Liquid purification or separation – Recirculation
Patent
1997-05-28
1999-09-07
Kim, John
Liquid purification or separation
Recirculation
210175, 210181, 2101951, 2101952, 21032166, 210636, B01D 6130, A61M 114
Patent
active
059482478
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a disinfection apparatus for a dialysis machine. In particular the present invention relates to a heat disinfection apparatus for a hemodialysis machine, in which the disinfection occurs in two separate circuits, one for the clean side of the dialysis machine and one for the dirty side of the dialysis machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A disinfection arrangement for a hemodialysis machine is described in German Patent Specification No. 34 47 989. This hemodialysis machine is provided with an inner shunt conduit which, in principle, connects the machine's used dialysis solution outlet with the inlet of the machine or, more specifically, a mixing chamber for the dialysis solution. A disinfectant is thus supplied to the dialysis machine and is made to circulate in the closed circuit through the machine and through the aforementioned shunt conduit. The disadvantage with this disinfection arrangement is that the same solution circulates on the clean side as well as on the dirty side of the dialysis machine. By the terminology "dirty side" of the machine is meant the side which, during normal operation, is positioned downstream of the dialyzer and contains the dialysis solution which comes from the dialyzer, which can contain blood plasma (ultrafiltrate).
Another disinfection arrangement for a dialysis machine is described in European Patent Application No. 208,090. This machine is provided with a shunt conduit which extends from a dialyzer coupling (the clean side of the dialyzer) to the inlet of the dialysis machine. In this manner, a recirculation circuit is formed which only includes the clean side of the dialysis machine. Additionally, a heating element is positioned in a water vessel in the recirculation circuit. The heating element is used to successively heat up the fluid, normally water, which is circulating in the circuit, to a high temperature, for example above 95.degree. C. In this manner, a heated disinfection and/or sterilization is achieved. A small portion of the warm fluid is tapped off to the dirty side of the dialysis machine and passes therethrough, and out to the outlet, whereby the dirty side of the machine is also disinfected. The temperature of the fluid, however, falls during this passage, which results in the disinfection of the dirty side being less effective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to achieve a disinfection arrangement corresponding to European Patent Application No. 208,090, but in which the dirty side is also effectively disinfected and/or sterilized.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat disinfection apparatus for a dialysis machine in which the required heat energy is used effectively.
In accordance with the present invention, these and other objects have now been accomplished by the invention of apparatus for disinfection of a dialysis device comprising a dialysis solution supply conduit for supplying dialysis solution to a dialyzer and a dialysis solution removal conduit for removing the dialysis solution from the dialyzer, the apparatus comprising first circulation means for circulating a first fluid through at least a portion of the dialysis solution supply conduit for disinfecting the at least a portion of the dialysis solution supply conduit and second circulation means for circulating a second fluid through at least a portion of the dialysis solution removal conduit for disinfecting the at least a portion of the dialysis solution removal conduit.
In accordance with one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the second circulation means includes second fluid heating means for heating the second fluid.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the dialysis solution supply conduit includes first fluid heating means for heating the first fluid. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a heat exchanger for transferring heat between the first fluid in the first circulation means and the sec
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Gillerfalk Bjorn
Hobro Sture
Jonsson Jorgen
Linderup Erik
Gambro AB
Kim John
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