PERITONEAL DIALYSIS SYSTEM HAVING A CAPILLARY PATIENT LINE FILTER

1 . A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system ( 10 ) comprising:

a PD machine ( 20 );

a patient line ( 50 ) extending from the PD machine ( 20 );

a filter set ( 100 ) in fluid communication with the patient line ( 50 ), the filter set ( 100 ) including a plurality of hollow fiber membranes ( 120 ) positioned and arranged such that fresh PD fluid flows through porous walls of the hollow fiber membranes ( 120 ) prior to exiting the filter set ( 100 ).

2 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the patient line ( 50 ) is a dual lumen patient line including a fresh PD fluid lumen ( 52 ) placed in fluid communication with a fresh PD fluid passageway ( 112 ) of the filter set ( 100 ), the dual lumen patient line ( 50 ) further including a used PD fluid lumen ( 54 ) placed in fluid communication with a used PD fluid passageway ( 114 ) of the filter set ( 100 ).

3 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the used PD fluid passageway ( 114 ) is in fluid communication with a central area ( 124 ) located between the plurality of hollow fiber membranes ( 120 ), the central area ( 124 ) receiving used PD fluid from a transfer set-side connector ( 108 ) of the filter set ( 100 ).

4 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the fresh PD fluid passageway ( 112 ) is in fluid communication with a plurality of inlet apertures ( 118 ) formed in a wall ( 116 ) of the filter set ( 100 ), the inlet apertures ( 118 ) forming fresh PD fluid inlets to the plurality of hollow fiber membranes ( 120 ).

5 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the fresh PD fluid passageway ( 112 ) is formed at least in part via a fresh PD fluid port ( 104 a ), wherein the used PD fluid passageway ( 114 ) is formed at least in part via a used PD fluid port ( 104 b ), and wherein the fresh and used PD fluid ports ( 104 a , 104 b ) are part of a lumen-side connector ( 104 ) configured to connect to a patient line connector ( 56 ) of the dual lumen patient line ( 50 ).

6 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 5 , which includes a compressible gasket configured to seal around the fresh and used PD fluid ports ( 104 a , 104 b ) between the lumen-side connector ( 104 ) and the patient line connector ( 56 ).

7 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow fiber membranes ( 120 ) are closed on one end to force fresh PD fluid through their porous walls, the ends closed individually, or wherein at least two of the ends are closed via a common structure.

8 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , which includes at least one hydrophobic membrane ( 126 ) positioned to vent air from the fresh PD fluid prior to reaching the hollow fiber membranes ( 120 ).

9 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 8 , which includes at least one net ( 128 ) positioned to divert air towards the at least one hydrophobic membrane ( 126 ).

10 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the filter set ( 100 ) is configured to connect directly to a patient's transfer set, or wherein the filter set ( 100 ) includes a flexible tube ( 110 ) configured to connect to the patient's transfer set.

11 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the filter set ( 100 ) is configured such that used PD fluid flows tangentially along the outsides of the hollow fiber membranes ( 120 ).

12 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the filter set ( 100 ) is configured such that fresh PD fluid flows inside to outside through the porous walls of the hollow fiber membranes ( 120 ).

13 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the PD machine ( 20 ) includes a pressure sensor ( 28 b ) positioned to sense the pressure of fresh PD fluid downstream from the hollow fiber membranes ( 120 ) during a patient fill.

14 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hollow fiber membranes ( 120 ) are sterilizing grade hollow fiber membranes or bacteria reduction hollow fiber membranes.

15 . A filter set ( 100 ) comprising:

a body ( 106 ) holding a plurality of hollow fiber membranes ( 120 ) positioned and arranged such that fresh PD fluid flows through porous walls of the hollow fiber membranes ( 120 ) prior to exiting the body ( 106 );

a lumen-side connector ( 104 ) configured to connect to a patient line, the lumen-side connector ( 104 ) positioned to introduce fresh PD fluid to the body ( 106 ) and to receive used PD fluid from the body ( 106 ); and

(i) a transfer set-side connector ( 108 ) configured to connect to a patient's transfer set, or (ii) a flexible line ( 110 ) configured to connect to the patient's transfer set.

16 . The filter set ( 100 ) of claim 15 , wherein the body ( 106 ) includes a fresh PD fluid passageway ( 112 ) in fluid communication with a plurality of inlet apertures ( 118 ) formed in a wall ( 116 ) of the body ( 106 ), the inlet apertures ( 118 ) forming fresh PD fluid inlets to the plurality of hollow fiber membranes ( 120 ).

17 . A filter set ( 100 ) comprising:

a body ( 106 ) holding a plurality of capillary membranes ( 120 ) positioned and arranged such that fresh PD fluid flows through porous walls of the capillary membranes ( 120 ) prior to exiting the body ( 106 );

a lumen-side connector ( 104 ) configured to connect to a patient line, the lumen-side connector ( 104 ) positioned to introduce fresh PD fluid to the body ( 106 ) and to receive used PD fluid from the body ( 106 ); and

a transfer set-side connector ( 108 ) configured to connect to a patient's transfer set, or wherein the filter set ( 100 ) includes a flexible line ( 110 ) configured to connect to the patient's transfer set.