ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATION OF A DIALYSIS APPARATUS

摘要

The incidence of peritonitis is reduced in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis by irradiating the peritoneum access tube connection with ultraviolet (UV) radiation so as to have an antimicrobial effect on the fluid flow path defined thereby prior to draining and infusion of dialysis fluid therethrough. The apparatus for effecting UV irradiation of the dialysis fluid flow path includes a housing for enclosing the tube connection. Contained inside the housing is a source of UV radiation for irradiating the tube connection. A UV radiation source control circuit establishes the irradiation cycle based on time of exposure. A UV radiation intensity measuring circuit may also be used to maintain UV source output until a predetermined cumulative UV exposure has been attained.