Pumps – One fluid pumped by contact or entrainment with another – Diverse pumps
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-12
2001-02-27
Freay, Charles G. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
One fluid pumped by contact or entrainment with another
Diverse pumps
C417S148000, C210S252000, C210S321710, C604S118000, C137S893000, C137S565220, C137S565230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193472
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a system for transporting fluids from a source of purified water or dialysate to individual dialysis machines in a dialysis clinic.
One objective of the invention is to provide a drain system for fluid discharged from a plurality of dialysis machines. A standard dialysis machine receives ultra pure water with various additives. The combination of water and additives is generally referred to as dialysate. The blood is filtered through the dialysate to remove contaminants. The used dialysate has absorbed these contaminants and is discharged from the dialysis machines as discharge fluid. Traditionally, the discharge fluid is discharged through a floor drain to a city sewer system. Such floor drains are typically expensive to install. Floor drains also often result in the emission of noxious odors. This is particularly so when the substance being dumped through the drain is noxious. This is the case with dialysis discharge fluid.
The drains are sloped which requires substantial elevation changes along the length of the prior art systems. These prior art systems can particularly difficult and expensive to install when rehabilitating an existing building to convert available commercial building space for more intensive clinical use.
It is not possible, however, to directly connect a vacuum system to the discharge line of a dialysis machine. This is because the presence of a vacuum at the dialysis machine will adversely affect the performance of the machine. The importance of maintaining dialysis machine parameters in optimum ranges is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,611 entitled “Management Of Parameters Relating To A Dialysis Treatment” by Ghiraldi; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,367 entitled “System And Method For Monitoring A Flow Of Dialysis Fluid In A Dialysis Machine” by Mattisson et al., both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The present invention provides the advantages of a vacuum discharge conduit, while preventing the communication of a vacuum to the discharge of the dialysis machine.
What is needed then is a system which facilitates fluid removal without affecting the performance of the fluid source. This needed system must eliminate fluid discharge without applying a vacuum to the source. This needed system should be capable of removing noxious and unsanitary fluid wastes. This needed system should be capable of removing unpleasant odors resulting from the fluid to be removed. This needed system is presently lacking in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the art of fluid and gas elimination. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for applying a vacuum to discharge fluid without applying a vacuum to the discharge fluid source.
One purpose of the present invention is to provide a closed vacuum powered drain system which may be installed within the dialysis treatment clinic. This would also provide for a mobile dialysis treatment clinic. The system may be used to dispose of the discharged fluids without the need for constructing a conventional floor drain system. An additional advantage is that of the elimination of noxious odors associated with the dialysis discharge fluid.
Generally, each of the dialysis machines includes a machine discharge line which connects to a common discharge conduit. The discharge conduit may simply be a length of pipe, preferably plastic pipe, which is mounted along the wall of a room containing the dialysis clinic. It is important to note that the discharge line is a non-pressurized non-vacuum line. Preferably the discharge line is at atmospheric pressure for this embodiment. The discharge from the machines simply drains by gravity, and/or pressure developed at the machine, to the discharge conduit. Preferably the conduit is generally horizontally oriented. A vacuum-breaker is used to prevent the vacuum applied to the fluid from being applied to the dialysis machines.
Accordingly, one embodiment of the invention is for a fluid vacuum system for vacuuming-up a discharge fluid from a fluid source without applying a vacuum to the fluid source. The system comprises a discharge conduit, a vacuum source, and a vacuum-breaker. The discharge conduit is in fluid communication with the fluid source. And, the vacuum-breaker connects the discharge conduit to the vacuum source such that the vacuum source applies a vacuum to the discharge fluid without applying a vacuum to the fluid source.
In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum-breaker comprises a discharge passage, a vent passage, and a transfer passage. The discharge passage is connected to the discharge conduit and the vent passage is communicated with the discharge passage. The transfer passage intersects the discharge passage at a vacuum-breaker junction and extends upward therefrom. The transfer passage is arranged so that when a discharge fluid level in the discharge passage is below the vacuum breaker junction, vented air from the vent passage will break the vacuum in the discharge passage. The transfer passage arrangement also allows discharge fluid to be sucked up through the transfer passage when the discharge fluid level rises above the vacuum-breaker junction.
The invention also encompasses a dialysis clinic comprising a plurality of dialysis machines, a discharge conduit, a vacuum source, a vacuum conduit, and a vent. The plurality of dialysis machines discharge a respective plurality of streams of discharge fluid. The discharge conduit is connected to the dialysis machines to receive the discharge fluid. The vacuum conduit is communicated with the discharge conduit and extends upwardly therefrom. The vacuum conduit is also connected to the vacuum source. The vent is connected to the discharge conduit and the vacuum conduit at a junction. When the level of discharge fluid in the discharge conduit is below the junction air will flow through the vent to the vacuum conduit and prevent a vacuum in the discharge conduit.
In another embodiment of the invention, the vacuum-breaker apparatus comprises a manifold block. The manifold block has defined therein a horizontal discharge passage; a vertical vacuum passage intersecting the discharge passage; and a vertical vent passage intersecting the discharge passage.
It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the present invention comprises various methods for transporting and disposing of liquid. One such method of disposing of liquid comprises the steps of: discharging the liquid from a dialysis machine into a discharge conduit; conducting the liquid through the discharge conduit to a vacuum-breaker; and applying a vacuum to the liquid above a predetermined elevation in the vacuum-breaker. The method also includes, in select embodiments, the step of preventing the dialysis machine from being acted upon by the vacuum.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide methods and devices for eliminating fluid discharge without applying a vacuum the fluid sources. A further objective is to optimize embodiments for use where the fluid source is bio-equipment. A further objective is to provide these methods and devices for use with dialysis machines.
Another object of the invention is to provide means and methods for reducing or eliminating unpleasant odors associated with bio-equipment discharge fluid. A further objective is to reduce the release of airborne pathogens in sensitive areas. The sensitive areas may include patient treatment areas such as clinics, Yet another objective is to provide a biohazard venting system.
Another objective is to provide means and methods for removing bio-equipment fluid discharge without effecting the performance of the bio-equipment.
One objective is to provide a closed discharge system for a bio-facility. A further objective is to provide a closed-vacuum system for a dialysis clinic.
A further objective is to provide methods and means of converting a room, or building, into a health care facility, particularly a dialysis clinic. A further objective is to
Peterson Michael J.
Russell Richard M.
Beavers Lucian Wayne
Dialysis Systems, Inc.
Freay Charles G.
Waddey & Patterson
LandOfFree
Fluid vacuum system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Fluid vacuum system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fluid vacuum system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2614814