the dialysis fluid flowing through the first heating flow path 100 and the second heating flow path 102 using the first heater and the second heater.

[0048] The automated peritoneal dialysis system 10 is used as follows. Note that, hereinafter, the closed state of the first valve unit 54, the third valve unit 58 to the sixth valve unit 64, and the eighth valve unit 68 refers to a state in which each porthole 76 of each valve port 74 is blocked by the first seat 21a. Conversely, the open state of the first valve unit 54, the third valve unit 58 to the sixth valve unit 64, and the eighth valve unit 68 refers to a state in which each porthole 76 of each valve port 74 is open.

[0049] In Figure 1, the dialysis cassette 14 is inserted into the slot 122 of the dialysis device main body 12, and the cover member 124 is closed. At this point, the first valve section 54, the third valve section 58 to the sixth valve section 64, and the eighth valve section 68, and the composite valve structure 70 (the first valve port 75a and the second valve port 75b) are in a closed state. When the user presses the start button 125, the automated peritoneal dialysis system 10 begins operation (the fluid delivery process). The fluid delivery process performed by the automated peritoneal dialysis system 10 mainly consists of a fluid injection process and a fluid drainage process. First, the fluid injection process will be described.

[0050] The infusion step is a step of sending dialysate from the dialysate bag 40 shown in Fig. 3 to the abdominal cavity of the patient C via the dialysis cassette 14. Specifically, the infusion step includes a step of drawing the dialysate from the dialysate bag 40 to the pump chamber 32 (first step of the infusion step) and a step of sending the dialysate from the pump chamber 32 to the abdominal cavity of the patient C (second step of the infusion step).

[0051] In the first step of the infusion process, the dialysis machine main body 12 opens the first valve unit 54. As shown in Figure 4, the dialysis machine main body 12 also opens the first valve port 75a of the composite valve structure 70 and the second valve port 75b of the composite valve structure 70. This allows the first connection port 22 to communicate with the pump chamber 32 via the first line 52a, the inlet line 52b, and the supply port 31.

[0052] In this state, the pump driving unit lifts the pump region of the first sheet 21a away from the base member 18. As a result, the dialysate in the dialysate bag 40 is sucked into the pump unit 30. Therefore, the dialysate in the dialysate bag 40 flows from the valve chamber 72 (front-side flow path 52S) of the first valve unit 54 through the port hole 76 of the valve port 74 into the first line 52a (back-side flow path 52R) formed on the back surface 19b of the base member 18.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 4 , the dialysate flows into the common valve chamber 71 (surface-side flow path 52S) constituting the composite valve structure 70 through the first porthole 77a of the first valve port 75a. Because the second porthole 77b of the second valve port 75b is open, the dialysate in the common valve chamber 71 passes through the second porthole 77b and flows into the inlet line 52b (back-side flow path 52R) formed on the back surface 19b of the base member 18, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4 . The dialysate further flows from the inlet line 52b into the pump chamber 32 via the supply port 31 shown in Fig. 3 . The dialysate is temporarily stored in the pump chamber 32.

[0054] In this state, the communication hole 78 communicates with both the first porthole 77 a and the second valve port 75 b. However, because the sixth valve unit 64 is in the closed state as described above, the dialysate is prevented from passing through the communication hole 78 and flowing through the third line 52 e.

[0055] In the second step of the infusion process, the dialysis device main body 12 closes the first valve unit 54 and the composite valve structure 70 (the first porthole 77a and the second porthole 77b) and opens the fourth valve unit 60 to the sixth valve unit 64. This allows the pump chamber 32 to communicate with the second connection port 24 via the outlet 33, the outflow line 52c, and the second line 52d.

[0056] In this state, the pump driver of the dialysis device main body 12 pushes the pump region of the first sheet 21a toward the base member 18. This pushes the dialysate out of the pump chamber 32. The dialysate flows from the outlet 33 through the outflow line 52c (back surface-side flow path 52R) and then through the communication hole 78 of the third valve unit 58 into the valve chamber 72 (front surface-side flow path 52S) of the third valve unit 58.

[0057] In the third valve section 58, the dialysate moves from the porthole 76 of the valve port 74 to the upstream portion of the second line 52d (the back surface-side flow path 52R). Furthermore, the dialysate flows into the valve chamber 72 (the front surface-side flow path 52S) through the communication hole 78 of the fourth valve section 60, and then moves to the midstream portion of the second line 52d through the porthole 76 of the valve port 74.

[0058] Next, the dialysate flows toward the heating unit 36 ​​and enters the first heating flow path 100 (back-side flow path 52R) on the back surface 19b of the base member 18. The dialysate flows along the first heating flow path 100 toward the inside of the heating unit 36. The dialysate then flows through the upstream communication hole 104 into the second heating flow path 102 (front-side flow path 52S) on the front surface 19a of the base member 18. After flowing along the second heating flow path 102 toward the outside of the heating unit 36, the dialysate flows through the downstream communication hole 106 into the back-side flow path 52R of the second line 52d.

[0059] The dialysis fluid heated by the heating unit 36 ​​then flows into the valve chamber 72 through the port hole 76 of the fifth valve unit 62 and flows through the downstream portion of the second line 52d (the back surface-side flow path 52R) via the communication hole 78. The dialysis fluid flows from the downstream portion of the second line 52d through the port hole 76 of the sixth valve unit 64 into the valve chamber 72 and is further supplied into the abdominal cavity of the patient C through the dialysis tubing 44 connected to the second connection port 24.

[0060] After the second step of the liquid injection process is completed, the valve driving unit closes each of the valves of the fourth valve unit 60 to the sixth valve unit 64. The valve of the sixth valve unit 64 may be maintained in an open state.

[0061] The drainage process is a process of sending used dialysate (drainage) from the abdominal cavity of the patient C to the drainage container 46 via the dialysis cassette 14. Specifically, the drainage process includes a process of drawing the dialysate from the abdominal cavity of the patient C into the pump chamber 32 (first step of the drainage process) and a process of sending the dialysate from the pump chamber 32 to the drainage container 46 (second step of the drainage process).

[0062] In the first step of the drainage process, the dialysis machine main body 12 opens the sixth valve unit 64. The dialysis machine main body 12 also opens only the second valve port 75b of the composite valve structure 70. That is, the composite valve structure 70 is switched from a state in which the communication hole 78 (one inlet 79) communicates with the first porthole 77a and the second porthole 77b (two or more portholes 76) to a state in which the communication hole 78 (one inlet 79) communicates only with the second porthole 77b (one porthole 76).

[0063] With this switching, the second connection port 24 and the pump chamber 32 are connected to each other via the third line 52e, the inflow line 52b, and the supply port 31. In this state, the pump drive unit lifts the pump region of the first sheet 21a away from the base member 18. As a result, the drained fluid in the abdominal cavity of the patient C is sucked into the pump unit 30. Therefore, the drained fluid flows from the valve chamber 72 of the sixth valve unit 64 through the port hole 76 of the valve port 74 into the third line 52e (back-side flow path 52R) formed on the back surface 19b of the base member 18.

[0064] As described above, the first porthole 77a is in a closed state. That is, communication between the communication hole 78 and the first porthole 77a is blocked. This prevents the waste liquid that has flowed into the common valve chamber 71 from the communication hole 78 from flowing into the inlet line 52b via the first porthole 77a.

[0065] 5, the waste liquid that has passed through the third line 52e flows through the communication hole 78 and into the common valve chamber 71 that constitutes the composite valve structure 70. Because the second porthole 77b of the second valve port 75b is open, the waste liquid flows through the second porthole 77b and into the inlet line 52b. Thereafter, as in the first step of the liquid injection process, the waste liquid flows into the pump chamber 32 via the supply port 31. The waste liquid is temporarily stored in the pump chamber 32.

[0066] In the second step of the drainage process, the dialysis device main body 12 closes the sixth valve unit 64 and the composite valve structure 70 (the first porthole 77a and the second porthole 77b) and opens the third valve unit 58 and the eighth valve unit 68. Next, as in the second step of the infusion process, the drained liquid in the pump chamber 32 is pushed from the outlet 33 to the outflow line 52c. The drained liquid passes through the outflow line 52c and the third valve unit 58 and then flows through the fourth line 52f (rear-surface-side flow path 52R). The drained liquid further flows into the valve chamber 72 through the porthole 76 of the valve port 74 of the eighth valve unit 68, and then passes through the third connection port 26 and the discharge tube 48 to the drainage container 46.

[0067] After the dialysate has been discharged into the drainage container 46, the dialysis cassette 14 (cassette body 16) is removed from the dialysis device body 12. The dialysis cassette 14 is discarded after a single use.

[0068] This embodiment has the following advantages.

[0069] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a dialysis cassette 14 that can be attached to and detached from a dialysis device main body 12 includes a cassette main body 16, a pump unit 30, and a valve structure 35 having a plurality of valve units 34 (a first valve unit 54, a composite valve structure 70, a third valve unit 58 to a sixth valve unit 64, and an eighth valve unit 68 shown in Figure 3).

[0070] As shown in Fig. 3, a dialysate bag 40 and a drainage container 46 are connected to the cassette body 16. The pump unit 30 is provided in the cassette body 16 and sends the dialysate in the dialysate bag 40 toward the patient C, and sends the dialysate (drainage) in the patient C toward the drainage container 46. The plurality of valve units 34 are provided in the cassette body 16 and switch between a state in which the dialysate in the dialysate bag 40 can be sent toward the patient C via the pump unit 30 and a state in which the dialysate in the patient C can be sent toward the drainage container 46 via the pump unit 30.

[0071] In the above configuration, at least a part of the valve structure 35 is a composite valve structure 70. The composite valve structure 70 is a structure including one inlet 79 for dialysate and a plurality of hollow cylindrical valve ports 74 each having a porthole 76 formed therein. The composite valve structure 70 can alternate between a state in which one inlet 79 communicates with one porthole 76 and a state in which one inlet 79 communicates with two or more portholes 76.

[0072] According to this composite valve structure 70, the configuration of the cassette body 16 that constitutes the dialysis cassette 14 can be simplified.

[0073] 4 and 5, the composite valve structure 70 has one common valve chamber 71 into which the dialysate flows in from one inlet 79 (a communication hole 78 in the illustrated example). A plurality of valve ports 74 (a first valve port 75a and a second valve port 75b in the illustrated example) are provided in the single common valve chamber 71.

[0074] After the dialysate is circulated from the inlet 79 to one porthole 76 (first valve port 75a in the illustrated example) via the valve chamber 72, the dialysate flow path can be switched so that the dialysate is circulated from another porthole (second valve port 75b in the illustrated example) within the same common valve chamber 71 to the porthole (first valve port 75a in the illustrated example) via the common valve chamber 71. In this case, no flow path is required between the multiple valve ports 74 (first valve port 75a and second valve port 75b in the illustrated example). This allows for a simplification of the configuration of the cassette body 16.

[0075] It is also possible to simultaneously send dialysis fluid to multiple valve ports 74 through a single inlet 79. Alternatively, it is also possible to send dialysis fluid to one of the multiple valve ports 74 through a single inlet 79, and then send dialysis fluid to one or more other of the multiple valve ports 74. In either case, as in the case described above, no flow path is required between the multiple valve ports 74. Therefore, even if the fluid sending path is different from the above, the configuration of the cassette body 16 can be simplified.

[0076] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the port hole 76 of one of the multiple valve ports 74 in the composite valve structure 70 (first valve port 75a in the illustrated example) communicates with a flow path leading to the pump section 30 (inlet line 52b in the illustrated example).

[0077] In this case, the length of the flow path leading to the pump unit 30 can be shortened.

[0078] 1 to 5, the composite valve structure 70 is exemplified as a valve portion 34 that combines a valve portion 34 that serves as the second valve portion and a valve portion 34 that serves as the seventh valve portion. However, the composite valve structure 70 may be configured to combine two other valve portions 34.

[0079] Next, another embodiment of a composite valve structure 80 will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Note that, for ease of understanding, Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a composite valve structure 80 including two valve ports 74, but the number of valve ports 74 may be three or more. Furthermore, the same components as those shown in Figures 1 to 5 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0080] In this case, the composite valve structure 80 has a first valve port 75a and a first valve chamber 73a surrounding the first valve port 75a. The composite valve structure 80 further has a second valve port 75b and a second valve chamber 73b surrounding the second valve port 75b. In the composite valve structure 80, the first valve chamber 73a and the second valve chamber 73b are separate valve chambers. Note that although the first valve chamber 73a and the second valve chamber 73b are each valve chambers 72, different reference numerals are used to easily distinguish between the two valve chambers 73a and 73b.

[0081] A surface-side flow path 52S is formed on the surface 19a of the base member 18 that constitutes the cassette body 16. A back-side flow path 52R is formed on the back surface 19b of the base member 18. In this embodiment, the back-side flow path 52R includes a first back-side flow path 52R1, a second back-side flow path 52R2, and an intermediate back-side flow path 52R3. A first porthole 77a of the first valve port 75a communicates with the first back-side flow path 52R1. A second porthole 77b of the second valve port 75b communicates with the second back-side flow path 52R2.

[0082] A communication hole 82 is formed between the first valve chamber 73a and the second valve chamber 73b in the base member 18. The communication hole 82 is a single inlet 79, and connects the intermediate back-side flow path 52R3 and the front-side flow path 52S along the thickness direction (T direction) of the base member 18. In the illustrated example, the communication hole 82 extends, for example, along the width direction (W direction).

[0083] A first through hole 84a and a second through hole 84b are further formed in the base member 18. The first through hole 84a and the second through hole 84b penetrate the base member 18 in the thickness direction (direction T) of the base member 18. The first through hole 84a communicates between the first valve chamber 73a and the intermediate back-surface-side flow path 52R3. The second through hole 84b communicates between the second valve chamber 73b and the intermediate back-surface-side flow path 52R3.

[0084] 6 , when the dialysate that has flowed into the communication hole 82 is to be sent to the first back-side flow path 52R1, the dialysis device main body 12 opens the first porthole 77a and closes the second porthole 77b. This places the communication hole 82 (one inlet 79) in communication with only the first porthole 77a (one porthole 76). Next, by driving the pump unit 30, the dialysate that has flowed into the communication hole 82 moves to the first back-side flow path 52R1 via the first through-hole 84a, the relay back-side flow path 52R3, the first valve chamber 73a, and the first porthole 77a.

[0085] 7 , when the dialysate that has flowed into the second back-side flow path 52R2 is to be sent to the first back-side flow path 52R1, the dialysis device main body 12 opens the first porthole 77a and the second porthole 77b. This places the communication hole 82 (one inlet 79) in communication with the first porthole 77a and the second porthole 77b (two or more portholes 76). Next, by driving the pump unit 30, the dialysate that has flowed into the second back-side flow path 52R2 moves to the first back-side flow path 52R1 via the second porthole 77b, the second valve chamber 73b, the second through-hole 84b, the intermediate back-side flow path 52R3, the first through-hole 84a, the first valve chamber 73a, and the first porthole 77a.

[0086] In this manner, even in this embodiment, the composite valve structure 80 can alternate between a state in which one inlet 79 communicates with one porthole 76 and a state in which one inlet 79 communicates with two or more portholes 76. Therefore, similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the configuration of the cassette body 16 that constitutes the dialysis cassette 14 can be simplified.

[0087] The present invention is not limited to the above disclosure, and various configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dialysis cassette detachable from a dialysis device main body, comprising: a cassette main body to which a dialysate bag and a drainage container are connected; a pump unit provided in the cassette main body for sending the dialysate in the dialysate bag toward a patient and for sending the dialysate in the patient toward the drainage container; and a valve structure provided in the cassette main body and having a plurality of valve parts capable of switching between a state in which the dialysate in the dialysate bag can be sent toward the patient through the pump unit and a state in which the dialysate in the patient can be sent toward the drainage container through the pump unit. At least a part of the valve structure has a composite valve structure including one inlet of the dialysate and a plurality of valve ports in a hollow cylindrical shape in which port holes are formed. The composite valve structure is capable of switching between a state in which one of the inlets communicates with one of the port holes and a state in which one of the inlets communicates with two or more of the port holes.

2. The dialysis cassette according to claim 1, wherein the composite valve structure has one valve chamber into which the dialysate flows from one of the inlets, and a plurality of the valve ports are provided in the one valve chamber.

3. The dialysis cassette according to claim 2, wherein the port hole of one of the plurality of valve ports communicates with a flow path leading to the pump unit.

4. The dialysis cassette according to claim 1, wherein the cassette body has a front surface which is one end surface in the thickness direction of the cassette body and a back surface which is the opposite surface of the front surface; a front surface side flow path is formed on the front surface, and a first back surface side flow path, a second back surface side flow path and a relay back surface side flow path are formed on the back surface; the plurality of valve ports have a first valve port and a second valve port; the composite valve structure has a first valve chamber surrounding the first valve port and a second valve chamber surrounding the second valve port; a communication hole is formed along the thickness direction of the cassette body to communicate the relay back surface side flow path and the front surface side flow path, and the communication hole is one of the inlets; a first through hole is formed along the thickness direction of the cassette body to communicate the first valve chamber and the relay back surface side flow path, and a second through hole is formed to communicate the second valve chamber and the relay back surface side flow path; the port hole of the first valve port communicates with the first back surface side flow path; and the port hole of the second valve port communicates with the second back surface side flow path.

5. The dialysis cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cassette body has a base member provided with the plurality of valve ports and a flexible sheet covering an end surface in the thickness direction of the base member; and a portion of the flexible sheet facing the valve port is displaced by a valve driving portion of the dialysis apparatus main body, so that the port hole is opened and closed.

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