Medical Design Briefs: 2021 Technology Leaders - 93

would
" plug and
play " as part of a
hemodialysis machine.
As the list of regulatory and
safety requirements grows, the
Emerson team continues to develop
new capabilities to meet them in other
dialysis-related products, such as the
ASCO Series 284/384 pinch valves and
Series RB general service valves.
This modular valve assembly for a hemodialysis
machine contains multiple ASCO Series 188 general
service valves. The base is a printed circuit board,
complete with all electrical and communications connections
and ready to install. (Credit: Emerson)
the valve to increase flow rates at
required pressures (3-4 bars) and to
provide a special coil with flying leads
that would eliminate a manufacturing
step and reduce product assembly costs.
In other situations, customers might
ask for a manifold assembly, which links
a series of valves, such as ASCO Series
188 general service valves, into a single
assembly mounted on a PCB along with
customer-specified tubing. One such
manifold design was produced for a dialysis
equipment builder that sought a
high-flow, low-leakage solution that
Peritoneal Dialysis Applications
In peritoneal dialysis, the blood is
cleansed within the body, using the lining
of the peritoneal cavity both as a filtration
mechanism and as a container
for dialyzing fluid. Because the procedure
can be done at home - sometimes
even while a patient sleeps - the latest
ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (APD)
machines feature compact design, lightweight
componentry, low power consumption,
and low noise. However, the
fluid components in these machines are
subject to the same biocompatibility and
isolation requirements as hemodialysis
equipment since the fluids they carry are
in direct contact with the human body.
To simplify manufacturability of APD
equipment while meeting the latest MDR
and FDA requirements, Emerson often
This PCB-mounted assembly
clusters 21 10-mm miniature
general-purpose valves, which together regulate
the input and output of dialysate fluid used in peritoneal
dialysis equipment. This ultracompact assembly
reflects the importance of lower weight, cost,
and power consumption in portable machines at
home. (Credit: Emerson)
provides equipment builders with modular,
multivalve manifolds or assemblies.
Similar to those mentioned earlier, the
manifolds or assemblies may be built atop
a compact PCB that incorporates valvemounted
pneumatic connections, data
links, and multi-pin electrical connectors.
In one case, a PCB-based modular
assembly built to hold 21 modified 10
mm miniature general-purpose valves
offered two key benefits for a maker of
APD machines. First, the pneumatically
actuated assembly is lightweight and easy
to install yet fits within the tight confines
of a tabletop APD machine. Second, and
more important, the manifold functions
reliably for patients by precisely managing
the inflow and removal of dialysate
within the peritoneal cavity, maintaining
the fluid levels and pressures essential
for an optimal dialysis process.
Conclusion
In hemodialysis, human blood is filtered and cleansed outside the body using a dialysis machine, then returned
to the patient. (Credit: iStock/saengsuriya13)
Medical Design Briefs 2021 Technology Leaders
www.medicaldesignbriefs.com
Through decades of effort, medical
professionals, dialysis equipment makers,
and equipment suppliers have collaborated
amid the stringent requirements
of regulators to develop and deliver
newer, safer and more effective dialysis
treatments, not only for clinics but
also for at-home settings. With longer
lifespans and aging populations worldwide,
the need for and importance of
dialysis technology will only grow, creating
new treatment opportunities and
technical challenges in the years ahead.
This article was written by Luca Raguzzi,
Business Development Manager for ASCO
Analytical and Medical at Emerson, St.
Louis, MO. For more information, visit
http://info.hotims.com/79419-343.
93

http://info.hotims.com/79419-343 https://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com

Medical Design Briefs: 2021 Technology Leaders

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Medical Design Briefs: 2021 Technology Leaders