Abstract:
A dialysis equipment bag ( 10 ), wherein the dialysis equipment bag ( 10 ) is adapted to receive at least one dialysis bag ( 18 ); and the dialysis equipment bag ( 10 ) comprises heating means ( 36, 38 ) for warming said at least one dialysis bag ( 18 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a dialysis equipment bag for carrying and warming one or more dialysis bags and a method of using such a dialysis equipment bag. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many patients suffering from end stage renal failure opt to start dialysis using continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). This method of dialysis offers a greater level of independence than attending hospital every two days. Furthermore, this method gives them a greater degree of control over their own health. CAPD is designed to be performed anywhere, thus fitting in around the patients lifestyle. However, in practice this is not always possible, given the high degree of sterilisation required to perform CAPD, the amount of associated material needed, and the ability to warm the bags. 
         [0003]    In order to perform CAPD dialysis bags are provided. These bags contain a fresh dialysis solution bag, an empty waste products bag and tubing for connecting the bag to the body of the patient. The dialysis solution is warmed to body temperature prior to use, for comfort when it enters the body of the patient. 
         [0004]    Current apparatus for warming dialysis bags is designed for use in the home. It is heavy and awkward to carry and therefore not suitable for use when the patient wishes to travel. 
         [0005]    It is an aim of the present invention to overcome at least one problem associated with the prior art whether referred to herein or otherwise. 
         [0006]    In particular, an aim of the present invention is to enable a person requiring to perform CAPD to travel freely whilst still being able to perform CAPD. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a dialysis equipment bag, wherein the dialysis equipment bag is adapted to receive at least one dialysis bag; and the dialysis equipment bag comprises heating means for warming said at least one dialysis bag. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the dialysis equipment bag comprises a dialysis bag compartment adapted to receive the or each dialysis bag. Preferably, the heating means are located in the dialysis bag compartment. 
         [0009]    Preferably the heating means are located in at least one wall or floor of the dialysis bag compartment. The heating means are preferably located in a pocket. 
         [0010]    Preferably the heating means are electrical heating means. The heating means may be powered by the mains and/or operated by a car battery. 
         [0011]    Preferably the heating means comprises at least one heating element. Preferably the at least one heating element comprises a first heating element which is connectable to the mains and a second heating element which is connectable to the car battery. Preferably both first and second heating elements provide a 50% coverage of the heated surface area of the at least one dialysis bag. 
         [0012]    Preferably the at least one heating element is embedded in a flexible rubber mat, which may be made of silicone rubber. Preferably the at least one heating element is an etch foil element with a layer of rubber each side. The at least one heating element may be provided with a bimetal thermostat. The thermostat is preferably adapted to maintain a temperature at or around body temperature. Preferably the thermostat cuts out at 50° C. and resets at 35° C. 
         [0013]    Preferably padding is provided each side of the matting to protect the mat. 
         [0014]    Preferably the dialysis bag compartment is sized such that the or each dialysis bag fits within the compartment without substantial play. 
         [0015]    Preferably the dialysis equipment bag is provided with one or more additional storage compartments for carrying objects other than dialysis bags. Preferably, the objects are not for the purpose of dialysis. 
         [0016]    Preferably the dialysis equipment bag is made of lightweight material and/or waterproof material. 
         [0017]    Preferably the dialysis equipment bag is designed to accommodate at least one power supply connection means. The or each power supply connection means may comprise a cable and a plug. The or each power supply connection means may be accommodated within the dialysis bag compartment or may be held in a separate location within the bag. The or each cable may pass through a hole in the wall of the compartment. The cable may be permanently connected to the heating elements. 
         [0018]    Preferably the or each dialysis bag compartment is lined with heat storing material. The heat storing material is preferably able to maintain heat for six to eight hours. 
         [0019]    Preferably foil is provided behind the or each heating means to reflect heat back into the dialysis bag compartment. Silver backing may be provided on the inside of the dialysis bag compartment to help maintain heat within the dialysis bag compartment. 
         [0020]    A light signal or audible alarm may be provided externally or internally of the dialysis equipment bag to warn the user that the dialysis bags are at a usable temperature. The light signal may be provided by coloured LEDs or heat sensitive strips that change colour with temperature. 
         [0021]    Preferably the dialysis equipment bag is a rucksack or a briefcase. The briefcase may be provided in two parts, the first part being adapted for use as a conventional briefcase, and the second part being adapted to carry and heat the dialysis bags. 
         [0022]    The dialysis equipment bag is preferably provided with a card slot for receiving a card which informs the person reading it that the bag contains dialysis equipment. 
         [0023]    According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of operating the dialysis equipment bag when the dialysis equipment bag is as herein referred to. 
         [0024]    The present invention includes any combination of the herein referred to features or limitations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings that follows in which: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a bag according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the inside of the bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a bag according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the two-part form of the bag of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the bag of  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a heating arrangement suitable for use in the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]      FIGS. 1-4  show a rucksack  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The rucksack  10  is designed to look similar to conventional rucksacks and has a first compartment  12  for use as a conventional rucksack compartment. The first compartment  12  is accessed via a zip  14 . The rucksack  10  also has a second compartment  16 , which is designed to receive two dialysis bags  18  (only one shown in  FIG. 4 ). The second compartment  16  is accessed via a zip  20 . 
         [0035]    The second compartment  16  is sized to maintain the dialysis bags  18  in close contact with the rear wall  30 . The rear wall  30  comprises a pocket  32  for receiving a heating mat  34  in the form of two heating elements  36 ,  38  sandwiched between two layers of rubber  46 . The heating elements  36 ,  38  are shown in more detail in  FIG. 8 . The mat  34  is sufficiently stiff that the heating elements will not break during normal use of the rucksack  10 , whilst being flexible enough for comfort when being carried. However, the rucksack  10  may be provided with additional stiffening means such as metal rods, as is well known in rucksack design. 
         [0036]    The heating elements  36 ,  38  are powered either by the mains or by a car battery.  FIG. 4  shows both a mains plug  40  and a cigarette lighter plug  42  together with respective cables  44  stored within the second compartment  16 . The cables  44  are preferably permanently attached to their respective heating elements  36 ,  38 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary layout of a heating mat  34 . The two heating elements  36 ,  38  are provided sandwiched between two layers of rubber  46  (only one shown for clarity) to form the mat  34 . The mains powered heating element  36  at 230V extends over approximately 50% of the surface area of the mat  34  and the battery powered heating element  38  at 12V extends over the remaining 50% of the surface area of the mat  34 . 
         [0038]    The heating elements  36 ,  38  are preferably etch foil elements with a layer of silicone rubber  46  each side. The heating elements  36 ,  38  may be provided with a bimetal thermostat, which is adapted to maintain the temperature at or around body temperature. Preferably the thermostat cuts out at 50° C. and resets at 35° C. 
         [0039]    The walls of the second compartment  16  may be insulated to prevent the heat generated by the heating elements  36 ,  38  from escaping out of the second compartment  16 . Many conventional insulation materials may be used, such as standard cool pack insulation. Foil may be placed behind the heating mat  34  to reflect heat back into the compartment  16 . Silver backing may be provided on the inside of the compartment  16  to retain heat within the compartment  16 . 
         [0040]    The rear of the rucksack is provided with a card slot  50  for receiving a card which informs a person reading it that the bag contains dialysis equipment. However, the card is not visible when the bag is being carried. 
         [0041]    In use, two dialysis bags  18  are placed in the second compartment  16 . The rucksack  10  can be used as if it were a normal rucksack. When it is desired to heat the dialysis bags  18 , the zip  20  of the second compartment  16  is undone to enable access to be gained to either the mains plug  40  or the cigarette lighter plug  42 . The chosen plug  40 ,  42  and its respective cable  44  are passed through the opening of the second compartment  16  and the chosen plug  40 ,  42  is plugged in to an appropriate power source. When the dialysis bags  18  have reached a suitable temperature, preferably around body temperature, they may be removed from the rucksack  10  and used as is conventional in the art. 
         [0042]    The rucksack  10  may be externally or internally provided with a light signal or audible alarm (not shown) to warn the user that the dialysis bags  18  are at a usable temperature. The light signal may be provided by coloured LEDs or heat sensitive strips that change colour with temperature. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 5 to 7  show a briefcase  110  according to a second embodiment of the invention. The briefcase  110  is designed to look similar to conventional briefcases. It comprises two sections  112  and  114 , both of which can be used as separate cases in their own right or fastened together to form the single briefcase  110 . 
         [0044]    The first section  112  is designed for use as a conventional briefcase. The first section  112  comprises a main body  116  on which is mounted a closure flap  118  having two fastening means  120  thereon. Two corresponding fastening means  122  are located on a lower portion of the front face of the main body, each for receiving a fastening means  120 . A second flap  124  extends over the rear of the briefcase and is held along the rear of the briefcase by means of Velcro™ or another quick release fitting. The second flap  124  has no function when the first section  112  is in use as a briefcase in its own right. 
         [0045]    The second section  114  is designed to receive two dialysis bags  130 , together with power supply connection means (not shown). The second section  114  accessed via a zip  132 . The second section  114  is sized to maintain the dialysis bags  130  in close contact with the rear wall  134 . The rear wall  134  comprises a rear pocket  136  in which a heating mat  138  is located. The heating mat  138  may be as set out in  FIG. 8  and as described in relation to  FIGS. 1-4  above. 
         [0046]    The briefcase  110  may be powered either by the mains or by a car battery. Both a mains plug and a cigarette lighter plug together with respective cables may stored within the second section  114 . 
         [0047]    The first and second sections  112 ,  114  may be held together to form a single briefcase by undoing the Velcro™  126  between the rear flap  124  and the back wall  134  of the first section  112 , passing a handle  140  of the second section  114  through a slot  142  in the rear flap  124  of the first section  112  and connecting the Velcro™ on the rear flap  124  to a different Velcro™ point  146  on the back wall  134  of the second section  114 . Velcro™  148  may also be located between the front surface of the second section  114  and the rear surface of the first section  112  to ensure a secure connection between the first sections  112  and the second section  114 . 
         [0048]    In use, two dialysis bags  130  are placed in the second section  114 . The briefcase  110  can be used as if it were a normal briefcase, either with both the first section  112  and the second section  114  attached together, or with the just the second section alone. When it is desired to heat the dialysis bags  130 , the zip  132  is undone to enable access to be gained to either the mains plug or the cigarette lighter plug. The chosen plug and cable are passed through the opening of the second section  114  and plugged in to an appropriate power source. The zip  132  is then closed to maintain the heat generated by the heating elements within the second section  114 . 
         [0049]    The briefcase  110  may be externally or internally provided with a light signal or audible alarm (not shown) to warn the user that the dialysis bags  130  are at a usable temperature. The light signal may be provided by coloured LEDs or heat sensitive strips that change colour with temperature. 
         [0050]    The dialysis equipment bags of the present invention have the advantage that they are light and easy to carry. Furthermore, when the dialysis equipment bags are not in use to heat dialysis bags, they may show no visually obvious external signs of the fact that they are designed to carry and heat dialysis bags. 
         [0051]    Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. 
         [0052]    Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0053]    All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. 
         [0054]    Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
         [0055]    The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.