An implantable renal replacement therapy device may include: a first catheter configured to be inserted into a blood vessel in a subject's body; a pump in fluid communication with the first catheter, the pump is configured to pump subject's blood from the blood vessel; a filter in fluid communication with the pump, the filter is configured to: receive the subject's blood from the pump, and filter the received blood to provide a filtered blood and a filtrate liquid, wherein the filter is in fluid communication with the first catheter to cause an outflow of the filtered blood from the filter to the blood vessel; and a second catheter in fluid communication with the filter and configured to be inserted into an urinary bladder in the subject's body to cause an outflow of the filtrate liquid from the filter to the urinary bladder.

Devices, systems, and methods for high capacity degassing of dissolved gases and gas bubbles from fluid such as a dialysate are provided. The devices, systems, and methods can include a degassing vessel with at least two degassing chambers. The fluid can be degassed in a first degassing chamber and recirculated through a second recirculating degassing chamber to remove a desired amount of gas such as carbon dioxide.

Hemodialysis systems are described. A hemodialysis system may include a dialysate flow path through which dialysate is passed from a dialysate reservoir, which includes a valved vent to atmosphere, to an ultrafilter. The dialysate flow path includes a pneumatically actuated diaphragm-based dialysate pump for pumping fluid from the dialysate reservoir to the ultrafilter. The hemodialysis system may include a controller for controlling pneumatic actuation pressure delivered to the dialysate pump and at least one valve connecting the dialysate reservoir vent to the atmosphere. The hemodialysis system may be configured to actuate the dialysate pump and the at least one valve to introduce air into the dialysate flow path and expel liquid from the dialysate flow path to a drain.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for evaluating dialyzers used in different medical applications (e.g., hemodialysis). Red blood cell volume lost in a dialyzer is monitored by obtaining blood flowrate measurements and hematocrit measurements at input ports and output ports of the dialyzer. The flowrate and hematocrit measurements are used to determine an accumulation of red cell blood volume in the dialyzer. The measurements may be obtained in a lab environment with an in-vitro blood source or may be obtained in a clinical setting with an in-vivo blood source from a patient.

Dialysis systems are disclosed comprising new fluid flow circuits. Systems may include blood and dialysate flow paths, where the dialysate flow path includes balancing, mixing, and/or directing circuits. Dialysate preparation may be decoupled from patient dialysis. Circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuit fluid flow paths may be isolated from electrical components. A gas supply in fluid communication with the dialysate flow path and/or the dialyzer able to urge dialysate through the dialyzer and urge blood back to the patient may be included for certain emergency situations. Fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, and mixers that can be actuated using a control fluid may be included. Control fluid may be delivered by an external pump or other device, which may be detachable and/or generally rigid, optionally with a diaphragm dividing the device into first and second compartments.

An extracorporeal system for lung assist includes a housing which includes a blood flow inlet in fluid connection with a pressurizing stator compartment, a fiber bundle compartment in fluid connection with the pressurizing stator compartment via a flow channel within the housing, and a blood flow outlet in fluid connection with the fiber bundle compartment. An impeller is rotatably positioned within the pressurizing compartment for pressurizing blood entering the pressurizing stator compartment from the blood flow inlet. The system further includes a fiber bundle positioned within the fiber bundle compartment. The fiber bundle includes a plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers. The plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers is adapted to permit diffusion of gas between blood and an interior of the hollow gas permeable fibers. The plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers is positioned such that blood flows around the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers when flowing through the fiber bundle compartment. The plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers extend generally perpendicular to the direction of bulk flow of blood through the fiber bundle compartment from the flow channel to the blood flow outlet. The system further includes a gas inlet in fluid connection with the housing and in fluid connection with inlets of the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers and a gas outlet in fluid connection with the housing and in fluid connection with outlets of the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers.

Methods and apparatuses for regenerating used dialysis fluid are described herein. In an embodiment, a regenerative dialysis fluid system includes a dialysis unit configured to generate used dialysis fluid including urea, a urea separation unit configured to separate at least a portion of the urea from the used dialysis fluid into a secondary fluid, and a urea removal unit configured to remove at least a portion of the urea from the secondary fluid and return the secondary fluid to the urea separation unit. In an embodiment, the urea separation unit includes a membrane separating a dialysis fluid chamber from a urea chamber, the membrane including at least one of: (i) a positive charge to prevent positive ions from transporting across the membrane; and (ii) a negative charge to prevent negative ions from transporting across the membrane.

A blood purification apparatus in which the error in the amount of discharge from a blood pump that is caused by the change in the suction pressure of the blood pump is reduced. A blood purification apparatus includes a blood circuit through which blood of a patient is extracorporeally circulated; a dialyzer connected to proximal ends of an arterial blood circuit and a venous blood circuit and that purifies the blood extracorporeally circulating through the blood circuit; a squeezable tube connected to the arterial blood circuit; a blood pump allowing liquid in the squeezable tube to flow by squeezing the squeezable tube in a lengthwise direction while compressing the squeezable tube in a radial direction; and a pressure-detecting device attached to a predetermined position of the arterial blood circuit that is nearer to a distal end than a position where the blood pump is provided, the pressure-detecting device being capable of detecting a suction pressure of the blood pump.

The invention relates to an infusate holder for use in dialysis. The infusate holder can include one or more interior compartments for holding infusate containers or infusates. The interior compartments are aligned to cooperate with fluid connectors of a dialysis system, ensuring that the proper infusates are added to the dialysis system at a proper location.

The present invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for preparing a dialysis solution, wherein the apparatus has a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein the first circuit has a container for receiving the consumed dialysis solution or fresh water or another fluid, the primary side of a filter connected downstream of the container, and a return line from the primary side of the filter into the container, wherein the filter is configured to prepare purified water from the consumed dialysis solution or from fresh water or from another fluid, and wherein the second circuit has the secondary side of the filter, the dialyzate side of a dialyzer, a reservoir, a line that leads from the reservoir to the secondary side of the filter, by means of which dialyzate or a dialyzate concentrate can be supplied to the secondary side of the filter, and a filtrate line that leads away from the secondary side of the filter.