Smart dialysis bag detection system

Abstract

A dialysis machine (e.g., a peritoneal dialysis (PD) machine) can include a safety feature that enables the dialysis machine to automatically identify the connections made by a user in preparation for treatment. A smart connector is disclosed that uses a split RFID device that is operational when a first portion of the connector is mated to a second portion of the connector, and is not operational when the first portion is disconnected from the second portion. In an embodiment, the split RFID device incorporates an RFID chip in the first portion of the connector and an antenna in the second portion of the connector. In an embodiment, the RFID chip can store a tag that encodes information that indicates a formulation or a volume of a dialysis bag connected to the ports of a disposable cassette such that the dialysis machine can automatically discover the configuration of the dialysis setup.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dialysis system, comprising:
 a wireless interface in communication with one or more connectors attached to fluid lines; and   a reader configured to access information stored in the one or more connectors,   wherein each connector of the one or more connectors includes a first portion and a second portion, and at least one of the first portion or the second portion includes a radio frequency identifier (RFID) device that is operational when the first portion is mated with the second portion and is not operational when the first portion is disconnected from the second portion.   
     
     
         2 . The dialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the reader is a near field communication (NFC) device. 
     
     
         3 . The dialysis system of  claim 2 , wherein the NFC device is configured to:
 transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal over the wireless interface; and   receive an RFID signal from a first connector of the one or more connectors that includes a tag that indicates at least one of a formulation or a volume of a dialysis bag connected to a first fluid line fluidly coupled to the first connector.   
     
     
         4 . The dialysis system of  claim 1 , further comprising a disposable cassette that includes a plurality of ports, each port fluidly coupled to the second portion of a corresponding connector of the one or more connectors. 
     
     
         5 . The dialysis system of  claim 4 , wherein the second portion includes an antenna of the RFID device and the first portion of the corresponding connector, when mated to the second portion, includes an RFID chip. 
     
     
         6 . The dialysis system of  claim 4 , wherein the second portion includes an interconnect configured to route a signal from a first terminal to a second terminal, and wherein the first portion of the corresponding connector, when mated to the second portion, includes an RFID chip and an antenna, and a signal interconnect from the RFID chip is connected to the first terminal and the second terminal is connected to the antenna. 
     
     
         7 . The dialysis system of  claim 4 , wherein the second portion includes a memory that stores second information that identifies the port of the disposable cassette fluidly connected to the corresponding connector, wherein the first portion of the corresponding connector, when mated to the second portion, includes an RFID chip or a memory that stores first information that indicates at least one of a formulation or a volume of a dialysis bag, and wherein the RFID chip is configured to encode the first information and the second information to generate a tag that is transmitted to the reader. 
     
     
         8 . The dialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises a female connector that includes a tapered orifice. 
     
     
         9 . The dialysis system of  claim 8 , wherein the first portion comprises a male connector that includes a protrusion that fits in the tapered orifice, and wherein the at least one component of the RFID device is encapsulated in the first portion in accordance with an overmolding manufacturing process. 
     
     
         10 . A smart connector for a medical device, wherein the smart connector comprises:
 a first portion that includes a radio frequency identifier (RFID) chip; and   a second portion that enables operation of the RFID chip when mated to the first portion and disables operation of the RFID chip when disconnected from the first portion.   
     
     
         11 . The smart connector of  claim 10 , wherein the second portion includes an antenna, and wherein a radio frequency (RF) signal received by the antenna causes the RFID chip to transmit, via the antenna, an RFID signal that includes a tag. 
     
     
         12 . The smart connector of  claim 11 , wherein the tag comprises one or more bits that encode information corresponding to at least one of a formulation or a volume of a dialysis bag connected to the first portion of the smart connector. 
     
     
         13 . The smart connector of  claim 10 , wherein the first portion is a male connector and the second portion is a female connector that includes a tapered orifice. 
     
     
         14 . The smart connector of  claim 10 , wherein the first portion further includes an antenna, and wherein an RFID signal generated by the RFID chip is routed through the second portion to the antenna. 
     
     
         15 . The smart connector of  claim 10 , wherein the second portion includes a memory that stores second information that identifies a port of a disposable cassette, wherein the first portion includes the RFID chip or a memory that stores first information that indicates at least one of a formulation or a volume of a dialysis bag, and wherein the RFID chip is configured to encode the first information and the second information to generate a tag. 
     
     
         16 . A method for operating a dialysis machine, the method comprising:
 transmitting, via a wireless interface, a radio frequency (RF) signal; and   receiving, via the wireless interface, at least one tag corresponding to one or more connectors attached to fluid lines,   wherein each connector of the one or more connectors includes a first portion and a second portion, and at least one of the first portion or the second portion includes a radio frequency identifier (RFID) device that is operational when the first portion is mated with the second portion and is not operational when the first portion is disconnected from the second portion.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein an RFID signal from a first connector of the one or more connectors includes a tag that indicates at least one of a formulation or a volume of a dialysis bag connected to a first fluid line fluidly coupled with the first connector. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , the method further comprising:
 receiving prescription information related to treatment of a patient of the dialysis machine;   comparing information received from at least one connector of the one or more connectors to the prescription information to determine whether at least one of formulation or volume of one or more dialysis bags connected to the one or more connectors matches the prescription information; and   initiating a dialysis treatment when the information matches the prescription information, or   setting an alarm when the information does not match the prescription information.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , the method further comprising:
 prompting a user to connect fluid lines to a disposable cassette; and   transmitting, periodically, a radio frequency (RF) signal via a wireless interface to poll the one or more connectors to receive tags that indicate when a first portion of each connector of the one or more connectors is mated to a second portion of the connector.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a near field communication (NFC) device receives the at least one tag from the wireless interface and is configured to:
 compare the at least one tag to a history of stored tags to determine if any of the tags in the at least one tag represent newly discovered connections.