Peritoneal dialysis apparatus

Claim 1

An automatic peritoneal dialysis apparatus comprising a bulk supply container for dialysate, a bulk waste container, an adjustable head gravity feed container, controlled heating means around said gravity feed container, said heating means having a temperature sensing means actuating said heating means a fluid flow supply line between said gravity feed container and said bulk supply container, a peristaltic pump for pumping dialysate from said bulk supply container to said gravity feed container, means for sensing and controlling the amount of dialysate pumped to said gravity feed container, a first fluid flow line from said gravity feed container for association with a cannula placed in a patient, a second fluid flow line for association with said cannula and leading to said bulk waste container, a vacuum pump and control means for reducing the pressure in said bulk waste container thereby to assist the outflow of dialysate from a patient to said container, automatic means for weighing said bulk supply and bulk waste containers, and electronic and electromagnetic control means for causing said gravity feed container to deliver a predetermined amount of dialysate to a patient, and said weighing means of said bulk supply and bulk waste containers to monitor the inflow and outflow of dialysate and warn of excessive fluid retention or depletion by a patient, an inflow valve in said first fluid flow line, an outflow valve in said second fluid flow line, a dwell period timer having contacts connected to said outflow valve, an outflow timer having contacts connected to said outflow valve, an electronic and electromagnetic control circuit having at least one gate for permitting inflow of dialysate to a patient via said inflow valve when the level and temperature of dialysate in the gravity feed container are correct, means for sensing when the inflow to the patient is complete and initiating closing of said inflow valve and operation of said dwell period timer for opening said outflow valve to permit outflow from the patient and initiating operation of said outflow timer for causing said outflow timer contacts to close said outflow valve at the end of the predetermined outflow time.