IP Library Granted Patent US 9,759,710
Granted Patent B2
US 9,759,710 · App. 14/923,904 · Granted Sep 12, 2017

Modular reservoir assembly for a hemodialysis and hemofiltration system

Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson (Longmont, CO); Mark Smith (Longmont, CO)
Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
G01N33/48707A61M1/166A61M1/1621A61M1/1656A61M1/1664A61M1/34G01N27/221G01N27/228A61M2205/15A61M2205/3317A61M2205/3393A61M2205/36A61M2209/084
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,759,710
App. No.
14/923,904
Granted
Sep 12, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present specification discloses a dialysis system having a reservoir module with a reservoir housing defining an internal space, a surface located within the internal space for supporting a container that contains dialysate, and a conductivity sensor located within the internal space, where the conductivity sensor has a coil, a capacitor in electrical communication with the coil, and an energy source in electrical communication with the circuit.

Claims (26)

1. A reservoir module for use in a portable dialysis system comprising:

a reservoir housing having four sides, a base, and a top, wherein said four sides, base surface, and top surface define an internal space and wherein at least one side of the top surface comprises a fluid drain gutter with a wetness sensor;

a container adapted to contain dialysate;

a surface located within said internal space and configured to suspend said container, wherein said surface is integrated with a scale; and

a conductivity sensor located within said internal space, wherein said conductivity sensor comprises a coil having a plurality of turns, a capacitor in electrical communication with said coil, wherein said coil and capacitor define a circuit, and an energy source in electrical communication with said circuit.

2. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein the energy source maintains a substantially constant voltage across said capacitor.

3. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein said conductivity sensor outputs a value indicative of a sodium concentration in said dialysate based on an energy input required from said energy source to maintain the constant voltage across the capacitor.

4. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein the coil has a radius between 2 and 6 inches.

5. The reservoir module of claim 4 wherein the coil generates a magnetic field.

6. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein a heater is in thermal contact with said container.

7. The reservoir module of claim 6 wherein the heater is integrated into said surface.

8. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein said surface comprises a plurality of flex points physically attached to said top.

9. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein the container is an IV bag.

10. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein a second side of the top surface comprises a second fluid drain gutter.

11. The reservoir module of claim 10 wherein the second fluid drain gutter is in fluid communication with a second wetness sensor.

12. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein a door providing internal access to said reservoir housing is integrated into one of said four sides.

13. A module for use in an extracorporeal system comprising:

a housing having four sides, a base, and a top, wherein said four sides, base surface, and top surface define an internal space and wherein the top surface comprises a fluid drain gutter with a wetness sensor;

a container positioned within said internal space and adapted to contain a liquid;

a surface located within said internal space and configured to suspend said container, wherein said surface is integrated with a scale; and

a conductivity sensor located within said internal space.

14. The module of claim 13 wherein said conductivity sensor outputs a value indicative of an ion concentration in said liquid based on an energy input required from an energy source to maintain a constant voltage across a capacitor.

15. The module of claim 14 wherein said ion is a sodium ion.

16. The module of claim 13 wherein said conductivity sensor comprises a coil and the coil has a radius between 2 and 6 inches.

17. The module of claim 14 wherein the energy source is adapted to maintain a substantially constant voltage across said capacitor.

18. The module of claim 13 wherein the conductivity sensor further comprises an oscillator.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2017
From: FULKERSON, BARRY NEIL; SMITH, MARK
To: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 041600/0432 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 12751930 · Mar 31, 2010
Continuation In Part 12610032 · Oct 30, 2009
Provisional Application 61165389 · Mar 31, 2009
Provisional Application 61109834 · Oct 30, 2008
Related Publication 20160109429A1 · Apr 21, 2016