Abstract:
This invention relates to a device for peritoneal dialysis with a means for the regular discharge and reuptake of dialysate, wherein the means includes an agent by which the color and turbidity of the dialysate can be determined.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to German Patent Application No. 10 2008 031 660.1, filed Jul. 4, 2008, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a device for peritoneal dialysis. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In peritoneal dialysis (PD), a dialysis solution (dialysate) is introduced into the abdominal cavity of a patient. After a certain dwell time, during which an exchange between the dialysate and blood takes place via the peritoneum of the patient, the now “used” dialysate is replaced by fresh dialysate. For this purpose, the used dialysate usually is drained into a bag. During the dwell time in the abdominal cavity, the color of the dialysate changes. Besides a discoloration of the dialysate, turbidity can frequently be observed. Normally, the dialysate should have the color of apple juice. Upon being drained, the discoloration or turbidity of the used dialysate is subjected to a visual inspection by the physician, the person responsible for the dialysis or the patient himself. By means of the turbidity, it is evaluated whether the used dialysate has a usual, normal discoloration. If the discoloration is classified as being abnormal, further examinations usually are initiated to find out the causes. Discolorations which are not within the expected normal range can indicate various pathological causes, such as an increased secretion of protein, a secretion of blood, or they might for instance indicate early-stage peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum). In the case of unusual discolorations, it is recommendable to consult a physician in order to possibly initiate further examinations. 
         [0004]    What is problematic in the visual inspection is the subjective perception of the observer, in particular of the untrained patient. Due to subjective and changing criteria for evaluation, the observer cannot always recognize with constant certainty whether the dialysate drained from the abdominal cavity exhibits a comparatively normal or abnormal discoloration. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    It is an object of the invention to develop a device for peritoneal dialysis such that the objectivity of the evaluation of the discoloration or turbidity of the dialysate is improved, and a machine is provided to support the evaluation of the turbidity. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is provided a device for peritoneal dialysis with a means for the regular discharge and reuptake of dialysate (cycler), which includes a conduit with a catheter. In accordance with the invention, this means includes a device by which the color and turbidity of the dialysate can be determined. Due to this inventive solution, the operator, i.e., the physician, the person responsible for the dialysis or even the patient himself, can determine or arrange for determination of the turbidity of the actual dialysate to be evaluated with objective means. 
         [0007]    The color and turbidity values of the dialysate obtained by such means can be storable. For this purpose, the color and turbidity values can be storable in a memory provided in the means. 
         [0008]    In accordance with another advantageous aspect, the color and turbidity values together with alphanumeric data, for instance the patient data, can be storable on a removable storage medium, for instance a memory chip on the patient card. 
         [0009]    The means for determining color and turbidity advantageously can include a display, preferably in the form of a touch screen. On the display, a color spectrum can be represented, from which the color and turbidity applicable can be selected by the operator. For this purpose, the color and turbidity can be represented on the display in an especially provided window and can be selected therefrom. To provide for a direct comparison between the dialysate and the color scale indicated on the display, it is particularly advantageous when an illumination field is provided on the display, by means of which a drainage conduit or cuvette, which are each filled with dialysate, can be illuminated. By means of the color and turbidity value of the dialysate obtained, the operator can select and enter the appropriate value within the resulting scale of color and turbidity values represented on the display. 
         [0010]    On the display, the device preferably can include an alarm field, which issues an alarm in the case of a predetermined deviation of the determined color and turbidity value from a specified color and turbidity value. This alarm can be issued on the display merely as a visual alarm. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable that an additional acoustic alarm bell or some other alarm signal will sound. Possibly, an acoustic alarm signal can be output alone without any indications on the display. Issuing of an alarm prompts the user to consult a physician, who could then make further examinations. 
         [0011]    In accordance with a preferred aspect, the color and turbidity values of past measurements could be indicated on the display in a comparison. From the history of turbidity and from the stored turbidity and color values, the physician can obtain a clue as to existing complications and thus can arrange for a specific examination. 
         [0012]    This invention also relates to a corresponding method of determining the color and turbidity of dialysate. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in detail with reference to embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIGS. 1-5 : show different configurations of a display of a device in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a display  10 , which can be provided on a means for the regular discharge and reuptake of dialysate in a device for peritoneal dialysis. By means of this display, the color of the dialysate drained after a peritoneal dialysis treatment can be determined. For this purpose, a window  12  is provided on the display  10 , which constitutes a touch screen. In the window  12 , a typical color and a typical degree of turbidity are represented, which can correspond to the color of a “used” dialysate. Via the arrow keys  14 , which can activated by touching the touch screen, the operator (i.e., the physician, the person responsible for the dialysis or the patient himself) can change the color value from a corresponding scale, which is stored in a memory associated with the display  10 , in order to thus select that value that corresponds to the actual color or the actual degree of turbidity of the dialysate. When noting a correspondence between the color represented in the window  12  or the represented degree of turbidity and the dialysate, the value indicated there can be stored by touching the window  12 . When a simple display  10  (i.e., a display without a touch screen) is provided, the operability explained here with reference to a touch screen can be realized by other input means, such as a usual computer keyboard or a computer mouse. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows an alternative variant, in which the display  10  not only indicates a specific color and turbidity value in its output window  16 , but an entire spectrum of turbidity colors. When the display is configured as a touch screen, the value can be selected and stored by touching the spectrum in the color and turbidity range which corresponds to that of the dialysate. 
         [0017]    Another alternative configuration of a display, which has a slightly different mode of operation, is shown in  FIG. 3 . Similar to the variant shown in  FIG. 1 , the value actually detected for the dialysis treatment is entered in a window  18  via arrow keys  14  provided on the touch screen. By means of an internal memory, this value then is stored and on the following day is indicated under the corresponding weekday in the window  16 , so that in the illustrated embodiment a weekly history is obtained. The weekly history provides the attending physician with information about possible changes of the dialysate and hence allows the same to infer possibly existing pathological changes. 
         [0018]    In  FIG. 4 , a display  10  is shown, which in its right part substantially corresponds to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  and has corresponding functionality. To be able to directly compare the dialysate, an additional illumination field  20  is provided in the display, in front of which a transparent drainage conduit  20  is provided in the embodiment shown. Due to its transparency, the drainage conduit  20  provides for transillumination. Thus, the discoloration of the dialysate passed through this drainage conduit or the degree of turbidity thereof can directly be compared by the operator with the representation of the color or the degree of turbidity selected in the window  12 . The determination of the actual color and turbidity value of the dialysate largely is objectified thereby. 
         [0019]    In the representation of  FIG. 5 , a variant of a display  10  is shown, which largely corresponds to that of  FIG. 3 . However, an additional alarm display field  24  is provided on the display  10 . An alphanumeric alarm signal can be issued by the display field  24  when the actually detected color or turbidity value of the dialysate differs from the specified turbidity value beyond a predetermined extent. Optionally, this optical alphanumeric alarm display can also be supported acoustically.