Systems and methods for performing therapeutic plasma exchange are provided. The systems and methods utilize a plasmapheresis device that includes a controller that is configured and/or programmed to monitor the amount plasma collected and initiate delivery of a therapeutic agent.

Methods (300), devices, and systems of processing blood are described. The method (300) comprises the steps of: obtaining (312) blood from a patient coupled to a single blood processing device to form a closed loop between the patient and the blood processing device; collecting (314) bulk mononuclear blood cells from the blood by leukapheresis implemented using the blood processing device in the closed loop; and enriching (316) concurrently target cells separated from non-target cells in the bulk mononuclear blood cells using the blood processing device in the closed loop.

Methods (300), devices, and systems of processing blood are described. The method (300) comprises the steps of: obtaining (312) blood from a patient coupled to a single blood processing device to form a closed loop between the patient and the blood processing device; collecting (314) bulk mononuclear blood cells from the blood by leukapheresis implemented using the blood processing device in the closed loop; and enriching (316) concurrently target cells separated from non-target cells in the bulk mononuclear blood cells using the blood processing device in the closed loop.

Methods (300), devices, and systems of processing blood are described. The method (300) comprises the steps of: obtaining (312) blood from a patient coupled to a single blood processing device to form a closed loop between the patient and the blood processing device; collecting (314) bulk mononuclear blood cells from the blood by leukapheresis implemented using the blood processing device in the closed loop; and enriching (316) concurrently target cells separated from non-target cells in the bulk mononuclear blood cells using the blood processing device in the closed loop.

A fluid flow sensing and bubble detecting apparatus includes a housing comprising a channel configured to receive a tube through which fluid flows; a sensor apparatus disposed within the housing, which includes a first sensor operable to measure flow rate of fluid and to detect bubbles in flowing fluid; and a temperature sensor operable to detect temperature of the flowing fluid; and a processor connected to receive fluid flow rate data obtained by the first sensor, to receive bubble detection data obtained by the first sensor, and to receive fluid temperature data obtained by the temperature sensor, wherein when a tube through which fluid flows is disposed in the channel of the housing, the first sensor measures the flow rate of the flowing fluid and detects bubbles therein, and the temperature sensor measures the temperature of the flowing fluid, and the processor calculates in a short period of time a fluid flow rate corrected for temperature. All sensors are non-invasive and have no direct contact to the fluid in the tube, which might be blood. In accordance with additional embodiments, the fluid flow rate is additionally corrected for hemoglobin or hematocrit, and the effect of oxygen saturation on the hemoglobin or hematocrit data.

A blood purification apparatus that includes a blood circuit including an arterial blood circuit provided with an arterial puncture needle and a venous blood circuit provided with a venous puncture needle with which an access vessel is puncturable, the blood circuit allowing blood of the patient to extracorporeally circulate; a blood purifier connected to the arterial blood circuit and to the venous blood circuit and that purifies the blood flowing through the blood circuit; a blood pump provided to the arterial blood circuit; a recirculating-blood-detecting unit capable of detecting recirculating blood when the blood of the patient is caused to extracorporeally circulate through the blood circuit by activating the blood pump, the recirculating blood being blood once returned to the patient from the venous blood circuit and reintroduced into the arterial blood circuit; and a recirculation-rate-calculating unit capable of calculating recirculation rate, the recirculation rate being a proportion of the recirculating blood in the blood flowing in the arterial blood circuit. The blood purification apparatus includes a control unit capable of executing a treatment mode in which blood purification treatment is performed with the blood purifier while the blood of the patient is caused to extracorporeally circulate through the blood circuit by activating the blood pump in a state of normal connection where an upstream part of the access vessel is punctured with the puncture needle at a distal end of the arterial blood circuit and a downstream part of the access vessel is punctured with the puncture needle at a distal end of the venous blood circuit; and a measurement mode in which the detection of recirculating blood by the recirculating-blood-detecting unit and the calculation of recirculation rate by the recirculation-rate-calculating unit are performed while the blood of the patient is caused to extracorporeally circulate through the blood circuit by activating the blood pump in a state of reverse connection where the downstream part of the access vessel is punctured with the puncture needle at the distal end of the arterial blood circuit and the upstream part of the access vessel is punctured with the puncture needle at the distal end of the venous blood circuit, the calculated recirculation rate being used in calculating blood flow rate in the access vessel that is calculable in the measurement mode

A method for controlling the flow rate of a pneumatic syringe in a system that includes a disposable fluid circuit and reusable hardware configured to accept the disposable fluid circuit. The disposable fluid circuit includes one or more syringes, while the reusable hardware includes a syringe pump for each syringe of the disposable fluid circuit and a controller. The syringe pump includes a vacuum/pressure source for moving the piston within the syringe and a position detector for indicating the position of the piston within the syringe. The method controls several distinct phases of the process: break pressure targeting, glide control and vent control, and the method is the same regardless of whether a positive pressure or a vacuum is applied to the piston of the syringe. Preferably, a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) feedback loop is used for controlling the movement of the piston in the syringe.

The present invention refers to a container comprising a connection portion allowing for an easy, efficient and more hygienic connection of the container to a fluid dosing unit of a blood treatment device. According to the present invention the fluid dosing unit comprises a valve that fluidically closes the fluid dosing unit if no container is connected to the fluid dosing unit and that opens the fluid dosing unit upon connection of a container to the fluid dosing unit. Thus, undesired spillages potentially arising upon disconnection of the container from the fluid dosing unit can be avoided.

The present invention refers to a system and method for opening a concentrate container without the need for a human to directly handle the concentrate container and connecting the concentrate container to a blood treatment device. Aspects of the invention are directed to a container for concentrate and a blood treatment device.

The present invention refers to a system and method for connecting a concentrate container with a blood treatment device with improved hygiene. Furthermore, the invention refers to a container and blood treatment device to be used in a method according to the present invention.