Systems and methods for estimating the post-treatment ultrafiltration rate of a patient are provided. A medical device can be configured to determine an estimated post-treatment ultrafiltration rate based on one or more values associated with a patient prepared to undergo treatment with the medical device. The medical device can also be configured to compare the estimated post-treatment ultrafiltration rate with one or more threshold values. The medical device can be configured to have an alert module, which can be activated when the estimated post-treatment ultrafiltration rate exceeds the one or more threshold values.

Dialysis systems comprising actuators that cooperate to perform dialysis functions and sensors that cooperate to monitor dialysis functions are disclosed. According to one aspect, such a hemodialysis system comprises a user interface model layer, a therapy layer, below the user interface model layer, and a machine layer below the therapy layer. The user interface model layer is configured to manage the state of a graphical user interface and receive inputs from a graphical user interface. The therapy layer is configured to run state machines that generate therapy commands based at least in part on the inputs from the graphical user interface. The machine layer is configured to provide commands for the actuators based on the therapy commands.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for determining beginning blood volume of a patient during dialysis (e.g., hemodialysis). Ultrafiltration rates are determined at different time stamps during dialysis by obtaining a blood flowrate measurement and hematocrit measurements at input port and output port of a dialyzer connected to the patient. The flowrate and hematocrit measurements are used to determine fluid removed from the patient during dialysis. The ultrafiltration rates and fluid removed from the patient are used to determine the beginning blood volume of the patient.

Hemodialysis systems are described. A hemodialysis system may include a dialysate flow path through which dialysate is passed from a dialysate reservoir, which includes a valved vent to atmosphere, to an ultrafilter. The dialysate flow path includes a pneumatically actuated diaphragm-based dialysate pump for pumping fluid from the dialysate reservoir to the ultrafilter. The hemodialysis system may include a controller for controlling pneumatic actuation pressure delivered to the dialysate pump and at least one valve connecting the dialysate reservoir vent to the atmosphere. The hemodialysis system may be configured to actuate the dialysate pump and the at least one valve to introduce air into the dialysate flow path and expel liquid from the dialysate flow path to a drain.

In embodiments of the invention, there is provided a dialyzer or filter comprising hollow fibers, in which blood flows on the exterior of the hollow fibers, and dialysate or filtrate may flow on the inside. The external surfaces of the hollow fibers may have properties of smoothness and hemocompatibility. The fiber bundle may have appropriate packing fraction and may have wavy fibers. Optimum shear rates and blood velocities are identified. Geometric features of the cartridge, such as pertaining to flow distribution of the blood, may be different for different ends of the cartridge. Air bleed and emboli traps may be provided. Lengthened service life may be achieved by combinations of these features, which may permit additional therapies and applications or better economics.

The invention relates to a method and to a device for determining an optimum dialysate flow Q.sub.dopt for an extracorporeal blood treatment and to a blood treatment device comprising a device 18 for determining an optimum dialysate flow Qd.sub.opt. The optimum dialysate flow Qd.sub.opt is determined on the basis of a relationship describing the dependence of the clearance K on the dialysate flow Q.sub.d. The device according to the invention comprises a measurement device 18B for measuring at least one value which is characteristic of the clearance K, a calculation and/or evaluation unit 18A of the device according to the invention being configured in such a way that the clearance K is determined on the basis of the at least one value which is characteristic of the clearance. The calculation and/or evaluation unit 18A is configured in such a way that the optimum dialysate flow Q.sub.dopt is determined from the relationship describing the dependence of the clearance K on the dialysate rate Q.sub.d on the basis of the measured clearance K, or the optimum dialysate flow Q.sub.dopt is determined from the measured clearance K.

Hemodialysis is used to remove fluid from a patient suffering from end-stage renal kidney disease. An optimization-based approach including a design of an individualized ultrafiltration rate profile may be used to prevent hematocrit levels from exceeding a threshold, thereby preventing adverse effects in the patient. The individualized ultrafiltration rate profile may be based on previously obtained clinical data for the patient, a volume of fluid to be removed from the patient, a specified period of time for removal of the fluid, or a patient-specific fluid volume model. The ultrafiltration rate profile may be time-variant over the specified period of time.

The present invention relates to systems and devices to treat and/or prevent inflammatory conditions within a subject and to related methods. More particularly, the invention relates to systems, devices, and related methods that sequester leukocytes and/or platelets and then inhibit their inflammatory action.

A dialysis fluid system includes a dialysis fluid inlet; a dialysis fluid outlet; a pump positioned and arranged to pump dialysis fluid through the dialysis fluid inlet and the dialysis fluid outlet; and an inductive heater located between the dialysis fluid inlet and the dialysis fluid outlet, the inductive heater including a fluid flowpath positioned and arranged to receive non-heated dialysis fluid from the dialysis fluid inlet and to output heated dialysis fluid to the a dialysis fluid outlet, a conductive heater element located within the fluid flowpath so as to be or act as a secondary coil of a transformer, and a primary coil of the transformer located outside of the fluid flowpath and positioned so as to magnetically induce a current into the conductive heater element, causing the conductive heater element and surrounding fluid to heat.

The disclosed subject matter relates to extracorporeal blood processing or other processing of fluids. Volumetric fluid balance, a required element of many such processes, may be achieved with multiple pumps or other proportioning or balancing devices which are to some extent independent of each other. This need may arise in treatments that involve multiple fluids. Safe and secure mechanisms to ensure fluid balance in such systems are described.