Remote Peritoneal Dialysis Facility with Sorbent Regeneration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with renal disease face challenges in accessing convenient and cost-effective peritoneal dialysis treatments, particularly for midday exchanges, due to the need for storing dialysis solutions and supplies at home or work, and the lack of access to dedicated home dialysis equipment, especially in developing countries.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for remote peritoneal dialysis treatment facilities that provide multiple treatment stations equipped with necessary equipment and supplies, allowing patients to perform exchanges at convenient locations such as work sites, public transportation hubs, or temporary dwellings, using reusable containers and sorbent systems to regenerate used dialysate, reducing waste and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If patients perform peritoneal dialysis at home with dedicated equipment, then treatment convenience is improved, but the need for home storage of dialysis solutions and supplies increases space requirements and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the dialysis solution storage and supply functions from the patient's home environment and relocates them to a remote facility. Patients can perform exchanges at the facility using provided equipment and solutions, eliminating the need for home storage of large volumes of dialysis solutions and supplies.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote facility serves as a universal location that can accommodate multiple patients performing peritoneal dialysis exchanges. The facility provides shared equipment and supplies that can be used by different patients, replacing the need for each patient to have dedicated home equipment and storage space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If patients perform midday exchanges at work, then treatment accessibility is improved, but the need to transfer and store dialysis materials at work becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for patients to transfer and store dialysis materials at work locations. By consolidating all equipment and supplies at a remote facility, patients can perform exchanges without handling or storing materials at their workplace, eliminating the complexity of material transfer and storage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If patients in developing countries access peritoneal dialysis treatment, then treatment availability is improved, but the cost of dedicated home equipment and supplies becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The remote facility provides universal access to dialysis equipment and supplies for multiple patients, eliminating the need for each patient to purchase or maintain expensive dedicated home equipment. This shared resource model makes treatment more affordable and accessible, particularly for patients in developing countries.
Solution Approach 2:
The facility implements a system where used dialysis solutions are drained and regenerated using sorbent cartridges. This recovery process reduces waste and lowers the cost of fresh dialysis solution consumption, making treatment more cost-effective for patients and the facility.
4Productivity
If multiple patients share a remote facility, then resource utilization is improved, but the need for identification and tracking systems increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary identification system using portable media (such as RFID cards or coded identifiers) that links patients to their prescription information stored in a database. This intermediary enables efficient patient identification and tracking without requiring complex manual verification processes, facilitating smooth operation of the shared facility.
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
Enables convenient, cost-effective, and accessible peritoneal dialysis treatment for multiple patients by eliminating the need for home storage of dialysis solutions and supplies, reducing waste, and providing a sterile and safe treatment environment, suitable for patients with hectic schedules or limited resources.
Implementation Method 1
using reusable containers and sorbent systems to regenerate used dialysate
Implementation Method 2
Diffusion and osmosis exchanges take place between the dialysis solution and the bloodstream across the natural body membranes
Implementation Method 3
Diffusion and osmosis exchanges take place between the dialysis solution and the bloodstream across the natural body membranes
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for operation with a facility providing peritoneal dialysis exchanges for multiple peritoneal dialysis patients. The system can include a peritoneal dialysis solution supply, peritoneal dialysis sets to deliver peritoneal dialysis solution to the peritoneal dialysis patients at the facility, a computer, and a treatment station. The computer can electronically read a prescription for a patient, electronically identify a quantity of the peritoneal dialysis solution from the prescription, and electronically identify a peritoneal dialysis set from the peritoneal dialysis sets for use with the identified quantity of the peritoneal dialysis solution. The treatment station can allow an identified peritoneal dialysis set to be fluidly connected to the peritoneal dialysis solution supply so that the identified quantity of the peritoneal dialysis solution may be metered from the dialysis solution supply to the patient to perform a peritoneal dialysis treatment at the facility and according to the prescription.