The invention relates to a method for establishing and/or monitoring foreign structures in an extracorporeal fluid or in a fluid flow, in particular in blood or a bloodstream, wherein the fluid is monitored by means of ultrasound. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the features of the fluid state established by means of the ultrasound monitoring are processed by means of a multi-criteria ultrasonic analysis. The invention furthermore relates to a device for performing this method and the use of this device.

An blood treatment system including blockage detection capabilities. The system may include a sensor positioned along a blood pathway and a control unit in communication therewith. The sensor may sense a parameter of blood passing through the blood pathway and may automatically transmit a first signal corresponding to the parameter to the control unit. Further, the control unit may receive the first signal and automatically transmit a second signal to a control element and the control element may receive the second signal from the control unit. Further, the control element may reduce the blood flow within the venous blood pathway in response to receiving the second signal, and wherein reducing the blood flow substantially equalizes a blood pressure within the lumen of the distal end region of a cannula and the blood pressure of a region of the venous blood pathway adjacent to the distal end region of the cannula.

An extracorporeal blood line set for a blood treatment machine or as part of a blood treatment machine, especially a dialysis machine. The extracorporeal blood line set includes an arterial blood line having a distal patient access and a proximal device port, preferably a dialyzer port, a venous blood line having a distal patient access and a proximal device port, preferably a dialyzer port, and at least one fluid supply line which is connected to the arterial and/or venous blood line(s) in at least one port section of the arterial and/or venous blood line(s) and at one end includes a container port or a fluid container. The at least one port section is in the form of a Venturi nozzle.

A sensor system (10) has a medical device provided with a first transmission/reception unit (16) installed inside a medical instrument (12) to output a detection signal of a sensor unit (22), and a second transmission/reception unit (18) detachably installed outside the medical instrument (12) to transmit/receive a signal to and from the first transmission/reception unit (16) in a contactless manner. The first transmission/reception unit (16) and the second transmission/reception unit (18) are arranged so as to be opposed to each other across the medical instrument (12) to transmit/receive the signal by electromagnetic induction.

A device for establishing venous inflow to a blood reservoir of an extracorporeal blood circulation system includes a restricting unit for restricting a venous inflow line and a vacuum unit for supplying vacuum to the blood reservoir. The device includes a control unit that, upon setting the desired venous flow rate, automatically supplies a first actuating signal to the restricting unit for restricting venous inflow to the blood reservoir and supplies a second actuating signal to the vacuum unit for establishing a degree of vacuum within the blood reservoir, so as to achieve the set venous flow rate. The device includes a venous flow sensor.

An apparatus for extracorporeal treatment of blood comprising a filtration unit, a blood withdrawal line, a blood return line, an effluent fluid line, a pre and/or post-dilution fluid line connected to the blood withdrawal line, and a dialysis fluid line. Pumps act on the fluid lines for regulating the flow of fluid. A control unit is configured to set initial values to one or more fluid flow rates through the above lines and to periodically execute a flow rate update procedure in order to deliver a set dose (D.sub.set) in a reference time interval.

An extracorporeal circulation blood or treatment device (100) comprising an arterial pressure sensor (112) and a blood pump (111) is set up to determine amplitude variation and frequency of the pressure signals received from said arterial pressure sensor (112), calculate a parameter value based on said amplitude variation and said frequency, and issue an alarm if the parameter value exceeds a pre-set threshold value. Such detection aims at monitoring the occurrence of oscillating pressure signals. Such signals indicate an increased risk for hemolysis.

The present invention relates to a flow sensor for measuring a flow difference having at least two measurement chambers through which fluid is conductible; at least one means for producing a magnetic field for charge separation in a fluid flowing through the at least two measurement chambers; and at least one means for measuring an electric potential in the fluid flowing through the at least two measurement chambers, with the at least two measurement chambers being arranged such that they are run through by the same magnetic field line of the magnetic field for charge separation.

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.

An extracorporeal blood filtering machine can include a blood circuit, an effluent circuit, and a source fluid circuit and can be controlled by a controller. The extracorporeal blood filtering machine can also include access ports for connecting the source fluid circuit to the blood circuit, as well as blood sensors to detect possible issues with the extracorporeal blood filtering machine. The extracorporeal blood filtering machine can include density sensors and flow sensors that enable it to be more accurate and to operate while being transported. The extracorporeal blood filtering machine can further include a user interface and can display fluid inflow/outflow information. A medical fluid container can automatically empty after being filled. An apparatus for supporting a medical fluid container can include a hanger and an attachment member with the apparatus able to adjust to ensure the medical fluid container remains properly oriented directly under a medical fluid container scale.