Systems for monitoring fluid flow in an extracorporeal blood circuit are described. The blood circuit of such systems can include plod pump having a pumping chamber of the blood pump separated from a control chamber of the blood pump by a flexible diaphragm. The control chamber can be configured to transmit positive or negative pressure to operate the diaphragm. The system can include a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure in the control chamber of the blood pump, and a controller configured to receive information from the pressure sensor and to control the delivery of pressure to the control chamber of the blood pump. The controller can also be configured to cause the application of a time-varying pressure waveform on the blood pump diaphragm during a fill-stroke of the blood pump, and to monitor a pressure variation in the control chamber measured by the pressure sensor. When so configured, such controller can transmit a value representing a magnitude of the measured pressure variation to a display associated with the extracorporeal blood circuit.

Systems for monitoring fluid flow in an extracorporeal blood circuit are described. The blood circuit of such systems can include plod pump having a pumping chamber of the blood pump separated from a control chamber of the blood pump by a flexible diaphragm. The control chamber can be configured to transmit positive or negative pressure to operate the diaphragm. The system can include a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure in the control chamber of the blood pump, and a controller configured to receive information from the pressure sensor and to control the delivery of pressure to the control chamber of the blood pump. The controller can also be configured to cause the application of a time-varying pressure waveform on the blood pump diaphragm during a fill-stroke of the blood pump, and to monitor a pressure variation in the control chamber measured by the pressure sensor. When so configured, such controller can transmit a value representing a magnitude of the measured pressure variation to a display associated with the extracorporeal blood circuit.

A pump cassette is disclosed. The pump cassette includes a housing having at least one fluid inlet line and at least one fluid outlet line. The cassette also includes at least one reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pump within the housing. The pressure pump pumps a fluid from the fluid inlet line to the fluid outlet line. A hollow spike is also included on the housing as well as at least one metering pump. The metering pump is fluidly connected to the hollow spike on the housing and to a metering pump fluid line. The metering pump fluid line is fluidly connected to the fluid outlet line.

A pump cassette is disclosed. The pump cassette includes a housing having at least one fluid inlet line and at least one fluid outlet line. The cassette also includes at least one reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pump within the housing. The pressure pump pumps a fluid from the fluid inlet line to the fluid outlet line. A hollow spike is also included on the housing as well as at least one metering pump. The metering pump is fluidly connected to the hollow spike on the housing and to a metering pump fluid line. The metering pump fluid line is fluidly connected to the fluid outlet line.

A dual acting pressure boosting liquid partition device (2) and system, including a hollow cylinder housing (20) having a longitudinal extension, the cylinder housing (20) having at least a first part and a second part having a first transverse cross sectional area (a1) and a third part having a second transverse cross sectional area (a2) of different size than the first transverse cross sectional area (a1), a rod having a cross sectional area corresponding to the first transverse cross sectional area (a1), the rod further having a protruding portion (30) having a cross sectional area corresponding to the second transverse cross sectional area (a2), and the protruding portion and the third part of the cylinder housing (20) defining a first outer chamber (44′) and a second outer chamber (44″).

A dual acting pressure boosting liquid partition device (2) and system, including a hollow cylinder housing (20) having a longitudinal extension, the cylinder housing (20) having at least a first part and a second part having a first transverse cross sectional area (a1) and a third part having a second transverse cross sectional area (a2) of different size than the first transverse cross sectional area (a1), a rod having a cross sectional area corresponding to the first transverse cross sectional area (a1), the rod further having a protruding portion (30) having a cross sectional area corresponding to the second transverse cross sectional area (a2), and the protruding portion and the third part of the cylinder housing (20) defining a first outer chamber (44′) and a second outer chamber (44″).

A system for managing liquid waste includes a first liquid container that receives waste liquid, a liquid transfer pump fluidly connected to the first liquid container; and a second liquid container fluidly connectable to the liquid transfer pump. The liquid transfer pump is can be selectively activated to transfer liquid waste from the first liquid container to the second liquid container when the second liquid container is fluidly connected to the liquid transfer pump. A method for managing liquid waste includes the steps of receiving waste liquid into a first liquid container, monitoring the amount of liquid in the first container, connecting a second liquid container to a liquid transfer pump that is connected to the first liquid container, after the amount of liquid received into the first liquid container reaches a predefined level, transferring liquid from the first liquid container into the second liquid container with the liquid transfer pump, and removing liquid transferred to the second liquid container.

A system for managing liquid waste includes a first liquid container that receives waste liquid, a liquid transfer pump fluidly connected to the first liquid container; and a second liquid container fluidly connectable to the liquid transfer pump. The liquid transfer pump is can be selectively activated to transfer liquid waste from the first liquid container to the second liquid container when the second liquid container is fluidly connected to the liquid transfer pump. A method for managing liquid waste includes the steps of receiving waste liquid into a first liquid container, monitoring the amount of liquid in the first container, connecting a second liquid container to a liquid transfer pump that is connected to the first liquid container, after the amount of liquid received into the first liquid container reaches a predefined level, transferring liquid from the first liquid container into the second liquid container with the liquid transfer pump, and removing liquid transferred to the second liquid container.

A muscle-powered pulsation device for cardiac support including a muscle energy converter device including a piston arrangement for directing fluid out of an outlet of the muscle energy converter device using energy provided by a patient's muscle, and a hydraulic volume amplification device fluidly connected to the muscle energy converter device. The volume amplification device includes a casing including an inlet and an outlet, the inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the muscle energy converter device, at least one resilient member positioned within an interior cavity defined by the casing, and at least one piston member movably and sealingly positioned within the interior cavity of the casing and operatively connected to the at least one resilient member, the at least one piston member separating the interior cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber.

Method, and associated system, computer program and use, of controlling working range of a pump bellows, including maximum limitations such as maximum retracting position and maximum extension position of the bellows, the method comprising the steps of: a) reading at least a first position of a bellows (6′, 6″) in a closed hydraulic loop volume using at least one position sensor (12′, 12″), g) transmitting a first position signal representing the first position to a control system, h) wherein the control system, based on the at least first position signal: c1) determines the position of the bellows (6′, 6″) represented by the at least first position signal, c2) compares the position of the bellows (6′, 6″) with a predetermined bellows position operating range, and c3) if the position is outside the predetermined bellows position operating range, instructs an oil management system valve (16′, 16″) allowing a dual acting pressure boosting liquid partition device (2) to recalibrate the hydraulic fluid volume in the closed hydraulic loop volume to re-establish a hydraulic fluid volume that causes the at least first position to return to a position within the predetermined bellows position operating range.