Filter device for dialysis applications
The current invention relates to a peritoneal dialysis filter device, which comprises a housing comprising a first port and a second port, and a hollow fibre membrane formed from hollow hydrophilic fibres within the housing. When in use, a dialysate from a subject enters the filter device through the first port and exits via the second port in an outflow direction, and a regenerated dialysate from a sorbent system enters the filter device through the second port and exits via the first port in an inflow direction. Also disclosed herein is a peritoneal dialysis system comprising said filter device, a method for controlling dialysate flow in a peritoneal dialysis system, and a haemodialysis device.
1 . A device for use in peritoneal dialysis consisting of:
(i) a filter device; and
(ii) a post-filtration system,
wherein the filter device comprises:
a housing comprising a first port and a second port; and
a hollow fibre membrane formed from hollow hydrophilic fibres within the housing, where each of the fibres have an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein
the hollow hydrophilic fibres comprise a porous wall matrix; and
the inner surface of the hollow hydrophilic fibres are aligned co-axially with respect to the alignment of the first port and the outer surface of the hollow fibres is aligned perpendicularly with respect to the alignment of the second port, such that, when used:
a dialysate from a subject enters the filter device through the first port is filtered through the porous wall matrix, and the filtered dialysate exits via the second port in an outflow direction; and
a regenerated dialysate from a sorbent system enters the filter device through the second port, passes through the porous wall matrix, and exits via the first port in an inflow direction,
and wherein the post-filtration system consists of:
(a) a switch;
(b) a post-filtration sorbent compartment; and
(c) fluid connections connecting the post-filtration sorbent compartment, the switch and the first port of the housing,
wherein the post-filtration system and filter device together form:
a first fluid pathway consisting of the first port of the housing, the switch and a fluid connection therebetween; and
a second fluid pathway consisting of the first port of the housing, the switch, the post-filtration sorbent compartment, and a fluid connection therebetween;
where the switch is suitable for selecting between the first and second fluid pathways,
where the first and second fluid pathways are both fluidly connected to the first port of the housing via the switch,
where the post-filtration sorbent compartment comprises a post-filtration sorbent that is suitable for removing one or more of water-soluble uremic toxins, protein-bound uremic toxins, low-molecular weight proteins, endotoxins, exotoxins, inflammatory mediators and microorganisms.
2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein first fluid pathway is connectable to the subject's peritoneum via the switch; and
the second fluid pathway is connectable to the subject's peritoneum via the post-filtration sorbent compartment.
3 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising,
a sorbent device,
wherein
the filter device is arranged to receive and filter the entirety of dialysate from the subject and to provide the filtered dialysate to the sorbent device when operated in an outflow direction; and
the filter device is arranged to receive at least part of the regenerated dialysate from the sorbent device when operated in an inflow direction.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the device further comprises a bypass means or apparatus, which comprises:
a bypass fluid pathway connected to the sorbent device and arranged to return a regenerated dialysate to the subject without passing through the filter device; and
a switching means or apparatus that selects between sending a regenerated dialysate to the filter device or to the bypass fluid pathway.