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.

An apparatus for extracorporeal treatment of blood (1) comprising a treatment unit, a blood withdrawal line, a blood return line, a preparation line and a spent dialysate line. A control unit (10) is configured to calculate values of a parameter relating to treatment effectiveness based on measures of the conductivity in the spent dialysate line. An upstream variation of the value of the characteristic (Cd.sub.in) is caused in the fresh treatment liquid with respect to a prescription baseline (Cd.sub.set) thereby causing a corresponding and timely delayed downstream variation of the same characteristic (Cd.sub.out) in the spent liquid flowing in the spent dialysate line (13). An amplitude (ΔC.sub.in) and/or a duration over time (ΔT) of the upstream variation are/is computed as a function of the flow rate (Qdial) of the fresh treatment liquid in a preparation line (19) or of the parameter correlated to the flow rate (Qdial).

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.

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.

An example peritoneal dialysis system is disclosed. The example peritoneal dialysis system includes an automated peritoneal dialysis (“APD”) machine configured to remove ultrafiltrate (“UF”) from a patient and record how much UF has been removed. The APD machine operates according to a prescription to remove the UF. The system also includes a server in communication with the APD machine. The server analyzes the UF data to determine if the prescription is to be modified to compensate for changes to the patient's renal function or renal transport characteristics.

Dialysis systems are disclosed comprising new fluid flow circuits. Systems may include blood and dialysate flow paths, where the dialysate flow path includes balancing, mixing, and/or directing circuits. Dialysate preparation may be decoupled from patient dialysis. Circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuit fluid flow paths may be isolated from electrical components. A gas supply in fluid communication with the dialysate flow path and/or the dialyzer able to urge dialysate through the dialyzer and urge blood back to the patient may be included for certain emergency situations. Fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, and mixers that to can be actuated using a control fluid may be included. Control fluid may be delivered by an external pump or other device, which may be detachable and/or generally rigid, optionally with a diaphragm dividing the device into first and second compartments.

The present invention relates to a method for checking the conveying accuracy of conveying devices of a blood treatment apparatus. It further relates to a blood treatment apparatus with a control device and/or closed-loop control device, through which the method is effected, a digital storage medium, a computer program product, and a computer program.

Dialysis systems are disclosed comprising new fluid flow circuits. Systems may include blood and dialysate flow paths, where the dialysate flow path includes balancing, mixing, and/or directing circuits. Dialysate preparation may be decoupled from patient dialysis. Circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuit fluid flow paths may be isolated from electrical components. A gas supply in fluid communication with the dialysate flow path and/or the dialyzer able to urge dialysate through the dialyzer and urge blood back to the patient may be included for certain emergency situations. Fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, and mixers that can be actuated using a control fluid may be included. Control fluid may be delivered by an external pump or other device, which may be detachable and/or generally rigid, optionally with a diaphragm dividing the device into first and second compartments.

A dialysis device comprises at least a first membrane and a second membrane, wherein a first chamber formed by the first membrane is configured to receive a first fluid; a second chamber formed by the second membrane is configured to receive a second fluid; a third chamber formed in between a housing, the first membrane and the second membrane is configured to receive a third fluid; the first fluid flowing through the first membrane can be indirectly communicated with the second fluid flowing through the second membrane via the third fluid. A dialysis system, use of the dialysis device, a method for establishing the dialysis system, a method for filling and/or priming the dialysis system and a method for removing air are further disclosed. The dialysis device and the dialysis system are suitable for viscous biological dialysis fluid and no direct flow occurs between the patient and the dialysis fluid.

A method for determining a treatment regimen for altering the treatment parameters when dialyzing a patient over a plurality of treatment sessions taking place on future days includes determining a diffusive total target sodium balance; and determining a transitional treatment regimen by which the diffusive total target sodium balance is achieved over the plurality of future treatment sessions. A control device or closed-loop control device is configured to control a blood treatment apparatus using the method.