System for the preparation of a fluid concentrate intended for medical use

Apparatus for the preparation of a concentrate solution from water and powder or powder concentrate comprising water supply means for supplying said water, dissolution means for dissolving said powder or powder concentrate in said water, said dissolution means comprising a container whereby said water supply means is adapted to supply said water to said container and at least a portion of said powder or powder concentrate can be dissolved in said water so as to provide said concentrate solution in said container, first withdrawal means for withdrawing said concentrate solution comprising a mixture of said water and said powder or powder concentrate from said container, recirculation means for recirculating said concentrate solution into said container for further dissolution of said water with said powder or powder concentrate, said recirculation means including at least one conduit for providing a recirculation path for said concentrate solution during said recirculation, cartridge means containing powder or powder concentrate connected to said at least one conduit, whereby during said recirculation, said concentrate solution passes through said cartridge means so that said powder or powder concentrate contained within said cartridge means can be dissolved in said recirculating concentrate solution to further concentrate said concentrate solution to a predetermined concentration, said recirculation means further including concentration determination means for determining the concentration of said concentrate solution and regulating the concentration thereof, and valve means connected to said at least one conduit, said valve means being operatively associated with said concentration determination means for selectively providing a flowpath for said concentrate solution recirculating in said at least one conduit to said cartridge means in response to said concentration determination means, second withdrawal means including a conduit for withdrawing said concentrate solution from said recirculation means when said concentrate solution reaches said predetermined concentration, secondary cartridge means containing additional powder or powder concentrate, said water supply means including secondary water conduit means for conducting said water to said secondary cartridge means, whereby said additional powder or powder concentrate contained within said secondary cartridge means can be dissolved in said water and a secondary concentrate solution produced therein, and secondary dissolution means for dissolving said secondary concentrate solution with said concentrate solution withdrawn from said recirculation means by said second withdrawal means so as to provide a combined concentrate solution.

Apparatus for the preparation of a concentrate solution from water and powder or powder concentrate comprising water supply means for supplying said water, cartridge means for retaining said powder or powder concentrate, dissolution means for dissolving said powder or powder concentrate with said water whereby said water supply means is adapted to supply said water to said cartridge means in order to dissolve at least a portion of said powder or powder concentrate and provide said concentrate solution in said cartridge means, and recirculation means for withdrawing said concentrate solution from said cartridge means and recirculating said concentrate solution through said cartridge means to further concentrate said concentrate solution to a predetermined concentration, said recirculation means including at least one conduit for providing a recirculation path for said concentrate solution during said recirculation, said at least one conduit being connected to said cartridge means so that said concentrate solution flows through said at least one conduit into said cartridge means, concentration determination means arranged in the flowpath defined by said at least one conduit for determining the concentration of said concentrate solution and regulating the concentration thereof until said predetermined concentration is obtained, and valve means connected to said at least one conduit, said valve means being operatively associated with said concentration determination means for selectively providing a flowpath for said concentrate solution to said cartridge means in response to said concentration determination means whereby said powder contained within said cartridge means is further dissolved in said concentrate solution.