APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE AUTOMATIC, WEIGHT-DEPENDENT FILLING OF A HOSE SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for the automatic, weight-dependent filling of a hose system, in particular for a gravimetric cycler for peritoneal dialysis, having only one scale, wherein the hose system comprises at least three line sections for connection to at least one drainage bag, to at least one solution bag and to a patient.

Claims

1. A method for the automatic, weight-dependent flushing or filling of a hose system, in particular for a gravimetric cycler for peritoneal dialysis, having only one scale, wherein the hose system comprises at least three line sections for connection to at least one drainage bag, to at least one solution bag and to a patient, wherein furthermore at least one bag valve and at least one drainage valve are opened and a first opening duration of the valves is derived from the weight of the solution bag measured by means of the scale and from at least one characteristic.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that whether the valves have been opened is detected by means of the scale.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a weight reduction of the solution bag during the opening of the valves is detected by means of the scale and the first opening duration is modified in dependence on the detected weight reduction.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that, after closing the valves, a prompt is issued to an operator to open a hose clamp and in that dialyzate fluid is hereby conducted in the direction of a connector.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that whether the hose clamp has been opened is detected by means of the scale.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that at least one hose valve as well as at least on drainage valve is opened; and in that a conclusion that the hose clamp to the drainage bag is open is drawn from a weight change between the measurement (weight change due to fluid flow in the hose system) and the measurement (fluid from the hose system into the drainage bag).

7. An apparatus for the automatic, weight-dependent filling of a hose system in accordance with claim 1, in particular for a gravimetric cycler for peritoneal dialysis, having only one scale, wherein the hose system comprises at least three line sections for connection to at least one drainage bag, to at least one solution bag and to a patient, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a regulation/control in which at least one characteristic is stored which indicates valve opening durations in dependence on the weight of a solution bag.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the apparatus is configured for opening at least one bag valve and/or drainage valve in dependence on the weight of the solution bag.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the regulation/control is configured to verify the correct opening of the bag valve and/or drainage valve with reference to a detected weight change.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the apparatus comprises an output device which is configured for outputting information to an operator.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the regulation/control is configured to verify the correct opening of a further valve, in particular of a manually operable hose clamp, with reference to a detected weight change.

12. A peritoneal dialysis machine having at least one apparatus in accordance with claim 7.

Description

[0021] Further details and advantages of the invention will be shown with reference to the Figures. There are shown:

[0022] FIG. 1: a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention;

[0023] FIG. 2 a view of a hose system;

[0024] FIG. 3: a characteristic shown by way of example; and

[0025] FIG. 4: a linearized characteristic shown by way of example.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a peritoneal dialysis machine in accordance with the present invention in a perspective view.

[0027] The peritoneal dialysis machine has a U-shaped pedestal 300 from which a machine housing support 310 extends vertically upwardly. The machine housing 320 is located at its upper end. The electronics required for operating the machine, such as control and regulation units, and the operating and/or display units, are located in the machine housing 320.

[0028] The heating pan 330 which serves the reception of solution bags containing fresh dialyzate to be supplied to the patient is arranged directly above the machine housing 320, directly connected thereto.

[0029] Rods 335 at which the weighing pan 340 is arranged are located at the bottom at the machine housing 320 or at the weighing pan 338. The weighing pan 340 serves the reception of one or more receiving bags into which the used dialyzate coming from the patient moves.

[0030] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the weighing pan 340 is located directly above the floor on which the pedestal 300 of the peritoneal dialysis machine stands. It can furthermore be seen from FIG. 1 that the pedestal has a flat profile so that the weighing pan 340 can be arranged far to the bottom.

[0031] The spacing between the base of the weighing pan 340 and the floor amounts, for example, to a few cm, e.g. 5 cm to 10 cm, and preferably 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm.

[0032] The spacing between the base of the heating pan 330 and the base of the weighing pan 340 is preferably between 80 cm and 1.2 m.

[0033] The fluid control to and from the patient takes place via valves, wherein the valve or valves for the fluid connection between the solution bag or bags, which are located in the heating pan 330, and the patient are arranged at the machine housing 320. These valves are marked by the reference symbols V1, V2 in FIG. 1. The drainage valve V3, which is arranged between the patient and the receiving bag for consumed dialyzate, is located at the machine housing support 310. It is arranged at a height of approximately 40 cm to 50 cm, and preferably of 45 cm, above the floor. This allows a comfortable operation by the patient.

[0034] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the rods 335 extend from the rear side of the weighing pan 340 upwardly to the lower side of the machine housing 320. A good accessibility from the front side to the weighing pan 340 is thus present.

[0035] The rods 335 are arranged at a load cell 338 which is located at or in the machine housing 320.

[0036] Both the heating pan 330 and the weighing pan 340 have a support surface for the bag or bags which is the base. Side walls 332 and 342 extend upwardly starting from the base. They have the object of holding the respective received bags securely in the pan. This is in particular of importance when a plurality of bags are received in the heating pan 330 and in the weighing pan 340.

[0037] The side walls 332 and 342 can be fastened by a plug-in connection or can be pivotable relative to the support surface so that the bags can be placed in and removed easily.

[0038] The heating pan 330 is furthermore provided with an upper cover 334 which has the object of keeping the heat, where possible, in the region of the solution bags which are located in the heating pan 330.

[0039] The hose system can be arranged in accordance with the invention such hat it is not weighed by the weighing pan 340 or by the scale. For this purpose, it can be fastened to structures which are separate from the peritoneal dialysis machine so that the weight of the hose system does not act on the scale.

[0040] As can be seen from FIG. 2, the lines which are connected to the connectors B are connected via a Y piece Y1. The common line opening therefrom is connected via the further Y piece Y2 to the line which leads to the last bag.

[0041] The length of the line section between the connector C and the Y piece Y2 is preferably in the range from 3 cm to 7 cm, the length of the line section between the Y piece Y2 and the Y piece Y1 is preferably in the range from 15 cm to 25 cm, and the length of the line section between the Y piece Y2 and the connector L is preferably in the range between 40 cm and 50 cm, and the length of the line section between the Y piece r1 and the connectors B is preferably in the range between 15 cm and 25 cm.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a characteristic shown by way of example in which the weight can be stored on the abscissa and the opening duration of the valves can be stored on the ordinate.

[0043] The invention can provide that an opening time of the valves can be determined in dependence on the weight placed on the scale by means of a characteristic with reference to the variable weight change during the fluid removal up to the complete filling of the patient line to ensure a state free of air in the patient line.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a characteristic with linearized data rows.

[0045] For this purpose, all the valves are first opened (bag valves and drainage valves) to flush possible particles, which may e.g. stem from the opening of the snap-off cones, and air into the drainage bag. The patient is subsequently prompted to open the hose clamp to the patient line to flush the latter. At the same time, a user-caused incorrect operation can be recognized by the idea in accordance with the invention.

[0046] This is in particular often difficult to ensure with units which are operated without any great technical equipment since specific process routines are the responsibility of the user/patient. Increased patient safety is therefore in particular desirable for the application in the home area. A proper opening of the dialysis bag connectors can be checked using the invention in a further embodiment. In this respect, first only the two hose valves (V1, V2) are opened to allow the dialysis fluid to flow up to the drainage valve. The drainage valve (V3) remains closed.

[0047] The fluid thus remains in the hose kit. A new static balance is adopted behind the scale. A weight change can now be determined since the fluid which has flowed out has not yet reached the drainage bag on the drain pan which is likewise connected to the one load cell. A conclusion can thus be drawn on a fluid flow which has taken place via the weight change of the dialyzate bags on the weighing pan and a conclusion can thus be made whether the bag connectors and/or hose clamps were opened or whether an improper condition is present.

[0048] In a further embodiment, the drainage valve V3 can be briefly opened until a fluid flow is recognized and before the fluid has reached the drainage pan or the drainage bag. If it was found in a first step that the bag connectors and/or the hose clamps have been properly opened, a check can be made in a second step whether the hose clamp to the drainage bag is open. The hose valves V1 and/or V2 and also the drainage valve V3 are opened for this purpose. If a weight change can now be recognized between the last measurement (weight change due to fluid flow in the hose system) and the measurement (fluid from the hose system in the drainage bag), this allows the conclusion that the hose clamp to the drainage bag is also open.

[0049] It is conceivable to attach a fluid reservoir to the drainage hose to be able to determine the cloudiness of the drain fluid.

[0050] Disadvantages of existing methods or apparatus are that the patient has to monitor the flushing process, has to operate valves manually and has to react fast on closing the valves. The known methods and apparatus are thus prone to error, require a higher patient effort and provide less patient comfort.

[0051] Advantages of the invention are, conversely, that a flushing can be carried out automatically and the treatment is thus less prone to error or to the introduction of air, for non-fractured cones of the solution bags.

[0052] An overfilling of the patient line and thus a running of the dialyzate out of the pierced protective cap of the patient connector can be avoided, whereby a contamination of the patient connector and peritonitis can be avoided.

[0053] In accordance with the invention, the weight change on the start of the priming of the tubing or of the flushing can be recognized and the user can be alerted immediately if the priming cannot be started.

[0054] It can furthermore be recognized in accordance with the invention whether a filling of the patient line can be started and an alert can be given if a filling of the patient line is not possible.