Patent Publication Number: US-2023160775-A1

Title: Leak detector on movable medical device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application relates generally to systems and methods for a leak detector on a movable medical device, such as a dialysis machine. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Medical devices, such as dialysis machines, are known for use in the treatment of renal disease. The two principal dialysis methods are hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). During hemodialysis, the patient’s blood is passed through a dialyzer of a hemodialysis machine while also passing dialysate through the dialyzer. A semi-permeable membrane in the dialyzer separates the blood from the dialysate within the dialyzer and allows diffusion and osmosis exchanges to take place between the dialysate and the blood stream. During peritoneal dialysis, the patient’s peritoneal cavity is periodically infused with dialysate, or dialysis solution. The membranous lining of the patient’s peritoneum acts as a natural semi-permeable membrane that allows diffusion and osmosis exchanges to take place between the solution and the blood stream. Automated peritoneal dialysis machines, also called PD cyclers, are designed to control the entire peritoneal dialysis process so that it can be performed at home, usually overnight, without clinical staff in attendance. Both HD and PD machines may include displays with touch screens or other user interfaces that display information of a dialysis treatment and/or enable an operator or patient to interact with the machine. 
     Dialysis involves moving fluids: blood, dialysate, effluent, and, depending on the system, water. The fluids are pumped to interact with the patient and then they are drained when their work is complete. This fluid can be piped in through a tap, stored in jugs or bags, or move through tubing. Dialysis takes place in hospitals, clinics, homes, and, in its simplest form of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), any controlled space that is away from random sources of infection. 
     There exists potential for ruptured tubing, improper connections, and faulty components in dialysis machines and systems and other devices or systems used in conjunction, like a reverse osmosis (RO) system, that may cause fluid leaks. Additionally, improperly connected dialysate tubing to the dialyzer, mis-routed drain tubing, cross-threaded or loose tubing connections, and punctured PD solution bags all have the potential to cause leaks. Leaks can cause costly damage to the facility or patient’s home, create slip hazards, and, in the case of unnoticed blood leaks, can be fatal. 
     Devices exist on the market to detect certain types of leaks, including devices to blood leaks at a patient’s access site or devices disposed under the dialysis machine or related system to detect leaks when a fluid conducts an electric current between a positive and negative wire terminal. Many leak devices use the same electrical conduction sensor for leaks, but they always require periodic battery replacement—for if the sensor lacks power, it cannot function. Moreover, these sensors also usually cover a very narrow area and require the user to guess the likeliest path a spill may take to reach the sensor or determine where the most likely spot the leak will pool. These problems may be compounded by the fact that dialysis machines have wheels and may be moveable, and the user may wish to reposition the device but may forget about moving the leak detector or, if multiple leak detectors exist, become confused about which one is alarming and where. Furthermore, certain types of electromagnetic frequencies may also interfere with wireless leak detector signals. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a system that addresses the above-noted concerns and other issues. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the system described herein, a medical system comprises a medical device that performs a medical treatment, at least one wheel assembly that enables mobility of the medical device, and a leak detector system coupled with the at least one wheel assembly. The leak detector system comprises at least two conductive contacts disposed such that the contacts are electrically connected when the at least one wheel assembly is exposed to an electrically conductive fluid to form a circuit that causes detection of a leak. The leak detector system further comprises a connection to an interface of the medical device, and upon detection of the leak, an alarm is displayed on the interface of the medical device. 
     According further to the system described herein, a leak detection system for a movable medical device comprises at least two conductive contacts disposed on at least on wheel assembly of the movable medical device. The contacts are electrically connected when the at least one wheel assembly is exposed to an electrically conductive fluid to form a circuit that causes detection of a leak. A processor is included that receives a signal indicating the detection of the leak. A connection is provided to an interface of the medical device, wherein, upon detection of the leak, the leak detection system causes an alarm to be displayed on the interface of the medical device. 
     According to various implementations of the system described herein, the at least two conductive contacts may be disposed on two wheels of the at least one wheel assembly. The least one wheel assembly may include a first wheel assembly and a second wheel assembly, and a first conductive contact of the at least two conductive contacts may be disposed on the first wheel assembly, and a second conductive contact of the at least two conductive contacts may be disposed on the second wheel assembly. The medical device may include a processor that is configured to perform an operational check on the leak detector system. The medical device may include a wireless transmitter that transmits the alarm to a remote device, and the remote device may be a mobile device of a patient and/or a device monitored by a remote server. The medical device may be a dialysis machine. The connection to the interface of the medical device may be a wired connection. Upon detecting the leak, the medical device may cause a pumping operation of the medical device to stop. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee. 
       Implementations and features of the system described herein are explained with reference to the several figures of the drawings, which are briefly described as follows. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates an exemplary implementation of a dialysis machine in a dialysis system configured for use in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the dialysis machine that is configured for use in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic illustration showing an example of a connected health (CH) system that may include, among other things, a processing system, a CH cloud, and a gateway device that may be used in connection with the system described herein. 
         FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  are schematic illustrations showing a leak detector system according to the system described herein that is integrated into the one or more wheel of a movable medical device, such as a dialysis machine. 
         FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  are schematic illustrations of other implementations of a leak detector system according to the system described herein. 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic illustration showing the effective coverage area for a leak detection system according to the system described herein incorporated into four wheel assemblies. 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic illustration showing an example of a system that includes components of the connected health system, including the dialysis machine and the gateway device in communication with a cloud service, and used in connection with a leak detector according to the system described herein. 
         FIG.  8    is a flow diagram showing flow processing for an iteration of leak detection according to an implementation of the system described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    shows an example of a medical device system, implemented as a peritoneal dialysis (PD) system  100 , that is configured for use in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the system described herein. In some implementations, the PD system  100  may be configured for use at a patient’s home. The PD system  100  may include a dialysis machine  102  (e.g. a PD machine, also referred to as a PD cycler) which, in some implementations may be seated on a cabinet or cart  104  having one or more wheels  105  and be movable. The dialysis machine  102  may include a housing  106 , a door  108 , and a cartridge interface for contacting a disposable PD cassette, or cartridge, when the cartridge is disposed within a compartment formed between the cartridge interface and the closed door  108 . A heater tray  116  may be positioned on top  102   a  of the housing  106 . The heater tray  116  may be any size and shape to accommodate a bag of dialysate (e.g., a 5 L bag of dialysate). The dialysis machine  102  may also include a user interface such as a touch screen  118  and control panel  120  operable by a user (e.g., a caregiver or a patient) to allow, for example, set up, initiation, and/or termination of a PD treatment. 
     Dialysate bags  122  may be suspended from the sides of the cart  104 , and a heater bag  124  may be positioned in the heater tray  116 . Hanging the dialysate bags  122  may improve air management as any air is disposed by gravity to a top portion of the dialysate bag  122 . Valves may be attached to a bottom portion of the dialysate bags  122  so fluid is drawn out and air delivery is minimized. Dialysate from the dialysate bags  122  may be transferred to the heater bag  124  in batches. For example, a batch of dialysate may be transferred from the dialysate bags  122  to the heater bag  124 , where the dialysate is heated by the heating element. When the batch of dialysate has reached a predetermined temperature (e.g., approximately 98°-100° F., 37° C.), the batch of dialysate may be flowed into the patient. The dialysate bags  122  and the heater bag  124  may be connected to the cartridge via dialysate bag lines  126  and a heater bag line  128 , respectively. The dialysate bag lines  126  may be used to pass dialysate from dialysate bags  122  to the cartridge during use, and the heater bag line  128  may be used to pass dialysate back and forth between the cartridge and the heater bag  124  during use. In addition, a patient line  130  and a drain line  132  may be connected to the cartridge. The patient line  130  may be connected to a patient’s abdomen via a catheter and may be used to pass dialysate back and forth between the cartridge and the patient’s peritoneal cavity during use. The drain line  132  may be connected to a drain or drain receptacle and may be used to pass dialysate from the cartridge to the drain or drain receptacle during use. 
     The touch screen  118  and the control panel  120  may allow a user to input various treatment parameters to the dialysis machine  102  and to otherwise control the dialysis machine  102 . In addition, the touch screen  118  may serve as a display. The touch screen  118  may function to provide information to the patient and the operator of the PD system  100 . For example, the touch screen  118  may display information related to a dialysis treatment to be applied to the patient, including information related to a prescription. In various embodiments, the control panel  120  may also include audio and video component capabilities, including speakers, microphones and/or cameras. 
     The dialysis machine  102  may include a processing module  101  that resides inside the dialysis machine  102 , the processing module  101  being configured to communicate with the touch screen  118  and the control panel  120 . The processing module  101  may be configured to receive data from the touch screen  118  the control panel  120  and sensors, e.g., temperature and pressure sensors, and control the dialysis machine  102  based on the received data. For example, the processing module  101  may adjust the operating parameters of the dialysis machine  102 . 
     The dialysis machine  102  may be configured to connect to a network  110 . The connection to network  110  may be via a wireless connection, such as via WiFi or Bluetooth, or in some cases a non-wireless connection, as further discussed elsewhere herein. The dialysis machine  102  may include a connection component  112  configured to facilitate the connection to the network  110 . The connection component  112  may be a transceiver for wireless connections and/or other signal processor for processing signals transmitted and received over a wired connection. In the case of a wired connection, the connection component  112  may be a port enabling a physical connection to a network component. Other medical devices (e.g., other dialysis machines) or components may be configured to connect to the network  110  and communicate with the dialysis machine  102 . 
     Although discussed herein principally in connection with a peritoneal dialysis machine, the system described herein may be used and implemented in connection with other types of medical devices having one or more displays, including hemodialysis machines both in the clinic and at home and/or other medical devices. 
       FIG.  2    is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a dialysis machine  202  that may, for example, be an implementation of the dialysis machine  102 , and that is configured for use in accordance with the present disclosure. The machine  202  may be a home dialysis machine for performing a dialysis treatment on a patient and may be implemented in the system  100  described above. As further noted elsewhere herein, although discussed principally in connection with a peritoneal dialysis machine, the dialysis machine  202 , and the principles and techniques of the system described herein, may be used and implemented in connection with other types of medical devices, including home hemodialysis machines and/or other home medical devices. A controller  155 , that may be a component of the processing module  101 , may automatically control execution of a treatment function during a course of dialysis treatment. The controller  155  may be operatively connected to the sensors  160  and deliver a signal to execute a treatment function or a course of treatment associated with various treatment systems. In some embodiments, a timer  165  may be included for timing triggering of the sensors  160 . 
     In some embodiments, the machine  202  may also include a processor  170 , and memory  175 , the controller  155 , the processor  170 , and/or the memory  175 , or combinations thereof, that may separately or collectively part of the processing module  101 , that may receive signals from the sensor(s)  160  indicating various parameters. Each fluid bag (e.g., the dialysate bags  122 ) may contain an approximate amount of dialysate, such that “approximate amount” may be defined as a 3 L fluid bag containing 3000 to 3150 mL, a 5 L fluid bag containing 5000 to 5250 mL, and a 6 L fluid bag containing 6000 to 6300 mL. The controller  155  may also detect connection of all fluid bags  122  connected. 
     Communication between the controller  155  and the treatment system may be bidirectional, whereby the treatment system acknowledges control signals, and/or may provide state information associated with the treatment system and/or requested operations. For example, system state information may include a state associated with specific operations to be executed by the treatment system (e.g., trigger pumps and/or compressors to deliver dialysate and the like) and a status associated with specific operations (e.g., ready to execute, executing, completed, successfully completed, queued for execution, waiting for control signal, and the like). 
     In some embodiments, the dialysis machine  202  may include at least one pump  180  operatively connected to the controller  155 . During a treatment operation, the controller  155  may control the pump  180  for pumping fluid, e.g., fresh and spent dialysate, to and from a patient. For example, the pump  180  may transfer dialysate from the dialysate bag  122  through, for example, a cassette insertable into a port formed in the dialysis machine, to the heating chamber  152  prior to transferring the dialysis to the patient. In an embodiment, the pump  180  may be a peristaltic pump. The controller  155  may also be operatively connected to a speaker  185  and a microphone  187  disposed in the machine  202 . A user input interface  190  may include a combination of hardware and software components that allow the controller  155  to communicate with an external entity, such as a patient, caregiver or other user. These components may be configured to receive information from actions such as physical movement or gestures and verbal intonation. In some embodiments, the components of the user input interface  190  may provide information to external entities. Examples of the components that may be employed within the user input interface  190  include keypads, buttons, microphones, touch screens, gesture recognition devices, display screens, and speakers. The machine  202  may also be wirelessly connectable via an antenna  192  for remote communication that may be a part of the connection component  112 . The machine  202  may also include a display  195  and a power source  197 . 
     The sensors  160  may be included for monitoring parameters and may be operatively connected to at least the controller  155 , the processor  170 , and/or the memory  175 , or combinations thereof. The processor  170  may be configured to execute an operating system, which may provide platform services to application software, e.g., for operating the dialysis machine  202 . These platform services may include inter-process and network communication, file system management and standard database manipulation. One or more of many operating systems may be used, and examples are not limited to any particular operating system or operating system characteristic. 
     The memory  175  may include a computer readable and writeable nonvolatile data storage medium configured to store non-transitory instructions and data. In addition, the memory  175  may include a processor memory that stores data during operation of the processor  170 . In some examples, the processor memory includes a relatively high performance, volatile, random access memory such as dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), static memory (SRAM), or synchronous DRAM. However, the processor memory may include any device for storing data, such as a non-volatile memory, with sufficient throughput and storage capacity to support the functions described herein. Further, examples are not limited to a particular memory, memory system, or data storage system. 
     The instructions stored on the memory  175  may include executable programs or other code that may be executed by the processor  170 . The instructions may be persistently stored as encoded signals, and the instructions may cause the processor  170  to perform the functions described herein. The memory  175  may include information that is recorded, on or in, the medium, and this information may be processed by the processor  170  during execution of instructions. The memory  175  may also include, for example, specification of data records for user timing requirements, timing for treatment and/or operations, historic sensor information, and the like. The medium may, for example, be optical disk, magnetic disk or flash memory, among others, and may be permanently affixed to, or removable from, the controller  155 . 
     The sensor(s)  160  may include a pressure sensor for monitoring fluid pressure of the machine  202 , although the sensors  160  may also include any of a heart rate sensor, a respiration sensor, a temperature sensor, a weight sensor, an air sensor, a video sensor, a thermal imaging sensor, an electroencephalogram sensor, a motion sensor, an audio sensor, an accelerometer, a capacitance sensor, or any other suitable sensor. It is appreciated that the sensors  160  may include sensors with varying sampling rates, including wireless sensors. 
     The controller  155  may be disposed in the machine  202  or may be coupled to the machine  202  via a communication port or wireless communication links, shown schematically as communication element  158  that may be a part of the connection component  112 . According to various examples, the communication element  158  may support a variety of one or more standards and protocols, examples of which include wireless and/or non-wireless communication, such as USB, Wi-Fi, TCP/IP, Ethernet, Bluetooth, among others. As a component disposed within the machine  202 , the controller  155  may be operatively connected to any of the sensors  160 , the pump  180 , and the like. The controller  155  may communicate control signals or triggering voltages to the components of the machine  202 . As discussed, exemplary embodiments of the controller  155  may include wireless communication interfaces. The controller  155  may detect remote devices to determine if any remote sensors are available to augment any sensor data being used to evaluate the patient. 
       FIG.  3    is a schematic illustration showing an example of a connected health (CH) system  300  that may include, among other things, a gateway device  310  and a CH cloud service  320 . The CH system  300  may provide for communication and/or connectivity of a dialysis machine  302 , that may be similar to one or more of the dialysis machines discussed elsewhere herein, such as the dialysis machines  102 ,  202 , and/or may include a different type of dialysis machine, such as a home HD machine. Via the CH system  300 , the dialysis machine  302  may be connected to internal and external networks, including with remote servers and/or entities. The gateway device  310  may serve as a communication device facilitating communication among components of the CH system  300 . The CH cloud  320  may be a cloud-based application or service (e.g. Software as a Service) implementation that serves as a communication pipeline that facilitates the transfer of data among components of the CH system  300  via connections to a network such as the Internet. A processing system  330  may be a server and/or cloud-based system that processes, compatibility checks and/or formats medical information, including prescription information generated at a clinical information system (CIS)  340  of a clinic or hospital, in connection with data transmission operations of the CH system  300 . The CH system  300  may include appropriate encryption and data security mechanisms. 
     In various embodiments, the gateway device  310  is in communication with the dialysis machine  302  via a wireless connection  301 , which may be done over a short range network, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and/or other appropriate type of local or short range wireless connection. The gateway  310  may also be in connection with the CH cloud  310  via an external network (e.g. the Internet) connection  311 . The gateway device  310  is configured to transmit/receive data to/from the CH cloud  320  and transmit/receive data to/from the dialysis machine  302 . In various implementations, the dialysis machine  302  may poll the CH cloud  320  for available files (e.g., via the gateway device  310 ), and the dialysis machine  302  may temporarily store available files for processing. 
     According to implementations of the system described herein, a leak detector system incorporated into the wheels of a moveable medical device, such as a dialysis machine (and/or cart or cabinet thereof) is provided. Such a system may address issues of separate leak detectors that may often need to have their batteries periodically replaced, can get lost or damaged and rendered ineffective, or simply are in the wrong place at the wrong time and cannot sense a dialysis-associated leak. By incorporating a leak detector into the wheels themselves of the movable medical device, the leak detector, despite movement of the medical device, is suitably located to locate leaks with respect to the medical device at all times and requires no additional setup. The leak detector can further be tested by and interface with the mobile medical device to ensure the leak detector is in working condition and provide a convenient interface for a user. Additionally, by using this technology on each of the multiple wheels of a moveable medical device, the detectable area may be bigger than a leak detector at only one location. 
       FIG.  4 A  is a schematic illustration  400  showing a leak detection system  410  (that may also interchangeably be referred to herein as a leak detector) according to the system described herein that is integrated into the one or more wheel  420  of a movable medical device, such as a dialysis machine  402  (or a cabinet or cart therefor, and which may be collectively referred to in the description herein as the mobile medical device or dialysis machine, understanding that a movable medical device or dialysis machine may be positioned on a cart and/or may be incorporated into a movable cabinet structure). The leak detector  410  may be wired directly into the user interface of the dialysis machine  402 . This allows the leak detector  410  to travel with the dialysis machine  402  and allows a user interface of the leak detector  410  to be accessible by the user of the dialysis machine  402 . In an implementation, a conductive (e.g. metal) ring  440  near or on the edge of the wheel  420   a , that may be a wheel of an insulated caster-type wheel assembly  420 , is electrically connected to a hub  430  of the wheel  420   a  via a conductive (e.g. metal) link  442 . The conductive link  442  makes contact with an electrically conductive caged bearing  450  (see  FIG.  4 B ) to facilitate transfer of the electrical signal to wires in the cabinet of the dialysis machine  402 . The electrically conductive portion of the wheel  420  does not need to be limited to a ring on the wheel, but in other implementations may include a coating on the wheel  420  or the wheel  420  itself could be made of metal or other conductive material. 
       FIG.  4 B  is a schematic illustration  400 ′ showing another view of the implementation of the leak detector  410  according to the system described herein. The wire circuit of the leak detector  410  passes from the wheel  420   a  through a power supply and to a processor board and back to the other wheel  420   b  of the caster assembly  420 . In some implementations the processor board may be a processor board of the dialysis machine  402  (see, e.g., the processor and other components of  FIG.  2   ). In other implementations, the processor board may be considered as a processor component of the leak detection system that may be located on the processor board of the dialysis machine and/or may be a processor located separately from the processor board of the dialysis machine  402 . When an electrically conductive liquid (like blood or dialysate) from a leak  401  completes the circuit between the two wheels  420   a ,b of the caster  420 , the dialysis machine  402  registers the signal as a detected leak and alarms, displaying a notification on a display screen of the dialysis machine  402  (see, e.g., the touch screen  118  of the dialysis machine  102 ). The alert message may also be transmitted wirelessly to other devices like a smartwatch, smartphone, tablet, etc., to notify the operator, as further discussed elsewhere herein. The metal ring  440  on the insulated wheels  420   a ,b would not make direct contact with the floor to prevent false alarms when resting on or rolling over an electrically conductive surface (e.g., an elevator threshold). Periodic safety checks can be performed in the circuit, but the advantage is that no setup is required and the sensors use the dialysis machine’s power supply without cumbersome wires outside of the dialysis machine. 
       FIG.  5 A  is a schematic illustration  500  of another implementation of a leak detection system  510  in which each set of wheels  420 ,  421  (or forked caster) carries a unique charge and the dialysis machine  402  would detect a difference when an electrically conductive liquid of a leak  501  touches more than one set of wheels  520 ,  521 . This would mean a larger spill is necessary for detection. It is further noted that, in another embodiment, the method of the system described herein may work for a smaller portable medical device, without movable wheels. Instead, each foot would carry a charge.  FIG.  5 B  is a schematic illustration  500 ′ showing a dialysis machine  402 ′ with insulated feet  520 ,  521  so it could be placed on a conductive surface (e.g., metal tabletop) without causing false leak alarms. Surface tension in the liquid leak would allow the fluid to climb high enough above the very bottom of the insulated feet  520 ,  521  to a conductive ring to complete the circuit between the feet  520 ,  521  and cause the dialysis machine  402 ′ to detect a leak. Each of the feet  520 ,  521  may be vertically split into two different charges for improved coverage in a narrower area. In another implementation, the feet  520 ,  521  may be wheels with a wheel lock, such that a leak detecting circuit of a leak detector  510 ′ (having features and functions like the leak detector  510  for this implementation) on a foot  520 ,  521  may descends to rest on the floor below the dialysis machine  402 ′ when the wheel lock is engaged. A switch at the wheel lock may signals it has been pressed against the floor. 
       FIG.  6    is a schematic illustration  600  showing the effective coverage area  601  for a leak detection system according to the system described herein incorporated into four wheel assemblies  620 ,  621 ,  622 ,  623 . The coverage area  601  may be advantageously larger than for a single leak detector. 
       FIG.  7    is a schematic illustration showing an example of a system  700  that includes components of the connected health system  300  described above, including the dialysis machine  302  and the gateway device  310  in communication with a cloud service  320 , and used in connection with a leak detector according to the system described herein. A mobile computing device  702  of a patient  50  may be in communication (e.g., wired or wireless communication)  701  with one or more of the dialysis machine  302 , the gateway device  310 , and the cloud service  320 . In the illustrated example, the mobile computing device  702  is a mobile phone or smartphone, but other mobile computing devices may also or alternatively be used, such tablet computers, laptop computers, etc. The mobile computing device  702  includes a microphone  750  and a speaker  752  and may be configured to provide voice interface capability as well as display and touch screen interfacing. The mobile computing device  702  may serve as a communication conduit between the dialysis machine  302  and the CH cloud  320 , or between the dialysis machine  302 , the gateway device  310 , and/or the CH cloud  320 . 
     A leak detection system  710  having features and functions as discussed above (e.g. like the leak detection system  410 ) may be incorporated into the dialysis machine  302  and/or cart or cabinet on which the dialysis machine  302  is positioned. When an electrically conductive liquid (like blood or dialysate) from a leak  701  completes the circuit between one or more wheels or caster assemblies, the dialysis machine  302  registers the signal as a detected leak and alarms, displaying a notification on a display screen of the dialysis machine  302 . The alert message may also be transmitted wirelessly via the connected health system  300 , including to the mobile computing device  702  and/or via the gateway device  310  to the cloud service  320 . The alert may thereby be remotely monitored by either or both of the mobile computing device  702  and/or a system in communication with the cloud service  320 , such as a clinical information system (e.g. the CIS  340 ). Appropriate responsive action may then be initiated, including by remote contact options to contact the patient  50  and/or causing a pumping or other functioning operation of the medical device to stop. 
       FIG.  8    is a flow diagram  800  showing flow processing for an iteration of leak detection according to an implementation of the system described herein. At a step  802 , a movable medical device is moved into a position to provide a medical treatment, such as a dialysis treatment. At a step  804 , a leak detection system as described herein that is incorporated into the movable medical device, for example, into the wheels thereof, is activated or maintained for monitoring for leaks. The activation may be either automatic or controlled via an interface of the medical device. At a decision step  806 , it is determined whether a leak has been detected by the activated leak detection system, which may be determined by a processor board of the medical device that is electrically connected to the leak detection system. If NO at decision step  806  then processing reiterates back to the step  804 . If YES at decision step  806 , then processing proceeds to a step  808  where an alarm is generated concerning the leak detection, and alarm processing is performed including displaying the alarm on a display screen of the movable medical device and/or other alarm processing including causing an operation of the medical device to stop. At a decision step  810 , it is determined whether the medical device is connected via a network of a connected health system, such as either a local network or a remote network, e.g. via a gateway device. If NO at the decision step  810  then processing is concluded for this described iteration of the leak detection processing. If YES at the decision step  810  then processing proceeds to a step  812  where the leak alarm is transmitted remotely, such as via a local network to a patient’s smartphone or other connected device and/or to a remote location via a cloud service using a gateway device. 
     Embodiments or implementations discussed herein may be combined with each other in appropriate combinations in connection with the system described herein. Additionally, in some instances, the order of steps in the flow diagrams, flowcharts and/or described flow processing may be modified, where appropriate. The system may further include a display and/or other computer components for providing a suitable interface with a user and/or with other computers. Aspects of the system described herein may be implemented or controlled using software, hardware, a combination of software and hardware and/or other computer-implemented or computer-controlled modules or devices having described features and performing described functions. Data exchange and/or signal transmissions to, from and between components of the system may be performed using wired or wireless communication. This communication may include use of one or more transmitter or receiver components that securely exchange information via a network, such as the Internet, and may include use of components of local area networks (LANs) or other smaller scale networks, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other short range transmission protocols, and/or components of wide area networks (WANs) or other larger scale networks, such as mobile telecommunication networks. 
     Software implementations of aspects of the system described herein may include executable code that is stored in a computer-readable medium and executed by one or more processors. The computer-readable medium may include volatile memory and/or non-volatile memory, and may include, for example, a computer hard drive, ROM, RAM, flash memory, portable computer storage media, an SD card, a flash drive or other drive with, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and/or any other appropriate tangible or non-transitory computer-readable medium or computer memory on which executable code may be stored and executed by a processor. The system described herein may be used in connection with any appropriate operating system. The meanings of any method steps of the invention(s) described herein are intended to include any suitable method of causing one or more parties or entities to perform the steps unless a different meaning is expressly provided or otherwise clear from the context. 
     As used herein, an element or operation recited in the singular and preceded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural elements or operations, unless such exclusion is explicitly recited. References to “one” embodiment or implementation of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Furthermore, a description or recitation in the general form of “at least one of [a], [b] or [c],” or equivalent thereof, should be generally construed to include [a] alone, [b] alone, [c] alone, or any combination of [a], [b] and [c]. 
     Embodiments and implementations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the specification or practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.