EP2211929A1

EP2211929A1 - Dialysate tank comprising a heated dialysate container, corresponding dialysis system, and method

Info

Publication number: EP2211929A1
Application number: EP08851553A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matthias Brandl; Martin Prinz
Original assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
Current assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
Priority date: 2007-11-22
Filing date: 2008-11-21
Publication date: 2010-08-04
Also published as: US20100269909A1; DE102007056237A1; WO2009065598A1; JP2011504385A; CN101873871A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for controlling, in a contactless manner, the temperature of a dialysate located in a dialysate container of a dialysate tank of a dialysis system. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a dialysate container and dialysis system according to the invention.

Description

description

Dialysis tank with heated dialysate tank and appropriate dialysis system and method

The present invention relates to a dialysis tank according to the preamble of claim 1 and a dialysis system according to the preamble of claim 7. It further relates to a method for controlling the temperature of dialysate according to the preamble of claim 8, a method of manufacturing a dialyzate tank according to the preamble of Claim 11, and a method for producing a dialysis system according to the preamble of claim 17.

From practice, dialysis devices or systems - as described, for example, in WO 96/25214 - known with a dialysis tank, which in a

Dialysate container having a dialysis fluid. The used here

Dialysis fluid (dialysate) is usually on a before treatment

Treatment temperature heated and stored in the dialysis tank. For a dialysis treatment of the patient, usually lasting 4 to 5 hours, it is acceptable to cool a dialysate which has not been actively heated, which is limited to about 0.5 ° Celsius per hour with good thermal insulation of the dialyzate tank, for example.

For long-term treatments of up to 24 hours, as z. B. may be required in intensive care, however, such cooling is disadvantageous. For such applications, active heating of the dialysate or the patient's blood is required.

For active heating-in the sense of keeping the dialysate warm-a heating rod is typically used in the prior art, which heats the dialysate in direct contact with it. As the heating element usually with

Mains voltage operated and designed as a so-called protection class I, a floating design of the application part (that part of the dialysis machine, which is in - electrically conductive - contact with the patient) is not possible. Consequently, the dialysis machine can only be used with restrictions for applications such as those at the open heart. For heating the patient's blood in the prior art, inter alia, a so-called blood warmer, which heats the venous blood by means of a thermal coupling via the return hose, or heating hoses used. Again, these methods are incompatible with a floating application design, or require the use of additional disposable items, resulting in additional costs and unwanted contact between blood and disposable items.

The object of the present invention is to specify an improved dialysis tank as well as a dialysis system configured therewith. Likewise, a method for producing a dialysate tank and / or a dialysis system and an improved method for controlling or regulating (the terms control and regulation are used interchangeably in the present description) of the temperature of dialysate should be specified.

The object of the invention is achieved by a dialysis tank with the

Characteristics of claim 1, which is suitable and intended for use in a dialysis device or a dialysis system, for example a hemodialysis device (in particular using a so-called batch system), for dialysis treatment, for example hemodialysis, of a patient. The dialyzate tank has at least one dialysate container in which the fresh and / or used, recirculated dialysate is stored. The dialysate tank also has at least one heat source by means of which the temperature of the dialysate can be controlled or regulated. The heat source is arranged outside the Dialysatbehälters.

The dialysate container is configured and provided as a container for the dialysate, ie for a liquid which is not infused to the patient, whereby the dialysate differs from a substituate liquid or a replacement fluid in the context of the present explanations and be provided for the simultaneous absorption of essentially the total amount of dialyzate used in a dialysis session or treatment, which differs from a continuous flow heater or a batch warmer.

"Outside the dialysate container" in the context of the present invention means that the heat source is not in contact with the dialysate, so that the heat source can not be moistened or wetted by the dialysate. In particular, a line of electricity between dialysate and heat source can not be done. In this case, "outside of the dialysate container" can also be understood as geometrically "outside" - that is to say remotely - an inner region of the dialysate container. This can be judged, for example, in a side view or a side projection.

According to the invention, a heat source means any suitable device by means of which a heating of the dialysate or a prevention or delay of a drop in the temperature of the dialysate can be controlled. The heat source is preferably suitable and provided for keeping the dialysate permanently warm during the dialysis treatment of the patient at a dialyzing temperature, in particular overall. The heat source can be designed in such a way that it is not possible to heat the dialysate until it boils or sterilizes with it. The heat source may be one of the devices known to those skilled in the art, which may include an infrared heat radiation device and a UV emitter, or which expressly do not include such an infrared heat radiation device or such a UV emitter.

Under a controlling the temperature of the dialysate is understood according to the invention that the temperature of the dialysate increases or prevents their decrease or is delayed. A feedback in the sense of a regulation on the actual temperature, for example, of the dialysate at a certain time is hereby not required according to the invention. The provision and implementation of a control, however, is optionally possible according to the invention and thus also encompassed by the present invention. An example of such a control is described below in connection with a preferred embodiment.

The heat source is arranged in the inventive dialysis tank such that it preferably has no contact with the dialysate container. Contact according to the invention is to be understood in particular a Wärmeleitkontakt or an electrically conductive contact.

By "contact" between the heat source and the dialysate tank, for example, an objective contact, in particular an electrically conductive contact in the sense of an electrical connection, or the like should be understood Contact is according to the invention but not available. The heat source of the dialysate tank according to the invention is rather provided without contact with the dialysate container. However, the non-contact relationship allows heat given off by the heat source to reach an exterior of the dialysate container and thereby, directly or indirectly, affect the temperature of the dialysate. Thermal radiation is thus possible from the heat source to the dialysate container, while heat conduction, as takes place between two solids, in the inventive arrangement of the heat source with respect to the dialysate container is not possible.

By suitably supplying heat to a room or area around the dialysate container - e.g. B. a surrounding the dialysate air cushion - the cooling of the dialysate container is advantageously prevented. Simmering or sterilization is not provided here.

By eliminating the need for direct heating of the dialysate, as in the prior art by means of a heating element, which is supplied with mains voltage, the previous floating design of the application part (type CF) remains according to the invention advantageously obtained. As a result, the corresponding dialysis machine can continue unrestricted for applications such. B. in the open heart, where special requirements apply.

Another advantage of the dialysate tank according to the invention is that due to the elimination of the need for a blood warmer for the venous return hose also the floating design of the application part (type CF) is not affected and also no additional disposable items such as hose extensions, as often for CF blood warmer are required. The latter contributes to the reduction of the logistical effort, to reduce the materials used, to reduce safety and hygiene problems due to faulty parts and thus in each case connected to reduce the costs to be incurred advantageous.

Advantageous developments of the present invention are in each case subject of the dependent claims.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, it is proposed to provide the dialysate container with a jacket, which generates a heat loss from Dialysate reduced to the environment. This casing can-as is proposed in a further preferred embodiment, for example-be embodied as a thermal jacket. The sheath can surround only the side surfaces - or other surfaces - of the dialysate container, but it can also be designed such that it completely surrounds the dialysate container - if one looks away from recesses for supply and discharge lines.

The sheath of the dialysate container leads to a jam or cushion of air or other suitable gaseous medium and already thereby causes a reduction in heat loss and a reduction in the drop in the temperature of the present in the dialysate dialysate. In addition, in this embodiment, the space and the volume whose temperature can be controlled by means of the heat source are reduced. It can thus be advantageous to save energy by the required heating power is minimized.

The dialysate container can be made of all known to the expert materials or have these. The material may comprise a glass, a polymer, a metal or the like. In particular, a material which is opaque or opaque to light is also suitable as the material, in particular a material substantially impermeable to UV and / or infrared light.

The heat source may have an electrically insulating sheath. This jacket can also be opaque.

If, as proposed in a further preferred embodiment, the

Heat source is designed wholly or partially as a heating cord, this solution is characterized by a particularly small-sized arrangement. In addition, the heating cord - in contrast to other heat sources - particularly well by its own, electrically insulating sheathing - z. B. by silicone - are protected. As a result, the heat source, in turn, without the risk of canceling the desired electrical separation between the dialysate and the heat source, can be arranged closer to the dialysate container than other heat source types. This also contributes advantageously to a small and thus space and material-saving design, as well as the required compliance with a small distance between dialysate and heat source. The latter contributes to the saving of energy when heating the environment of the dialysate container and thus of the dialysate. If the heat source, as proposed in a further preferred embodiment, is supplied via the low-voltage supply of the dialysis system used (for example the Genius® 90 Therapy System from Fresenius Medical Care), this further advantageously contributes to ensuring freedom from the earth. This low voltage can in turn be designed ungrounded. It can supply the heat source with, for example, 30 V and 40 W.

The same advantage can be achieved by designing wall sections of the glass dialysate container, as is provided in a further preferred embodiment.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the dialyzate tank has at least one temperature sensor for measuring the temperature, which is present in a region or space outside the dialysate container.

By means of the measurements with the temperature sensor, the temperature of the dialysate present in the interior of the dialysate container can be closed and controlled or regulated. Thus, the heating can, for example, be exposed when a temperature of 37 ⁰ C was measured. Thus, it is possible to monitor the temperature - the control of which may be desired both in the direction of warm and in the direction of cold as discussed below - without having to make direct contact with the dialysate fluid. This contributes to the desired electrical separation between the dialysate and the heat source and further allows a floating design. In addition, the restriction of the regulation to z. B. 37 ⁰ C further minimization of the required heating power.

The object according to the invention is furthermore also achieved by the dialysis system having the features of claim 7, which has a dialyzate tank as discussed above. All the advantages discussed above can be achieved undiminished. To avoid a repetition of the achievable advantages, reference is therefore made at this point to the above discussion.

The object of the invention is further achieved by a method for

Controlling the temperature of dialysate, which is present within a Dialysatbehälters, wherein an external environment or a region or space of the

Dialysate container is heated. Heating is understood in this context as a measure which does not lead to an increase in temperature, but only a drop or an undesirably strong drop in temperature prevented. In this case, an inventive dialysis tank and / or a dialysis system according to the invention can be used. The advantages obtainable by the method according to the invention include all of the above. Therefore, to avoid repetition, reference may be made to their discussion above.

In a particularly preferred development or embodiment of the control method according to the invention, the heat emitted by the heat source is controlled - or optionally regulated - that the temperature of the space surrounding the dialysate container is equal to or lower than the original temperature of the dialysate (ie the temperature of the dialysate Dialysate, for example, at the beginning of the dialysis session) in the dialysate container. This maintains the formation of a separation of fresh and spent or recycled dialysate in the dialysate container. The formation of the separating layer is thus advantageously not disturbed.

Finally, the object of the invention is also achieved by a manufacturing method having the features of claim 11. Advantageous developments of this method are in turn the subject of the dependent claims. Again, all advantages discussed above can be achieved undiminished. To avoid a repetition of the achievable advantages, reference is therefore made at this point once more to their discussion above. The same applies to the likewise indicated method for producing a dialysis system having the features of claim 17.

It should be noted that the invention is not exclusively in the

Can be used in conjunction with dialysis. Rather, heating or keeping liquids other than a dialysate in a container, which is not a dialysate container but generally a fluid container, is also contemplated by the present invention. In particular, the invention relates to any type of - in particular medical - device with a corresponding container with fluid held therein. The terms "dialysate", "dialysis apparatus", "dialysate tank" and "dialysis" used in the description and the appended claims are therefore to be understood as correspondingly broad and also without reference to dialysis. This concerns both the device and the method claims. The applicant reserves the right to draw up correspondingly reworded claims. The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing with reference to an exemplary, inventive embodiment. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows in cross-sectional view a schematically simplified, only partially illustrated inventive dialysis system with a dialysis tank, which is also shown in simplified form.

Fig. 1 shows sections of a schematically simplified illustrated dialysis system 1 according to the present invention. The dialysis system 1 has a dialysis tank 3 according to the invention, which in turn has a dialysate container 5 with a casing 7 and an interior 9. Irrespective of other design features, the dialysate container 5 can be arranged in an interior of the dialyzate tank 3, as shown purely by way of example in FIG. The dialysis system 1 has, in addition to the dialyzate tank 3, lines arranged inside and outside the dialyzate tank 3, which have no relation to the present invention and are therefore indicated in FIG. 1, but are not designated.

The dialysis tank 3 has a structure 11 configured as a jacket surrounding the interior 9. The structure 11 is made of a heat-insulating material, or has such, and surrounds both the dialysate 5 with its interior 9, as well as provided between the dialysate 5 and the structure 11 space 13th

In the space 13, a lower heat source 15 is arranged, which is configured as a horizontally circulating in a lower region of the Dialysatbehälters 5 cord. The heating cord runs outside of the dialysate container 5 and is so spaced from the sheath 7 of the dialysis container 5 that an electrical line between the heating cord as a heat source 15 and the dialysate 5 does not come about. The heat source 15 can be configured as a simple ring. It may, for example, but also be designed in two parts and, in addition to the cutting cord shown cut in the lower region, for example. Also provided in the upper region of the Dialysatbehälters 5, second heating cord 17 have. In addition, it can also thread-like or spirally loop along a horizontal extent of the dialysate container 5 in several courses, or be configured in any other, the skilled person suitable manner. It should be noted that supply lines of the heat source - which are not shown in FIG. 1 - are guided into or out of the dialyzate tank 3 in such a way that they too do not need to have any contact with the dialysate container 5.

By means of the heat source 15, 17 is thus the space 13 to a suitable

Temperature is maintained or maintained at this or another, for example, lower or decreasing with time temperature. A monitoring of the temperature prevailing in the room 13 can be done, for example, by means of one or more temperature sensors 19. Feedback from the temperature sensors for controlling the heat source 15, 17 is also possible.

The present invention thus proposes for the first time a device and a

A method of contactlessly controlling the temperature of a dialysate present in a dialysate container of a dialysate tank of a dialysis system. It also gives a method for producing such a dialysate container according to the invention and

System.

Claims

claims

A dialysis tank (3) for use in a dialysis system (1), the dialysis tank (3) comprising:

at least one dialysate container (5) for storing dialysate, and

at least one heat source (15, 17) arranged outside the dialysate container (5), by means of which the temperature of the dialysate can be controlled,

characterized in that

the heat source (15, 17) is arranged such that it is not in contact with the

Dialysate container (5).

Second dialysis tank (3) according to claim 1, wherein the dialysate container (5) at least partially surrounded by a structure (11) with a between the dialysate container (5) and the surrounding structure (11)

Room (13) in which heat can be generated by means of the heat source (15, 17).

3. dialysis tank (3) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the heat source (15, 17) has a heating cord.

4. dialysis tank (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat source (15, 17) from the power supply, in particular a low-voltage supply, the dialysis system (1) is fed.

5. dialysis tank (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dialysate container (5) surrounding the structure (11) has an insulating jacket.

6. dialysis tank (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, which has at least one temperature sensor (19) for measuring the temperature prevailing in a region outside the Dialysatbehälters (5).

7. dialysis system (1) with a dialysis tank (3) according to one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A method of controlling the temperature of dialysate present in a dialysate container (5),

characterized by the step

Heating an external environment of the dialysate container (5) to control the temperature of the dialysate of the dialysate container (5).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized by the step

Use of a dialysis tank (3) according to one of claims 1 to 6 and / or a dialysis system (1) according to claim 7.

10. The method according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized by the step

Controlling the heat emitted from the heat source (15, 17) such that the temperature of the space (13) surrounding the dialysate container (5) is equal or lower than the original temperature of the dialysate in the dialysate container (5).

11. A method for producing a dialysate tank (3) for use in a dialysis system (1), wherein the dialyzate tank (3) at least one

Dialysate container (5) for storing dialysate and at least one outside of the Dialysatbehälters (5) arranged heat source (15, 17), by means of which the temperature of the dialysate is controllable comprises,

characterized by the step

Arranging the heat source (15, 17) such that it has no contact with the dialysate container (5).

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized by the step

at least partially surrounding the dialysate container (5) with a structure (11) by means of a between the dialysate container (5) and the surrounding structure (11) remaining space (13) in which by means of the heat source (15, 17) heat can be generated.

13. The method according to any one of claims 11 or 12, characterized by the step

Designing the heat source (15, 17) to include a heating cord.

14. The method according to any one of claims n to 13, characterized by the step Arranging the heat source (15, 17) in such a way that it is fed by the voltage supply, in particular a low-voltage supply, of a dialysis system (1).

15. The method according to any one of claims n to 14, characterized by the step

Designing the structure (11) surrounding the dialysate container (5) such that it has an insulating jacket.

16. The method according to any one of claims n to 15, characterized by the step

Providing at least one temperature sensor (19) for measuring the temperature prevailing in a region outside the dialysate container (5).

17. A method for producing a dialysis system (1), characterized by the step

Use of a dialyzate tank (3) according to one of claims 1 to 6.