Pressure-Chamber Peritoneal Dialysis for Compact Fluid Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) machines are cumbersome, costly, and require significant daily setup time due to the use of disposable sets, which also occupy space and are not easily portable.
Innovation Solution
An APD machine with a pressure chamber that accepts a disposable container, equipped with a heating plate and a pressurization device, uses a reusable or disposable clamshell structure with a pneumatic system to manage fluid flow, including a control unit for precise pressure control and volume calculation, allowing for efficient and compact operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disposable sets are used in automated peritoneal dialysis machines, then reliability and ease of operation are improved, but device complexity and loss of substance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable containers for dialysis fluid storage and a disposable heating element that is sacrificed during operation. The heating element is designed to be consumed along with the fluid to eliminate cross-contamination risks, representing a deliberate use of disposable components to ensure patient safety and system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers and reuses the pressure chamber and pump mechanism while discarding only the fluid container and heating element. This selective disposal approach maintains reliability through consistent mechanical components while minimizing waste by recovering durable parts for multiple treatment cycles.
2Ease of operation
If disposable sets are used in automated peritoneal dialysis machines, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable container is pre-filled with dialysis fluid and the heating element is pre-positioned within the chamber before use. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for manual fluid transfer and heating element installation during setup, reducing operational complexity and setup time while maintaining ease of use.
3Temperature
If a heating plate is added to the pressure chamber, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is designed as a disposable component that is sacrificed during operation. This approach simplifies the overall system by eliminating the need for complex temperature regulation mechanisms, sensors, and control systems that would be required for a reusable heating element, while still providing effective temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable heating element provides self-regulating heating as it is consumed by the chemical reaction or phase change process. This self-service heating mechanism eliminates the need for external temperature control systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective temperature management during the dialysis process.
4Productivity
If a pressurization device is added to the pressure chamber, then fluid flow control is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pneumatic pressure applied to the disposable container to drive fluid flow through the dialysis system. This pneumatic approach simplifies the mechanical complexity compared to traditional pump mechanisms, as it uses compressed gas to create the necessary pressure differential for fluid movement without requiring complex mechanical pumping components.
5Productivity
If a pressurization device is added to the pressure chamber, then fluid flow control is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic pressurization system uses lightweight compressed gas storage instead of heavy mechanical pump components. This approach significantly reduces the weight of the fluid flow control mechanism while maintaining effective pressure generation for dialysis fluid circulation, making the system more portable and easier to handle.
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
The system provides a compact, cost-effective, and portable APD machine that reduces setup time and disposable waste, offering precise pressure and volume control while using a single disposable item for both pumping and heating.
Implementation Method 1
A lower or bottom portion of the pressure chamber may be fitted with a heating plate, e.g., a resistive heating plate, which heats the disposable bag during patient dwells and while it is filling and emptying fresh dialysis fluid.
Implementation Method 2
The pressure chamber is placed in pneumatic or hydraulic communication with a pressurization assembly including a cylinder and a piston. The piston is movable within the cylinder between a first position and a second position. The control system is configured to control movement of the piston between the first position and the second position to pump the dialysis fluid in and out of the peritoneal chamber.
Implementation Method 3
Waste, toxins and excess water pass from the patient's bloodstream, through the capillaries in the peritoneal membrane, and into the dialysis fluid due to diffusion and osmosis
Implementation Method 4
Waste, toxins and excess water pass from the patient's bloodstream, through the capillaries in the peritoneal membrane, and into the dialysis fluid due to diffusion and osmosis, i.e., an osmotic gradient occurs across the membrane.
Data Source
AI summary
A peritoneal dialysis system and method includes a control unit configured to enable a pressurization device to pressurize a pressure cavity to a pressure; cause a fluid valve to be opened when the pressure reaches a desired pressure to allow fluid communication with a flexible container located within the pressure cavity; cause a pressure within the pressure cavity to be measured after the fluid valve is opened; and determine that the flexible container is full of fluid or empty of fluid if the pressure within the pressure cavity after the fluid valve is opened becomes or remains at least substantially constant.