Reusable PD Fluid Circuit Disinfection for Peritoneal Dialysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated peritoneal dialysis systems generate significant disposable waste, requiring cumbersome setup procedures and exposing patients to potential errors due to the use of disposable items like cassettes and tubes, which are costly and space-consuming.
Innovation Solution
The system converts fluid-carrying components into reusable parts that are disinfected after treatment, using a cycler with reusable PD fluid lines, a dialysis fluid inline heater, and a pump that operates without disposable items, along with a disinfection sequence utilizing reusable components and a disinfection connector system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disposable cassettes and tubes are used in automated peritoneal dialysis systems, then reliability and sterility are improved, but device complexity and disposable waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a disinfection system that recovers and reuses the cycler components through automated disinfection cycles. The system uses heated peritoneal dialysis fluid to disinfect the cycler, pump, and fluid lines after each treatment, allowing these components to be reused rather than discarded. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining sterility through active disinfection while eliminating the need for disposable components.
2Reliability
If disposable items are used for each treatment, then safety and sterility are improved, but cost and storage space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cycler system performs self-disinfection using its own peritoneal dialysis fluid and heating capabilities. The pump circulates heated fluid through the fluid lines and the cycler chamber, creating a self-contained disinfection process that eliminates the need for external sterilization services or disposable sterile components. This maintains safety while eliminating continuous consumption of disposable items.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the peritoneal dialysis fluid during disinfection cycles, heating it to temperatures sufficient for sterilization. This parameter change transforms the fluid from a treatment medium into a disinfectant, allowing the system to maintain sterility without consuming disposable sterile components. The heating element enables this parameter transformation.
3Device complexity
If reusable components are used without disinfection, then device complexity and waste are reduced, but reliability and sterility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous disinfection action by automatically executing disinfection cycles after each treatment. The pump continues to circulate heated fluid through all fluid lines and the cycler chamber, ensuring continuous sterility maintenance. This continuous useful action of disinfection enables reusable components to maintain sterility without requiring disposable replacements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If manual setup procedures are required for disposable components, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation and time consumption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-preparation through automated disinfection and priming cycles. Before each treatment, the system automatically disinfects and primes the fluid lines and cycler chamber, eliminating the need for manual setup and assembly of disposable components. This self-service capability maintains adaptability while dramatically improving ease of operation and reducing treatment preparation time.
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, minimizes errors, and lowers costs by allowing reuse of components, while maintaining treatment efficacy and safety.
Implementation Method 1
heating the peritoneal dialysis fluid to a temperature sufficient to disinfect the fluid lines and the cycler
Implementation Method 2
pumping water and heated peritoneal dialysis fluid through the fluid lines and the cycler
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
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.