A filtering device receives a pressure signal (P) from a pressure sensor in a fluid containing system, the pressure signal (P) comprising first pulses originating from a first periodic pulse generator and second pulses. The device acquires a reference signal which is indicative of a current operating frequency of the first periodic pulse generator. The device identifies, based on the reference signal, a plurality of harmonics (v.sub.1-v.sub.8) associated with the current operating frequency, computes correlation values (λ.sub.1-λ.sub.8) between the harmonics and the pressure signal (P) within a time window in the pressure signal (P), and generates a filtered signal by subtracting, as a function of the correlation values (λ.sub.1-λ.sub.8), the harmonics from the pressure signal (P). The use of correlation values is a direct, fast, robust and computation-efficient approach for estimating the signal contribution (d) from first pulses in the pressure signal (P).

A tubing set for a blood processing system includes a first connector, a first tube, and a second tube. The first connector is configured to connect to a separation device within the blood processing system, and has a first inlet configured to be fluidly connected to an outlet of the separation device. The first connector also has an outlet and a second inlet. The first tube fluidly connects to the outlet and fluidly connects the separation device and a blood component storage container. The second tube is fluidly connected to the second inlet and fluidly connects the separation device and a saline storage container. The second tube may include a second connector that connects to the saline storage container.

A renal failure therapy system (10) includes a dialyzer (102); a blood circuit (100) in fluid communication with the dialyzer (102); a dialysis fluid circuit (30) in fluid communication with the dialyzer (102); and an electrically floating fluid pathway (140) comprising at least a portion of the blood circuit (100) and at least a portion of the dialysis fluid circuit (30), wherein the only electrical path to ground is via used dialysis fluid traveling through machine (12) to earth ground (28), and wherein at least one electrical component (46, 90, 82, 66, 102, 116) in the at least a portion of the dialysis fluid circuit (30) of the electrically floating fluid pathway (140) is electrically bypassed.

A device is configured for closing an aperture in a wall of a blood vessel. An embodiment of the device includes a body and at least one suture element held within the body. A suture capture rod is positioned within the body and is operatively associated with the suture element and arranged to pass the suture element through a vessel wall such that opposed portions of the suture element extend from the vessel wall. A removable guidewire segment is removably attached to a distal end of the body.

A blood treatment apparatus is disclosed. The example apparatus includes a blood treatment unit including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a blood line. The apparatus also includes a fluid line including an upstream fluid line configured to receive electrically conductive treatment fluid from a fluid source and pass the electrically conductive treatment fluid to the fluid inlet of the blood treatment unit and a downstream fluid line connected to the fluid outlet of the blood treatment unit for delivering the used electrically conductive treatment fluid to a fluid sink. The apparatus further includes a flow divider arranged in the downstream fluid line and configured to separate the used electrically conductive treatment fluid in the downstream fluid line into to a first fluid section and a second fluid section, thereby electrically isolating the first and second fluid sections.

The present teachings provide a blood purification apparatus including a drain-liquid temporary chamber that stores drain liquid drained from a blood purifier that purifies blood of a patient, a first drain-liquid drain line through which the drain liquid flows into the drain-liquid temporary chamber, a second drain-liquid drain line through which the drain liquid stored in the drain-liquid temporary chamber is drained to an outside of the apparatus, a draining unit provided to the second drain-liquid drain line and that drains the drain liquid stored in the drain-liquid temporary chamber to the outside of the apparatus, a remaining-amount-detecting unit that detects an amount of drain liquid remaining in the drain-liquid temporary chamber, a judging unit that judges whether or not a reference remaining amount is reached by the drain liquid in the drain-liquid temporary chamber from a result of detection by the remaining-amount-detecting unit, and a control unit that controls the draining unit. The control unit executes a draining process in which the draining unit is controlled such that the drain liquid in the drain-liquid temporary chamber is drained to the outside of the apparatus. The draining process is ended if it is judged by the judging unit that the reference remaining amount is reached by the drain liquid in the drain-liquid temporary chamber.

A device is configured for closing an aperture in a wall of a blood vessel. An embodiment of the device includes a body and at least one suture element held within the body. A suture capture rod is positioned within the body and is operatively associated with the suture element and arranged to pass the suture element through a vessel wall such that opposed portions of the suture element extend from the vessel wall. A removable guidewire segment is removably attached to a distal end of the body.

The present invention provides a microchannel structure for removing circulating tumor cells in a circulating blood system without damaging cells in the blood, wherein the microchannel is loaded with a plurality of beads. The microchannel structure includes: a blood sample entrance passing a blood sample therethrough; a bead mooring section including: a first end connected to the blood sample entrance; a second end; a first section being relatively close to the first end, and cooperating with the first end to cause the plurality of beads to form a bead array in the bead mooring section for decreasing a flow rate of the blood sample through an interstice among neighboring ones of the plurality of beads; and a second section being relatively close to the second end, and causing the treated blood sample to smoothly flow therethrough; and a blood sample exit connected to the second end. One of the applications of this invention is to remove cancer cells in cancer patient's circulating blood system.

The present invention generally relates to hemodialysis and similar dialysis systems, including a variety of systems and methods that would make hemodialysis more efficient, easier, and/or more affordable. One aspect of the invention is generally directed to new fluid circuits for fluid flow. In one set of embodiments, a hemodialysis system may include a blood flow path and a dialysate flow path, where the dialysate flow path includes one or more of a balancing circuit, a mixing circuit, and/or a directing circuit. Preparation of dialysate by the preparation circuit, in some instances, may be decoupled from patient dialysis. In some cases, the circuits are defined, at least partially, within one or more cassettes, optionally interconnected with conduits, pumps, or the like. In one embodiment, the fluid circuit and/or the various fluid flow paths may be at least partially isolated, spatially and/or thermally, from electrical components of the hemodialysis system. In some cases, a gas supply may be provided in fluid communication with the dialysate flow path and/or the dialyzer that, when activated, is able to urge dialysate to pass through the dialyzer and urge blood in the blood flow path back to the patient. Such a system may be useful, for example, in certain emergency situations (e.g., a power failure) where it is desirable to return as much blood to the patient as possible. The hemodialysis system may also include, in another aspect of the invention, one or more fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, mixers, or the like, which can be actuated using a control fluid, such as air. In some cases, the control fluid may be delivered to the fluid handling devices using an external pump or other device, which may be detachable in certain instances. In one embodiment, one or more of the fluid handling devices may be generally rigid (e.g., having a spheroid shape), optionally with a diaphragm contained within the device, dividing it into first and second compartments.

The present invention relates to an insert piece for a blood tubing set that includes a first connection site for connecting a first tubing portion of the blood tubing set to the insert piece; a second connection site for connecting a second tubing portion of the blood tubing set to the insert piece; a third connection site for connecting a third tubing portion of the blood tubing set to the insert piece; a first main line for conducting a first liquid through the insert piece; a second main line for conducting the first liquid through the insert piece; a secondary line for conducting a second liquid into at least one of the first main line, and the second main line; and a connection portion which connects both main lines to each other or to the second connection site.