Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Material introduced into and removed from body through...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-25
2001-09-25
Nguyen, Anhtuan T. (Department: 3763)
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Material introduced into and removed from body through...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293921
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic exchanger apparatus for peritoneal dialysis fluids.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An automatic exchanger apparatus for peritoneal dialysis fluids is provided in which the end of a tube connected to a peritoneal cavity of a patient is connected to and disconnected from the end of a tube in a peritoneal dialysis circuit, which is connected at the other end to a dialysis fluid bag or the like, to exchange automatically or semi-automatically (using manual procedures) the dialysis fluid. The apparatus was developed for the purpose of easing a troublesome, manual process of exchanging the fluids with the use of a mechanical system.
Some of such known automatic exchanger apparatuses are disclosed in examined publication of Tokkou Hei. 3-52986 and Tokkou Hei. 2-27936 and Japanese unexamined Patent Publication. Tokkai Hei. 8-725.
They are mainly classified connector-changeable type, tubing fuse-bond type and sterilizing means equipped type.
These known exchanger apparatuses are however disadvantageous in that the installation of tubes, connectors, and their shut-off members to the exchanger apparatuses has to be repeated twice before and after the delivery and drainage of dialysis fluids on patients. Above all, the installation and its procedure is troublesome and may result in installation fault or infection (contamination).
The exchange of dialysis fluids is commonly carried out using a machine or more particularly an automatic peritoneal dialysis (APD) system in which the end of a tube from a patient is manually connected to and disconnected from the port of a peritoneal dialysis circuit of the system.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic exchanger apparatus for peritoneal dialysis which allows the connection and disconnection of tubes and the exchange of dialysis fluids including a waste and a fresh supply to be performed with much ease, avoids operational errors by the operator and their adverse results, minimizes the possibility of infection and contamination during the exchange process, and has a simple structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, an automatic exchanger apparatus for peritoneal dialysis fluids having a dialysis fluid bag, a drained fluid bag and connecting and disconnecting means between the end of a peritoneal dialysis circuit equipped with a branching point and the end of a tube extending from a patient to drain the waste dialysis fluid from the cavity of the patient and fill the peritoneal cavity of the patient with a fresh peritoneal dialysis fluid for exchange is provided; wherein the apparatus comprises means for carrying out a step (A) of connecting the end of the patient side tube to the end of the peritoneal dialysis circuit before exchanging the dialysis fluids, means B for carrying out a step (B) of draining the waste fluid into the drained fluid bag and delivering the fresh dialysis fluid from the dialysis fluid bag, and a means C for carrying out a step (C) of, disconnecting the two ends and connecting the patient side tube to its shut-off member, after the delivery of the fresh dialysis fluid has been completed, controlling means for controlling the means A. B, and C to execute the their steps (A), (B), and (C) in a sequence, and at least, the means A and C are so arranged that respective steps (A) and (C) are carried out automatically, and the apparatus further comprises controlling means for controlling the means A, B, and C to execute the their steps (A), (B), and (C) in a sequence, whereby the foregoing technical drawbacks will be eliminated.
It is noted that in the automatic exchange apparatus for peritoneal dialysis fluids of the present invention, the patient side tube includes an extension tube communicated to a catheter implanted in the peritoneal cavity of a patient and other relevant tubes. Also, the end of the patient side tube is meant opposite to the other end connected to the catheter. The branching point in the peritoneal dialysis circuit is an intermediate junction of the tube connected between the dialysis fluid bag and the drained fluid bag where a tube portion communicated to the patient side tube is branched. In general, one branch is branched from the branching point thus forming a Y-shaped structure; this is not of limitation. The end of the peritoneal dialysis circuit represents one end of the tube which is to be connected to the patient side tube.
As described, the automatic exchanger apparatus of this invention for peritoneal dialysis fluids is characterized by means A for carrying out the step (A) of connecting the end of the patient side tube to the end of the peritoneal dialysis circuit before exchanging the dialysis fluids, means B for carried out the step (B) of draining the waste fluid into the drained fluid bag and delivering the fresh dialysis fluid from the dialysis fluid bag, and means C for carrying out the step (C) of, disconnecting the two ends and connecting the patient side tube to its shut-off member, after the delivery of the fresh dialysis fluid has been completed, and the controlling means for controlling the means A, B, and C to execute the their steps (A), (B), and (C). Accordingly, the three steps can be performed in a sequence. More particularly, once both the end of the patient side tube and the end of the peritoneal dialysis circuit have been set by the patient in the automatic exchanger apparatus of the present invention, the connection and disconnection (joining and separation) between the patient side tube and the peritoneal dialysis circuit and the drainage and delivery of the dialysis fluids can be conducted in a succession.
As for one preferred embodiment of the automatic exchanger apparatus for peritoneal dialysis fluids of the present invention, a mechanism for setting the shut-off member to be connected to the end of the patient side tube prior to starting the steps may be provided. The mechanism allows the shut-off member to be connected to the end of the patient side tube to be set at a predetermined location in the automatic exchanger apparatus before starting the steps of the exchange process.
With the mechanism, after the drainage and delivery of the dialysis fluids is completed, the disconnection of the patient side tube from the end of the peritoneal dialysis circuit and the connection of the shut-off member to the patient side tube can be carried out in a sequence. During the disconnection and connection, it is not necessary for the patient to operate the patient side tube and the peritoneal dialysis circuit by hand.
Regarding to the operation of the drainage and delivery of the dialysis fluids, an order of switching the passage of flow has been determined (for example, the communication being allowed in a succession between the patient's peritoneal cavity and the drained fluid bag, between the dialysis fluid bag and the drained fluid bag, then between the dialysis fluid bag and the patient's peritoneal cavity) or the sequence of the steps is predetermined (for example, preceded connection between the patient side tube and the peritoneal dialysis circuit, followed by the execution of the drainage and delivery, then the connection between the patient side tube and its shut-off member),of thus, the switching of the flow or the execution of the steps is carried out by the predetermined manner.
In the automatic exchange apparatus for peritoneal dialysis fluids of the present invention, the drainage and delivery of the dialysis fluids as well as the connection and disconnection between the patient side tube and the peritoneal dialysis circuit can be performed automatically. More specifically, when the connectors and shut-off members have been set by the patient before starting the steps, the operation is executed automatically by the apparatus. Therefore, the apparatus is convenient to the patient and its operating error, infection, and contamination will be prevented.
The means for connecting and disconnecting between the patient s
Fujii Junya
Shinmoto Kazuhiro
Tanaka Seishin
Armstrong Westerman Hattori McLeland & Naughton LLP
JMS Company, Ltd.
Lam Ann
Nguyen Anhtuan T.
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