Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Liquid/liquid solvent or colloidal extraction or diffusing...
Reexamination Certificate
1996-03-27
2001-09-04
Kim, John (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Liquid/liquid solvent or colloidal extraction or diffusing...
C210S646000, C604S029000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06284139
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to dialysis and, more particularly, to a system, including equipment for performing dialysis and a support for the dialysis equipment which can be conveniently moved by a patient during the dialysis procedure. The invention also relates to a support that is collapsible to facilitate its transportation.
2. Background Art
Patients suffering from terminal renal failure can be saved only by ongoing dialysis treatment or kidney transplantation. Until recently, patients had to travel to a dedicated dialysis center for treatment. The patient was confirmed to a single location during the entire procedure, which could proceed for up to ten hours.
Baxter Health Care Corporation's recent development of a compact dialysis system has allowed the dialysis procedure to take place at virtually any location. This system, identified as a “continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis” system (CAPD system), is reduced significantly in size over earlier systems. The basic system consists of a relatively small control unit and a reservoir to permit circulation of fluids into the patient and removal of fluids from the patient during the dialysis procedure.
While the CAPD systems have made dialysis treatment considerably more convenient to the patient, the patient nonetheless has generally been confirmed to a single location throughout the procedure. Typically, the patient will remain in a bed or chair through the entire procedure, with mobility limited to a very small range as permitted by the connections between the equipment and the patient.
To accommodate the CAPD system, the patient may custom design a fixed support system in close proximity to his/her bed or chair. While it is desirable for the patient to move around during the procedure, the absence of a portable support for the CAPD system makes this impractical. Thus, patients may, for all practical purposes, be confined to one location throughout the treatment. This is an obvious inconvenience to a patient and in most cases precludes travel by the patient for any extended length of time away from the location that has been adapted to the CAPD system. As a result, the lifestyle of most patients needing regular dialysis treatment becomes drastically altered.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention to overcome one or more of the problems, identified above.
In one form of the invention, a portable dialysis system is provided having a self-contained dialysis unit and a support for the dialysis unit to maintain the dialysis unit in an elevated position relative to a subjacent surface. The support has a length, a width, and a height, with the height of the support not exceeding four feet, the width of the support not exceeding three feet, and the length of the support not exceeding four feet. The unit is provided on a support, with there being structure on the support for facilitating movement of the support, with the dialysis unit in the operative position thereon, relative to the subjacent surface.
In one form, the structure for facilitating movement of the support is a plurality of wheels.
In one form, the support includes at least first and second structural elements and structure cooperating between the first and second structural elements for allowing the first and second structural elements to be repositioned relative to each other to thereby allow the support to be selectively changed between assembled and collapsed states without the use of separate fasteners.
In one form, there are a plurality of structural elements that define the entire support and structure cooperating between the plurality of structural elements to allow the plurality of structural elements to be repositioned relative to each other to thereby allow the support to be selectively changed between assembled and collapsed states without the use of separate fasteners.
There may be at least six structural elements in the plurality of structural elements.
In one form, the support has a perimeter volume in each of the assembled and collapsed states and the perimeter volume of the support in the collapsed state is no more than one-third the perimeter volume of the support in the assembled state.
The structure cooperating between the plurality of structural elements may allow the plurality of structural elements to be press fit together.
In one form, the support is made entirely from plastic.
The support may be defined by at least six structural elements, with there being structure cooperating between the at least six structural elements for allowing the six structural elements to be repositioned relative to each other to thereby allow the support to be selectively changed between assembled and collapsed states.
In one form, the support includes at least first and second spaced shelves and an upright extending between the shelves so as to maintain a predetermined space therebetween. The upright has a length and is defined by first and second parts which can be selectively maintained in a plurality of different positions corresponding to different lengths for the upright.
In another form of the invention, a portable dialysis system is provided including a dialysis unit and a support to maintain the dialysis unit in an elevated, operative position relative to a subjacent surface. The support has a plurality of structural elements that are repositionable relative to each other to thereby place the support selectively in an assembled state and a collapsed state. The support has a perimeter volume in each of the assembled and collapsed states, with the perimeter volume of the support in the collapsed state being no more than one-third the perimeter volume of the support in the assembled state.
In one form, there are at least six structural elements defining the support, including at least two flat shelves and at least one upright extending between the shelves.
The six structural elements may be fully separable, each from the other, with the support in the collapsed state.
In still another form of the invention, a portable dialysis system is provided having a dialysis unit and a support for the dialysis unit to maintain the dialysis unit in an elevated, operative position relative to a subjacent surface. The support has a plurality of structural elements with structure cooperating between the plurality of structural elements for allowing the plurality of structural elements to be repositioned relative to each other to thereby change the support selectively between an assembled state and a collapsed state without the use of separate fasteners.
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patent: 4682750 (1987-07-01), Rudolph et al.
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patent: 4998023 (1991-03-01), Kitts
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patent: 5492399 (1996-02-01), Tillack
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Polish Tech. Rev., vol. 113, No. 1, p. 19 (1979).
Kim John
Wood Phillips VanSanten Clark & Mortimer
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