US5836908A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disposable balancing unit for balancing fluids, and related medical treatment device
Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
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Filing: 1996-12-09
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Granted: 1998-11-17
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Expires: 2016-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A disposable balancing unit designed as a sheet bag includes two sheets (1, 2), which are heat-sealed together, forming a balancing chamber (4) that is divided by a flexible wall (8) into the two chamber halves (9, 10), and forming two equalization chambers (5, 6), as well as the channels (15 through 18) connecting the individual chambers. The flexible wall (8), which separates the first chamber half (9) of the balancing chamber (4) from the second chamber half (10), is formed by an intermediate sheet, which is inserted between the first and second sheet (1, 2) in the area of the balancing volume and is heat-sealed in a pressure-tight manner to the outer sheets, forming the first and second chamber half (9, 10). The fixed volume of the balancing chamber halves (9, 10) is specified by a corresponding system insert unit, into which the disposable unit is fittingly inserted. The system insert unit has two rigid receiving bodies (25, 26) with trough-shaped depressions (27) to grasp above or below the balancing chamber (4) of the disposable unit. The disposable balancing unit can be manufactured cost-effectively in a single heat-sealing operation and is easy to handle.
Inventors
- 👤 Josef Beden
- 👤 Hans-Jurgen Flaig
- 👤 Bernd Steinbach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/34; A61M1/342; A61M1/3441; A61M1/3444; A61M1/14; A61M1/15; A61M1/156; A61M1/1561; A61M1/1562; A61M1/15625; A61M1/16; A61M1/1654; A61M1/1656; A61M1/166; A61M1/1664; A61M1/1668; A61M1/28; A61M1/281; A61M1/36; A61M1/3621; A61M1/3627; A61M1/3633; A61M1/3635; A61M1/153; A61M1/154; A61M1/159; A61M1/369; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/12; A61M2205/123; A61M2205/127; A61M2205/33; A61M2205/3379; A61M2205/3396; A61M2205/36; A61M2205/3653; A61M5/00; A61M5/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A disposable balancing unit for balancing fluids for a medical treatment device comprising: first and second superposed plastic sheets, which are joined together in a pressure-resistant manner, forming a balancing chamber in the unit that is divided by a flexible wall into a first and a second chamber half, said flexible wall of said balancing chamber being formed by an intermediate sheet, which is inserted between the first and second sheet in the area of the balancing volume and is so joined to the first and second sheets, forming the two chamber halves so that said first chamber half is separated in a pressure-tight manner from said second chamber half; a first equalization chamber in the unit, which is in fluid communication with the first chamber half via a first inlet channel and, which is able to be clamped off in a pressure-tight manner; a second equalization chamber in the unit, which is in fluid communication with the second chamber half via a second inlet channel, which is able to be clamped off in a pressure-tight manner; and a first outlet channel, which is able to be clamped off in a pressure-tight manner and is in fluid communication with said first chamber half, and a second outlet channel, which is able to be clamped off in a pressure-tight manner and is in fluid communication with said second chamber half.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
A disposable balancing unit for balancing fluids for a medical treatment device comprising: first and second superposed plastic sheets, which are joined together in a pressure-resistant manner, forming a balancing chamber in the unit that is divided by a flexible wall into a first and a second chamber half, said flexible wall of said balancing chamber being formed by an intermediate sheet, which is inserted between the first and second sheet in the area of the balancing volume and is so joined to the first and second sheets, forming the two chamber halves so that said first chamber half is separated in a pressure-tight manner from said second chamber half; a first equalization chamber in the unit, which is in fluid communication with the first chamber half via a first inlet channel and, which is able to be clamped off in a pressure-tight manner; a second equalization chamber in the unit, which is in fluid communication with the second chamber half via a second inlet channel, which is able to be clamped off in a pressure-tight manner; and a first outlet channel, which is able to be clamped off in a pressure-tight manner and is in fluid communication with said first chamber half, and a second outlet channel, which is able to be clamped off in a pressure-tight manner and is in fluid communication with said second chamber half.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 1, wherein the inlet and outlet channels are formed at least in the area of the clamping spots by flexible plastic hoses, which are arranged between the first and second sheets and are joined in a pressure-tight manner to the first and second sheets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 2, wherein the first sheet, second sheet and intermediate sheet are in the same plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 1, wherein the disposable balancing unit defines slots for receiving alignment pins.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 2, wherein the disposable balancing unit defines slots for receiving alignment pins.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 1, wherein the first and second sheets are joined together in a pressure-tight manner and form a serpentine channel which leads into the second equalization chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 2, wherein the first and second sheets are joined together in a pressure-tight manner and form a serpentine channel which leads into the second equalization chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 4, wherein the first and second sheets are joined together in a pressure-tight manner and form a serpentine channel which leads into the second equalization chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 5, wherein the first and second sheets are joined together in a pressure-tight manner and form a serpentine channel which leads into the second equalization chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 1, wherein the first and second sheets are joined together in a pressure-tight manner and form a buffer chamber which communicates with the second outlet channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 2, wherein the first and second sheets are joined together in a pressure-tight manner and form a buffer chamber which communicates with the second outlet channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 4, wherein the first and second sheets are joined together in a pressure-tight manner and form a buffer chamber which communicates with the second outlet channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 6, wherein the first and second sheets are joined together in a pressure-tight manner and form a buffer chamber which communicates with the second outlet channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 1, wherein the balancing chamber has an oval shape and the equalization chambers have a rectangular shape, said equalization chambers and said balancing chamber being so arranged that longitudinal axes of the equalization chambers run transversely to a longitudinal axis of the balancing chambers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 2, wherein the balancing chamber has an oval shape and the equalization chambers have a rectangular shape, said equalization chambers and said balancing chamber being so arranged that longitudinal axes of the equalization chambers run transversely to a longitudinal axis of the balancing chambers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 4, wherein the balancing chamber has an oval shape and the equalization chambers have a rectangular shape, said equalization chambers and said balancing chamber being so arranged that longitudinal axes of the equalization chambers run transversely to a longitudinal axis of the balancing chambers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
A medical treatment device for removing toxic substances from the blood, comprising a system insert unit for receiving the disposable balancing unit as defined by claim 1, the system insert unit having two rigid receiving bodies, which are provided with a trough-shaped depression and are situated in the area of the balancing chamber of the balancing disposable unit, and compression devices for pressurizing the equalization chambers of the disposable unit, and clamping devices for clamping off the inlet and outlet channels.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The medical treatment device as defined by claim 17, wherein the receiving bodies each have a clamping edge for fixing the edge areas of the sheet-type disposable unit in position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The medical treatment device as defined by claim 17, wherein in one receiving body of the receiving bodies, the clamping devices are provided with tappets and, in an other receiving body of the receiving bodies, with clamping edges opposing said tappets.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The medical treatment device as defined by claim 18, wherein in one receiving body of the receiving bodies, the clamping devices are provided with tappets and, in an other receiving body of the receiving bodies, with clamping edges opposing said tappets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-16 | 2002-05-18 | 2002-11-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-16 | 2006-05-18 | 2006-11-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-16 | 2010-05-18 | 2010-11-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |