# US 11,110,215 B2 · Degasser and vent manifolds for dialysis

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,110,215 B2
- Document ID: US11110215B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/192,979
- Filed: 2018-11-16
- Published: 2019-08-29
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2018-02-23
- Assignees: Medtronic, Inc.
- Applicants: Medtronic, Inc.
- Inventors: Carl Wilbert Gomes, II
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110215B2

## CPC

- A61M 1/1658: {Degasification}
- A61M 1/1605: {Physical characteristics of the dialysate fluid}
- A61M 1/1694: {with recirculating dialysing liquid}
- A61M 1/3437: {downstream of the filter, e.g. post-dilution with filtrate}
- A61M 1/165: {with a dialyser bypass on the dialysis fluid line}
- A61M 1/287: {Dialysates therefor}
- A61M 2205/12: with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
- A61M 2205/128: with incorporated valves
- A61M 2205/33: Controlling, regulating or measuring
- A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow
- A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers
- A61M 2205/7518: bacterial
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

The invention relates to a degasser manifold and a vent manifold for use with a degasser in a dialysis system. The degasser manifold and vent manifold include a plurality of fluid passageways that convey dialysate or gases into and out of the degasser. The degasser manifold and vent manifold can also include components such as valves and sensors for control over the degassing of dialysate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A degasser manifold, comprising:
a plurality of passageways fluidly connectable to one or more inlets and one or more outlets in a dialysis system;
the one or more inlets comprising a first inlet fluidly connectable to a first fluid line, the first fluid line fluidly connectable to a dialysate flow path, and a second inlet fluidly connectable to a second fluid line; the second fluid line fluidly connectable to an outlet of a degasser;
the one or more outlets comprising a first outlet fluidly connectable to an inlet of the degasser and a second outlet fluidly connectable to a third fluid line, the third fluid line fluidly connectable to the dialysate flow path downstream of the first fluid line.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The degasser manifold of claim 1, further comprising a second fluid passageway from the second inlet to the first fluid passageway.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The degasser manifold of claim 2, further comprising a pressure sensor in a fluid passageway between the first inlet and the first outlet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2)

The degasser manifold of claim 1, 2, or 3, further comprising a second fluid passageway from the first fluid passageway to the second outlet.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The degasser manifold of claim 1, the second fluid line comprising a first fluid pump.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The degasser manifold of claim 5, further comprising a controller; the controller controlling the first fluid pump and a dialysate pump to control a ratio of fluid passing to the first outlet and second outlet.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The degasser manifold of claim 6, the controller controlling the ratio of fluid passing to the first outlet and the second outlet based on a fluid pressure measured by the pressure sensor in the fluid passageway and a gas pressure in the degasser.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The degasser manifold of claim 6, the controller controlling the ratio of fluid passing to the first outlet and the second outlet by controlling a ratio of pump rates of the first fluid pump and the dialysate pump.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A method, using the degasser manifold of claim 1, and comprising the steps of:
a) pumping a dialysate from the dialysate flow path into the first inlet of the degasser manifold;
b) pumping a portion of the dialysate through at least one of the plurality of fluid passageways of the degasser manifold to the first outlet of the degasser manifold; wherein the first outlet of the degasser manifold is fluidly connected to the inlet of a degasser;
c) pumping a portion of the dialysate through a second fluid passageway of the degasser manifold to the second outlet of the degasser manifold; wherein the second outlet of the degasser manifold is fluidly connected to the dialysate flow path; and
d) pumping fluid from the outlet of the degasser into the second inlet of the degasser manifold; wherein the second inlet of the degasser manifold is fluidly connected to the fluid passageway.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of measuring a fluid pressure with a pressure sensor in at least one fluid passageway.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of controlling a ratio of fluid pumped to first outlet of the degasser manifold to fluid pumped to the second outlet of the degasser manifold based on the fluid pressure.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the step of controlling a ratio of fluid pumped to first outlet of the degasser manifold to fluid pumped to the second outlet of the degasser manifold comprising controlling a ratio of pump rates of a first pump positioned between an outlet of the degasser and the second inlet and a second pump positioned downstream of the second outlet.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of pumping gas from a gas outlet of the degasser to a first inlet of a vent manifold with a vacuum pump and from the first inlet of the vent manifold to a first outlet of the vent manifold.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9; further comprising the step of selectively operating a valve positioned between the first inlet of the vent manifold and the first outlet of the vent manifold to control a gas pressure in the degasser.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the step of selectively operating the valve is performed by a controller.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A system, comprising:
the degasser manifold of claim 1; and further comprising:
a vent manifold; the vent manifold comprising a plurality of passageways fluidly connectable to one or more inlets and one or more outlets in a dialysis system; the one or more inlets comprising a first inlet fluidly connectable to a first fluid line and a first passageway, the first fluid line fluidly connectable to a gas outlet of the degasser; at least a first valve fluidly connecting the first inlet to a first outlet; the first outlet fluidly connected to a vacuum pump.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, the vent manifold further comprising a second valve; the second valve fluidly connecting a second inlet of the vent manifold to the first inlet; the second inlet connected to a filter.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16, 17)

The system of claim 16 or 17, the vent manifold further comprising a second valve; the second valve fluidly connecting the first inlet to a second outlet; the second outlet fluidly connected to the dialysate flow path.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16, 17)

The system of any of claims 16-17, further comprising a controller, the controller controlling the first valve to maintain a desired pressure in the degasser.