New medical connectivity technology helps improve dialysis treatment in China

To help China solve its healthcare challenges, Colder Products Company, a leader in connectivity solutions, has launched a series of quick-disconnect connector technologies designed to improve and protect the dialysis process. In 2012, the number of patients requiring dialysis treatment increased by 60%. As the dialysis market continues to grow, healthcare institutions and service providers are strengthening infrastructure and resource investment in this area. Colder connector products connect dialysis equipment to a variety of important lines. For clinical professionals, biopharmaceutical technicians, and medical device manufacturers in China, this connector enables simpler interactions and a safer working environment, while improving connection efficiency and achieving more efficient dialysis treatment.

　　Dialysis clinics are dedicated to treating chronic kidney disease, keeping more than one million Chinese patients with this serious and life-threatening disease under control. Dialysis alone costs my country 80 billion RMB per year. The number of patients with kidney-related diseases continues to increase, prompting health officials and service providers to seek solutions to address the growing cost of dialysis care. Colder's connectivity technology simplifies several important processes in dialysis treatment, helping medical institutions treat more patients.

　　Colder's intuitive quick-disconnect connectors help improve high-flow reverse osmosis (RO) water systems and central fluid supply systems in large clinics, disinfect chemical connections, reduce operating and equipment costs, and help healthcare providers improve the quality and scope of treatment. A wide variety of connectors will help Chinese medical device manufacturers meet a variety of customer needs.

　　•Clinical dialysis equipment

　　Colder provides a variety of connectors for large clinics and hospitals to connect dialysis equipment to a variety of chemical and water systems, including acid, bicarbonate, reverse osmosis water and chemical waste containers. To ensure safe and efficient dialysis treatment, clinical professionals must frequently manage the connection of these media, and Colder quick-disconnect connectors save technicians the time and effort of switching tubing, which usually requires frequent connection/unconnection cycles.

　　• Distribution system

　　Biomedical technicians spend a significant amount of time maintaining and servicing the multiple distribution systems involved in dialysis treatments. To simplify these processes, Colder offers fittings that quickly disconnect equipment from acid, bicarbonate, reverse osmosis water and disinfectant supply systems, reducing the time required for equipment changeouts. For acid and bicarbonate system connections and chemical waste pump connections, Colder offers HFC12 fittings with EPDM seals for managing large, chemically resistant fluid systems. For reverse osmosis water management, HFC35 high-flow fittings feature a female hose thread end for connection to a faucet.

　　To manage the tank-filter connection, which is critical to water treatment and patient safety, the PLC connector connects to small and medium-sized lines and is compatible with older metal fittings. The PLC12 connector with Colder IdentiQuik smart connector technology is a chemical-resistant connection that helps reduce transfer time, prevents incorrect connections, electronically verifies correct use, and locks out hazardous or incorrect chemical combinations.

　　• On-site dialyzer reuse and reprocessing

　　In dialysis clinics, all patients use dedicated dialyzers that can be reused for a limited time to reduce adverse reactions and improve treatment effectiveness. For reusable machines, the cleaning, inspection, and disinfection of dialyzers play an important role, helping to improve safety and save clinic costs. Colder dialysis connectors help technicians safely connect reusable processing equipment to filtration, disinfection, and cleaning lines. To complete such cleaning and maintenance tasks, Colder provides APC and MPC connectors for quickly and safely connecting dialysis filters to dialyzer reprocessing equipment.

　　• Water treatment system

　　Dialysis clinics rely on water treatment equipment such as reverse osmosis systems to purify water used in dialysis treatments. Clinic operators responsible for providing sterile water must pre-treat water resources, manage high flow rates, and observe multiple factors to ensure a filtered water supply that is critical to patient safety. For reverse osmosis system operations, Colder has launched a PLC connector for quick connection of pre-filtration water lines, downstream water pumps, and filter water tanks. This connector helps Chinese dialysis technicians who are responsible for connecting equipment to clean water systems save a lot of time. Colder's HFC35 connector helps clinic professionals quickly isolate and disinfect large systems, and the connector's efficient valve design saves operators time on cleaning and handling by increasing the flow of small equipment.

　　• Portable system

　　Recently, the Chinese government has begun to promote cost-effective and easy-to-use home systems, such as peritoneal dialysis machines. Portable dialysis equipment is often used in home and non-clinic settings, with short maintenance, repair and charging cycles. To ensure patient safety, such equipment needs to properly perform self-tests and follow operating specifications to enable routine portable dialysis treatment. Colder PLC and PLC 12 connectors make dialysis equipment modular and help clinic professionals quickly replace parts for maintenance or repair. In non-clinic environments, easy-to-use thumb locks improve product performance and patient safety. In addition, the automatic shut-off valve in the Colder connector also reduces spillage during replacement, reducing health and safety risks.

　　“Secure connections are critical to the effectiveness of clinical dialysis,” said Chen Zhicong, Sales Director, Asia Pacific, Colder Products Company. “Technicians rely on these connections to properly mix, transfer and clean the chemical and water supplies used to treat patients. Our high-performance fittings make these connections simpler and safer, helping operators spend less time on assembly and more time on improving safety and efficiency.”