FIELD

Embodiments of the application relate generally to container systems that may be used, for example, in preparing and delivering solutions to patients, such as solutions for dialysis.

BACKGROUND

Dialysis is commonly used to replace kidney function lost by kidney disease. Most importantly, dialysis is designed to remove waste toxins and excess water from the blood. In one type of dialysis—hemodialysis (HD)—toxins are filtered from a patient's blood through a dialyzer separated by a semi-permeable membrane from a large volume of external dialysis solution. The waste and toxins dialyze out of the blood through the membrane into the dialysis solution, which is then discarded.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an alternative method that makes use of a natural, semi-permeable membrane surrounding the walls of the patient's abdomen or peritoneal cavity (i.e., the peritoneum). During a PD procedure, a solution is introduced into the patient's abdomen, where it remains for up to several hours, removing toxins via diffusion across the membrane. This solution is then drained from the body along with the toxins dissolved therein.

Dialysis solutions generally include water and glucose, electrolytes (e.g., sodium, calcium, potassium, chlorine, magnesium, etc.), acids (e.g., citric acid, acetic acid, etc.) and/or bases (e.g., bicarbonate). These solutions may be premixed or may be shipped as concentrates or powders to be mixed to a final concentration at the point of use. Premixed solutions are more expensive to ship and store. Shipping and storing concentrates or powders is cheaper, but increases costs for mixing on-site at the time of use (e.g., in the form of additional steps for a medical practitioner).

Mixing requires addition of purified water and agitation over a period of time to ensure a solution of uniform concentration. Conventional dialysis processes may require the use of one supply line to add liquid to the solution container and a second line to remove liquid from the solution container, which lines complicate manufacture and use, and increases costs.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a container system includes at least one flexible wall defining a compartment containing a dissolvable solid or concentrate, a support adjacent a first end of the at least one flexible wall, and a nozzle assembly coupled to a second end of the at least one flexible wall. The second end of the wall is distal from the first end. The nozzle assembly comprises a hollow body defining a longitudinal axis. The hollow body further defines a plurality of orifices through a wall thereof. Each orifice is able to form a fluid connection between an interior volume within the hollow body and the compartment. Each orifice is configured to deliver liquid from the interior volume to the compartment in a direction having an angle of between 5° and 85° from a direction of the longitudinal axis.

In some embodiments, a nozzle assembly includes a hollow body having a generally cylindrical exterior surface and defining a longitudinal axis, and a port configured to couple to a catheter. The hollow body defines a plurality of orifices therethrough. Each orifice is able to form a fluid connection between an interior volume within the hollow body and an exterior volume outside the nozzle assembly. Each orifice is configured to deliver liquid received from the port to the exterior volume in a direction forming an angle of between 5° and 85° with respect to a direction of the longitudinal axis of the hollow body.

A method for delivering a liquid includes providing a plurality of streams of a liquid through a nozzle assembly into a compartment containing a dissolvable solid or concentrate, mixing the dissolvable solid or concentrate with the liquid to form a solution; and withdrawing the solution after mixing from the compartment through the nozzle assembly. The compartment is defined by at least one flexible wall having a support adjacent a first end of the at least one flexible wall. The nozzle assembly is coupled to a second end of the at least one flexible wall distal from the first end. The nozzle assembly includes a hollow body defining a longitudinal axis. The hollow body defines a plurality of orifices therethrough, each orifice able to form a fluid connection between an interior volume within the hollow body and the compartment. Each orifice is configured to deliver the liquid from the interior volume to the compartment in a direction having an angle of between 5° and 85° from a direction of the longitudinal axis.

The mixing process can be completed relatively quickly, such that the solution may be withdrawn shortly after the streams of liquid are first provided into the compartment. Furthermore, the nozzle design enables the use of a single fluid line to fill the compartment and remove the mixed solution. Thus, the container system may expedite and simplify the process of providing the mixed solution.

