Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid Path Disinfection for Reusable Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated peritoneal dialysis systems generate significant disposable waste, which is cumbersome and costly, requiring frequent setup and storage, and can lead to errors due to the complexity of disposable items.
Innovation Solution
The system converts fluid-carrying components into reusable parts, with disinfection capabilities, using electrically actuated valves and heaters, and incorporates a control unit for precise fluid management and disinfection sequences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disposable items are used in automated peritoneal dialysis systems, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and loss of substance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a reusable fluid path system where the fluid path is disassembled into components, cleaned using automated washing machines with heated water and detergents, disinfected using glutaraldehyde solution, and then reassembled for repeated use. This recovery process eliminates the need for disposable fluid paths while maintaining reliability through systematic cleaning and disinfection protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates automated cleaning and disinfection capabilities where the fluid path components are washed and disinfected using automated washing machines. The system performs self-maintenance through programmable control units that manage the cleaning cycles, reducing manual intervention while ensuring consistent reliability across multiple uses.
2Ease of operation
If disposable items are used, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of time and loss of substance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid path components are pre-assembled into complete sets that can be quickly attached to the dialysis machine. The reusable nature of these pre-assembled components eliminates the need for frequent setup and storage of disposable items, reducing operational time while maintaining ease of use through standardized connection interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding fluid paths after single use, the system recovers them for cleaning and reuse. The automated washing machines perform cleaning during off-peak hours, and the reusable components are rapidly exchanged during treatment sessions, significantly reducing the time lost to setup and storage operations.
3Ease of operation
If disposable items are used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers and reuses fluid paths through automated cleaning and disinfection processes. The washing machines use water and detergents to clean components, followed by disinfection with glutaraldehyde solution. This recovery approach eliminates the continuous consumption of disposable fluid paths, significantly reducing substance loss while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable fluid path components are designed to be universally compatible with the dialysis machine and can be used across multiple treatment sessions. The standardized design allows the same components to serve multiple patients or the same patient over time, reducing the need for numerous different disposable items and minimizing overall substance consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces disposable waste, simplifies setup, and enhances operational efficiency by minimizing errors through the use of reusable components and automated disinfection processes.
Implementation Method 1
a dialysis fluid heater for heating the PD fluid; wherein the control unit is programmed to heat the PD fluid to a disinfection temperature
Implementation Method 2
a dialysis fluid pump for circulating the PD fluid; wherein the control unit is programmed to circulate the heated PD fluid through the reusable pump and the reusable fluid lines
Data Source
AI summary
A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system includes a housing; a dialysis fluid pump housed by the housing and including a reusable pump body that accepts PD fluid for pumping; a dialysis fluid inline heater housed by the housing and including a reusable heater body that accepts PD fluid for heating; at least one reusable PD fluid line extending from the housing; at least one disinfection connector supported by the housing and configured to accept one of the at least one reusable PD fluid line; and a control unit configured to run a disinfection sequence after a PD treatment, wherein each of the at least one reusable PD fluid line is connected to one of the at least one disinfection connectors, and wherein at least one of the dialysis fluid pump or the dialysis fluid inline heater is actuated by the control unit during the disinfection sequence.