Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of continuous, ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, which comprises the step of establishing a substantially constant presence of dialysate fluid within the peritoneum of a patient at all times over an extended period of time using apparatus comprising: an in-dwelling catheter adapted to be surgically implanted in the peritoneal cavity of a patient and having a supply tubefor extending through the abdominal wall of the patient; and a bag adapted to be interconnected with the supply tube and carried by the patient during dialysis for dispensing dialysate fluid through the supply tube to the peritoneal cavity of the patient and for receiving spent dialysate drained from the peritoneal cavity of the patient.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of continuous, ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, which comprises the step of establishing a substantially constant presence of dialysate fluid within the peritoneum of a patient at all times over an extended period of time using apparatus comprising: an in-dwelling catheter adapted to be surgically implanted in the peritoneal cavity of a patient and having a supply tubefor extending through the abdominal wall of the patient; and a bag adapted to be interconnected with the supply tube and carried by the patient during dialysis for dispensing dialysate fluid through the supply tube to the peritoneal cavity of the patient and for receiving spent dialysate drained from the peritoneal cavity of the patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 using apparatus which further comprises: a quick disconnect coupling attached to the end of the supply tube; and a coupling attachment on the bag for interconnection with the coupling on the end of the supply tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 using apparatus which further comprises: a coupling attached to the end of the supply tube; and a cap for attachment to the coupling on the end of the supply tube to seal the end thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 using apparatus which further comprises a wearable microbiological filter interposed between the catheter and the bag for preventing the introduction of bacteria to the peritoneum.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis of a patient, the patient being unattached to automatic cycling dialysis apparatus, comprising the steps of: infusing dialysate fluid into the patient's peritoneal cavity; allowing the dialysate fluid to remain within the patient's pertioneal cavity for a residence period time during which the patient remains ambulatory and unattached to a dialysis fluid supply that is in a fixed location; draining the dialysate fluid from the patient's peritoneal cavity after the time period; and immediately repeating the aforesaid steps, the steps being repeated several times per day, every day, at intervals corresponding to the residence time period, so as to maintain a substantially constant presence of dialysate fluid within the patient at all times.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis of a patient, the patient being unattached to automatic cycling dialysis apparatus, comprising the steps of: infusing dialysate fluid into the patient's peritoneal cavity; allowing the dialysate fluid to remain within the patient's pertioneal cavity for a residence period time during which the patient remains ambulatory and unattached to a dialysis fluid supply that is in a fixed location; draining the dialysate fluid from the patient's peritoneal cavity after the time period; and immediately repeating the aforesaid steps, the steps being repeated several times per day, every day, at intervals corresponding to the residence time period, so as to maintain a substantially constant presence of dialysate fluid within the patient at all times.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the residence time period is at least four hours and the aforesaid steps are repeated at least three times in each twenty-four hour period.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis of a patient unattached to automatic cycling dialysis apparatus, as maintenance treatment for chronic end-stage renal disease, comprising the steps of: infusing dialysate fluid into the patient's peritoneal cavity; allowing the dialysate fluid to remain in the patient's peritoneal cavity for a dwell time during which the patient is ambulatory and unattached to a dialysis fluid supply that is in a fixed location; exchanging fresh dialysate fluid for spent dialysate fluid after the residence period of time by draining the spent dialysate fluid from the patient's peritoneal cavity and immediately infusing fresh dialysate fluid into the patient's peritoneal cavity; repeating the exchange of dialysate fluid several times per day at intervals corresponding to the residence period of time such that a substantially constant presence of dialysis fluid is maintained and dialysis is occurring essentially continuous for twenty-four hours per day, every day, except for drainage and infusion times.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis of a patient unattached to automatic cycling dialysis apparatus, as maintenance treatment for chronic end-stage renal disease, comprising the steps of: infusing dialysate fluid into the patient's peritoneal cavity; allowing the dialysate fluid to remain in the patient's peritoneal cavity for a dwell time during which the patient is ambulatory and unattached to a dialysis fluid supply that is in a fixed location; exchanging fresh dialysate fluid for spent dialysate fluid after the residence period of time by draining the spent dialysate fluid from the patient's peritoneal cavity and immediately infusing fresh dialysate fluid into the patient's peritoneal cavity; repeating the exchange of dialysate fluid several times per day at intervals corresponding to the residence period of time such that a substantially constant presence of dialysis fluid is maintained and dialysis is occurring essentially continuous for twenty-four hours per day, every day, except for drainage and infusion times.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the mean dwell time is at least four hours.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis of a patient, the patient being unattached to automatic cycling dialysis apparatus, as maintenance treatment for chronic end-stage renal disease to reduce uremic toxicity, and in which nitrogen waste product removal and production are balanced at a low level of plasma urea concentration, comprising the steps of: infusing dialysate fluid into the patient's peritoneal cavity; exchanging the dialysate fluid after a mean dwell time period during which the patient is ambulatory and remains unattached to a dialysis fluid supply that is in a fixed location; repeating the step of exchanging dialysate fluid several times per day to maintain a substantially constant presence of dialysate fluid, so that dialysis is occurring essentially twenty-four hours per day, every day, except for drainage and infusion times, and is continuous.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis of a patient, the patient being unattached to automatic cycling dialysis apparatus, as maintenance treatment for chronic end-stage renal disease to reduce uremic toxicity, and in which nitrogen waste product removal and production are balanced at a low level of plasma urea concentration, comprising the steps of: infusing dialysate fluid into the patient's peritoneal cavity; exchanging the dialysate fluid after a mean dwell time period during which the patient is ambulatory and remains unattached to a dialysis fluid supply that is in a fixed location; repeating the step of exchanging dialysate fluid several times per day to maintain a substantially constant presence of dialysate fluid, so that dialysis is occurring essentially twenty-four hours per day, every day, except for drainage and infusion times, and is continuous.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis of a patient, the patient being unattached to automatic cycling dialysis apparatus and having an implanted catheter that leads to the peritoneal cavity, comprising the steps of: attaching to the catheter a small plastic bag containing about two liters of dialysate fluid; infusing the contents of the bag into the patient's peritoneal cavity; allowing the dialysate fluid to remain in the patient's peritoneal cavity for a mean dwell time of at least four hours, during which time the patient is ambulatory and remains unattached to a dialysis fluid supply that is in a fixed location; draining the dialysate fluid from the patient's peritoneal cavity and disconnecting the plastic bag from the catheter; and repeating the aforesaid steps at least three times per day, every day, at intervals of at least four hours to maintain a substantially constant presence of dialysate fluid in the patient's peritoneal cavity, so that dialysis is occurring essentially twenty-four hours per day, every day, except for drainage and infusion times, and is continuous.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis of a patient, the patient being unattached to automatic cycling dialysis apparatus and having an implanted catheter that leads to the peritoneal cavity, comprising the steps of: attaching to the catheter a small plastic bag containing about two liters of dialysate fluid; infusing the contents of the bag into the patient's peritoneal cavity; allowing the dialysate fluid to remain in the patient's peritoneal cavity for a mean dwell time of at least four hours, during which time the patient is ambulatory and remains unattached to a dialysis fluid supply that is in a fixed location; draining the dialysate fluid from the patient's peritoneal cavity and disconnecting the plastic bag from the catheter; and repeating the aforesaid steps at least three times per day, every day, at intervals of at least four hours to maintain a substantially constant presence of dialysate fluid in the patient's peritoneal cavity, so that dialysis is occurring essentially twenty-four hours per day, every day, except for drainage and infusion times, and is continuous.