Fluid delivery system with autoconnect features

A system for automatically connecting sterile tubing, the system comprising:

• a frame for mounting adjacent a cassette in a dialysis machine;
• a shuttle mounted within the frame, the shuttle comprising a tubing side and a cassette side, the shuttle configured for receiving tubing from a plurality of sterile containers of dialysis fluid, each container including a length of tubing and a cap;
• a shuttle driving system for translating the shuttle within the frame;
• a plurality of rotating fingers, each rotating finger configured for receiving and removing the cap from the length of tubing and configured for receiving and removing a cassette port cap, the rotating fingers mounted to the frame and adjacent the shuttle;
• a finger rotating system including a shaft configured for rotating the fingers in a plane parallel to a direction of travel of the shuttle;
• and
• a control system for operating the system for automatically connecting tubing,
• wherein the system for automatically connecting tubing is configured for receiving tubing of a plurality of containers of dialysis fluid, the fingers configured for receiving caps from the tubing and cassette port caps, and the control system configured to translate the shuttle, to rotate the fingers, and to advance ends of the tubing into an adjacent cassette, the cassette comprising at least two spikes for piercing sealing membranes of the tubing and making a sterile connection.

A system for automatically connecting tubing, the system comprising:

• a frame for mounting adjacent a dispensing machine;
• a shuttle mounted within the frame, the shuttle comprising a tubing side and a dispensing side, the shuttle configured for receiving tubing from a plurality of containers;
• a shuttle driving system for translating the shuttle within the frame;
• a plurality of rotating fingers, each rotating finger configured for receiving and removing a tubing cap and also configured for receiving and removing a dispensing machine port cap, the rotating fingers mounted to the frame and adjacent the shuttle;
• a finger rotating system including a shaft configured for rotating the fingers in a plane parallel to a direction of travel of the shuttle;
• and
• a control system for operating the system for automatically connecting tubing,
• wherein the system for automatically connecting tubing is configured for receiving tubing of a plurality of containers of liquid, the fingers configured for receiving tubing caps and dispensing machine port caps, and the control system is configured to translate the shuttle, to rotate the fingers, and to advance ends of the tubing into an adjacent dispensing machine, the dispensing machine comprising at least two spikes for piercing sealing membranes of the tubing.

A system for automatically connecting tubing, the system comprising:

• a frame for mounting adjacent a dispensing machine;
• a platform mounted within the frame, the platform comprising a tubing side and a dispensing side, the platform configured for receiving tubing from a plurality of containers;
• a plurality of moving mounts on the platform, each mount further comprising a driving system for advancing and retracting the mount;
• a plurality of rotating fingers, each rotating finger configured for receiving and removing a tubing cap and also configured for receiving and removing a dispensing machine port cap, the rotating fingers mounted to the frame and adjacent the platform;
• a finger rotating system including a shaft configured for rotating the fingers in a plane parallel to a direction of travel of the mounts;
• and
• a control system for operating the system for automatically connecting tubing,
• wherein the system for automatically connecting tubing is configured for receiving tubing from a plurality of containers of liquid, the fingers are configured for receiving tubing caps and dispensing machine port caps, and the control system is configured to translate the mounts individually, to rotate the fingers, and to advance ends of the tubing into an adjacent dispensing machine, the dispensing machine comprising at least two spikes for piercing sealing membranes of the tubing.

A method for connecting dialysis bags to a dialysis cassette, the method comprising:

• placing tubing from a dialysis bag into a shuttle of an autoconnect machine, the autoconnect machine comprising a frame, a shuttle and shuttle driving system mounted on the frame, a plurality of rotating fingers, each finger configured for receiving a cap from dialysis bag tubing, and a finger rotating system for rotating the fingers, and wherein the tubing fits into tubing runs atop the shuttle;
• placing the tubing cap into a first pocket of one of the rotating fingers of the autoconnect machine, causing the rotating finger with the tubing cap to rotate in a direction away from the shuttle and toward a disposable cassette on an opposite side of the rotating fingers;
• translating the shuttle a distance in a direction toward the disposable cassette, wherein translating the shuttle rotates or translates the rotating finger with the tubing cap, and causes only the rotating finger into which the tubing cap was placed to capture a port cap from a port of the disposable cassette in a second pocket of the rotating finger;
• translating the shuttle in a direction away from the cassette, removing the tubing cap from the dialysis bag and leaving the tubing cap in the first pocket;
• rotating the rotating fingers in a direction toward the shuttle, removing the port cap from the port of the dialysis cassette while retaining the port cap in the second pocket;
• and
• translating the shuttle toward the dialysis cassette and causing a spike in the port of the disposable cassette to pierce a sealing membrane in the tubing.

A method for connecting fluid containers, the method comprising:

• placing a connector from a fluid container into an autoconnect machine;
• placing a tubing cap from one of the fluid containers into a pocket of one of a plurality of fingers of the autoconnect machine, causing the finger to move or rotate in a direction toward a dispensing machine on a different side of the fingers;
• translating the tubing and the tubing cap a distance in a direction toward the dispensing machine, wherein translating rotates the plurality of fingers and causes only the finger into which the tubing cap was placed to capture a port cap from a port of the dispensing machine;
• translating the tubing in a direction away from the dispensing machine, removing the tubing cap from the tubing and leaving the tubing cap from the tubing in the pocket;
• rotating the fingers away from the dispensing machine and in a direction to remove the port cap from the port of the dispensing machine;
• and
• translating the tubing toward the dispensing machine and causing a spike in the port of the dispensing machine to pierce a sealing membrane in the tubing.