A dialysis machine (e.g., a peritoneal dialysis (PD) machine) can include a control unit configured to monitor an amount of fluid withdrawn from a heater bag line during a PD treatment. A processor in the control unit is configured to operate a first pump to draw fluid into a first pump chamber and measure a first fluid volume in the first pump chamber. The processor is further configured to operate the first pump and a second pump to transfer fluid from the first pump chamber to a second pump chamber, measure a second fluid volume in the second pump chamber, and determine a measured fluid volume for a single pump cycle based on the first fluid volume and the second fluid volume. The first fluid volume is correlated to the second fluid volume and, therefore, the multiple independent measurements increase an accuracy of the fluid volume measurement.

An external functional means comprises at least one housing body, at least one chamber integrated into the housing body for receiving medical fluids, at least one passage integrated into the housing body for receiving and/or conducting a medical fluid, and at least one valve means completely or partly integrated into the housing body for controlling or regulating a fluid flowing through the external functional means. The invention further specifies a blood treatment apparatus and methods which may be carried out by means of the external functional means of the invention and by means of the blood treatment apparatus, respectively.

An external functional means comprises at least one housing body, at least one chamber integrated into the housing body for receiving medical fluids, at least one passage integrated into the housing body for receiving and/or conducting a medical fluid, and at least one valve means completely or partly integrated into the housing body for controlling or regulating a fluid flowing through the external functional means. The invention further specifies a blood treatment apparatus and methods which may be carried out by means of the external functional means of the invention and by means of the blood treatment apparatus, respectively.

Described are embodiments that include methods and devices for separating composite liquids into components. Embodiments involve the use of a flexible membrane for separating a composite liquid into components. The composite liquid may include, in embodiments, a cellular containing liquid, such as whole blood or components of whole blood. In one specific embodiment, the composite liquid is a buffy coat.

Described are embodiments that include methods and devices for separating composite liquids into components. Embodiments involve the use of a flexible membrane for separating a composite liquid into components. The composite liquid may include, in embodiments, a cellular containing liquid, such as whole blood or components of whole blood. In one specific embodiment, the composite liquid is a buffy coat.

An extracorporeal blood treatment device for operation with a single patient connection, connected by an arterial and a venous blood line to an extracorporeal blood circuit, and a method for operating a blood treatment device with a single patient connection. The blood treatment device has two apparatuses for conveying blood in the arterial and venous blood lines. The second apparatus for conveying blood comprises means for collecting blood and means for establishing a pressure in the means for collecting blood, so that blood collected in the means for collecting blood flows to the patient connection. Furthermore, the blood treatment device has arterial and venous closure elements for interrupting the flow of liquid in the arterial and venous blood lines, as well as a control unit for actuating the two apparatuses for conveying blood and the arterial and venous closure elements. The blood treatment device and the method for operating are characterized in that the first apparatus for conveying blood is operated both during the arterial and venous phases, so that blood flows continuously through the blood treatment unit.

An extracorporeal blood treatment device for operation with a single patient connection, connected by an arterial and a venous blood line to an extracorporeal blood circuit, and a method for operating a blood treatment device with a single patient connection. The blood treatment device has two apparatuses for conveying blood in the arterial and venous blood lines. The second apparatus for conveying blood comprises means for collecting blood and means for establishing a pressure in the means for collecting blood, so that blood collected in the means for collecting blood flows to the patient connection. Furthermore, the blood treatment device has arterial and venous closure elements for interrupting the flow of liquid in the arterial and venous blood lines, as well as a control unit for actuating the two apparatuses for conveying blood and the arterial and venous closure elements. The blood treatment device and the method for operating are characterized in that the first apparatus for conveying blood is operated both during the arterial and venous phases, so that blood flows continuously through the blood treatment unit.

A hemodialysis enhancement apparatus involves a bladder having elastically deformable surface that forms a variable volume therewithin. The elastically deformable surface has a smooth interior surface such that blood cannot collect to form a blood clot. The hemodialysis enhancement apparatus further includes a rigid housing having a wall surrounding the bladder and defining a housing volume such that a) when the variable volume chamber has a volume equal to the first volume, most of the elastically deformable surface will be spaced apart from the wall, and b) when the variable volume chamber has a volume equal to the second volume, a substantial portion of the elastically deformable surface will abut the wall. A method performed within a hemodialysis system involves, during an initial phase, withdrawing a volume of a patient's blood into a hemodialysis enhancer, and during a subsequent phase, translocating the patient's blood back into the patient's circulation.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for degassing liquids comprising a degassing system, wherein the degassing system has a first degassing chamber, a second degassing chamber, a liquid store, a pump, and a supply line that connects the liquid store to the first degassing chamber; wherein the pump is connected to the first degassing chamber at the intake side and to the second degassing chamber at the pressure side; and wherein the degassing system furthermore has a return line that can be cut off and that connects the two degassing chambers to one another, and wherein the apparatus comprises a controller that is configured to operate the degassing system in a first operating mode and in a second operation mode; wherein the degassing system is connected in the first operation mode such that the pump conducts liquid away from the first degassing chamber and supplies it to a removal unit for degassed liquid; and wherein the degassing system is connected in the second operating mode such that liquid is returned from the second degassing chamber to the first degassing chamber through the return line.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for degassing liquids comprising a degassing system, wherein the degassing system has a first degassing chamber, a second degassing chamber, a liquid store, a pump, and a supply line that connects the liquid store to the first degassing chamber; wherein the pump is connected to the first degassing chamber at the intake side and to the second degassing chamber at the pressure side; and wherein the degassing system furthermore has a return line that can be cut off and that connects the two degassing chambers to one another, and wherein the apparatus comprises a controller that is configured to operate the degassing system in a first operating mode and in a second operation mode; wherein the degassing system is connected in the first operation mode such that the pump conducts liquid away from the first degassing chamber and supplies it to a removal unit for degassed liquid; and wherein the degassing system is connected in the second operating mode such that liquid is returned from the second degassing chamber to the first degassing chamber through the return line.