A system includes a dialyzer having a blood side and a dialysate side, a first extracorporeal circuit including one or more first fluid connectors structurally configured to connect the blood side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a kidney patient, and a second extracorporeal circuit including one or more second fluid connectors structurally configured to connect the dialysate side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a healthy animal. The present teachings may thus include a system where hemodialysis is performed using a healthy animal (e.g., a person with normal kidney function) to help remove harmful solutes from, and provide helpful solutes to, a kidney patient. In this manner, the healthy animal is virtually donating its kidney function to the kidney patient.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device that may comprise a housing defining an outer wall. The device may further include a power source and a control component, an exit aerosol path defined through an opening, a tank portion that includes a reservoir configured to contain a liquid composition, and an atomization assembly configured to vaporize the liquid composition to generate an aerosol. The atomization assembly may comprise two or more vibrating assemblies each of which includes a mesh plate. In some implementations, the mesh plates may be substantially coplanar and substantially perpendicular to the exit aerosol path. In other implementations, the mesh plates may be non-coplanar.

A method for removing bodily fluid includes drawing bodily fluid that has accumulated in excess, converting the drawn fluid from bulk liquid form to aerosol form, and disposing of the aerosol via evaporation of liquid droplets and absorption and/or diffusion of vapor. Conversion from bulk liquid to aerosol may include collecting the bulk liquid fluid in a reservoir, conveying the bulk liquid bodily fluid to an atomizer, converting the bulk liquid fluid into an aerosol having ultrafine droplets, and ejecting the aerosol into a subcutaneous space for disposal via evaporation of liquid droplets and absorption and/or diffusion of vapors. The method may be performed with a subcutaneous atomizer that may be controlled locally or by an external transmitter for effecting a conversion and mist rate to keep pace with the accumulation of excess bodily fluid.

In some embodiments, a humidification system includes a heater base having a heater plate, a humidification chamber, and circuit. The circuit can include various conduits, including an inspiratory conduit, expiratory conduit, Y-piece, patient conduit, and/or dry conduit. In use, the chamber contains a quantity of liquid. The heater base heats the heater plate, which in turn heats the liquid to a temperature that causes at least some of the liquid to become vapor, thereby humidifying the gases within the chamber. The gas is delivered to the patient via the inspiratory conduit. Various features can help control the system and ensure the patient receives gases having the desired conditions. These features can be used individually or in various combinations and subcombinations both in existing humidification systems and improved systems for respiratory humidification, laparoscopy, and other purposes.

Aerosol delivery devices are disclosed herein. In one aspect, an aerosol delivery device may comprise a control body, a heating member, a control component, a power source, and a removable aerosol source member that includes an inhalable substance medium, the aerosol source member being configured to be inserted into the control body and defining a heated end and a mouth end, the heated end configured, when inserted into the control body, to be positioned proximate the heating member. In some implementations, the heating member may comprise a base heating member and a substrate heating member, wherein the base heating member is located in the control body and the substrate heating member is located in the aerosol source member. In some implementations, the heating member may comprise a flexible heating member that surrounds a heating cylinder located within a portion of the engaging end of the control body.

A system includes a dialyzer having a blood side and a dialysate side, a first extracorporeal circuit including one or more first fluid connectors for connecting the blood side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a kidney patient, a second extracorporeal circuit including one or more second fluid connectors for connecting the dialysate side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a healthy animal, a first pump in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second extracorporeal circuits, and a driver mechanically coupled to the first pump, where the driver is configured to drive the first pump using energy from an energy source.

The present invention relates to titration and delivery of anesthetic and sedative medications to a subject. Further, the present invention relates to a device and methods for titrating and delivering the medications in a semi-automated or fully automated manner and which can be monitored and controlled remotely. Even still further, the present invention relates to the device that can perform the titration and the delivery of the medications in a manner that minimalizes occlusion and prevents back flow of the medications. More particularly, the present invention relates to the device for the titration and the delivery of the medications using a non-concentric pumping mechanism that gradually or progressively increases and decreases occlusion in a medication delivery line within the pumping mechanism to minimize and/or prevent sudden formation and release of the occlusion in order to provide more steady and continuous flow of the medications through the device to the subject.

An apparatus for generating dialysate for dialysis comprising a dialysate outlet and a dialysate inlet and dialysate purifying means, wherein the purifying means comprise a cryopurifier for generating pure water, wherein the inlet of the cryopurifier is connected to the dialysate outlet and the outlet of the cryopurifier is connected to the dialysate inlet; and a method for reclaiming of fresh dialysate from ultrafiltrate and wasted dialysate extracted from a dialysis patient, comprising the following steps: preparing an ice slurry from the dialysate, wherein the ice slurry contains ice crystals and a liquid containing solutes; and separating the ice crystals from the liquid containing the solutes.

A system includes a dialyzer having a blood side and a dialysate side, a first extracorporeal circuit including one or more first fluid connectors for connecting the blood side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a kidney patient, a second extracorporeal circuit including one or more second fluid connectors for connecting the dialysate side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a healthy animal, a first pump in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second extracorporeal circuits, and a driver mechanically coupled to the first pump, where the driver is configured to drive the first pump using energy from an energy source.

In one aspect of the invention, a method of charging a medical device includes receiving radiofrequency signals from a remote machine remote from the medical device via a receiver of the medical device. The method includes converting the radiofrequency signals into electrical energy via a generator of the medical device. The method includes storing the electrical energy in an energy cell of the medical device. The method also includes powering a power consumption component of the medical device by transmitting the energy from the energy cell to the power consumption component.