# US 2010/0168652 A1 · Methods and apparatus for delivering peritoneal dialysis (pd) solution with a peristaltic pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0168652 A1 - Document ID: US20100168652A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/347,663 - Filed: 2008-12-31 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-31 - Assignees: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. - Inventors: Frank J. Landherr; Jay M. Lan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100168652A1 ## CPC - A61M 1/28: Peritoneal dialysis {; Other peritoneal treatment, e.g. oxygenation} - A61M 1/153: {the cassette being adapted for heating or cooling the treating fluid, e.g. the dialysate or the treating gas} - A61M 1/154: {with sensing means or components thereof} - A61M 1/155: {with treatment-fluid pumping means or components thereof} - A61M 1/156: {Constructional details of the cassette, e.g. specific details on material or shape} - A61M 1/1562: {Details of incorporated reservoirs} - A61M 1/1565: {Details of valves} - A61M 1/159: {specially adapted for peritoneal dialysis} - 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 In one aspect, the invention provides methods and apparatus for delivering peritoneal dialysis (PD) solution (or other fluids), from a supply to a patient. A first pump, in fluid coupling with the supply, delivers PD solution from the supply to a “mesne” (or intermediate) measuring element, and generates signals indicative of a volume of that delivered PD solution. The mesne measuring element, in fluid coupling with the first pump, generates signals indicative of a volume of PD solution received from that pump. A second pump, fluidly coupled to the mesne measuring element, routes PD solution from the mesne measuring element for delivery to the patient. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for delivering peritoneal dialysis (PD) solution from a supply to a patient, comprising A. a first pump, in fluid coupling with a supply of PD solution, that delivers PD solution from the supply to a mesne measuring element, the first pump generating signals indicative of a volume of that delivered PD solution, B. the mesne measuring element, in fluid coupling with the first pump, generating signals indicative of a volume of PD solution received from the first pump, and C. a second pump, fluidly coupled to the mesne measuring element, that routes PD solution from the mesne measuring element for delivery to the patient. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more processors in communications coupling with any of the first pump and the mesne measuring element, wherein the one or more processors determine a volume of PD solution as a function of the volume-indicative signals generated by any of the first pump and the mesne measuring element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second pump comprises a peristaltic pump. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first pump comprises a piezoelectric (“piezo”) pump. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the piezo pump comprises a plurality of piezoelectric elements, wherein at least one of those elements comprises a piezoelectric sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the piezoelectric sensor generates signals indicative of a volume of PD solution delivered by the piezo pump. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signals generated by the first pump have peak-to-peak amplitudes and/or timings that are a function of the volume of PD solution pumped from the chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a plurality of said first pumps, each in fluid coupling with the supply, and each that delivers PD solution from the supply to the mesne measuring element, the plurality of first pumps each generating signals indicative of a volume of PD solution delivered by that respective pump. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for delivering peritoneal dialysis (PD) solution from a supply to a patient, comprising A. a first pump, in fluid coupling with the supply, that delivers PD solution from the supply to a mesne measuring element, B. the mesne measuring element including a chamber that is in fluid coupling with the first pump and that receives PD solution from the first pump, the mesne measuring element generating signals indicative of a volume of that received solution, and C. a second pump, fluidly coupled to the mesne measuring element, that routes PD solution from the mesne measuring element for delivery to the patient. ### Claim 10 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mesne measuring element generates the volume-indicating signals based on a height of received PD solution in the chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the mesne measuring element comprises one or more illuminant sources that transmit one or more rays of illuminant through the chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein one or more of the rays transmitted by the illuminant source are coherent. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein one or more of the rays transmitted by the illuminant source are generated by laser light emitting diodes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the mesne measuring element comprising one or more image capture devices. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the mesne measuring element generates the volume-indicative signals as a function of a pattern of rays that are transmitted through the chamber and that are captured by the one or more image capture devices. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, comprising a processor that compares the pattern of rays captured by the one or more image capture devices with one or more patterns generated during a calibration phase. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, comprising a processor that compares the pattern of rays captured by the one or more image capture devices with one or more patterns generated when the chamber is empty of PD solution. ### Claim 18 An apparatus for delivering peritoneal dialysis (PD) solution from a supply to a patient, comprising A. a first pump, in fluid coupling with the supply, that delivers PD solution from the supply to a mesne measuring element, the first pump generating first volume-indicating signals indicative of a volume of that delivered PD solution, B. the mesne measuring element including a chamber that is in fluid coupling with the first pump and that receives PD solution from the first pump, the mesne measuring element generating second volume-indicating signals indicative of a volume of that received solution, and C. a peristaltic pump, fluidly coupled to the mesne measuring element, that routes PD solution from the mesne measuring element for delivery to the patient. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the peristaltic pump pulls the PD solution from the chamber of the mesne measuring element for delivery to the patient. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the peristaltic pump delivers the PD solution to the patient within a constant low-pressure range. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the low-pressure range is between 1.0 and 2.0 pounds-per-square-inch (psi). ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least one of i. the first pump comprises a chamber that is embodied in one or more cassettes, ii. the mesne measuring element comprises a chamber that is embodied in said one or more cassettes, iii. the peristaltic pump comprises a fluid-flow path embodied in said one or more cassettes. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18 comprising a pressure detection element, fluidly and/or electrically coupled to the second pump, that generates signals indicative of a pressure at which the second pump routes the PD solution for delivery to the patient. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20 comprising one or more fuzzy logic and/or processing elements to monitor and/or control operation of the first and second pumps.