An apparatus and method are disclosed for detecting the disconnection of a vascular access device such as a needle, cannula or catheter from a blood vessel or vascular graft segment. A pair of electrodes is placed in direct contact with fluid or blood in fluid communication with the vascular segment. In one embodiment, the electrodes are incorporated into a pair of connectors connecting arterial and venous catheters to arterial and venous tubes leading to and from an extracorporeal blood flow apparatus. Wires leading from the electrodes to a detecting circuit can be incorporated into a pair of double lumen arterial and venous tubes connecting the blood flow apparatus to the blood vessel or vascular graft. The detecting circuit is configured to provide a low-voltage alternating current signal to the electrodes to measure the electrical resistance between the electrodes, minimizing both the duration and amount of current being delivered. Detection of an increase in electrical resistance between the electrodes exceeding a pre-determined threshold value may be used to indicate a possible disconnection of the vascular access device.

A system for calculating cardiac output of a patient on an extracorporeal blood oxygenation circuit, such as veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, includes determining (i) a first arterial carbon dioxide content or surrogate and (ii) a first carbon dioxide content or surrogate in the blood delivered to the patient after passing the oxygenator corresponding to the first removal rate of carbon dioxide from the blood; establishing a second removal rate of carbon dioxide from the blood in the oxygenator in the extracorporeal blood oxygenation circuit; determining (i) a second arterial carbon dioxide content or surrogate and (ii) a second carbon dioxide content or surrogate in the blood delivered to the patient after passing the oxygenator corresponding to the second removal rate of carbon dioxide from the blood; and calculating a cardiac output of the patient corresponding to a blood flow rate through the extracorporeal blood oxygenation circuit, the first arterial carbon dioxide content or surrogate, the first carbon dioxide content or surrogate in the blood delivered to the patient after passing the oxygenator corresponding to the first removal rate of carbon dioxide from the blood; the second arterial carbon dioxide content or surrogate and the second carbon dioxide content or surrogate in the blood delivered to the patient after passing the oxygenator corresponding to the second removal rate of carbon dioxide from the blood.

The disclosure relates to a subcutaneously implanted port device for establishing access to the vascular system of a patient requiring multiple blood treatments over an extended period of time. The systems, devices and methods disclosed herein may reduce miscannulation, promote intra-session hemostasis, and decrease the incidence of bacteremia and sepsis among other improvements and advantages. The devices include a port with a tapered seat for receiving an access tube, the first tapered seat having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a conical section extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion; and an interface surface configured to engage a blood vessel or a vascular access catheter. The proximal portion of the tapered seat is configured to receive the access tube therethrough, and the tapered seat creates a mismatch fit with a diameter of the access tube when in use for an increase in flow during treatment.

The invention relates to generally to a vascular access graft that includes a magnetic element disposed about a flow tube for guiding a blood flow between an arterial end adapted for arterial anastomosis to a portion of an artery, and a venous end adapted for venous anastomosis to a portion of a vein. The magnetic element may include a plurality of magnets disposed about the flow tube so that a magnetic field may be applied to blood flowing therein; the magnetic element may alternatively include a circuitry configured to generate a magnetic field applied to the flow tube.

A medical system, comprising an implantable access port including an implantable access port body and at least one implantable access port needle; wherein the at least one needle is concealable inside the access port body in a concealed position and is exposable outside the access port body in an exposed position; wherein the at least one needle is arranged within the access port body to penetrate outwardly through skin of a subject from within the subject when the access port is implanted in the subject; a transfer device coupled to the at least one needle of the access port, the transfer device configured to transfer a fluid to and/or from the access port; and wherein the transfer device is configured to form a closed system with the access port, wherein the transfer device includes a fluid flow passage configured to transfer the fluid to and/or from the access port.

A detoxification method includes the steps of inducing flow of patient blood through an extracorporeal device inlet and outlet in fluid connection to the circulatory system of a patient. Biological agents including lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contained within patient blood can be detoxified by passing patient blood over a biochemical reactor surface having attached or immobilized Saccharomyces boulardii alkaline phosphatase enzyme, with the biochemical reactor being contained within the extracorporeal device. An acyloxyacyl hydrolase enzyme may also be used on the biochemical reactor surface.

Systems, methods, and devices are provided for the treatment of edema. In one aspect a method for implanting an indwelling catheter within a vein of a patient is provided. The catheter can extend from a position upstream of at least one outflow port of a duct of the lymph system to a terminal position downstream of the at least one outflow port. In use, a first restriction can be created within the vein proximal to a distal region of the catheter. The first restriction can define a localized low pressure zone distal of the restriction and within a portion of the vein housing the catheter. The low pressure zone can be adjacent to the at least one outflow port to enable fluid to pass from the at least one lymph duct outflow port into the vein.

Systems and methods of implanting a vascular access technologies and declotting vascular access technologies, such as vascular access assemblies that facilitate hemodialysis, are provided. The methods can include disposing a first tubular conduit within a patient to access a vascular access assembly within the heart of the patient. The first tubular conduit can be coupled to the vascular access assembly such that the first tubular conduit can be decoupled from the vascular access assembly to evacuate a clot within the vascular access assembly, and then recouple the first tubular conduit to the vascular access assembly.

A blood purification apparatus to which a blood circuit that allows a patient's blood to extracorporeally circulate and a blood purifier connected to the blood circuit and that purifies the blood in extracorporeal circulation are attachable, the blood purification apparatus including a dialysate introduction line through which dialysate is introduced into the blood purifier; a dialysate drain line through which waste dialysate resulting from blood purification performed by the blood purifier is drained from the blood purifier; and a concentration-detecting unit that detects a concentration of a predetermined substance in the waste dialysate resulting from the blood purification by the blood purifier and flowing through the dialysate drain line. The blood purification apparatus includes a control unit that establishes a state of equilibrium where the concentration of the predetermined substance in the waste dialysate flowing through the dialysate drain line and a concentration of the predetermined substance in the blood flowing through the blood circuit are equal or approximate to each other; a storage unit storing a value detected by the concentration-detecting unit in the state of equilibrium as an equilibrium value; and a clearance-calculating unit that calculates clearance in accordance with the value detected by the concentration-detecting unit and the equilibrium value stored in the storage unit, the clearance being a figure of merit representing a degree of solute removal by the blood purifier.

Apparatus and methods for controlled arterial/venous access are provided. The apparatus and methods may include a section of tubing anastomosed to a bodily lumen. A lumen clamping means may utilize a clamp manipulator to effectively seal the tubing, and the manipulator may be operated by two fingers. A needle receptor may be utilized, and the receptor may utilize a rotating member to guide a needle inserted from outside the body, in order ensure accurate placement into a channel. The channel may be in liquid communication with the tubing. The manipulator and the needle receptor may be palpable from outside the body.