# US 12,214,112 B2 · Method for checking the conveying accuracy of conveying devices of a medical treatment apparatus, and apparatuses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,112 B2 - Document ID: US12214112B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/424,717 - Filed: 2020-01-23 - Published: 2022-01-13 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-25 - Assignees: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH - Applicants: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH - Inventors: Joachim Noack - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214112B2 ## CPC - A61M 1/1605: {Physical characteristics of the dialysate fluid} - A61M 1/341: {by measuring the filtrate rate or volume} - A61M 1/367: {Circuit parts not covered by the preceding subgroups of group A61M1/3621} - A61M 1/1656: {Apparatus for preparing dialysates} - A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow - A61M 2205/702: automatically during use - 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 invention relates to a method for checking the conveying accuracy of conveying devices of a blood treatment apparatus. It further relates to a blood treatment apparatus with a control device and/or closed-loop control device, through which the method is effected, a digital storage medium, a computer program product, and a computer program. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for checking or monitoring conveying or conveyance accuracy of conveying devices of a group of conveying devices, the group consisting of: a first conveying device, a second conveying device, and a third conveying device of a blood treatment apparatus for the extracorporeal blood treatment, the method comprising: a) providing a completely liquid-filled receptacle which is in fluid communication with every conveying device of the group of conveying devices; b) setting a predetermined initial pressure in the receptacle or measuring the pressure prevailing therein by a first pressure measurement and defining the measured pressure as an initial pressure, wherein the initial pressure corresponds to the receptacle being completely liquid-filled; c) actuating one conveying device of the group of conveying devices such that the one conveying device accomplishes a target conveying activity required with respect to the one conveying device in order to convey a predetermined liquid volume out of the receptacle; and d) measuring, in a second pressure measurement, the pressure prevailing in the receptacle after the target conveying activity of the one conveying device has been completed, wherein the second pressure measurement is an end pressure, wherein: the sequence of steps a) to d) is carried out successively for each conveying device of the group of conveying devices, wherein the predetermined initial pressure is the same for each sequence of steps performed by each of the conveying devices of the group of conveying devices, for conveying by the first conveying device a first end pressure is determined, a first pressure difference between the initial pressure and the first end pressure is determined, and/or a first compliance is determined, the first compliance being a ratio of a change of liquid volume in the container caused by the first conveying device and the first pressure difference, for conveying by the second conveying device a second end pressure is determined and a second pressure difference between the initial pressure and the second end pressure is determined and/or a second compliance is determined, the second compliance being a ratio of a change of liquid volume in the container caused by the second conveying device and the second pressure difference, and for conveying by the third conveying device a third end pressure is determined, a third pressure difference between the initial pressure and the third end pressure, and/or a third compliance is determined, the third compliance being a ratio of a change of liquid volume in the container caused by the third conveying device and the second pressure difference; and the method further comprises: in response to determining that (i) at least one of the first end pressure, the second end pressure or the third end pressure falls outside a first predetermined range or value, (ii) at least one of the first pressure difference, the second pressure difference or the third pressure difference falls outside a second predetermined range or value, or (iii) at least one of the first compliance, the second compliance or the third compliance falls outside a third predetermined range or value: (i) emitting an acoustic and/or optical alarm, or (ii) stopping or preventing the extracorporeal blood treatment from being carried out by the blood treatment apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein determining that (i) at least one of the first end pressure, the second end pressure or the third end pressure falls outside a first predetermined range or value, (ii) at least one of the first pressure difference, the second pressure difference or the third pressure difference falls outside a second predetermined range or value, or (iii) at least one of the first compliance, the second compliance or the third compliance falls outside a third predetermined range or value is carried out while obtaining a measure for the deviation of the actual conveying activity of the first, second and/or third conveying device from the respectively requested target conveying activity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising comparing the first, second and third end pressure, or the first, second and third pressure difference, or the first, second and third compliance, with each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein actuating at least one conveying device of the group of conveying devices takes place at a first operating point related to the at least one conveying device, and wherein actuating at least one other conveying device from the group of conveying devices takes place at a second operating point related to the at least one other conveying device, wherein the first operating point and the second operating point differ from each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein falling outside the predetermined range or value comprises leaving predetermined thresholds, falling below a lower limit of the predetermined range, exceeding an upper limit of the predetermined range, leaving an acceptable value range, and/or exceeding a predetermined value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising an additional step of automatically providing a correction factor for the target conveying activity for at least one of the conveying devices of the group of conveying devices. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein actuating a conveying device comprises: specifying the target conveying activity for at least one of the conveying devices by specifying at least a number of steps and/or a step angle, and/or specifying the target conveying activity for at least one of the conveying devices by specifying at least a number of pump strokes, and/or specifying the target conveying activity for at least one of the conveying devices by specifying a conveying duration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises or consists of at least a first concentrate supply container and/or a second concentrate supply container and/or sections of a waste water branch of a balancing system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a section within a liquid line of a dialysis liquid system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one conveying device of the group of conveying devices is embodied as an ultrafiltration pump, bicarbonate pump and/or a natrium pump. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one conveying device of the group of conveying devices is a positive displacement pump, wherein the displacement pump is one of: a membrane pump, eccentric membrane pump, hose pump, roller pump, gear pump or piston pump. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A control device or a closed-loop control device, configured in order to prompt or execute the method according to claim 1 in interaction with a blood treatment apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A digital storage medium with electronically readable control signals, configured for configuring a control and/or closed-loop control device to a control and/or closed-loop control device by which the method may be prompted according to claim 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A computer product with a program code saved on a machine-readable carrier for configuring a control and/or closed-loop control device to a control and/or closed-loop control device by which the method may be prompted according to claim 1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A computer program with a program code for configuring a control and/or closed-loop control device to a control and/or closed-loop control device by which the method may be prompted according to claim 1. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A blood treatment apparatus comprising: a dialysis liquid system comprising a receptacle for containing liquid; a pressure measuring device for measuring a pressure prevailing in the receptacle; an evaluation unit configured for evaluating end pressures, pressure differences and/or compliances; a group of conveying devices which consists of: a first conveying device, a second conveying device and a third conveying device, wherein each of the conveying devices of the group of conveying devices is in fluid communication with the receptacle; and a control device or a closed-loop control device according to claim 12 and configured for prompting execution of a method for checking conveying activity of the first conveying device, of the second conveying device and of the third conveying device, the method comprising: setting a predetermined initial pressure in the receptacle while the receptacle is closed and completely liquid-filled, or measuring a pressure prevailing therein by a first pressure measurement and defining the measured pressure as an initial pressure, wherein the initial pressure corresponds to the receptacle being completely liquid-filled; actuating one conveying device of the group of conveying devices such that it accomplishes a target conveying activity required with respect to the one conveying device in order to convey a predetermined liquid volume out of the receptacle; and measuring, in a second pressure measurement, the pressure prevailing in the receptacle after the conveying activity of the one conveying device has been completed, wherein the measured pressure is an end pressure, wherein: the setting, the actuating, and the measuring is carried out successively for each conveying device of the group of conveying devices, wherein the predetermined initial pressure is the same for each sequence of steps performed by each of the conveying devices of the group of conveying devices, for conveying by the first conveying device a first end pressure is determined, a first pressure difference between the initial pressure and the first end pressure is determined, and/or a first compliance is determined, the first compliance being a ratio of a change of liquid volume in the container caused by the first conveying device and the first pressure difference, for conveying by the second conveying device a second end pressure is determined and a second pressure difference between the initial pressure and the second end pressure is determined and/or a second compliance is determined, the second compliance being a ratio of a change of liquid volume in the container caused by the second conveying device and the second pressure difference, and for conveying by the third conveying device a third end pressure is determined, a third pressure difference between the initial pressure and the third end pressure, and/or a third compliance is determined, the third compliance being a ratio of a change of liquid volume in the container caused by the third conveying device and the second pressure difference; and the method further comprises: in response to determining that (i) at least one of the first end pressure, the second end pressure or the third end pressure falls outside a first predetermined range or value, (ii) at least one of the first pressure difference, the second pressure difference or the third pressure difference falls outside a second predetermined range or value, or (iii) at least one of the first compliance, the second compliance or the third compliance falls outside a third predetermined range or value: (i) emitting an acoustic and/or optical alarm, or (ii) stopping or preventing the extracorporeal blood treatment from being carried out by the blood treatment apparatus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The blood treatment apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the evaluation unit is configured such that the determination that (i) at least one of the first end pressure, the second end pressure or the third end pressure falls outside a first predetermined range or value, (ii) at least one of the first pressure difference, the second pressure difference or the third pressure difference falls outside a second predetermined range or value, or (iii) at least one of the first compliance, the second compliance or the third compliance falls outside a third predetermined range or value is carried out while obtaining a measure for the deviation of an actual conveying activity of the first, second and/or third conveying device from the controlled target conveying activity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The blood treatment apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the evaluation unit is further configured to compare (1) the first end pressure, second end pressure, and the third end pressure with each other, or (2) the first pressure difference, second pressure difference, and the third pressure difference, or (3) the first compliance, the second compliance, and the third compliance with each other. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The blood treatment apparatus according to claim 16, wherein actuating at least one conveying device of the group of conveying devices takes place at a first operating point related to the at least one conveying device, and wherein actuating at least one other conveying device from the group of conveying devices takes place at a second operating point related to the at least one other conveying device, wherein the first operating point and the second operating point differ from each other. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The blood treatment apparatus according to claim 16, wherein falling outside the predetermined range or value comprises leaving predetermined thresholds, falling below a lower limit of the predetermined range, exceeding an upper limit of the predetermined range, leaving an acceptable value range, or exceeding a predetermined value. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The blood treatment apparatus according to claim 16, further configured for automatically providing a correction factor for the target conveying activity for at least one of the conveying devices from the group of conveying devices. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The blood treatment apparatus according to claim 16, wherein actuating a conveying device comprises: specifying the target conveying activity for at least one of the conveying devices by specifying at least a number of steps and/or a step angle, and/or, predetermining the target conveying activity for at least one of the conveying devices by specifying at least a number of strokes, and/or, predetermining the target conveying activity for at least one of the conveying devices by specifying a conveying duration. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The blood treatment apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the receptacle comprises or consists of at least a first concentrate supply container and/or a second concentrate supply container and/or sections of a water branch of a balancing system. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The blood treatment apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the receptacle is or encompasses a section in a liquid line of a dialysis liquid system. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The blood treatment apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least one conveying device of the group of conveying devices is embodied as an ultrafiltration pump, a bicarbonate pump and/or a natrium pump. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The blood treatment apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least one conveying device of the group of conveying devices is a positive displacement pump, wherein the displacement pump is a membrane pump, eccentric membrane pump, hose pump, roller pump, gear pump or a piston pump.