Continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis system and method

Claim 1

A continuous cycle peritoneal dialysis process comprising: providing a source of a generally continuous and unlimited supply of sterilized dialysis fluid; providing an inflow line for connection to a catheter adapted for implantation into the peritoneal cavity of a patient; providing an outflow line for connection to said catheter; using pump means for pumping sterilized dialysis fluid from said source to said catheter through said inflow line during a fill cycle and for pumping said fluid from said catheter to a drain through said outflow line during a drain cycle; monitoring a function of a volume of said sterile dialysis fluid in said peritoneal cavity by determining a high level signal for said dialysis fluid inflow corresponding to a comfortable and efficient cavity distension level of said patient, and setting a low level signal for said dialysis fluid outflow corresponding to a low volume level for dialysis; and controlling said pump means in response to said high level signal to pump a calibrated fill volume of fluid into said cavity and in response to said low level signal to pump a calibrated drain volume of fluid from said cavity continuously in alternating fill and drain cycles; delivering said drain volume of fluid pumped out of said cavity to a disposal means so that a single pass of said dialysis fluid occurs through said peritoneal cavity of said patient during said fill and drain cycles; calibrating said fill volume and drain volume so that a prescribed amount of dialysis fluid is left in said abdominal cavity between said fill and drain cycles; mixing glucose with said dialysis fluid prior to pumping said fluid into said cavity; determining the amount of fluid removed from said peritoneal cavity of said patient; and adjusting the amount of glucose mixed to vary the glucose concentrate of said fill volume fluid in response to amount of fluid removed from said patient.