METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NON-ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION IN WATER TREATMENT PLANTS OR MEDICAL APPLIANCES

Abstract

The invention relates to a communications device for non-electric communication between fluidically interconnected devices, the communications device being designed to be mounted in a position in a fluidic overall system formed by the fluidically interconnected devices and to receive and/or emit non-electric signals, in particular in the form of pressure or sound signals, the non-electric signals being transmitted via a line that fluidically interconnects the devices. The invention further relates to a method for non-electric communication between fluidically interconnected devices, the non-electric communication taking place preferably by means of pressure and/or sound signals via at least one line that fluidically interconnects the devices.

Claims

1. A communication device for non-electric communication between devices fluidically connected to one another, characterized in that the communication device is adapted to be arranged in a position in a total fluidic system formed by the devices fluidically connected to one another and to receive and/or transmit non-electric signals, in particular in the form of pressure signals or sound signals, with the non-electric signals being transmitted over a line fluidically connecting the devices to one another.

2. A communication device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the communication device has a microphone and/or an ultrasound receiver for receiving non-electric signals and/or has a pressure pulse generator and/or a beater, with electroactive polymers, and/or an ultrasound transmitter and/or an infrasound transmitter for transmitting non-electric signals.

3. A communication device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication device is furthermore configured for detecting data with respect to at least one parameter of the total fluidic system and/or of a parameter of a fluid conducted in the total fluidic system, in particular in the line fluidically connecting the devices to one another.

4. A communication device in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that the communication device has a sensor system for detecting data with respect to the at least one parameter, with the parameter preferably reflecting the conductivity, temperature, the flow volume, turbidity, or the transparency of the liquid, and the parameter of the total fluidic system, for example, reflecting an operating state or a maintenance state.

5. A communication device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the communication device is portable or stationary.

6. A communication device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication device is configured for online or offline operation.

7. A kit for diagnosing a fluidic system comprising at least one communication device, preferably a plurality of communication devices, in accordance with one of the preceding claims.

8. A method of non-electric communication between devices that are fluidically connected to one another, characterized in that the non-electric communication preferably takes place over at least one line fluidically connecting the devices, preferably by means of pressure signals and/or acoustic signals.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that at least one communication device in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 6 is arranged at at least one position in a total fluidic system formed by the devices that are fluidically connected to one another, said communication device preferably being configured for detecting data and/or for receiving non-electric signals and/or transmitting non-electric signals.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8 or claim 0, characterized in that the non-electric communication takes place via liquid conducted in the line fluidically connecting the devices.

11. A method in accordance with one of the claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the at least one communication device in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 6 is configured for detecting data, with the data detected by the at least one communication device reflecting at least one parameter of the total fluidic system and/or a parameter of a fluid conducted in the total fluidic system, in particular in the line fluidically connecting the devices to one another.

12. A method in accordance with one of the claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the method is applied to a total fluidic system that has at least one water preparation system, and/or at least one treatment machine, in particular a blood treatment machine, and/or at least one line, in particular a supply line, a loop, a water line, a dialysis line, or a concentrate line.

13. A method in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a plurality of communication devices in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 6 are arranged at different positions of the total fluidic system.

14. A system for the non-electric communication between devices that are fluidically connected to one another, characterized by at least one communication device in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 6 that is arranged at at least one position of the total fluidic system and is configured to communicate non-electrically, preferably by means of pressure signals and/or acoustic signals, over at least one line fluidically connecting the devices to one another.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that the system has at least one water preparation systems and/or at least one treatment machine, in particular a blood treatment machine, and/or at least one line, in particular a supply line, a loop, a water line, a dialysis line, or a concentrate line that are fluidically connected and thus preferably form a total fluidic system.

Description

[0149] Further advantages, features, and effects of the present invention result from the following description with reference to the Figures. The same reference numerals in the Figures designate the same or similar components. There are shown:

[0150] FIG. 1 the general structure of a fluid supply for a plurality of blood treatment machines by means of a loop such as is frequently used in dialysis centers;

[0151] FIG. 2 the structure of FIG. 1 with communication devices arranged along the loop;

[0152] FIG. 3 shows a communication device in accordance with the invention that is arranged at a line between a blood treatment apparatus and a water preparation system or RO system 3 and transmits sound waves 6;

[0153] FIG. 4 shows the basic design of a communication device in accordance with the invention.

[0154] FIG. 1 shows a plurality of blood treatment apparatus 1 that stand in a plurality of different rooms and are fluidically connected to one another via a loop 2 and to a water preparation system/RO system 3 and to a mixing unit 4 for generating dialysis solution from concentrate and thus form a total fluidic system.

[0155] FIG. 2 shows the structure of FIG. 1 with communication devices 5 arranged along the loop 2. The communication devices 5 in this arrangement, for example, enable the detection of data/measurement of data with respect to the fluid/the liquid in the loop 2, for example the flow volume, the temperature, or the conductivity. The arrangement of the communication devices 5 thus makes possible the detection of data for individual groups of blood treatment apparatus 1 without the operation of the other blood treatment apparatus 1 being impaired hereby or the other devices having to be set into a specific operating mode that could, for example, impair a (central) measurement.

[0156] It is in particular sensible with such arrangements having a plurality of devices (treatment units, water preparation systems, etc.) and a plurality of communication devices if both the devices and the communication devices each have individual IDs and are thus individually addressable.

[0157] FIG. 3 shows a communication device 5 in accordance with the invention that is arranged at or in a line, for example a loop 2, between a blood treatment apparatus 1 and a water preparation system or RO system 3 and communicates acoustically by the transmission of acoustic signals into the fluid medium flowing in the line, as is illustrated by the sound waves 6.

[0158] FIG. 4 shows the basic design of a communication device 5 in accordance with the invention. The communication device 5, for example, has a sensor/a sensor system 6 for detecting at least one parameter of the total fluidic system that is formed by the fluid lines and the apparatus coupled thereto.

[0159] The communication device 5 furthermore has a receiver 7 for receiving non-electric signals. The receiver 7 can e.g. be a microphone. In addition, the communication device 5 has a transmitter 8 for transmitting non-electric signals. The transmitter 8 can e.g. be a beater or an ultrasound transmitter.