Liquid purification or separation – With repair or assembling means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-24
2001-11-20
Drodge, Joseph W. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
With repair or assembling means
C210S090000, C210S092000, C210S252000, C137S594000, C604S905000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06319399
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to plumbing systems for medical apparatus, and more particularly, to such plumbing systems which are designed for use in the pure water supply system of a dialysis clinic.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A dialysis clinic typically utilizes a centralized source of pure water for the dialysis machines. The pure water source typically takes water from a city water source and runs it through a series of softeners and filters which purify the water before it is sent to the dialysis machines.
Traditionally, this series of filters is plumbed together with rigid copper or thermoplastic piping such as PVC and conventional threaded valves connecting the various filters to the piping.
Such traditional piping systems may include bypass loops around a given filter unit to allow that filter unit to be taken off-line without shutting down the entire system.
Problems which are encountered with the traditional system include: 1) the inadvertent or deliberate bypassing of an element of the system potentially endangering the patient's safety, or at a minimum, reducing the efficacy of the system; 2) the difficulty of sterilizing the system, and the presence of lengths of pipe which are sometimes shut off, known as “dead legs”, in which water can stagnate and lead to the growth of bacteria and the like which is, of course, undesirable; and 3) the volumes of water trapped within the bypass valves themselves which is stagnated and may grow bacteria.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a plumbing system for the pure water supply of a dialysis clinic which provides a greatly improved apparatus and method for connecting the various filters into the plumbing system. The apparatus includes an isolation block assembly, which itself includes an isolation block. The isolation block has a supply passage defined therethrough having a supply passage inlet and a supply passage outlet. The isolation block also has a discharge passage defined therethrough having a discharge passage inlet and a discharge passage outlet.
A first self sealing quick connect part, preferably a male adapter part, is connected to the supply passage outlet. A second self sealing quick connect part, again preferably a male adapter part, is connected to the discharge passage inlet.
A filter of the pure water system may then be connected to the isolation block very easily. The filter will itself have a filter inlet and a filter outlet. A flexible pipe conduit will be connected to the filter inlet and a second flexible pipe conduit will be connected to the filter outlet. On the free ends of the flexible conduits are attached additional self sealing quick connect parts which are complementary to the self sealing quick connect parts mounted upon the isolation block. That is, if male adapter parts are mounted on the isolation block, the quick connect parts attached to the free ends of the flexible piping will be female coupling parts.
The filter can be easily connected to the plumbing system by merely connecting the female quick connect parts which are attached to the ends of the flexible piping to the male quick connect parts which are mounted on the isolation block. Simultaneous with that connection, the passages through the isolation block are opened by the internal action of the quick connect parts as they are coupled together.
This provides great ease of installing and removing a given filter unit for service and the like.
This system also substantially eliminates dead legs in the piping system.
Furthermore, the components of the present invention may all be constructed of a heavy duty plastic material which can be easily sterilized.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pure water supply system for a dialysis clinic.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of an isolation block to provide quick coupling of a component to a plumbing system.
Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a pure water supply system which may be easily disinfected.
Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a pure water supply system which is economical to manufacture and assemble.
Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Peterson Michael J.
Russell Richard M.
Beavers Lucian Wayne
Cecil Terry K.
Dialysis Systems, Inc.
Drodge Joseph W.
Waddey & Patterson
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