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.

A method includes, after an extracorporeal blood treatment, connecting a fluid source to an access line that is connected to a patient, and delivering a fluid from the fluid source to the access line to infuse blood from the access line to the patient, wherein the fluid delivered to the access line has a temperature from about 30 degrees Celsius to about 38 degrees Celsius.

Dialyzer systems can consolidate multiple technologies and functionalities of blood treatment systems in a significantly integrated fashion. For example, this disclosure describes dialyzer systems that include a magnetically driven and magnetically levitating pump rotor integrated into the dialyzer. Such a dialyzer can be used with treatment modules that include a magnetic field-generating pump drive unit. In some embodiments, the dialyzers include pressure sensor chambers with flexible membranes with which corresponding pressure transducers of the treatment modules can interface to detect arterial and/or venous pressures.

A medical fluid management assembly includes a pneumatic manifold, a pump and valve engine, and a fluid manifold. The pneumatic manifold includes a plurality of pneumatic passageways and a plurality of pneumatic connectors. The pump and valve engine includes a plurality of valve chambers, at least one pump chamber, and a plurality of pneumatic connectors mated sealingly and releasably with the pneumatic connectors of the pneumatic manifold. The pump and valve engine also includes a plurality of fluid connectors. The fluid manifold includes a plurality of fluid pathways and a plurality of fluid connectors mated sealingly and releasably with the fluid connectors of the pump and valve engine.

A method and apparatus are provided for a hemodiafiltration delivery module that is used in conjunction with a UF controlled dialysis machine to enable hemodiafiltration therapy to be performed. The advantage is that one can fully utilize a current functioning dialysis machine to perform a hemodiafiltration therapy as opposed to purchasing a completely new machine that offers this capability.

The invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out an extracorporeal blood treatment in which a substitution fluid is administered to the patient, wherein the apparatus comprises an extracorporeal blood circuit and a substitution line opening into the extracorporeal blood circuit, wherein the substitution line has at least one heating container, and wherein a pump is arranged in the substitution line downstream of the heating container or containers for the conveying of substitution fluid into the extracorporeal blood circuit.

The present invention provides an extracorporeal dialysis apparatus which allows the automation of some operations in order to make possible a safe home treatment or to facilitate the treatment process for example the priming and/or the blood return process. Thus, the object is to automatically perform a series of processes from hemodialysis preparation to treatment completion safely, reliably and speedily, and to significantly reduce the labor and supply costs.

A medical fluid management assembly includes: a pneumatic manifold including a plurality of pneumatic passageways and a plurality of pneumatic connectors; a pump and valve engine including a plurality of valve chambers and at least one pump chamber, the pump and valve engine including a plurality of pneumatic connectors mated sealingly and releaseably with the pneumatic connectors of the pneumatic manifold, the pump and valve engine further including a plurality of fluid connectors; and a fluid manifold including a plurality of fluid pathways and a plurality of fluid connectors mated sealingly and releaseably with the fluid connectors of the pump and valve engine.

Medical fluid management assembly includes: a pneumatic manifold including multiple plates forming pneumatic passageways, a pneumatic valve chamber and a pneumatic pump chamber, the valve chamber in pneumatic communication with at least one passageway, the pump chamber in pneumatic communication with at least one passageway; and a fluid manifold including multiple fluid pathways, a fluid valve chamber in selective fluid communication with a fluid pump chamber and at least one fluid pathway, wherein (a) the pneumatic valve chamber and the fluid valve chamber are mated together to compress a membrane and (b) the pneumatic pump chamber and the fluid pump chamber are mated together to compress a membrane, wherein at least one of the pneumatic valve chamber or the pneumatic pump chamber extends from the at least one plate, or the fluid valve chamber or the fluid pump chamber extends from the fluid manifold to aid in compressing the membranes.

A method of removing blood from an extracorporeal blood circuit and/or a functional device, each of which is connectable or connected with a blood treatment apparatus for the purpose of a blood treatment of a patient, after concluding a blood treatment session, the method comprising operating a blood pump in a second conveying direction which is opposite to a first conveying direction of the blood pump which is customary during the blood treatment, and an arterial line section of the extracorporeal blood circuit is or will be connected with a venous line section of the extracorporeal blood circuit.