Peritoneal dialysis system having phase change material (“PCM”) heat exchange
View Patent ↗A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system includes a PD fluid pump, a PD fluid heater positioned and arranged to heat fresh PD fluid pumped by the PD fluid pump, and a phase change material (“PCM”) device positioned and arranged to receive fresh PD fluid heated by the PD fluid heater. The PCM device includes a PCM having a melting temperature selected so that the PCM solidifies when underheated fresh PD fluid contacts the PCM transferring heat to the underheated fresh PD fluid. Alternatively or additionally, the PD system may include a different PCM device having a PCM with a melting temperature selected so that the PCM melts when overheated fresh PD fluid contacts the PCM thereby removing heat from the overheated fresh PD fluid. A configuration for the PCM device is also disclosed.
1. A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system comprising:
a PD fluid pump;
a PD fluid heater positioned and arranged to heat fresh PD fluid pumped by the PD fluid pump; and
a phase change material (“PCM”) device positioned and arranged to receive the fresh PD fluid that is heated by the PD fluid heater, the PCM device including a PCM having a melting temperature selected so that the PCM solidifies when the fresh PD fluid is underheated and contacts the PCM, transferring heat to the underheated fresh PD fluid,
wherein the PCM device is further positioned to receive used PD fluid, the melting temperature of the PCM selected so that the PCM melts when the used PD fluid contacts the PCM, removing heat from the used PD fluid.
2. The PD system of claim 1 , wherein the PD fluid heater is an inline heater.
3. The PD system of claim 1 , wherein the melting temperature for the PCM is below 37° C.
4. The PD system of claim 1 , wherein the underheated fresh PD fluid is PD fluid having a temperature below the melting temperature.
5. The PD system of claim 1 , wherein the PCM is configured to further melt, prior to the underheated fresh PD fluid contacting the PCM, using one or more heating element provided with the PCM device.
6. The PD system of claim 1 , further comprising a bypass line enabling the used PD fluid to bypass the PD fluid heater.
7. The PD system of claim 1 , further comprising a dual lumen patient line, and wherein a PD machine housing the PD fluid pump, the PD fluid heater, and the PCM device further includes:
(i) a fresh PD fluid line for fluid communication with a fresh PD fluid lumen of the dual lumen patient line,
(ii) a used PD fluid line for fluid communication with a used PD fluid lumen of the dual lumen patient line, and
(iii) at least one valve positioned and arranged to selectively allow (a) the fresh PD fluid to flow through the PCM device, the fresh PD fluid line, and the fresh PD fluid lumen and (b) the used PD fluid to flow through the used PD fluid lumen, the used PD fluid line, and the PCM device.
8. The PD system of claim 1 , further comprising a single lumen patient line, and wherein a PD machine housing the PD fluid pump, the PD fluid heater, and the PCM device further includes a fresh and used PD fluid line for fluid communication with the single lumen patient line, the fresh and used PD fluid line positioned and arranged to accept the fresh PD fluid from the PCM device and deliver the used PD fluid to the PCM device.
9. The PD system of claim 1 , wherein the PCM device is a first PCM device, and which includes a second PCM device including a second PCM having a second melting temperature selected so that the second PCM melts when the fresh PD fluid is overheated and contacts the second PCM, removing heat from the overheated fresh PD fluid.
10. The PD system of claim 9 , wherein the second PCM device is located downstream from the first PCM device in a direction of flow of the fresh PD fluid.
11. The PD system of claim 9 , wherein the second melting temperature for the second PCM is 37° C. or higher.
12. The PD system of claim 1 , wherein the PCM device is positioned upstream of the PD fluid heater so as to receive the used PD fluid.
13. The PD system of claim 12 , wherein the melting temperature of the PCM is between 25° C. to 30° C.
14. A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system comprising:
a PD fluid pump;
a PD fluid heater positioned and arranged to heat fresh PD fluid pumped by the PD fluid pump; and
a phase change material (“PCM”) device positioned and arranged to receive the fresh PD fluid that is heated by the PD fluid heater, the PCM device including:
a PCM having a melting temperature selected so that the PCM solidifies when the fresh PD fluid is underheated and contacts the PCM, transferring heat to the underheated fresh PD fluid, and
a conductive wall configured to separate the PCM from heated priming fluid or used PD fluid,
wherein the PD system is configured to melt the PCM prior to the underheated fresh PD fluid contacting the PCM, the melting caused by flowing the heated priming fluid past the PCM or flowing the used PD fluid past the PCM.
15. The PD system of claim 14 , wherein the melting temperature for the PCM is below 37° C.
16. A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system comprising:
a PD fluid pump;
a PD fluid heater positioned and arranged to heat fresh PD fluid pumped by the PD fluid pump;
a phase change material (“PCM”) device positioned and arranged to receive the fresh PD fluid that is heated by the PD fluid heater, the PCM device including a PCM having a melting temperature selected so that the PCM solidifies when the fresh PD fluid is underheated and contacts the PCM, transferring heat to the underheated fresh PD fluid;
a dual lumen patient line;
a fresh PD fluid line for fluid communication with a fresh PD fluid lumen of the dual lumen patient line;
a used PD fluid line for fluid communication with a used PD fluid lumen of the dual lumen patient line; and
at least one valve positioned and arranged to selectively allow
(a) the fresh PD fluid to flow through the PCM device, the fresh PD fluid line, and the fresh PD fluid lumen, and
(b) the used PD fluid to flow through the used PD fluid lumen, the used PD fluid line, and the PCM device.
17. The PD system of claim 16 , wherein the melting temperature for the PCM is below 37° C.
18. A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system comprising:
a PD fluid pump;
a PD fluid heater positioned and arranged to heat fresh PD fluid pumped by the PD fluid pump;
a phase change material (“PCM”) device positioned and arranged to receive the fresh PD fluid that is heated by the PD fluid heater, the PCM device including a PCM having a melting temperature selected so that the PCM solidifies when the fresh PD fluid is underheated and contacts the PCM, transferring heat to the underheated fresh PD fluid;
a single lumen patient line; and
a fresh and used PD fluid line for fluid communication with the single lumen patient line, the fresh and used PD fluid line positioned and arranged to accept the fresh PD fluid from the PCM device and deliver used PD fluid to the PCM device.
19. A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system comprising:
a PD fluid pump;
a PD fluid heater positioned and arranged to heat fresh PD fluid pumped by the PD fluid pump;
a first phase change material (“PCM”) device positioned and arranged to receive the fresh PD fluid that is heated by the PD fluid heater, the first PCM device including a first PCM having a melting temperature selected so that the first PCM solidifies when the fresh PD fluid is underheated and contacts the first PCM, transferring heat to the underheated fresh PD fluid; and
a second PCM device including a second PCM having a second melting temperature selected so that the second PCM melts when the fresh PD fluid is overheated and contacts the second PCM, removing heat from the overheated fresh PD fluid.
20. The PD system of claim 19 , wherein the second PCM device is located downstream from the first PCM device in a direction of flow of the fresh PD fluid.
21. The PD system of claim 19 , wherein the second melting temperature for the second PCM is 37° C. or higher.
22. The PD system of claim 19 , wherein the melting temperature for the first PCM is below 37° C.