IP Library Granted Patent US 10,670,577
Granted Patent B2
US 10,670,577 · App. 15/666,821 · Granted Jun 2, 2020

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.
G01N33/48707A61M1/16A61M1/166A61M1/167A61M1/1621A61M1/1656A61M1/1664A61M1/1666A61M1/1668A61M1/34A61M1/3403G01N27/221G01N27/228A61M2205/15A61M2205/3306A61M2205/3317A61M2205/3368A61M2205/3393A61M2205/36A61M2209/084
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,670,577
App. No.
15/666,821
Granted
Jun 2, 2020
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 (25)

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

a reservoir housing having four sides, a base surface, and a top surface, wherein said four sides, base surface, and top surface define an internal space;

a container adapted to contain dialysate;

a scale comprising a plurality of flex points physically attached to the housing and a surface located within the internal space for supporting the container; and

a conductivity sensor located within the internal space and configured to generate a value indicative of a sodium concentration in the dialysate while the dialysate is in the container, wherein the conductivity sensor comprises a coil in a circuit and an energy source in electrical communication with the circuit.

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

3. The reservoir module of claim 2 wherein the conductivity sensor outputs the value indicative of the sodium concentration in the dialysate based on an energy input required from the 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 the surface is a flat pan.

7. The reservoir module of claim 6 wherein a heater is in thermal contact with the pan.

8. The reservoir module of claim 7 wherein the heater is integrated into the pan.

9. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein the container is a disposable bag.

10. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein the reservoir housing further comprises a gutter.

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

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

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

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

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

a scale comprising a plurality of flex points physically attached to the housing and a surface located within the internal space for supporting the container; and

a conductivity sensor located within the internal space and configured to generate a value indicative of an ion concentration in the liquid while the liquid is in the container, wherein the conductivity sensor comprises a coil in a circuit and an energy source in electrical communication with the circuit.

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

15. The module of claim 13 wherein the coil has a radius between 2 and 6 inches.

16. The module of claim 13 wherein the energy source is adapted to maintain a substantially constant voltage across the capacitor in the circuit.

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

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2017
From: FULKERSON, BARRY NEIL; SMITH, MARK
To: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 043170/0362 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 14923904 · Oct 27, 2015
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 20180017542A1 · Jan 18, 2018