Method and devices for emptying an effluent bag after blood treatment

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an effluent bag for collecting accumulated blood treatment effluent. The effluent bag comprises a closeable effluent opening or connection to an exterior of the effluent bag. The disclosure further relates to methods, a blood treatment apparatus, and a discharge hose system.

Claims

1. A method of draining an effluent bag encompassing the steps: providing an effluent bag to collect accumulated blood treatment effluent, the effluent bag comprising: a closeable effluent opening or connection to an exterior of the effluent bag; and operating a switching device of a discharge hose system connected to the effluent bag such that a fluid connection between an interior of the effluent bag and an interior of a connected effluent outlet line is established.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a pump drive is manually connected to a pump head fluidly coupled to the effluent outlet line.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a blood treatment apparatus comprises the pump drive.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein an operation of the pump drive is manually started or stopped.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising: operating the switching device such that a fluid connection between the interior of the effluent bag and the interior of the effluent outlet line is interrupted.

6. A blood treatment apparatus, connected to an effluent inlet line and to an effluent bag for collecting accumulated blood treatment effluent via the effluent inlet line, wherein: the effluent bag is provided by a user of the blood treatment apparatus and comprises a closeable effluent opening or connection to an exterior of the effluent bag; and the blood treatment apparatus comprises a control device, configured to carry out a method, the method comprising: operating a switching device of a discharge hose system connected to the effluent bag such that a fluid connection between an interior of the effluent bag and an interior of a connected effluent outlet line is established.

7. The blood treatment apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the blood treatment apparatus is a hemodialysis apparatus, a hemofiltration apparatus, or a hemodiafiltration apparatus.

8. The blood treatment apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the blood treatment apparatus is an apparatus for chronic renal replacement therapy or an apparatus for continuous renal replacement therapy.

9. The blood treatment apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a charging point for a voltage source for a pump drive of a pump, wherein a pump head of the pump is fluidly coupled to the effluent outlet line.

10. A discharge hose system comprising: an effluent inlet line; an effluent outlet line; and a switching device, wherein the effluent inlet line and the effluent outline outlet line are each connected to the switching device, wherein the switching device comprises a connector configured to establish a fluid connection between an effluent bag and the switching device, and wherein the switching device is configured to fluidly connect (i) the connector and the effluent inlet line or (ii) the connector and the effluent outlet line.

11. The discharge hose system according to claim 10, further comprising an effluent bag to collect accumulated blood treatment effluent, the effluent bag comprising exactly one closeable effluent opening or connection to an exterior of the effluent bag.

12. The discharge hose system according to claim 10, further comprising a charging point for a voltage source for a pump drive of a pump, wherein a pump head of the pump is fluidly coupled to the effluent outlet line.

13. The discharge hose system according to claim 10, further comprising at least one connector pair connected to the effluent inlet line and the effluent outlet line.

14. The discharge hose system according to claim 10, wherein the switching device is or comprises at least one of a valve or a three-way-tap.

15. The discharge hose system according to claim 14, wherein the at least one of the valve or the three-way-tap comprises plastic or glass or the at least one of the valve or the three-way-tap is made of plastic or glass.

16. The discharge hose system according to claim 10, wherein the effluent outlet line is in conveying connection with at least one of at least one pump or a pump drive of a pump.

17. The discharge hose system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one of the at least one pump or the pump drive comprises: a magnetically mounted and driven pump section; and a pump head, wherein the pump head is an impeller pump head or a rotor.

18. The discharge hose system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one of the at least one pump or the pump drive comprises: a magnetically mounted pump section or a driven pump section; and a pump head, wherein the pump head is an impeller pump head or a rotor.

19. A method of draining an effluent bag of a blood treatment apparatus, the method comprising: providing an effluent bag defining an effluent inlet opening for effluent and an effluent outlet opening for effluent, the effluent inlet opening connected to an effluent inlet line via a connector, a first pump located along the effluent inlet line upstream of the connector, the effluent outlet opening connected to an effluent outlet line, a second pump located along the effluent outlet line, the effluent outlet line arranged to feed effluent into a basin; stopping the first pump for the effluent arranged along the effluent inlet line; and separating the effluent inlet line from the effluent inlet opening by disconnecting the connector.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising closing a shut-off element arranged along the effluent outlet line by shutting off a fluid flow via the shut-off element.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the shut-off element is only opened after the first pump arranged along the effluent inlet line has been stopped.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: operating the second pump in order to empty the effluent bag into the basin via the effluent outlet line.

23. The method according to claim 19, further comprising: after separating the effluent inlet line from the effluent inlet opening, closing the effluent inlet line with a cap and/or closing the effluent inlet line using a manual hose clamp downstream of the first pump.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein a portion of the effluent outlet line downstream of the effluent bag and/or upstream of the second pump does not comprise any element connected to an electrical control device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying figures which are purely exemplary. In the figures same references numerals designate same or like components, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows in a simplified representation a blood treatment apparatus comprising an extracorporeal blood circuit in a first embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 shows in a simplified representation, a discharge hose system having an effluent bag, whereby effluent is fed into the effluent bag from the effluent inlet line;

(4) FIG. 3 shows in a simplified representation, a discharge hose system having an effluent bag, whereby effluent is fed from the effluent bag into the effluent outlet line;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the blood treatment apparatus having a discharge hose system and an effluent bag;

(6) FIG. 5 shows again a further embodiment of the blood treatment apparatus encompassing a further discharge hose system and an effluent bag; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a use of a conventional effluent bag with a discharge hose system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(8) FIG. 1 shows in a greatly simplified representation a blood treatment apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure connected to an extracorporeal blood circuit 300 and an only indicated discharge hose system having an effluent bag 400. Discharge hose system and effluent bag 400 are set out in the figures below.

(9) The extracorporeal blood circuit 300 comprises a first line 301 in the form of an arterial line section.

(10) The first line 301 is in fluid communication with a blood treatment apparatus, here an exemplary blood filter or dialyzer 303. The blood filter 303 comprises a dialysis fluid chamber 303a and a blood chamber 303b, which are separated from each other by a mostly semi-permeable membrane 303c.

(11) The extracorporeal blood circuit 300 further comprises at least a second line 305 in the form of a venous line section. Both the first line 301, as well as the second line 305, can serve for their connection to the patient's vascular system (not shown).

(12) The first line 301 is optionally connected with a (first) hose clamp 302 for blocking or closing line 301. The second line 305 is optionally connected with a (second) hose clamp 306 for blocking or closing line 305.

(13) The blood treatment apparatus 100 (which is represented only by some of its devices and merely schematically in FIG. 1) comprises a blood pump 101. During the patient's treatment the blood pump 101 conveys blood through sections of the extracorporeal blood circuit 300 towards the blood filter or dialyzer 303. This is indicated by the small arrow-tips, which are used in each of the figures to generally illustrate the direction of flow.

(14) Fresh dialysis liquid is pumped from a source 200 along the dialysis liquid input line 104 into the dialysis liquid chamber 303a, by a pump for dialysis liquid, which may be designed as a roller pump or as an otherwise occluding pump. The dialysis liquid leaves the dialysis liquid chamber 303a in the direction of the basin 600, as dialysate possibly enriched by filtrate, and is herein referred to as effluent.

(15) The source 200 may be, for example a bag or a container. The source 200 may also be a fluid line through which the online and/or continuously generated or mixed liquid is provided, for example a hydraulic output or connection of the blood treatment apparatus 100.

(16) A further source 201 with substituate may be optionally provided. It may be identical, or correspond to the source 200, or be a separate source.

(17) An only indicated control or closed-loop control device 150 can be configured to carry out the aforementioned method. Optionally it may be carried out manually.

(18) At the bottom right of FIG. 1 is indicated where the discharge hose system with the effluent bag 400 is connected to the blood treatment apparatus 100. Discharge hose system, effluent bag 400 and connection are only shown in the following figures.

(19) In addition to the aforementioned blood pump 101, the arrangement in FIG. 1 further comprises purely optionally a series of further pumps, in each case optional, namely the pump 111 for substituate, the pump 121 for dialysis liquid, and the pump 131 for the effluent.

(20) The pump 121 is provided to supply dialysis liquid from a source 200, for example a bag, via an optionally existing bag heater with a bag H2 to the blood filter 303, via a dialysate liquid inlet line 104.

(21) The supplied dialysis liquid exits from the blood filter 303 via a dialysate outlet line 102, supported by the pump 131, and may be discarded.

(22) Upstream of blood pump 101 an optional arterial sensor PS1 is provided. During the patient's treatment it measures the pressure in the arterial line.

(23) Downstream of the blood pump 101, but upstream of the blood filter 303 and if provided, upstream of a coupling site 25 for heparin, a further optional pressure sensor PS2 is provided. It measures the pressure upstream of the blood filter 303 (“pre-hemofilter”).

(24) Again, a further pressure sensor may be provided as PS4 downstream of the blood filter 303, however preferably upstream of the pump 131 in the dialysate outlet line 102, in order to measure the filtrate pressure of the blood filter 303.

(25) Blood, which leaves the blood filter 303, passes through an optional venous blood chamber 29, which comprises a ventilation device 31 and can be in fluid communication with a further pressure sensor PS3.

(26) The exemplary arrangement shown in FIG. 1 comprises a control or closed-loop control device 150. It may be in cable or wireless signal connection to any of the components referred to herein—in particular or at least to the blood pump 101—in order to control or regulate the blood treatment apparatus 100. It is optionally configured to carry out the herein described method.

(27) The optional pump 111 is provided to supply substituate from the optional source 201, for example a bag, via an optionally existing bag heater H1 with a bag, to the second line 305.

(28) FIG. 2 shows in a simplified representation a discharge hose system having an effluent bag 400 at the moment during which the effluent is fed to the effluent bag 400.

(29) A switching device 401, here exemplarily embodied as a three-way-tap 401, is arranged on the dialysate outlet line 102 between the pump 131 for the effluent and the effluent bag 400, but in any case upstream to the effluent bag 400. Dialysate (and/or effluent) from the blood filter 303 drains out via the dialysate outlet line 102. It also serves as an effluent inlet line, which feeds the effluent to the effluent bag 400.

(30) As shown in FIG. 2, the three-way-tap 401, in its position shown in FIG. 2, fluidly connects the dialysate outlet line 102 with the effluent inlet opening (which is also the effluent outlet opening, therefore, in short: effluent opening) 400a of the effluent bag 400.

(31) In this first position, the effluent outlet line 403, which is also connected to the three-way-tap 401, is blocked. The effluent outlet line 403 is in turn, directly or indirectly, connected to the basin 600.

(32) In the first position shown in FIG. 2, effluent may get to the effluent bag 400 from the dialysate outlet line 102 via the three-way-tap 401, but not to the effluent outlet line 403. The three-way-tap 401, due to its design, may be made from electrically insulating material and/or in the places in which it is fluid conveying effect an electrical insulation.

(33) The effluent outlet line 403 may comprise a pump 405 and lead into the basin 600.

(34) The pump 405 is arranged downstream of the effluent bag 400 but upstream of the basin 600.

(35) The pump 405, as first shown in FIG. 4, may optionally comprise or have at least one pump drive 141 and a pump head 405a (not shown in FIG. 2). It is not in operation (“OFF”) in its position as shown in FIG. 2, as there is no effluent present in the effluent outlet line 403 which could be discarded via the pump 405 into the basin 600.

(36) In each embodiment, the pump 405 may be a roller pump. Alternatively, in any embodiment, it is not a roller pump.

(37) FIG. 3 shows a simplified representation of a discharge hose system having an effluent bag 400, while effluent is led away from the effluent bag 400.

(38) The three-way-tap 401 in its position shown in FIG. 3 does not fluidly connect the dialysate outlet line 102 with the effluent opening 400a of the effluent bag 400.

(39) In this second position the effluent outlet line 403, which is connected also to the three-way-tap 401 and in turn to the basin 600, is disconnected from the dialysate outlet line 102.

(40) In the second position shown in FIG. 3 the effluent from the dialysate outlet line 102 cannot pass through the three-way-tap 401 to reach the basin 600, nor to reach the effluent bag 400. The flow paths are thereby preferably electrically insulated.

(41) The pump 405 is in mode (“ON”) and conveys effluent out of the effluent bag 400 into the basin 600.

(42) FIG. 4 shows the blood treatment apparatus 100 having an optional disposable discharge hose system and an effluent bag 400 having additional optional components of the discharge hose system.

(43) These additional optional components include the connectors 401a, 401b and 401c by which the three-way-tap 401 is connected to a connection line 407 as a first hose section, to the dialysate outlet line 102 as a second hose section and/or the effluent outlet line 403 as a third hose section.

(44) The first hose section is optional. The three-way-tap 401 may, alternatively, be connected directly to the effluent opening 400a.

(45) The third hose section is, as effluent outlet line 403, connected to the suction side of a pump head 405a of pump 405. The pump head 405a may be part of the effluent outlet line 403, which may in turn be disposable. The pump head 405a may be magnetically mounted, which may simplify connecting the pump head 405a to other sections of the pump 405 and advantageously help to avoid a transmission of electricity or current between the connected components.

(46) The pressure side of the pump head 405a is connected to a line 415, which may be considered an extension of the effluent outlet line 403 or as a fourth hose section.

(47) Preferably downstream of the pump-head 405a, the effluent outlet line 403 or the line 415 comprises a fixing element or fastening device 421, by which the line or the discharge hose system, collectively, can be detachably fastened above a basin 600. The fastening device 421 may be or comprise a hook or a suction pad etc.

(48) The line 415 or the discharge hose system may be fastened, for example, to a sink edge, a basin or the like, by the fastening device 421.

(49) An optional end piece 423 of the line 415 or the discharge hose system may be designed, to allow for example, a splash free flow or very even flow into the basin 600, e.g. the clinic sewer, the sink, the sewer system and so forth. It may optionally comprise a corresponding connector, attachment or a thread etc.

(50) The three-way-tap 401 comprises an optional grip section 401d, by which it may at least be moveable between its positions discussed in FIGS. 2 and 3. The hereto carried out movements are indicated by curved arrows in the FIGS. 2 and 3.

(51) Connectors 409, 411 and/or 417 are optionally provided. The same applies to an optional check valve or non-return valve 419, preferably provided downstream of the pump 405.

(52) The pump drive 141 of the pump 405 may be a part of the treatment apparatus. Optionally, it is, however, part of a, for example mobile, device. The latter preferably has no electrical and/or physical contact with the treatment apparatus. Preferably, the device will be powered from a, preferably chargeable, voltage source which, during the operation of the pump, is not connected to the electrical system of the treatment apparatus and/or of the clinic.

(53) The effluent bag 400 is connected to a weighing device in order to weigh its weight or the weight of the fluid collected in it or to determine a weight change. For example, the effluent bag 400 may lie as a collection bag on a weighing surface of the weighing device or hang on a weighing hook 143.

(54) FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the blood treatment apparatus 100 having a further discharge hose system and an effluent bag 400, based on the embodiments in FIG. 4.

(55) As can be seen in FIG. 5, the discharge hose system does not comprise a pump 405 (see FIG. 4). The effluent empties itself in the second position of the three-way-tap 401 without the support of a pump, e.g. through gravity alone.

(56) The non-return valve 419 is adapted to the pressure conditions prevalent in this embodiment. Alternatively, no non-return valve 419 is provided in any embodiment.

(57) FIG. 6 shows a use of a conventional effluent bag 400′ with a discharge hose system, while the effluent bag 400′ is fed with effluent.

(58) During a conventional bag changing interval of the blood treatment apparatus, in particular the apparatus being from the group: dialysis machine, hemodiafiltration machine, hemofiltration machine, the conventional effluent bag 400′ is carried manually to a basin 600 and emptied over it.

(59) The conventional effluent bag, shown in FIG. 6 with the reference number 400′, comprises two effluent openings; namely, on the one side, the known effluent inlet opening 400′a, with a connection to the effluent inlet line 102, and the known effluent outlet opening 400′b, with a, in particular manual, optional stopcock resp. stop-valve 408, arranged in the effluent outlet line 403, on the other.

(60) In order to empty the effluent bag 400′ the pump 131 for the effluent is stopped during the bag changing interval. Thereby, the liquid-filled section of the effluent inlet line 102, running upstream of the pump 131, is electrically isolated from the section of the liquid-filled effluent inlet line 102, running downstream of the pump 131. Thereby, the permissible limits of the patient leakage current are not exceeded. The stationary, occluding pump 131 (roller pump) thus isolates the columns of liquid upstream of pump 131 resp. downstream of pump 131 from each other. The prevailing gravity may contribute to this, in that the column of liquid present downstream of pump 131, is broken into droplets and is gravitationally pulled towards the effluent bag 400′ or moves in its direction.

(61) In order to fall further below the permissible limits of the patient leakage current, the effluent inlet line 102 may, alternatively or additionally, be separated from the effluent bag 400′. This may be done using an optionally provided connector 132, which connects the section of the liquid filled effluent inlet line 102 running downstream of the pump 131, to the effluent bag 400′, or with another device.

(62) The effluent inlet line 102 may optionally be closed with a cap after its disconnection and/or closed using a manual hose clamp downstream of the pump 131 (cap and hose clamp are not shown in FIG. 6).

(63) The optional opening of the connector 132 means no extra effort in comparison to the aforementioned conventional, manual emptying over a basin 600, because thereby the effluent inlet line 102 must also be disconnected from the effluent bag 400′.

(64) Only after the pump 131 for the effluent is stationary or stopped, the shut-off element 408, that may be e.g. a stopcock or a stop valve, may be opened and the pump 405 may be operated in order to empty the effluent bag 400′ into the basin 600 via the effluent outlet line 403.

(65) Particularly, if the pump 405 is (but is not limited to) an impeller pump, which is not self-priming, it may be an advantage, if the effluent outlet line 403 is positioned inclining upwards towards basin 600. Alternatively or optionally, the effluent outlet line 403 runs sloping downwards between shut-off element 408 and pump element 405, so that air bubbles rise and may be fed towards basin 600 or, alternatively, towards the effluent bag 400′.

(66) By this method, with reference to the illustrations in FIG. 6, the user advantageously ensures, for reasons of electrical safety (i.e., keeping below the permissible limits of the patient leakage currents), that the pump 131 for the effluent is stopped before the shut-off element 408 is opened and the pump 405 is operated.

(67) The pump 405 may be designed as a pump, which is shown in FIG. 4 with the reference numerals 141 and 405a. The pump, shown by the elements with the reference numerals 141/405a, may be designed as disclosed in the German patent application for the applicant of the present application, filed with the German Patent and Trademark Office on Sep. 29, 2017 having the file reference number DE 102017122804.7. The respective disclosure is hereby made to the subject-matter of the present application by way of reference. Nevertheless, another pump may also be used.

(68) Optionally the discharge hose system, that is arranged downstream of the effluent bag 400′, does not comprise a flow-divider. However, the discharge hose system may comprise a roller pump, such as pump 405. The roller pump optionally may be connected to specifically one supply line and to specifically one discharge line. So that, clearly, the pump cannot divide the incoming flow into several flows.

(69) Optionally, the discharge hose system, that is arranged downstream of the effluent bag 400′ and/or downstream of the pump 405, does not comprise a connector.

(70) Optionally, the discharge hose system, that is arranged downstream of the effluent bag 400′, and/or upstream of the pump 405, does not comprise an element connected to an electrical control device, e.g. in form of an electrically connected connector.

(71) An advantage of this variant of the method is that a conventional effluent bag 400′ may be used. Only the effluent outlet line 403 downstream of the effluent bag 400′ with the pump 405 must be supplemented. Thereby, the effluent outlet line 403 may comprise several or all features of the line 415 shown in the embodiment in FIG. 4 (or the above description) in any combination, in particular, several or all features of the line section downstream of the connector 411 shown in FIG. 4. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the description in FIG. 4.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(72) 25 coupling site for heparin (optional) 29 venous blood chamber (optional) 31 ventilation device 100 blood treatment apparatus 101 blood pump 102 dialysate outlet line, effluent inlet line 104 dialysis liquid inlet line 111 pump for substituate 121 pump for dialysis liquid 131 pump for dialysate or effluent in effluent inlet line 132 Connector 141 pump drive for pump 405 downstream of the 3-way-tap 401 143 weighing hook 150 control or closed-loop control device 200 source of dialysis liquid 201 substituate source, optional 300 extracorporeal blood circuit 301 first line (arterial line section) 302 (first) hose clamp 303 blood filter or dialyzer 303a dialysis liquid chamber 303b blood chamber 303c semi-permeable membrane 305 second line (venous line section) 306 (second) hose clamp 400 effluent bag 400′ effluent bag 400a effluent inlet- or -outlet opening; effluent opening 400′a effluent inlet opening 400′b effluent outlet opening 401 three-way-tap, switching device 401a connector 401b connector 401c connector 401d grip section 403 effluent outlet line 405 pump in effluent outlet line 405a pump head 407 connection line 408 shut-off element, stopcock, stop valve 409 connector 411 connector 415 line 417 connector 419 non-return valve; check valve 421 fixing element or fastening device 423 end piece 600 basin H2 bag heater with bag (dialysis liquid) H1 bag heater with bag (substituate) PS1, PS2 arterial pressure sensor (optional) PS3 pressure sensor (optional) PS4 pressure sensor for measuring the filtrate pressure