Importance

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Abstract

A continuous cycle peritoneal dialysis system which includes a source (14) of dialysis fluid, and an inflow line (34) and outflow line (35) connected to a catheter (26) implanted in the peritoneal cavity (28). A fill pump (B) pumps dialysis fluid from the source to the catheter during a fill cycle. A drain pump C pumps fluid from the catheter to a drain during a drain cycle. A function of a volume of the dialysis fluid in the peritoneal cavity is detected by a manometer (D). A process controller (A) controls the fill and drain pumps in response to signals from a high fluid level detector (50) and a low fluid level detector (52) on a fluid column tube (48) to pump a calibrated fill volume of fluid into the cavity and a calibrated drain volume of fluid out of the cavity continuously in alternating fill and drain cycles in a manner that the fluid flows through the cavity generally with zero dwell time. In the process, an inflow volume of dialysis fluid pumped into the cavity is metered (36b) and an outflow volume of fluid pumped out of the cavity is metered (44b) to determine the amount of fluid removed from the patient by comparing the inflow and outflow volumes.

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First Claim