# US 11,305,043 B2 · Method for regulating a heating device for heating a fluid for a dialysis fluid circuity, control device and blood treatment apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,043 B2 - Document ID: US11305043B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/071,202 - Filed: 2017-01-27 - Published: 2021-06-10 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-29 - Assignees: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH - Applicants: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH - Inventors: Peter Klöffel; Helmuth Ender; Michael Schlereth; Christoph Bardorz; Walter Ehrenberger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305043B2 ## CPC - A61M 1/166: {Heating (for sterilisation A61M1/1686)} - A61M 1/1662: {with heat exchange between fresh and used dialysate} - A61M 1/1635: {with volume chamber balancing devices between used and fresh dialysis fluid} - A61M 1/1658: {Degasification} - A61M 1/1686: {by heat} - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - A61M 2205/3389: Continuous level detection (A61M2205/3393 takes precedence) - 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 present disclosure relates to a method and system for regulating and/or monitoring a heating device for heating a fluid, which has flowed in an in-flow section of a dialysis fluid circuit. The dialysis fluid circuit is part of a blood treatment apparatus, which comprises a container for receiving the fluid and a heating container for heating the fluid. The method encompasses the step of starting a heating process for heating the fluid in the heating container. The fluid is in fluid communication with the container when the filling level of the container reaches a pre-determined filling level value by means of direct or indirect flow from the inlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for regulating and/or for monitoring a heating device for heating a fluid that has flowed and/or is flowing, via an inlet, into an in-flow section of a dialysis fluid circuit, wherein the dialysis fluid circuit is part of a blood treatment apparatus, wherein the dialysis fluid circuit comprises a container for receiving the fluid, and a heating container for heating the fluid, the method comprising: determining a filling level of the fluid in the container; and in response to determining that the filling level of the fluid in the container has reached a pre-determined filling level value, starting a heating process for heating the fluid in the heating container, which is in fluid communication with the container by the inlet, wherein the heating process is started only when the filling level of the fluid in the container is determined to have reached the pre-determined filling level value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the heating process starts only when the filling level has reached the pre-determined filling level value at least two times. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the heating process for heating the fluid in the heating container starts after an inflow into the in-flow section and/or an outflow out of the container has been prevented. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the heating process for heating the fluid in the heating container starts after an inflow into the in-flow section and/or an outflow out of the container has been prevented. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the heating process for heating the fluid in the heating container starts only when or after a fluid flows out of a balancing chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reaching of the pre-determined filling level value in the container is determined by at least one of a mechanical filling level meter, a conductivity sensor, or an optical sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid from the inlet is stored in a fluid reservoir wherein the fluid flows from the reservoir into the heating container and flows out of the heating container into the container by overflowing out of the heating container. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is additionally heated by a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is perfused by dialysate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: monitoring the filling level in the container, wherein the heating process is paused or stopped when the filling level falls below the pre-determined filling level value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein starting the heating process for heating the fluid in the heating container comprises: reaching the pre-determined filling level value of the container over a period of time T1 before starting the heating process. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the pre-determined filling level value of the container is reached over the period of time in a recirculation mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the following steps is controlled or regulated by a control device: starting or terminating the heating process in the heating container; monitoring the filling level in the container; and opening and closing a check valve for filling a fluid reservoir and/or filling the container from the inlet.