Medical Fluid Temperature Control

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods can be used to deliver temperature-controlled medical fluids to patients. For example, this disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods for controlling the temperature of dialysate delivered to a patient during a peritoneal dialysis treatment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for controlling a temperature of a dialysis fluid delivered to a patient, the device comprising:
 a housing configured to releasably mate with a conduit containing the dialysis fluid;   one or more thermoelectric modules coupled to the housing and arranged to be adjacent the conduit while the conduit is mated with the housing and to effectuate energy transfer with the dialysis fluid in the conduit; and   a temperature sensor arranged to detect a fluid temperature of the dialysis fluid,   wherein the device is configured to be positioned at any of multiple difference locations along the conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more thermoelectric modules are configured to be operated: (i) in a heating mode during which the one or more thermoelectric modules heat the dialysis fluid and (ii) in a cooling mode during which the one or more thermoelectric modules cool the dialysis fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is a flexible tube, and wherein the housing is configured to releasably mate with the flexible tube in a serpentine pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device can be positioned within 12 inches of an end of the conduit that connects to a patient. 
     
     
         6 . A peritoneal dialysis system comprising:
 a dialysis fluid cassette configured to contain a dialysis fluid;   a tube extending from the cassette and configured for delivering the dialysis fluid to a patient;   a peritoneal dialysis machine comprising a compartment configured to releasably receive the cassette; and   a temperature control device for controlling a temperature of the dialysis fluid delivered to a patient, the temperature control device comprising:
 a housing configured to releasably mate with the tube; 
 one or more thermoelectric modules coupled to the housing and arranged to be adjacent the tube while the tube is mated with the housing and to effectuate energy transfer with the dialysis fluid in the tube; and 
 a temperature sensor arranged to detect a fluid temperature of the dialysis fluid, 
 wherein the temperature control device is separate from the peritoneal dialysis machine. 
   
     
     
         7 . The peritoneal dialysis system of  claim 6 , wherein the temperature sensor is coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The peritoneal dialysis system of  claim 6 , wherein the temperature control device is electrically coupled with the peritoneal dialysis machine such that energy activating the one or more thermoelectric modules is received from the peritoneal dialysis machine and a temperature signal from the temperature sensor is transmitted to the peritoneal dialysis machine. 
     
     
         9 . The peritoneal dialysis system of  claim 6 , wherein the temperature control device is independent from the peritoneal dialysis machine such that the temperature control device is not in electrical communication with the peritoneal dialysis machine. 
     
     
         10 . The peritoneal dialysis system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more thermoelectric modules are configured to be operated: (i) in a heating mode during which the one or more thermoelectric modules heat the dialysis fluid and (ii) in a cooling mode during which the one or more thermoelectric modules cool the dialysis fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The peritoneal dialysis system of  claim 6 , wherein the temperature control device is configured to releasably mate with the tube being configured in a serpentine pattern. 
     
     
         12 . The peritoneal dialysis system of  claim 6 , wherein the temperature control device can be positioned within 12 inches of an end of the tube that connects to the patient. 
     
     
         13 . The peritoneal dialysis system of  claim 6 , wherein the peritoneal dialysis machine is adapted to be connected to a supply of water and to a source of concentrate and to generate the dialysis fluid using the water and the concentrate. 
     
     
         14 . A method of controlling a fluid temperature of a dialysis fluid supplied to a patient from a peritoneal dialysis system comprising a peritoneal dialysis machine and a temperature control device that is separate from the peritoneal dialysis machine, the method comprising:
 detecting, by a control system of the peritoneal dialysis machine and using a temperature sensor, a fluid temperature of the dialysis fluid;   determining, by the control system and based on the fluid temperature, one or more electrical supply energy parameters; and   delivering, by the control system, electrical energy corresponding to the one or more electrical energy supply parameters to one or more thermoelectric modules of the temperature control device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the temperature sensor is located at the temperature control device or between the temperature control device and the patient. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said delivering causes: (i) heating of the dialysis fluid by the one or more thermoelectric modules while the fluid temperature is less than 37° C. and (ii) cooling of the dialysis fluid by the one or more thermoelectric modules while the fluid temperature is greater than 37° C. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dialysis fluid is a dialysate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the temperature control device is positioned within 24 inches of an end of a tube from the peritoneal dialysis machine that connects to the patient. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising generating the dialysis fluid by introducing one or more concentrates into a supply of water.