A system and method for controlling a monitoring mode or treatment mode of an implantable medical device based on the detection of an external signal. The system and related method allow for more frequent monitoring of medical parameters at times where more frequent monitoring is necessary, such as during or after a dialysis session, with less frequent monitoring at other times, allowing for a more efficient medical device. The invention also allows for the frequency or mode of treatment by the implantable medical device, or the transmission of data from the implantable medical device to be controlled based on the external signal.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing a patient's sensitivity to fluid removal from the patient's vascular system or to fluid replacement or addition with regard to the patient's hydration state, the method comprising the step of determining a value reflecting the distribution of fluid between at least two distribution spaces of the body of the patient or changes thereof from measured or calculated values, and assessing whether the value fulfills at least one criterion. It also relates to a controller, an apparatus, a device, a digital storage device, a computer program product, and a computer program.

An apparatus for extracorporeal treatment of fluid and a process of setting up a medical apparatus for the delivery or collection of fluids are disclosed. According to the apparatus and the process, a control unit (10) is configured calculate set values of two or more of the fluid flow rates by imposing that an emptying time of containers of fresh fluid (16, 20, 21, 26) and/or a filling time of a waste container is substantially same as, or multiple of, the emptying time of one or more of the other containers of fresh fluid.

An extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus includes a filtration unit (2) connected to a blood circuit (17) and a dialysate circuit (32), a preparation device (9) for preparing and regulating the composition of the dialysis fluid, and a sensor (11) for measuring conductivity of the dialysate (i.e. spent dialysis fluid); a control unit (12) configured for setting a sodium concentration in the dialysis fluid and after setting the dialysis fluid at the initial set point, circulating the dialysis fluid and blood through the filtration unit (2), measuring an initial conductivity value of the dialysate at the beginning of the treatment, and calculating, based on the measured initial conductivity value and on the corresponding conductivity value of the dialysis fluid, the value of the initial plasma conductivity, said circulating of the dialysis fluid up to the calculating of the initial plasma conductivity performed by maintaining the dialysis fluid conductivity substantially constant.

Principals of refraction of a light ray are used to identify the location of an interface between two materials having different refractive indices. The interface may be an interface between a plasma layer and a red blood cell layer of a centrifuged container, for example. An array of light detector elements are arranged to receive light that has been refracted through different layers in a centrifuged sample. Elements of the light detector array are arranged at known locations relative to an emitter of the light so detection of light by one or more particular detector elements is indicative of the angle of refraction of the light. Vertical position of the sample is tracked and correlated with corresponding angles of refraction to determine the vertical position of the sample when a change in the angle of diffraction is detected.

A system for calculating cardiac output of a patient on an extracorporeal blood oxygenation circuit includes measuring first oxygenated blood flow rate by a pump in the extracorporeal circuit and a corresponding arterial oxygen saturation and recirculation in the extracorporeal circuit, then changing the pump flow rate, such as decreased, to produce a corresponding change in arterial oxygen saturation (wherein such change is outside of normal operating variances or drift), which change in the arterial oxygen saturation and recirculation are measured. From the first flow rate and the second flow rate along with the corresponding measured recirculation and the arterial oxygen saturation, the CO of the patient can be calculated, without reliance upon a measure of venous oxygen saturation. The system also includes an accommodation of oxygenation by the lungs of the patient during the extracorporeal blood oxygenation.

A dialysis device comprising a prescriber interface and a programming means configured to allow, via the prescriber interface, input of a set of therapeutic objectives and a treatment plan and a re-evaluation means configured to, as a function of the therapeutic objectives and the treatment plan, suggest at least one treatment option comprising a set of settings of a treatment session to achieve said set of therapeutic objectives.

A processor of a medical device configured to communicate with a remote server can be programmed to protect the medical device from exposure to unauthorized or malicious software. A system or method to implement this form of protection can include, for example, at least one processor on the medical device, a control software module that controls the operation of the medical device and is executable on the processor, a data management module that manages data flow to and from the control software module from sources external to the medical device, and an agent module that has access to a limited number of designated memory locations in the medical device. In addition, a hemodialysis apparatus can be configured to operate in conjunction with an apparatus for providing purified water from a source such as a municipal water supply or a well. A system for controlling delivery of purified water to the hemodialysis apparatus can comprise a therapy controller of the hemodialysis apparatus configured to communicate with a controller of a water purification device, and a user interface controller of the hemodialysis apparatus configured to communicate with the therapy controller, and to send data to and receive data from a user interface.

Techniques and systems for determining an arteriovenous (AV) fistula maturation in a patient may include detecting a first series of oxygen saturation levels of the patient at a central venous catheter (CVC) associated with a first series of hemodialysis treatments prior to the AV fistula implantation are described. The AV fistula may then be implanted in the patient. A second series of oxygen saturation levels of the patient at the CVC associated with a second series of hemodialysis treatments may be detected. The second series of oxygen saturation levels may be compared to a stable threshold mature AV fistula oxygen saturation level. Among other determinations from the comparison, in response to one or more of the second series of oxygen saturation levels meeting or exceeding the stable threshold mature AV fistula oxygen saturation level, determining the AV fistula is mature. Other embodiments are described.

The invention relates to a fluid analysis module that comprises the following components and, in particular, is suitable for blood analysis: a module housing with a fluid inlet port; at least one fluid sensor that is integrated within the module housing and comprises a sensor surface that is able to be brought into a fluidic connection with the fluid inlet port; a chamber integrated within the module housing, said chamber being able to be brought into a fluidic connection with the sensor surface of the at least one fluid sensor; at least one first liquid reservoir attached within the chamber, said liquid reservoir being able to be brought into a fluidic connection with the sensor surface of the at least one fluid sensor; and at least one module housing surface, on which an elastic, fluid-tight separating wall that is embodied in membrane-like fashion is attached, at least in portions, under which separating wall at least one fluidic functional element in the style of a flow valve and at least one fluidic functional element in the style of a delivery pump are attached and embodied in such a way that the fluidic functional elements are operable in at least one of the following ways only by way of local mechanical deformation of the separating wall: a) only delivering fluid from the fluid inlet port into the chamber via the sensor surface and b) only delivering a liquid housed in the liquid reservoir from the liquid reservoir into the chamber via the sensor surface.