PERITONEAL DIALYSIS SYSTEM HAVING A 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 ); and

a filter set ( 100 ) in fluid communication with the patient line ( 50 ), the filter set ( 100 ) including a filter membrane ( 120 ) positioned and arranged such that fresh PD fluid flows through the filter membrane ( 120 ) into a filtered fluid compartment ( 106 f ), wherein the filtered fluid compartment ( 106 f ) includes an outlet ( 106 t ) to a port ( 106 p ), and wherein the port ( 106 p ) is in fluid communication with a used PD fluid tube ( 106 u ) positioned and arranged to carry used PD fluid past the filter membrane ( 120 ) without contacting the filter membrane ( 120 ).

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 ) and a used PD fluid lumen ( 54 ), the used PD fluid lumen ( 54 ) placed in fluid communication with the used PD fluid tube ( 106 u ).

3 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the filter set ( 100 ) includes a fresh PD fluid port ( 104 f ) for fluid communication with the fresh PD fluid lumen ( 52 ) and a used PD fluid port ( 104 u ) for fluid communication with the used PD fluid lumen ( 54 ).

4 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the used PD fluid tube ( 106 u ) is in fluid communication with the used PD fluid port ( 104 u ).

5 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the port ( 106 p ) extends from the used PD fluid tube ( 106 u ).

6 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet ( 106 t ) is releasably covered by at least one hinged closure flap ( 1061 ).

7 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , which includes at least one rib ( 106 r ) located within the filtered fluid compartment ( 106 f ) for supporting the filter membrane ( 120 ).

8 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the filter membrane ( 120 ) is a flat sheet filter membrane, and wherein the filter set ( 100 ) includes an outer compartment ( 1060 ) located on an opposing side of the flat sheet filter membrane from the filtered fluid compartment ( 106 f ).

9 . The PD system ( 10 ) according claim 8 , wherein the filter set ( 100 ) includes a fresh PD fluid port ( 104 f ) positioned and arranged to introduce fresh PD fluid to the outer compartment ( 1060 ).

10 . The PD system ( 10 ) of claim 9 , wherein the filter set ( 100 ) includes a deflecting wall ( 106 w ) positioned and arranged to deflect fresh PD fluid from the fresh PD fluid port ( 104 f ) towards the outer compartment ( 1060 ).

11 . The PD system ( 10 ) of claim 8 , wherein the filter set ( 100 ) includes a cap ( 106 c ) cooperating with the filter membrane ( 120 ) to form the outer compartment ( 1060 ).

12 . The PD system ( 10 ) of claim 11 , wherein the cap ( 106 c ) includes at least one vent opening ( 106 v ) and at least one hydrophobic membrane ( 122 a , 122 b ) sealingly covering the at least one vent opening ( 106 v ).

13 . 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 ( 108 ) configured to connect to the patient's transfer set.

14 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the PD machine ( 20 ) includes a pressure sensor ( 28 b ) positioned and arranged to sense pressure of fresh PD fluid downstream from the filter membrane ( 120 ) during a patient fill.

15 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the PD machine ( 20 ) is configured to close a used PD fluid valve ( 26 b ) during a patient fill, urging filtered fresh PD fluid to flow to the port ( 106 p ) instead of along the used PD fluid tube ( 106 u ).

16 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the PD machine ( 20 ) is configured to close a fresh PD fluid valve ( 26 a ) during a patient drain, urging the used PD fluid to flow along the used PD fluid tube ( 106 u ) instead of into the filtered fluid compartment ( 106 f ).

17 . The PD system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the filter membrane ( 120 ) is a sterilizing grade filter membrane or a bacteria reduction filter membrane.

18 . A filter set ( 100 ) comprising:

a port ( 106 p );

a filtered fluid compartment ( 106 f ) including an outlet ( 106 t ) to the port ( 106 p );

a filter membrane ( 120 ) positioned and arranged such that fresh PD fluid flows through the filter membrane ( 120 ) into the filtered fluid compartment ( 106 f ); and

a used PD fluid tube ( 106 u ) in fluid communication with the port ( 106 p ), the used PD fluid tube ( 106 u ) positioned and arranged to carry used PD fluid past the filter membrane ( 120 ) without contacting the filter membrane ( 120 ).

19 . A method for priming a filter set ( 100 ) connected to a dual lumen patient line ( 50 ), wherein during treatment a tube ( 108 ) is located between the filter set ( 100 ) and a patient's transfer set ( 58 ), the method comprising:

delivering fresh peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) fluid through a fresh PD fluid lumen ( 52 ) of the dual lumen patient line ( 50 ) to the filter set ( 100 );

forcing fresh PD fluid through a filter membrane ( 120 ) of the filter set ( 100 ), so that the fresh PD fluid displaces air towards a used PD fluid lumen ( 54 ) of the dual lumen patient line ( 50 ); and

pulling used PD fluid from a patient, through the patient's transfer set ( 58 ), through the tube ( 108 ), through a used PD fluid portion of the filter set ( 100 ), and into the used PD fluid lumen ( 54 ) of the dual lumen patient line ( 50 ).