Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.

Abstract: A volume of fluid moved by a pump, such as a pump in an APD system, may be determined without direct measurement of the fluid, such as by flow meter, weight, etc. For example, a volume of a pump chamber (181) (having a movable element that varies the volume of the pump chamber) may be determined by measuring pressure in the pump chamber and a reference chamber, both while the two chambers are isolated from each other, and after the two chambers are fluidly connected so that pressures in the chambers may equalize. Equalization of the pressures may be assumed to occur in an adiabatic way, e.g., a mathematical model of the system that is based on an adiabatic pressure equalization process may be used to determine the pump chamber volume.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for mixing a substance with a liquid pumps the liquid into a container of the substance to produce a solution. The container may be part of a container assembly including a port assembly for coupling with the container to produce an inlet and/or and outlet port for the container. The container assembly may be received within a receiving chamber for causing the coupling. The solution may be permitted to flow out of the outlet port when the solution rises within the container to a level of the outlet port so that the substance is partially diluted before flowing out of the outlet port.

Abstract: A two-stage mixing system, apparatus, and method produces a solution including a first substance and a second substance in a predetermined ratio by first mixing the first substance with a first liquid to produce a first solution and then mixing the first solution with the second substance to produce a second solution. Multiple batches of second solution may be produced from a single batch of first solution. Multiple batches of second solution may be produced in parallel.

Abstract: Components for a medical infusion fluid handling system, such as an APD system, in which one or more lines (30) (such as solution lines), spikes (160) or other connection ports may be automatically capped and/or de-capped. This feature may provide advantages, such as a reduced likelihood of contamination since no human interaction is required to de-cap and connect the lines, spikes or other connections. For example, a fluid handling cassette (24) may include one or more caps (63) that cover a corresponding spike (160) and include a raised and/or recessed feature to assist in removal of the cap from the cassette. A solution line cap (31) may include a hole and recess, groove or other feature to engage with a spike cap enable removal of the cap.

Abstract: A medical infusion fluid handling system, such as an APD system, may be arranged to de-cap and connect one or more lines (30) (such as solution lines) with one or more spikes (160) or other connection ports on a fluid handling cassette (24). This feature may reduce a likelihood of contamination since no human interaction is required to de-cap and connect the lines and spikes. For example, an APD system may include a carriage (146) arranged to receive a plurality of solution lines (30) each having a connector end (31a) and a cap (31). The carriage may move along a first direction so as to move the connector ends of the solution lines along the first direction, and a cap stripper (149) may be arranged to engage with caps on the solution lines on the carriage. The cap stripper may move in a second direction transverse to the first direction, as well as to move with the carriage along the first direction.

Abstract: A medical treatment system, such as peritoneal dialysis system, may include control and other features to enhance patient comfort and ease of use. For example, a cycler device (14) may include a heater bag receiving section (142) and a lid (143) mounted to cover and uncover the heater bag receiving section, potentially enabling faster heating of dialysate. A user interface (144) may be moveable to be received into the receiving section and covered by the Hd, if desired. The system may detect anomalous conditions, such as tilting of the system housing, and automatically recover without terminating a treatment. The system may include noise reduction features, such as porting pneumatic outputs to a common chamber, and others. The system may also automatically detect any one of several different solution lines (30) connected to the system, and control operation accordingly, e.g., to mix solutions provided by two or more lines and form a needed dialysate solution.

Abstract: A fluid handling cassette (24), such as that useable with an APD cycler device or other infusion apparatus, may include a generally planar body having at least one pump chamber (181) formed as a depression in a first side of the body and a plurality of flowpaths for fluid that includes a channel. A patient line port may be arranged for connection to a patient line (34) and be in fluid communication with the at least one pump chamber via at least one flowpath, and an optional membrane (15) may be attached to the first side of the body over the at least one pump chamber. In one embodiment, the membrane may have a pump chamber portion (151) with an unstressed shape that generally conforms to the pump chamber depression in the body and is arranged to be movable for movement of fluid in the useable space of the pump chamber. One or more spacers (50) may be provided in the pump chamber to prevent a pump membrane from contacting an inner wall of the pump chamber.

Abstract: A volume of fluid moved by a pump, such as a pump in an APD system, may be determined without direct measurement of the fluid, such as by flow meter, weight, etc. For example, a volume of a pump chamber (181) (having a movable element that varies the volume of the pump chamber) may be determined by measuring pressure in the pump chamber and a reference chamber, both while the two chambers are isolated from each other, and after the two chambers are fluidly connected so that pressures in the chambers may equalize. Equalization of the pressures may be assumed to occur in an adiabatic way, e.g., a mathematical model of the system that is based on an adiabatic pressure equalization process may be used to determine the pump chamber volume.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for mixing liquids involves pumping a first liquid into a first pump chamber of a pumping apparatus through a channel of the pumping apparatus and pumping a second liquid from a second pump chamber of the pumping apparatus into either the channel or the first pump chamber, preferably while the first liquid is being pumped into the first pump chamber, so that the two liquids are mixed within the pumping apparatus. The second liquid is preferably pumped in a pulsatile mode in which small quantities of the second liquid are pumped at intervals. The quantity and/or the interval can be dynamically adjusted to result in a predetermined concentration of the two liquids. The contents of the first pump chamber are pumped to a receptacle.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for mixing a substance with a liquid pumps the liquid into a container of the substance to produce a solution. The container may be part of a container assembly including a port assembly for coupling with the container to produce an inlet and/or and outlet port for the container. The container assembly may be received within a receiving chamber for causing the coupling. The solution may be permitted to flow out of the outlet port when the solution rises within the container to a level of the outlet port so that the substance is partially diluted before flowing out of the outlet port.