Reusable Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid Lines Heat Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) systems generate significant disposable waste, requiring daily setup and storage of disposable items, which is cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
The APD system converts most fluid-carrying components into reusable parts that are heat-cleaned after treatment, including reusable PD fluid lines, a dialysis fluid inline heater, and a reusable dialysis fluid pump, reducing the need for daily disposables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disposable items are used for each treatment, then hygiene and reliability are maintained, but waste generation increases and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a system where reusable fluid lines, pump, and heater are used across multiple treatments, with disposable elements (patient line, drain line, fluid containers) discarded after single use. This recovers and reuses critical components while maintaining hygiene through proper disposal of single-use items, reducing overall waste generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into reusable components (fluid lines, pump, heater) and disposable components (patient line, drain line, fluid containers). This segmentation allows the reusable parts to be maintained and reused while the disposable parts ensure hygiene between treatments, resolving the contradiction between reliability and waste reduction.
2Reliability
If disposable items are used for each treatment, then hygiene is maintained, but device complexity and setup time increase
Solution Approach 1:
By recovering and reusing the fluid lines, pump, and heater across multiple treatments, the system reduces the number of components that need to be set up and configured each time. Only the disposable items need to be exchanged, significantly simplifying the setup process while maintaining hygiene through proper disposal of single-use components.
3Loss of substance
If reusable components are used, then waste is reduced and costs lower, but cleaning and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a heater that heats dialysis fluid to body temperature during treatment, and the same heater is used to heat cleaning solution for maintaining the reusable components. The pump circulates fluid through the system, and valves control flow direction. This self-service approach uses the system's own components for maintenance purposes, reducing external cleaning complexity.
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
This approach significantly reduces disposable waste, lowers operational costs, and simplifies the setup process by allowing for the reuse of critical components, while maintaining effective treatment outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
dialysis fluid inline heater to heat the dialysis fluid to a temperature sufficient for heat cleaning
Data Source
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AI summary
A peritoneal dialysis ("PD") system includes a dialysis fluid pump having a reusable pump body that accepts PD fluid for pumping; a dialysis fluid inline heater including a reusable heater body that accepts PD fluid for heating; a patient line connector; a drain line connector; a first reusable PD fluid line including a first connector configured to mate with the patient line connector; a second reusable PD fluid line including a second connector configured to mate with the drain line connector; and a control unit configured to run a heat cleaning (e.g., heat disinfection or heat sterilization) sequence after PD treatment, wherein the first connector of the first reusable PD fluid line is mated with the patient line connector, the second connector of the second reusable PD fluid line is mated with the drain line connector, and the dialysis fluid pump and perhaps the dialysis fluid inline heater are actuated.