# US 12,109,344 B2 · Implantable fluid conduit system

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- Number: US 12,109,344 B2
- Document ID: US12109344B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/365,568
- Filed: 2021-07-01
- Published: 2021-10-21
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-10-14
- Assignees: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
- Applicants: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
- Inventors: Claudy J. Mullon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109344B2

## CPC

- A61M 1/1678: {intracorporal (peritoneal dialysis A61M1/28)}
- A61L 31/06: obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds {(A61L31/041 takes precedence)}
- A61L 31/146: {Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges}
- A61L 31/16: Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L31/047 takes precedence)}
- A61M 1/1627: {Dialyser of the inside perfusion type, i.e. blood flow inside hollow membrane fibres or tubes}
- A61M 1/34: Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration
- B01D 63/061: {Manufacturing thereof}
- B01D 69/02: characterised by their properties
- B01D 69/04: Tubular membranes
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- A61M 1/342: {Adding solutions to the blood, e.g. substitution solutions (for preventing coagulation A61M1/3672)}
- A61M 1/3427: {back through the membrane, e.g. by inverted trans-membrane pressure [TMP]}
- A61M 1/3673: {Anticoagulant coating, e.g. Heparin coating}
- A61M 2205/3337: Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
- A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
- A61M 2209/088: on the body
- A61M 2210/1085: Bladder
- B01D 61/18: Apparatus therefor
- B01D 2323/39: Electrospinning
- B01D 2325/08: Patterned membranes
- 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)}
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING

## Abstract

A fluid conduit includes a first portion having a first porosity, a second portion disposed immediately adjacent to the first portion, the second portion having a second porosity that is greater than the first porosity, and a third portion of the fluid conduit disposed immediately adjacent to the second portion, the third portion having a third porosity that is less than the second porosity. Each of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion may be integrally formed as a single, continuous piece defining the fluid conduit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system, comprising:
a drain structurally configured for connection to a bladder of a patient;
a fluid conduit structurally configured for connection with a vascular system of the patient and for fluid communication with the drain, the fluid conduit comprising:
a first portion having a first porosity;
a second portion disposed immediately adjacent to the first portion, the second portion having a second porosity that is greater than the first porosity, wherein the second porosity is configured to permit a predetermined filtrate transport through the second portion and into the drain; and
a third portion disposed immediately adjacent to the second portion, the third portion having a third porosity that is less than the second porosity, wherein each of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are integrally formed as a single, continuous piece defining the fluid conduit; and
a pump configured to control a flow of filtrate from the fluid conduit through the drain.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein the fluid conduit is at least partially contained within the housing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the drain is in fluid communication with the housing such that the predetermined filtrate transport through the second portion is configured to flow into the housing and into the drain.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the pump is structurally configured for implantation within the patient.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the pump is powered by a battery.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the battery is configured for charging through skin of the patient.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the pump is further configured for removal of fluid from an abdominal cavity of the patient.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the pump is controllable to adjust one or more of a pressure gradient and an ultrafiltration flow rate in the system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to provide an ultrafiltration volume of at least 1.5 liters per 24 hours.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to provide an ultrafiltration volume of up to and including 3 liters per 24 hours.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to provide a mean ultrafiltration rate of at least 1 milliliter per minute.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to provide a mean ultrafiltration rate of up to and including 2.1 milliliters per minute.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a valve configured to further control the flow of filtrate from the fluid conduit through the drain.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first portion and the third portion of the fluid conduit is sized and shaped for anastomosis with a blood vessel of the patient.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second porosity has a molecular weight cutoff below 70 kilodaltons (kDa).

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein an internal diameter of the fluid conduit is about 6 millimeters.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid conduit is formed during an electrospinning process.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a material used to form the fluid conduit includes a therapeutic agent.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid conduit lacks interfaces between the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the drain includes a catheter for connecting to the bladder of the patient.