AUTOMATED PERITONEAL DIALYSIS DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CUSTOMIZING DIALYSATE SOLUTIONS

Abstract

An automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device, system and method is provided, which utilizes mechanisms to admix customized dialysate solutions from multiple sources, while maximizing volumetric accuracy. The present automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device can accomplish these goals all within the convenience and comfort of the patient's home utilizing filtered tap water.

Claims

1. A method for determining an appropriate peritoneal dialysis prescription tailored to meet treatment needs of a patient, the method comprising the steps of; providing an input computing device configured for receiving health parameters of the patient; inputting the patient health parameters into the computing device; providing at least one bag containing an electrolyte solution; calculating a concentration of electrolytes from the electrolyte solution for a treatment solution based in the patient health parameters; inputting the calculated concentration of electrolytes from the electrolyte solution into an automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device; mixing the concentration of electrolytes in the APD device into the treatment solution suitable for administration to the patient; and, administering the treatment solution to the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrolytes are at least one of sodium or potassium.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further includes removing a determined quantity of sodium from the patient's bloodstream with each treatment.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further includes adding a determined quantity of potassium to the patient's bloodstream with each treatment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes providing a bag containing a dextrose solution.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the method further includes using the input computing device to calculate an amount of dextrose to deliver to the patient based on a sodium concentration.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the input computing device automatically adjusts the dextrose concentration higher when a lower sodium concentration is selected.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further includes maintaining an osmotic gradient by adjusting the dextrose concentration as a function of the sodium concentration.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the method further includes using the input computing device to calculate an amount of dextrose solution to deliver to the patient based on a potassium concentration.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the input computing device automatically adjusts the dextrose concentration lower when a higher potassium concentration is selected.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further includes maintaining an osmotic gradient by adjusting the dextrose concentration as a function of the potassium concentration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates an automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) system utilizing the automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device of the present disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates the disposable cassette and pneumatic components of the automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device of the present disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a disposable cassette useful in the automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device of the present disclosure.

[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates the operation of a disposable cassette volcano valve utilized in the automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device of the present disclosure.

[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic of operation of the automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device using the Ideal Gas Law to measure the unknown volume of fluid in one or more disposable cassette pump chambers. The temperature sensors shown may be combined with the respective pressure transducers if temperature-compensated pressure transducers are used.

[0044] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic of the sequence of steps that must be taken in order to measure the volume of air on the pneumatic side of the disposable pump chamber of the APD device of the present disclosure, both before and after a bolus of fluid has been delivered from the pump chamber.

[0045] FIG. 7 illustrates the pneumatic schematic of the automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device of the present disclosure.

[0046] FIG. 8 illustrates a PC-based software application for calculating a set of prescription optimization parameters that may be used to automatically generate one or more prescriptions that meet the desired goals for optimizing blood sodium levels, blood potassium levels, minimizing dextrose exposure, and typical peritoneal dialysis parameters, such as ultrafiltration goals to achieve the desired toxin clearances utilizing the automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] The automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device and system of the present disclosure, in the preferred embodiments, utilizes mechanisms to admix customized dialysate solutions from multiple sources, while maximizing volumetric accuracy. The present automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device can accomplish these goals all within the convenience and comfort of the patient's home utilizing filtered tap water.

[0048] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) system 100 utilizing the automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device 10 of the present disclosure. An advantage of the present system 100 and device 10 is that it allows for customization of solutions for use in peritoneal dialysis, which may include but are not limited to, one or two dextrose concentrate solutions, a buffer solution, a sodium solution, a potassium solution, sterile water, or a Last Fill solution which may include icodextrin. Selection of the appropriate solutions will depend on the specific patient requirements and treatment goals.

[0049] As shown in in FIG. 1, use of the present APD system 100 begins with plugging the APD device 10 to an electrical source (not shown) and a source 102 of tap water from the patient's home being routed into a water purifier 104. The water purifier 104 filters and sterilizes the incoming water and routes clean injection-quality water to the fluid delivery components, including a disposable cassette 30 housed within the APD device housing 11 via the water line W on the disposable tubing set 40. The water filtration device may route heated water to the disposable set to facilitate tubing set reuse. A plurality of bags containing appropriate solutions to create a customized dialysate solution are provided. As with the water line W, all of the solution containing bags are connected to the fluid delivery component within the APD device housing 11. For example, a dextrose concentrate bag 106 is connected through the D line (up to 2 dextrose sources may be connected, although only one is shown here.) A sodium solution bag 108, which consists of normal saline, hypertonic saline, or any other electrolyte, is shown connecting to the disposable tubing line S. Optionally, depending on treatment goals, a potassium solution bag 110 may also be used. A buffer solution bag 112 connects through disposable tubing line B. A last fill bag 113, which may contain a dextrose solution or icodextrin solution, is shown through tubing line L. Finally, before patient administration, an admix bag 114 is connected to the disposable tubing line A. The admix bag 114 may be placed on the top surface 11a of the APD device housing unit 11, wherein the solution contained therein is ideally heated to approximately human body temperature prior to filling the patient 116. The patient's spent effluent is drained through tubing line DL into a drain container, tub, floor drain or toilet 117. The APD device 10 may further known operating components including: a user interface with a color touch screen panel and a Power/Stop button with power indicator LED. The patient 116 shown on the right is connected to the device 10 via the disposable tubing Patient Line P.

[0050] FIG. 2 illustrates the components of the APD device 10 of the system 100 that are contained within device housing 11 (FIG. 1). The components of the APD device 10 generally include fluid delivery components in a cassette housing 12 and pneumatic and electronic components in the pneumatic manifold 16. The APD device 10 includes a cassette housing 12 containing a disposable cassette 30, which operates to admix customized dialysate solutions from multiple sources. The cassette housing 12 includes a pair of flexible membrane gaskets 13 between the cassette and the cassette housing, one on either side of the cassette, to prevent air leaks. As will be described, the cassette 30 includes at least one pump chamber 32 having a plurality of valves 31 referred to as volcano valves. A plurality of fluid lines 40 are shown running out the right side of the cassette 30, with each fluid line connecting to the appropriate solution bag, including the dextrose concentrate bag 106, sodium or potassium solution bag 108, buffer solution bag 112, water purifier source 104, etc., as previously described. FIG. 2 depicts a 9-line cassette, but an 8-line or fewer line cassette could be envisioned if certain lines were omitted, such as consolidating the two dextrose lines into one or omitting the sodium/potassium solution line and/or buffer line.

[0051] As further illustrated in FIG. 2, a pneumatic manifold 16 connects to the back of the cassette housing 12 (specifically to the valves 31 and pump chambers 32) through a plurality of pneumatic tubing 18. The pneumatic manifold 16 also connects to three air accumulatorsa High Positive Tank 20, a Low Positive Tank 22, and a Negative Tank 24, which provide the air regulated through an air pump 26 with positive and vacuum capabilities to the manifold 16. The pneumatic manifold 16 contains solenoid valves 28 and pressure transducers 29, which operate to control and regulate the air flow from the air accumulators 20, 22, 24 through the pneumatic tubing 18 to the cassette housing 12 for the mixing operation of the disposable cassette 30. It may also contain temperature sensors, which may be separate or integrated within the pressure transducers to improve volumetric accuracy.

[0052] FIG. 3 illustrates the details of the disposable cassette 30 and its pump chambers 32. In this embodiment, two pump chambers 32 are shown; however, it should be understood that any number of pump chambers may be utilized in the cassette. For example, optionally, three or four pump chambers may be incorporated into the cassette, which are smaller in size than the two pump chambers, such that smaller volumes may be targeted to improve targeting accuracy. Additionally, this particular cassette 30 embodiment shows 9 fluid inlet/outlet ports 36, but an 8-port or 7-port version would be very similar, with 2 fewer volcano valves (one to each pump chamber) for each inlet/outlet port removed.

[0053] The pump chambers 32 are formed by a concave rigid cassette body 33 covered on both sides by flexible plastic sheeting 34. When appropriate pneumatic pressure from the pneumatic manifold 16 is applied to the flexible plastic sheeting 34, the fluid within the pump chamber 32 is forced out as the sheeting bends to approach or touch the hard plastic pump chamber's concave base 33. Fluid is drawn into the pump chamber 32 by applying negative (vacuum) pressure to the outer surface of the flexible sheeting 34.

[0054] The disposable cassette 30 acts like a two-story house, with some fluid paths routed on the top story or top section 30a of the chamber 32, while other fluid paths routed on the bottom story or bottom section 30b of the chamber 32, with a piece of rigid plastic 30c separating the top and bottom story, and strategically placed through holes 30d connecting the two stories or sections. Each pump chamber 32 has holes 30d to allow fluid to be routed to or from the top 30a or bottom 30b of the chambers, depending on the fluid source. The drain line DL is routed to the top section 30a such that air, when partially purged, will exit to the drain. The patient line P is routed to the bottom section 30b to avoid delivery of air when the pump chamber's contents are partially delivered to the patient. In this manner, the cassette's pump chambers 32 can hold a certain volume of air. The volume of each pump chamber 32 is larger than the holdup volume of the tubing going from the cassette 30 to the admix bag 114 (FIG. 1). By doing so, the pump chamber 32 is able to draw in the entire contents of the tubing and some additional fluid from the admix bag 114, agitate it in the pump chamber 32, and deliver it back to the admix bag so as to ensure that the contents of the fluid in the admix bag's tubing is substantially the same concentration as the contents within the admix bag itself. In addition, if additional fluid mixing is needed, a piezoelectric shaking mechanism (not shown) may be incorporated into the top platform 11a of the device housing unit 11 holding the admix bag for further agitation to ensure uniform fluid concentrations throughout the admix bag.

[0055] The APD disposable cassette 30 utilizes multiple valves 31, as referred to as volcano valves, to control fluid routing to and from each of the following 9 sources: Patient, Drain, Admix Bag, Sterilized Water, Dextrose Bag Concentration A, Dextrose Bag Concentration B, Saline/Potassium Bag, Buffer Bag, and Last Fill Bag. The Saline Bag may consist of normal saline (0.9%) or hypertonic saline (3% or 5%). The Potassium Bag may consist of highly concentrated potassium chloride in water for injection, potassium chloride in normal saline (0.9%), or potassium chloride in 5% dextrose and saline, all currently commercially available. All sources listed as bags could alternatively be lyophilized powders in vials or similar containers. The powders may be reconstituted by the APD device by routing sterilized water to the vial or container, then drawing from the vial or container prior to delivery.

[0056] FIG. 4 illustrates the operation of a disposable set volcano valve 31 utilized in the automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) cassette 30 of the present disclosure. This figure depicts a cross-sectional view of a volcano valve 31, with the adjacent air chamber 31a above each volcano valve. A hole 31b at the top of the air chamber 31a is connected to an air source (positive or vacuum pressure) through the pneumatic tubing 18 described earlier. Through operation of the pneumatic manifold 16, the flexible sheeting 34 is drawn away from the top of the volcano valve 31 when negative air pressure (1.5 to 5 psi vacuum) is applied, forming a dome 34a in the flexible sheeting as shown on the left on the OPEN side. This opens the pathway 37 to allow fluid to continue up through the volcano valve 31, over to the right, and down to the next fluid pathway 38. When positive pressure (7 to 8 psi) is applied, the flexible sheeting 34 is blown onto the surface of the volcano valve 31 in a concave 34b, as shown on the right CLOSED side. This closes the valve 31 such that fluid is not permitted to continue to travel to the next fluid pathway 38, similar to applying one's finger on the top of a drinking straw. Other cassette valve technologies could be used in alternative embodiments, such as a solenoid valve plunger protruding to bend flexible sheeting to block the flow path.

[0057] As shown in the schematic of FIG. 5, in operation, the automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device 10 utilizes a measurement system using the Ideal Gas Law to measure the unknown volume of fluid in one or more disposable cassette 30 pump chambers 32 by measuring the pressure on the hardware or pneumatic side of the pump chamber and pressures in a reference chamber with a known calibrated volume. PT designates pressure transducer. A valve is shown between the disposable side and the volume reference chamber side, to allow air pressure from one side to transfer to the other side. Another valve connected to a vent is used to vent out pressure in between each measurement. A High Positive Tank 20 is held at a constant 8 psi as a pressure accumulator to pressurize the volume reference (Vref) chamber as needed. When the volume reference chamber requires 8 psi air, the Pressure Source valve allows air to transfer from the tank to the Vref chamber. Pressure transducers measure the pressure within a confined hardware pump chamber region just outside of the disposable tubing set's flexible pump chamber. A bolus of fluid 50 with an initially unknown volume is shown inside of the disposable cassette's pump chamber 32, shown in the shaded region. It is trapped in place by the disposable cassette's volcano valves (not shown). Temperature sensors measure the temperature of the hardware air chamber just outside the disposable pump chamber and the Vref chamber.

[0058] FIG. 6 illustrates shows the series of steps that must be taken, in this sequence, in order to measure the volume of air on the hardware or pneumatic side of the disposable pump chamber 32, both before and after a bolus of fluid 50 has been delivered from the pump chamber. Each of the 8 mini-figures shows a disposable set with fluid inside it, an air chamber on the hardware side of the disposable pump chamber with air volume V.sub.d, a pneumatic solenoid valve, VrefPump, and a volume reference chamber with a known air volume V.sub.r. The left side shows the sequence of steps to calculate the air volume V.sub.d1 in the 1.sup.st state (with fluid in the disposable pump chamber), while the right side shows the sequence of steps to calculate the air volume V.sub.d2 in the 2nd state (with fluid having been delivered from the pump chamber to its intended destination.) In this manner, by subtracting the before and after air volumes from each other (|V.sub.d2?V.sub.d1|), one can calculate the volume of fluid pumped from the disposable pump chamber.

[0059] The governing equations are shown below:

[00001]$\mathrm{PV}=\mathrm{nRT}(\mathrm{Ideal}\mathrm{Gas}\mathrm{Law}),\mathrm{or}\mathrm{rearranging},n=\mathrm{PV}/\mathrm{RT}$

There are two sides containing air, the disposables side, designated as d, and the reference chamber side, designated as r. Each side has an initial state, designated by i, and a final state after pressures between the two sides have been essentially equalized, designated by f.

[0060] The number of moles of air on the disposables side in the initial state is calculated as:

[00002]$n_{di}=\frac{P_{di}{V}_d}{R{T}_{di}}$

where V.sub.d is the unknown volume of the disposables side to calculate.

[0061] The number of moles of air on the reference chamber side in the initial state is calculated as:

[00003]$n_{ri}=\frac{P_{ri}{V}_r}{R{T}_{di}}$

where V.sub.r is the volume of air in the reference chamber, which is a known, fixed value.

[0062] The number of moles of air on the disposables side in the final state is calculated as:

[00004]$n_{df}=\frac{P_{df}{V}_d}{R{T}_{df}}$

[0063] The number of moles of air on the reference chamber side in the final state is calculated as:

[00005]$n_{rf}=\frac{P_{rf}{V}_r}{R{T}_{df}}$

[0064] Since the total number of moles of both sides put together remains constant (air is simply shuffled from one side to the other as pressure is released from the reference chamber to the disposables side), the formula is the following:

[00006]$n_{di}+n_{ri}=n_{df}+n_{rf}$

[0065] Therefore, by substitution, the calculation is the following:

[00007]$\frac{P_{di}{V}_d}{R{T}_{di}}+\frac{P_{ri}{V}_r}{R{T}_{di}}=\frac{P_{df}{V}_d}{R{T}_{df}}+\frac{P_{rf}{V}_r}{R{T}_{df}}$

[0066] The R term cancels out. Rearranging, the calculation is:

[00008]$V_d\left(\frac{P_{di}}{T_{di}}-\frac{P_{df}}{T_{df}}\right)=V_r\left(\frac{P_{rf}}{T_{rf}}-\frac{P_{ri}}{T_{ri}}\right)$

[0067] Solving for Vd, the calculation is:

[00009]$V_d=V_r\left[\left(\frac{\frac{P_{rf}}{T_{rf}}-\frac{P_{\mathrm{ri}}}{T_{\mathrm{ri}}}}{\frac{P_{\mathrm{di}}}{T_{\mathrm{di}}}-\frac{P_{\mathrm{df}}}{T_{\mathrm{df}}}}\right)\right]$

This is the equation that governs the volume calculations if using temperature measurement.

[0068] However, if temperature of the reference chamber and the disposables side are held in thermal contact with each other such that they are essentially constant, the equation simplifies as:

[00010]$V_d=V_r\left(\frac{P_{rf}-P_{ri}}{P_{di}-P_{df}}\right)$

[0069] Additional temperature compensation via direct temperature measurement of the volume reference chamber and/or pump chamber may be added to increase volumetric accuracy, since the Ideal Gas Law calculates volume as a function of pressure and temperature as described above.

[0070] Alternatively, the temperature of the volume reference chamber may be held quasi-constant at or near body temperature by placing the volume reference chamber in thermal contact with the cassette's pump chamber and/or by including a thermally conductive wire mesh material inside the volume reference chamber to provide a high degree of surface area for quickly stabilizing the gas temperature within the volume reference chamber even after a rapid temperature excursion due to rapid pressure changes within the reference chamber. In this alternative, no temperature measurement is necessary.

[0071] FIG. 7 illustrates the pneumatic schematic operation 60 of the automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device of the present disclosure. The top horizontal portion shows the two pump chambers (left and right) and 18 volcano valves in the disposable tubing set. Each pump chamber has its pressure measured by a pressure transducer, as shown in PT 1 and PT 2, and by temperature sensors, TS 1 and TS 3. Each pump chamber is capable of pumping fluid to or from the following 9 sources: Admix Bag, Patient, Drain, Dextrose Concentrate A, Dextrose Concentrate B, Buffer, Saline/Potassium, Last Fill, and Sterilized Water. A 3-way pneumatic solenoid valve is used to route either positive or negative air pressure to the outside surface of each of the 18 disposable set volcano valves. Each pump chamber is pressurized via a 2-way normally closed solenoid valve, shown just underneath each pump chamber. A Vrefpump solenoid valve is found for each pump chamber to allow air to communicate between the volume reference chamber and the pump chamber. Each of the two volume reference chambers has its own pressure transducer and temperature sensor, as shown with PT 6, TS 2, PT 7, and TS 4. Each volume reference chamber also has its own vent solenoid valve. A series of pressure tanks, or accumulators, is shown in the High Positive (Hi-Pos) Tank, the Low Positive Tank, and the Negative Tank, with each tank's pressure measured by a pressure transducer as shown in PT 3, PT 4, and PT 5. Also, each tank is allowed to either continue to be pressurized or be held at its current pressure via 3-way Refill solenoid valves. When the pump is not pressurizing (or adding vacuum pressure to) a tank, the air from the pump is sent from the Refill valves to an overboard vent. Although the Overboard Vents are shown separately on the schematic, they could be combined into a single vent if desired. A 3-way Pos/Neg solenoid valve allows air to be routed to the pump chambers either from the one of the Positive Tanks or the Negative Tank. A 3-way Hi Pos/Low Pos solenoid valve allows air to be routed to the pump chambers either from the Hi Positive Tank or the Low Positive Tank.

[0072] In the past, clinicians have not been able to customize the sodium or potassium used in APD therapy. Clinicians currently have PC-based software tools to determine how to prescribe the dextrose concentration and dwell times in order to remove a certain volume of ultrafiltration, but they do not have any tools to help them prescribe the sodium concentration and dwell times in order to remove a certain quantity of sodium from the patient's bloodstream with each therapy. These existing prescription optimization tools have historically been based on kinetic modeling of solute transport across the peritoneum. The present disclosure further includes an easy-to-use therapy software that will aid clinicians in the selection of optimized sodium, potassium, and glucose concentrations based on a patient's specific health factors, so that clinicians will easily be able to use the present APD device for optimal patient outcomes.

[0073] As illustrated in FIG. 8, there is shown a PC-based software application 200 for calculating a set of prescription optimization parameters 201 that may be used to automatically generate one or more prescriptions that meet the desired goals for optimizing blood sodium levels, along with typical peritoneal dialysis parameters, such as ultrafiltration goals to achieve the desired toxin clearances utilizing the automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) device of the present disclosure. These parameters 201 can be manually input into the cycler via the cycler's user interface, or automatically transferred via wired or wireless communication from a clinician's PC 202 to the patient's cycler. Given that clinicians may not know how much sodium to remove from the patient, this prescription optimization software 200 is envisioned to automatically calculate the concentration of post-admixed sodium, based on certain input parameters including blood sodium levels. It is envisioned that the input concentrated saline may only come in a finite number of concentrations, such as 0.9%, 3%, or 5%. This software 200 could then take those inputs and generate the volume and concentration required from the input saline bag to admix with sterile water, Dextrose A, optional Dextrose B, and optional buffer solution to produce the desired output sodium and dextrose levels. Similar calculations could occur for tailoring other electrolytes or minerals, such as potassium, magnesium or calcium.

[0074] For example, the present APD device 10 and system 100 utilizes the PC-based software application 200 to estimate the amount of dextrose to deliver to the patient as a function of the sodium content. Since both dextrose and sodium are osmotic agents, if a patient is given a lower-than-normal sodium dialysate solution, the dextrose concentration must be adjusted upward in order to maintain the same equivalent osmotic gradient as a normal sodium (i.e. 132-134 mmol/l) dialysate solution would have had. An advantage of the present software application 200 is that the software will calculate the sodium (or potassium) concentration to deliver, based on the user-entered desired weekly or daily sodium removal (or potassium addition) target, along with the patient's physical characteristics 201 such as peritoneal transport type (High, High Average, Low Average, or Low), body surface area, and blood sodium (or potassium) concentration.

[0075] The software application 200 will also automatically calculate the concentration of dextrose and volume to deliver from each of the source containers, based on the sodium concentration and ultrafiltration (UF) targets, to achieve the same osmolality of the equivalent normal sodium (or potassium) concentration and normal dextrose concentration solution that would be needed to achieve those UF targets. This software application 200 could be installed on the clinician's PC 202 and/or be accessible via web browser.

[0076] The known 3-pore kinetic model of peritoneal dialysis may be used to estimate therapy outcomes based on the solution concentrations and patient's body characteristics. For example, the present software application 200 and/or the ADP device 10 programming screens will calculate the appropriate sodium removal or potassium addition prescription for an individual patient. As shown in FIG. 8, input parameters 201 will include some or all of the following: Sex, Weight, Body Surface Area, blood pressure, PET test results or membrane transport type (high, high-average, low-average, or low), serum sodium level, serum potassium level, serum glucose level, diabetes status, history of electrolyte imbalance (e.g. hyper/hyponatremia or hyper/hypokalemia), weekly Kt/V goal, icodextrin and/or biocompatible solutions availability, nutritional status, residual renal function, availability of using both day and night exchanges vs. only night exchanges, fluid overload status. Outputs will define the number of day and night cycles, cycle fill volume, therapy duration, sodium concentration, potassium concentration, and dextrose concentration, as well as the predicted nightly sodium removal and/or potassium addition in milligrams. This will allow the user to associate their dietary intake with the sodium removal capabilities of their peritoneal dialysis prescription. The prescription can then be adjusted as needed, based on approximately monthly blood draws when the patient visits their nephrology clinic, to ensure electrolyte removal/addition targets and fluid removal (ultrafiltration targets are being achieved.

[0077] Yet another advantage in utilizing the present software application 200 is that the final clinician-approved dialysis prescription can then be remotely downloaded to the APD device 10 such that the patient does not have to manually enter each of the prescription parameters on the APD device's user interface. This prescription could be adjusted regularly as needed, based on new blood measurements that occur approximately once per month, using the same input parameters 201 shown in FIG. 8. Alternatively, if sodium, potassium, and/or glucose measurement are available within the home, either from the patient's blood or from the spent effluent, the prescription could be updated daily if desired, for near real-time adjustment. This could further reduce the likelihood of hyponatremia or hypernatremia or other electrolyte imbalance.

Operation and Examples

[0078] In operation, and by way of example, the present APD device 10 and system 100 envisions two concentrated dialysate dextrose solutions, Dextrose A and Dextrose B, intended to be mixed in various proportions to produce an intermediate dextrose concentration after dilution with sterile water, hypertonic saline, and buffer solution. Dextrose A is intended to produce 1.0% dextrose solution at 100 mEq/l after dilution, while Dextrose B is intended to produce 4.5% dextrose at 100 mEq/l after water dilution and before any hypertonic saline addition. Both Dextrose A and Dextrose B would contain 30% Dextrose Hydrous.

[0079] Dextrose A, in one embodiment, would contain the following composition per 100 ml: Dextrose Hydrous 30.0 g, Calcium Chloride Dihydrate (CaCl.sub.2.Math.2H.sub.2O) 552.0 mg, Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate (MgCl.sub.2.Math.6H.sub.2O) 153.0 mg.

[0080] Dextrose B, in one embodiment, would contain the following composition per 100 ml: Dextrose Hydrous 30.0 g, Calcium Chloride Dihydrate (CaCl.sub.2.Math.2H.sub.2O) 122.7 mg, Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate (MgCl.sub.2.Math.6H.sub.2O) 34.0 mg.

[0081] The Buffer Solution, in one embodiment, would contain the following composition per 100 ml: Sodium Chloride 7014 mg, Sodium Lactate (C.sub.3H.sub.5NaO.sub.3) 3360 mg, Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO.sub.3) 4200 mg.

[0082] A 200 ml container of Dextrose A, after dilution with a 300 ml container of Buffer Solution and 5500 ml of sterile water, would yield the following solution composition per 100 ml: Dextrose Hydrous 1.0 g, Sodium Chloride (NaCl) 350.7 mg, Sodium Lactate (C.sub.3H.sub.5NaO.sub.3) 168 mg, Calcium Chloride Dihydrate (CaCl.sub.2.Math.2H.sub.2O) 18.4 mg, Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate (MgCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2O) 5.10 mg, Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO.sub.3) 210 mg.

[0083] A 900 ml container of Dextrose B, after dilution with a 300 ml container of Buffer Solution and 4800 ml of sterile water, would yield the following solution composition/100 ml: Dextrose Hydrous 4.5 g, Sodium Chloride (NaCl) 350.7 mg, Sodium Lactate (C.sub.3H.sub.5NaO.sub.3) 168 mg, Calcium Chloride Dihydrate (CaCl.sub.2.Math.2H.sub.2O) 18.4 mg, Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate (MgCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2O) 5.10 mg, Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO.sub.3) 210 mg.

[0084] The admixing of Dextrose A, Dextrose B, Buffer Solution, and Sterile Water could be augmented by further admixing hypertonic saline in one embodiment to increase the sodium concentration from 100 mEq/l to any intermediate value up to and including 170 mEq/l. The volume of sterile water used for dilution is reduced by the corresponding amount of hypertonic saline added. As an example if a dextrose concentration of 2.0% and a sodium concentration of 110 mEq/l is desired (rather than 100 mEq/l), an additional 117 ml of 3% hypertonic saline would be added to 143 ml of Dextrose A, 257 ml of Dextrose B, and 300 ml of Buffer Solution, and 5183 ml of sterile water to create 6000 ml of admixed solution.

[0085] In another example, the present APD device 10 utilizes similar ultra-low sodium solutions as the previous paragraph, except without the use of buffer solutions. Again, both Dextrose A and Dextrose B would contain 30% Dextrose Hydrous.

[0086] Dextrose A, in one embodiment, would contain the following composition per 100 ml: Dextrose Hydrous 30.0 g, Sodium Chloride 10523 mg, Calcium Chloride Dihydrate (CaCl.sub.2.Math.2H.sub.2O) 552.0 mg, Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate (MgCl.sub.2.Math.6H.sub.2O) 153.0 mg.

[0087] Dextrose B, in one embodiment, would contain the following composition per 100 ml: Dextrose Hydrous 30.0 g, Sodium Chloride 2339 mg, Calcium Chloride Dihydrate (CaCl.sub.2.Math.2H.sub.2O) 122.7 mg, Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate (MgCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2O) 34.0 mg.

[0088] A 200 ml container of Dextrose A, after dilution with 5800 ml of sterile water, would yield the following solution composition per 100 ml: Dextrose Hydrous 1.0 g, Sodium Chloride (NaCl) 350.8 mg, Sodium Lactate (C.sub.3H.sub.5NaO.sub.3) 448 mg, Calcium Chloride Dihydrate (CaCl.sub.2.Math.2H.sub.2O) 18.4 mg, Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate (MgCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2O) 5.10 mg.

[0089] A 900 ml container of Dextrose B, after dilution with 4100 ml of sterile water, would yield the following solution composition per 100 ml: Dextrose Hydrous 4.5 g, Sodium Chloride (NaCl) 350.8 mg, Sodium Lactate (C.sub.3H.sub.5NaO.sub.3) 448 mg, Calcium Chloride Dihydrate (CaCl.sub.2).Math.2H.sub.2O) 18.4 mg, Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate (MgCl.sub.2.Math.6H.sub.2O) 5.10 mg.

[0090] The admixing of Dextrose A, Dextrose B, and Sterile Water could be augmented by further admixing hypertonic saline in one embodiment to increase the sodium concentration from 100 mEq/l to any intermediate value up to and including 170 mEq/l. The volume of sterile water used for dilution is reduced by the corresponding amount of hypertonic saline added. As an example if a dextrose concentration of 2.0% and a sodium concentration of 110 mEq/l is desired (rather than 100 mEq/l), an additional 117 ml of 3% hypertonic saline would be added to 143 ml of Dextrose A, 257 ml of Dextrose B, and 5483 ml of sterile water to create 6000 ml of admixed solution.

[0091] It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.