Minntech Corporation

Jeffrey C Toy

Robert G Andrus

David A Luhring

Kevin R Arnal

A method of cleaning precleaning the header of a used dialyzer is provided. The method includes providing a precleaner header selectively coupled to a dialyzer header cap. The precleaner header includes a needle having an inlet in fluid communication with a source of cleaning fluid and an outlet in fluid communication with the header cap. An incoming source of cleaning fluid is introduced into the needle at a pressure above ambient pressure and an incoming source of air is introduced at a pressure above ambient pressure into the incoming cleaning fluid stream. The cleaning fluid containing air is discharged into the dialyzer header and cleans the dialyzer header by circulating therewith in. A waste stream is generated and drained from the dialyzer header through the precleaner header.

Method of cleaning a dialyzer header

A dialyzer precleaning system for coupling a source of fluid to a used dialyzer. The precleaning system includes a precleaner header that includes a housing with a needle receiving channel and a connected waste discharge channel, a needle with a plurality of fluid discharge perforations is received within the needle assembly receiving channel, and a coupling arm for attaching the precleaner header to a dialyzer header cap. The needle protrudes into the dialyzer header so that fluid may be discharged through the inside of the needle out the fluid discharge perforations into the dialyzer header. Waste fluid from the dialyzer header is discharged back into the needle assembly receiving channel along the outside the needle into a fluidly connected waste discharge channel and out a waste discharge outlet. The needle may also rotate and retract. The invention also includes a method of precleaning a used dialyzer including providing a precleaner header coupled to a dialyzer header cap, discharging a pulsating stream into the dialyzer header, forming a waste stream, and draining the waste stream from the dialyzer header through the precleaner header. The method may also include reverse flushing the dialyzer, reverse flushing the dialyzer while introducing a pulsating stream into the dialyzer header, flushing the dialyzer using a cross flow arrangement, and flushing the dialyzer from the arterial dialyzer header cap to the venous dialyzer header cap. The invention may also include a base unit that automates the transfer of fluids and waste.

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Plymouth, MN, United States of America

Jeffrey C Toy