Methods of reducing fill time by preheating the solution using an inline heater

A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) method for preheating a PD fluid, the method comprising:

• sensing a temperature, via a temperature sensor controlled by a control unit of a PD machine, of fresh PD fluid in a container;
• determining, via the control unit, whether the sensed temperature is below a pre-determined threshold;
• causing a PD fluid pump of the PD machine, via the control unit, to pump the fresh PD fluid from the container through an inline heater and back when the sensed temperature is below the pre-determined threshold;
• and
• continuing to cause the PD fluid pump, via the control unit, to pump the fresh PD fluid from the container through the inline heater and back until the sensed temperature is above the pre-determined threshold.

A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system comprising:

• a housing;
• a PD fluid pump housed by the housing;
• a first container comprising a fresh PD fluid;
• a second container;
• an inline heater positioned and arranged to heat the fresh PD fluid;
• a fluid line in fluid communication with the first container, the inline heater, the PD fluid pump, and the second container;
• a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the fresh PD fluid;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the PD fluid pump, the control unit further configured to:
• receive a sensed temperature of the fresh PD fluid from the temperature sensor during a dwell phase or a priming phase of peritoneal dialysis treatment,
• determine whether the sensed temperature is below a pre-determined threshold, and
• cause the pump to pump the fresh PD fluid from the first container, through the fluid line, and through the inline heater when the sensed temperature is below the pre-determined threshold.