Sorbent reactor for extracorporeal blood treatment systems, peritoneal dialysis systems, and other body fluid treatment systems

A body fluid treatment system comprising:

• a first circuit for circulating a body fluid of a patient,
• a second conduit including a treatment fluid flowing through a first conduit to a sorbent reactor, and a second conduit leading from the reactor;
• and
• a separation membrane separating the first circuit from the second circuit, said membrane selected to allow a component of the body fluid to transfer therethrough to the second circuit;
• wherein the sorbent reactor includes a housing including a first endwall portion, an opposite second endwall portion and cylindrical sidewall therebetween and defining an interior chamber configured to contain the treatment fluid, a filter disposed in the interior chamber and partitioning the interior chamber into a first region and a second region, a sorbent suspension disposed in the first region, a first partition positioned in the inner region adjacent the first endwall portion to define a first shunt chamber between the first partition and the first endwall portion, a second partition positioned in the inner region adjacent the second endwall portion to define a second shunt chamber between the second partition and the second endwall portion and a rotor rotatably positioned in the first region;
• wherein the first conduit is positioned to pass the treatment fluid into the first region;
• and
• wherein the second conduit is positioned to pass the treatment fluid, after passage of the treatment fluid through the filter, from the second region.

A method for the extracorporeal treatment of a body fluid or a portion thereof, comprising:

• conveying a body fluid or a portion thereof to a separation device;
• separating one or more body fluid components from the body fluid or the portion into a treatment fluid;
• passing the treatment fluid through a sorbent reactor to treat the treatment fluid;
• and
• reintroducing the components into the body fluid;
• wherein the sorbent reactor includes a housing including a first endwall portion, an opposite second endwall portion and cylindrical sidewall therebetween and defining an interior chamber, a filter disposed in the interior chamber and partitioning the interior chamber into a first region and a second region, a sorbent suspension disposed in the first region, a first partition positioned in the inner region adjacent the first endwall portion to define a first shunt chamber between the first partition and the first endwall portion, a second partition positioned in the inner region adjacent the second endwall portion to define a second shunt chamber between the second partition and the second endwall portion and a rotor rotatably positioned in the first region;
• wherein the treatment fluid passes into the sorbent reactor through an inlet configured to pass the treatment fluid into the first region;
• and
• wherein the treatment fluid passes out of the sorbent reactor through an outlet configured to pass the treatment fluid, after passage of the treatment fluid through the filter, out of the second region.

An apparatus for passing a treatment fluid in contact with a sorbent suspension to condition the treatment fluid, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing including a first endwall portion, an opposite second endwall portion and cylindrical perforated sidewall therebetween and defining an interior chamber configured to contain a liquid, said housing having an inlet and an outlet;
• a filter disposed within said housing and partitioning said interior chamber into an inner region and an outer region;
• a sorbent suspension and a treatment fluid contained within said inner region;
• a first partition positioned in the inner region adjacent the first endwall portion to define a first shunt chamber between the first partition and the first endwall portion;
• a second partition positioned in the inner region adjacent the second endwall portion to define a second shunt chamber between the second partition and the second endwall portion;
• and
• a rotor rotatably mounted in said inner region, said rotor configured to mix the sorbent suspension and the treatment fluid and effective to apply a shear force parallel to the filter;
• wherein said inlet is positioned to pass the treatment fluid into the inner region;
• wherein said outlet is positioned to pass the treatment fluid out of the outer region after passage of the treatment fluid through said filter;
• wherein the treatment fluid is physiologically acceptable and compatible with blood;
• and
• wherein the filter features pore sizes of from about 0.1 microns to about 2 microns.

A peritoneal dialysis system, comprising:

• a treatment fluid circuit including a first conduit for passing treatment fluid to a patient's peritoneal cavity and a second conduit for passing treatment fluid out of the patient's peritoneal cavity;
• and
• a sorbent reactor for treating the treatment fluid, the sorbent reactor including an inlet line in fluid communication with the second conduit and an outlet line in fluid communication with the first conduit;
• wherein the sorbent reactor includes a housing including a first endwall portion, an opposite second endwall portion and cylindrical sidewall therebetween and defining an interior chamber, a filter disposed in the interior chamber and partitioning the interior chamber into a first region and a second region, a sorbent suspension disposed in the first region, a first partition positioned in the inner region adjacent the first endwall portion to define a first shunt chamber between the first partition and the first endwall portion, a second partition positioned in the inner region adjacent the second endwall portion to define a second shunt chamber between the second partition and the second endwall portion, and a rotor rotatably positioned in the interior chamber;
• wherein the inlet is configured to pass the treatment fluid into the first region;
• and
• wherein the outlet is configured to pass the treatment fluid, after passage of the treatment fluid through the filter, from the second region to the first conduit.

A method for performing peritoneal dialysis, comprising:

• introducing a treatment fluid into a patient's peritoneal cavity;
• recovering the treatment fluid from the peritoneal cavity;
• after said recovering, passing the treatment fluid through a sorbent reactor;
• and
• after said passing, reintroducing the treatment fluid into the peritoneal cavity;
• wherein the sorbent reactor includes a housing including a first endwall portion, an opposite second endwall portion and cylindrical sidewall therebetween and defining an interior chamber, a filter disposed in the interior chamber and partitioning the interior chamber into a first region and a second region, a sorbent suspension disposed in the first region, a first partition positioned in the inner region adjacent the first endwall portion to define a first shunt chamber between the first partition and the first endwall portion, a second partition positioned in the inner region adjacent the second endwall portion to define a second shunt chamber between the second partition and the second endwall portion, and a rotor rotatably positioned in the interior chamber;
• wherein the treatment fluid passes into the sorbent reactor through an inlet configured to pass the treatment fluid into the first region;
• and
• wherein the treatment fluid passes out of the sorbent reactor through an outlet configured to pass the treatment fluid, after passage of the treatment fluid through the filter, out of the second region.

An apparatus for passing a treatment fluid in contact with a sorbent suspension to condition the treatment fluid, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing including a first endwall portion, an opposite second endwall portion and cylindrical sidewall therebetween and defining an interior chamber configured to contain a liquid, said housing having an inlet and an outlet;
• a filter disposed within said housing and partitioning said interior chamber into an inner region and an outer region;
• a sorbent suspension contained within said inner region;
• a first partition positioned in the inner region adjacent the first endwall portion to define a first shunt chamber between the first partition and the first endwall portion,
• a second partition positioned in the inner region adjacent the second endwall portion to define a second shunt chamber between the second partition and the second endwall portion, and
• a rotor rotatably mounted in said inner region, said rotor configured to urge the sorbent suspension through the first and second shunt chambers;
• wherein said inlet is positioned to pass the treatment fluid into the inner region;
• and
• wherein said outlet is positioned to pass the treatment fluid out of the outer region after passage of the treatment fluid through said filter.