Manifold assembly for a peritoneal dialysis apparatus and peritoneal dialysis apparatus comprising said manifold assembly

1 . A manifold assembly for a peritoneal dialysis apparatus, the manifold assembly comprising:

a casing delimiting internally a first compartment and a second compartment;

a yielding pump tube having a first end connected to the first compartment and a second end connected to the second compartment, wherein the yielding pump tube extends outside the casing to be coupled to a peristaltic pump of a cycler of a peritoneal dialysis apparatus;

a patient line tube having a first end connected to the second compartment and a second end connectable to a peritoneal cavity of a patient; and

at least one fluid line tube having a first end connected to the first compartment and a second end connectable to a fluid source or a drain,

wherein the first compartment, the yielding pump tube, and the second compartment delimit together a fluid path extending between the at least one fluid line tube and the patient line tube, to allow fluid flow at least from the at least one fluid line tube to the patient line tube or from the patient line tube to the at least one fluid line tube when the peristaltic pump of the cycler is actuated,

wherein the first compartment is a first elongated passage extending between one of the at least one fluid line tube and the first end of the yielding pump tube, the first elongated passage being U-shaped, and

wherein the second compartment delimits at least one expansion chamber configured to attenuate pressure pulsations from the peristaltic pump.

2 . The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one expansion chamber is in part delimited by a soft membrane.

3 . The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein an inner volume of the second compartment, comprising the at least one expansion chamber, is greater than an inner volume of the first compartment.

4 . The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein, when the assembly is mounted on the cycler, an upper part of the second compartment delimits an air buffer volume, and

wherein the casing comprises a breathable membrane configured to put a pressure transducer and/or an air pump of the cycler into fluid communication with the upper part of the second compartment, wherein the breathable membrane is fixed to a rigid shell of the casing.

5 . The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid line tube having the first end connected to the first compartment comprises:

a heater line tube, a heater bag being connected to a second end of the heater line tube, and

a drain fluid line tube having a second end connectable to the drain.

6 . The manifold assembly of claim 5 , wherein the at least one fluid line tube having the first end connected to the first compartment comprises one or more dialysis fluid line tubes, a supply bag being connected to a second end of the one or more dialysis fluid line tubes.

7 . The manifold assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more dialysis fluid line tubes having a first end connected to at least one fluid port in fluid communication with the second compartment, a supply bag being connected to a second end of the one or more dialysis fluid line tubes.

8 . The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein the casing comprises: a first pump port connected to the first end of the yielding pump tube and in fluid communication with the first compartment, a second pump port connected to the second end of the yielding pump tube and in fluid communication with the second compartment, a patient port connected to the first end of the patient line tube and in fluid communication with the second compartment, and at least one fluid port connected to the first end of the at least one fluid line tube and in fluid communication with the first compartment.

9 . The manifold assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one fluid port comprises a respective valve or part of a valve, the at least one fluid port having a seat for accommodating, at least partially, a respective occlusion element of the cycler, wherein the patient port comprises a respective valve or part of a valve, the patient port having a seat for accommodating, at least partially, a respective occlusion element of the cycler.

10 . The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein the casing has a flattened shape and comprises at least one protrusion delimiting the at least one expansion chamber, such that the at least one expansion chamber has a depth greater than a depth of a remaining part of the second compartment.

11 . The manifold assembly of claim 1 , wherein the casing comprises a rigid shell and a soft membrane made of a plastic sheet and fixed to the rigid shell, the rigid shell delimiting a front and sides of the casing and the soft membrane forming a back of the casing.

12 . The manifold assembly of claim 11 , wherein the soft membrane faces a seat and is configured to be deformed by an occlusion element, when said occlusion element is accommodated in the seat, to close a patient port, a fluid port, or a by-pass port.

13 . A manifold assembly for a peritoneal dialysis apparatus, the manifold assembly comprising:

a casing having a flattened shape and delimiting internally a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the casing comprises a rigid shell and a soft membrane fixed to the rigid shell;

a yielding pump tube having a first end connected to the first compartment and a second end connected to the second compartment, wherein the yielding pump tube extends outside the casing to be coupled to a peristaltic pump of a cycler of a peritoneal dialysis apparatus;

a patient line tube having a first end connected to the second compartment and a second end connectable to a peritoneal cavity of a patient;

at least one fluid line tube having a first end connected to the first compartment and a second end connectable to a fluid source or a drain; and

at least one additional fluid line tube having a first end connected to the second compartment and a second end connectable to a fluid source,

wherein the first compartment, the yielding pump tube, and the second compartment delimit together a fluid path extending between the at least one fluid line tube and the patient line tube, to allow fluid flow at least from the at least one fluid line tube to the patient line tube or from the patient line tube to the at least one fluid line tube when the peristaltic pump of the cycler is actuated,

wherein the second compartment delimits a plurality of expansion chambers configured to attenuate pressure pulsations from the peristaltic pump, the plurality of expansion chambers being in part delimited by the soft membrane, and

wherein the casing comprises one or more protrusions delimiting at least one expansion chamber of the plurality of expansion chambers, such that said at least one expansion chamber has a depth greater than a depth of a remaining part of the second compartment.

14 . The manifold assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one fluid line tube having the first end connected to the first compartment comprises: a heater line tube, a heater bag being connected to a second end of the heater line tube, and a drain fluid line tube having a second end connectable to the drain, and

wherein the casing comprises a by-pass channel in fluid communication with the first compartment, the second compartment, and the heater line tube.

15 . The manifold assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first compartment comprises a by-pass port in fluid communication with the by-pass channel, and wherein the by-pass port comprises a respective valve or part of a valve, the by-pass port having a seat for accommodating, at least partially, a respective occlusion element of the cycler.

16 . The manifold assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first compartment is a first elongated passage extending between one of the at least one fluid line tube and the first end of the yielding pump tube, the first elongated passage being U-shaped.

17 . The manifold assembly of claim 16 , wherein a first end of a heater line tube, a first end of a drain fluid line tube, and first ends of a plurality of dialysis fluid line tubes are arranged one after the other along a longest stretch of the first elongated passage, the first end of the yielding pump tube being connected to an extremity of the first elongated passage.

18 . The manifold assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second compartment comprises a septum delimiting a second elongated passage in fluid communication with the at least one expansion chamber, the second elongated passage having a first extremity connected to the second end of the yielding pump tube and a second extremity communicating with the at least one expansion chamber.

19 . A manifold assembly for a peritoneal dialysis apparatus, the manifold assembly comprising:

a casing delimiting internally a first compartment and a second compartment;

a yielding pump tube having a first end connected to the first compartment and a second end connected to the second compartment, wherein the yielding pump tube extends outside the casing to be coupled to a peristaltic pump of a cycler of a peritoneal dialysis apparatus;

a patient line tube having a first end connected to the second compartment and a second end connectable to a peritoneal cavity of a patient; and

at least one fluid line tube having a first end connected to the first compartment and a second end connectable to a fluid source or a drain, and comprising: a heater line tube, a heater bag being connected to a second end of the heater line tube, and a drain fluid line tube having a second end connectable to the drain,

wherein the first compartment, the yielding pump tube, and the second compartment delimit together a fluid path extending between the at least one fluid line tube and the patient line tube, to allow fluid flow at least from the at least one fluid line tube to the patient line tube or from the patient line tube to the at least one fluid line tube when the peristaltic pump of the cycler is actuated,

wherein the second compartment delimits at least one expansion chamber configured to attenuate pressure pulsations from the peristaltic pump, and

wherein the casing comprises a by-pass channel in fluid communication with the first compartment, the second compartment, and the heater line tube.

20 . The manifold assembly of claim 19 , wherein the casing has a flattened shape and comprises at least one protrusion delimiting the at least one expansion chamber, such that the at least one expansion chamber has a depth greater than a depth of a remaining part of the second compartment, and

wherein the casing has an external flat surface for interfacing with at least one level sensor of the cycler and has apertures passing through the flattened shape, wherein the at least one expansion chamber comprises a plurality of expansion chambers, wherein the plurality of expansion chambers is delimited in the second compartment and the apertures are positioned between two of the plurality of expansion chambers.

21 . The manifold assembly of claim 19 , wherein the casing comprises a rigid shell and a soft membrane made of a plastic sheet and fixed to the rigid shell, the rigid shell delimiting a front and sides of the casing and the soft membrane forming a back of the casing, and

wherein an area of the soft membrane is configured to be coupled to a displacement sensor of the cycler when the manifold assembly is mounted on the cycler, the area of the soft membrane facing a zone of the first compartment.

22 . A manifold assembly for a peritoneal dialysis apparatus, the manifold assembly comprising:

a casing delimiting internally a first compartment and a second compartment;

a yielding pump tube having a first end connected to the first compartment and a second end connected to the second compartment, wherein the yielding pump tube extends outside the casing to be coupled to a peristaltic pump of a cycler of a peritoneal dialysis apparatus;

a patient line tube having a first end connected to the second compartment and a second end connectable to a peritoneal cavity of a patient; and

at least one fluid line tube having a first end connected to the first compartment and a second end connectable to a fluid source or a drain,

wherein the first compartment, the yielding pump tube and the second compartment delimit together a fluid path extending between the at least one fluid line tube and the patient line tube, to allow fluid flow at least from the at least one fluid line tube to the patient line tube or from the patient line tube to the at least one fluid line tube when the peristaltic pump of the cycler is actuated,

wherein the second compartment delimits at least one expansion chamber configured to attenuate pressure pulsations from the peristaltic pump,

wherein the casing has a flattened shape and comprises at least one protrusion delimiting the at least one expansion chamber, such that the at least one expansion chamber has a depth greater than a depth of a remaining part of the second compartment, and

wherein the casing has an external flat surface for interfacing with at least one level sensor of the cycler and has apertures passing through the flattened shape, wherein the at least one expansion chamber comprises a plurality of expansion chambers, wherein the plurality of expansion chambers is delimited in the second compartment and the apertures are positioned between two of the plurality of expansion chambers.

23 . A manifold assembly for a peritoneal dialysis apparatus, the manifold assembly comprising:

a casing delimiting internally a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the casing comprises a rigid shell and a soft membrane made of a plastic sheet and fixed to the rigid shell, the rigid shell delimiting a front and sides of the casing and the soft membrane forming a back of the casing;

a yielding pump tube having a first end connected to the first compartment and a second end connected to the second compartment, wherein the yielding pump tube extends outside the casing to be coupled to a peristaltic pump of a cycler of a peritoneal dialysis apparatus;

a patient line tube having a first end connected to the second compartment and a second end connectable to a peritoneal cavity of a patient; and

at least one fluid line tube having a first end connected to the first compartment and a second end connectable to a fluid source or a drain,

wherein the first compartment, the yielding pump tube, and the second compartment delimit together a fluid path extending between the at least one fluid line tube and the patient line tube, to allow fluid flow at least from the at least one fluid line tube to the patient line tube or from the patient line tube to the at least one fluid line tube when the peristaltic pump of the cycler is actuated, wherein the second compartment delimits at least one expansion chamber configured to attenuate pressure pulsations from the peristaltic pump, and

wherein an area of the soft membrane is configured to be coupled to a displacement sensor of the cycler when the manifold assembly is mounted on the cycler, the area of the soft membrane facing a zone of the first compartment.