The invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring blood purification with an extracorporeal blood purification device which is designed such that a blood purification unit 1 is used to perform blood purification with predetermined treatment parameters Q.sub.b in an extracorporeal blood circuit 9. The concentration of a substance is measured during the blood purification with at least one sensor 31, 32, 33, 34 and a parameter K which is characteristic of the purifying performance of the blood purification unit 1 is determined with a computing and/or evaluation unit 25 on the basis of the measured concentration of a substance. The parameter K which is characteristic of the purifying performance of the blood purification unit 1 is compared with an expected value K.sub.ref. To this end, a tolerance range is determined for the expected value using the computing and/or evaluation unit 25, wherein actions that are predetermined by the computing and/or evaluation unit 25 are triggered depending on whether the parameter which is characteristic of the purifying performance of the blood purification unit lies within or outside the tolerance range for the expected value.

Described herein are compositions and methods for performing plasmapheresis. The compositions and methods for performing plasmapheresis are innovative at least in their application towards the treatment and prevention of aging and conditions associated with aging. Plasmapheresis compositions and methods described herein are directed towards reducing or eliminating conditions associated with aging.

Described herein are compositions and methods for performing plasmapheresis. The compositions and methods for performing plasmapheresis are innovative at least in their application towards the treatment and prevention of aging and conditions associated with aging. Plasmapheresis compositions and methods described herein are directed towards reducing or eliminating conditions associated with aging.

Methods for monitoring patient parameters and blood fluid removal system parameters include identifying those system parameters that result in improved patient parameters or in worsened patient parameters. By comparing the patient's past responses to system parameters or changes in system parameters, a blood fluid removal system may be able to avoid future use of parameters that may harm the patient and may be able to learn which parameters are likely to be most effective in treating the patient in a blood fluid removal session.

The invention relates to a process for monitoring the supply of substitution fluid upstream or downstream of a dialyzer or filter arranged in an extracorporeal blood stream. One embodiment provides, for the detection of predilution or postdilution, for measuring the pressure in the blood stream downstream of the dialyzer or filter, predilution or postdilution being recognized on the basis of the change in pressure following the shutting off and/or starting up of the substituate pump provided for conveying the substitution fluid. Another embodiment provides for recognizing predilution or postdilution on the basis of the comparison of the oscillating pressure signal attributable to the substituate pump to a characteristic reference signal. The characteristic reference signal to which the pressure signal of the substituate pump is compared is preferably the oscillating pressure signal of a blood pump arranged in the blood stream for conveying the blood upstream of the dialyzer or filter. In addition, the invention relates to an extracorporeal blood treatment device with a facility for detecting predilution or postdilution, which device operates according to the processes detailed above.

Methods for monitoring patient parameters and blood fluid removal system parameters include identifying those system parameters that result in improved patient parameters or in worsened patient parameters. By comparing the patient's past responses to system parameters or changes in system parameters, a blood fluid removal system may be able to avoid future use of parameters that may harm the patient and may be able to learn which parameters are likely to be most effective in treating the patient in a blood fluid removal session.

Methods include monitoring blood pH or electrolyte levels and setting initial fluid parameters, such as dialysate fluid parameters or replacement fluid parameters, for a blood fluid removal session based the monitored data. Blood fluid removal systems may employ sensors that monitor blood pH or electrolyte levels to adjust the fluid parameters during a blood fluid removal session.

A cell washing apparatus is provided to wash a cell-containing fluid. The apparatus is arranged to exchange one or more exchangeable entities from a cell-containing first fluid, and comprises, a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, the second fluid conduit separated from the first fluid conduit by a semi-permeable membrane disposed therebetween; the first fluid conduit having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, the first fluid conduit arranged to transport the first fluid in a first direction between the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet; the second fluid conduit being arranged to house a second fluid; wherein the semi-permeable membrane comprises a plurality of pores arranged to permit transport of said one or more exchangeable entities from the first fluid to the second fluid; wherein the one or more exchangeable entities comprise free haemoglobin and/or blood plasma; and wherein the first fluid is whole blood isolated from a human body, or packed red blood cells. The cell washing apparatus of the present invention aims to solve the problem of harmful species that accumulate in a cell-containing fluid (such as, for example, transfusion blood) during storage and other applications, in which it is desired to transfer red blood cells to a clean suspending liquid.

A haemodialysis machine 1 comprises: an extracorporeal blood circuit 10, a dialyser 20, a dialysate circuit 30 and a control unit 40, wherein the extracorporeal blood circuit 10 and the dialysate circuit 30 are respectively in fluid communication with the dialyser 20; and a first extracorporeal blood sensor unit 50 comprising an analyte sensor 51, configured to provide signals responsive to sensing of analytes, and an auxiliary circuit 52, wherein the first extracorporeal blood sensor unit 50 is fluidically coupled to the extracorporeal blood circuit 10; wherein the first extracorporeal blood sensor unit 50 is arrangeable in: a first arrangement, wherein the analyte sensor 51 is in fluid communication with the extracorporeal blood circuit 10; and a second arrangement, wherein the analyte sensor 51 is in fluid communication with the auxiliary circuit 52; optionally, wherein the control unit 40 is configured to control the dialysate circuit 30 based, at least in part, on a first set of signals, including a first signal, received from the first extracorporeal blood sensor unit 50, provided by the analyte sensor 51 when the first extracorporeal blood sensor unit 50 is arranged in the first arrangement.

A method of acquiring liquid biological samples from an extracorporeal circuit for subjecting a patient to an extracorporeal blood purification treatment includes a sampling phase wherein: I) a first sampling port is in fluidic communication with a first collection chamber via a first hydraulic machine, the first sampling port being operatively connected to a first haematic line inputted to a haemodiafilter of the extracorporeal circuit; II) a second sampling port is in fluidic communication with a second collection chamber via a second hydraulic machine, the second sampling port being operatively connected to a second haematic line outputted from said haemodiafilter; III) a third sampling port is in fluidic communication with a third collection chamber via a third hydraulic machine, the third sampling port being operatively connected to an effluent line of the haemodiafilter, wherein each hydraulic machine fills a corresponding collection chamber with a corresponding biological sample.