DIALYSIS MACHINE HAVING SECURITY AGAINST CONFUSION FOR HYDRAULIC CONNECTORS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dialysis machine having two hydraulic connectors at the dialyzate side to which a respective connection line having a filter coupling is connected for connection to a dialyzer, with the hydraulic connectors being an inflow connector for feeding fresh dialysis liquid to the dialyzer and a backflow connector for draining consumed dialyzate from the dialyzer, and having two parking positions associated with the respective hydraulic connectors for storing the filter couplings when not in operation, wherein the filter couplings of both hydraulic connectors are equipped with a connection sensor which recognizes a connecting of the filter coupling to a dialyzer and/or that both parking positions are provided with separate covers.

Claims

1. A dialysis machine having two hydraulic connectors at the dialyzate side to which a respective connection line having a filter coupling is connected for connection to a dialyzer, with the hydraulic connectors being an inflow connector for feeding fresh dialysis liquid to the dialyzer and a backflow connector for draining consumed dialyzate from the dialyzer, and having two parking positions associated with the respective hydraulic connectors for storing the filter couplings when not in operation, characterized in that the filter couplings of both hydraulic connectors are equipped with a connection sensor which recognizes a connecting of the filter coupling to a dialyzer and/or that both parking positions are provided with separate covers.

2. A dialysis machine in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the dialysis machine has releasable latching mechanisms for blocking the covers of the parking connectors.

3. A dialysis machine in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the dialysis machine has cover sensors for recognizing the position of the covers of the parking connectors.

4. A dialysis machine in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the dialysis machine has actuators for opening and closing the covers of the parking connectors.

5. A dialysis machine in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the dialysis machine has a signal unit for outputting warning signals.

6. A dialysis machine in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the dialysis machine has a control unit that is connected to the connection sensors and is preferably further connected to the latching mechanisms, cover sensors, and/or actuators.

7. A dialysis machine in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that the control unit is configured such that when the disconnecting of a filter coupling from the dialyzer is recognized, the parking position associated with the respective hydraulic connector is or remains released and/or the parking positions not associated with the respective hydraulic connector is or remains blocked.

8. A dialysis machine in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the control unit is configured such that when an opening of the cover of a parking position is recognized, the latching mechanism of the cover of the other parking position is blocked until a connecting of that filter coupling to a dialyzer is recognized whose associated parking position was released by opening the cover.

9. A method of separating a dialyzer from a dialysis machine in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that when the disconnecting of a filter coupling from the dialyzer is recognized, the parking position associated with the respective hydraulic connector is or remains released and/or the parking position not associated with the respective hydraulic connector is or remains blocked.

10. A method of connecting a dialyzer to a dialysis machine in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that when an opening of the cover of a parking position is recognized, the latching mechanism of the cover of the other parking position is blocked until a connecting of that filter coupling to a dialyzer is recognized whose associated parking position was released by opening the cover.

Description

[0018] Further details and advantages of the invention result from the following embodiment described with reference to the Figures. There are shown in the Figures:

[0019] FIG. 1: a filter coupling of a dialysis machine in accordance with the invention;

[0020] FIG. 2: the filter coupling of FIG. 1 in a state connected to the dialyzer; and

[0021] FIG. 3: a parking station of a dialysis machine in accordance with the invention.

[0022] The filter couplings 10 of the example of a dialysis machine in accordance with the invention shown in the Figures are configured to be manually connected to connectors 21 of a dialyzer 20. The dialysis machine comprises two such filter couplings, one for connecting to the inflow connector of the dialyzer and one for connecting to the backflow connector of the dialyzer.

[0023] The filter couplings 10 comprise a female socket 11 into which a male connector 21 of a dialyzer 20 can be plugged. An actuating lever 12 serves to release and fix the mount 11 to the connector 21. A connection region 13 for a liquid hose is located at the opposite side of the filter couplings 10. A fluid passage 14 is formed between the mount 11 and the connection region 13. The connection sensor 15 that is seated in the mount 11 and that can recognize a connection of the filter coupling 10 to the connector 21 is characteristic of the present invention. It is, for example, a contact sensor here. It can be connected to the control unit of the dialysis machine wirelessly or using a connection wire, not shown.

[0024] Short-circuit connectors 31a and 31b for both filter couplings 10a and 10b of the dialysis machine are located at a parking or short-circuit station 30 of the dialysis machine. Each of these short-circuit connectors 31a and 31b is covered by a separate cover flap 32a and 32b respectively. The cover sensors 33a and 33b serve the recognition of the position of the respective cover flap 32a and 32b respectively. The dialysis machine further comprises electromagnetic latches, not shown in any more detail, for blocking the cover flaps 32a and 32b and electrical actuators, not shown in any more detail, for opening and closing the cover flaps 32a and 32b. The cover sensors 33a and 33b and equally the latches and actuators are connected to the control unit of the machine. The control unit is connected to a signal device that can output warning signals.

[0025] The filter couplings 10 are thus each connected to a respective connection sensor 15 in a dialysis machine in accordance with the invention, said connection sensor recognizing the connection position, i.e. the connection to a connector of a dialyzer 20. The short-circuit station 30 is furthermore divided and each short-circuit connector 31a and 31b is provided with a separate cover flap 32a and 32b respectively including a cover sensor 33. The short-circuit connectors 31a and 31b on which the filter couplings 10a and 10b respectively are deposited in non-operation or during the cleaning program are therefore equipped with a respective separate mechanical cover flap 32a and 32b respectively that can be actuated with individual monitoring.

[0026] The dismantling process, that is the separating of the dialyzer 20 from the dialysis machine, can take place as follows: One of the filter couplings 10 is individually released from the associated connector 21 of the dialyzer by the user. The connection sensor 15 recognizes which of the two couplings 10 has been disconnected and releases the associated short-circuit connector 31 or blocks the non-associated short-circuit connector 31. Release can mean that (a) a latching of the flap 32 is canceled; (b) the flap 32 is automatically opened by means of an actuator; or (c) no warning signal is output when the flap 32 is manually opened. Blocking can mean that (a) the flap 32 is latched; or (b) a warning signal is output when the flap 32 is manually opened.

[0027] The assembly process, that is the connection of the dialyzer and of the dialysis machine, can take place as follows: A flap 32 is opened by the user. The cover sensor 33 recognizes which flap 32 is open and blocks, in the above sense, the other flap.