An oxygenator comprising a hollow-fibre film bundle is surrounded at least in certain areas by a bubble-retaining filter. In order to ensure an optimal function of the hollow-fibre film bundle and the bubble-retaining filter, it is proposed that a gas-permeable retaining structure is arranged between hollow-fibre film bundle and bubble-retaining filter.

A dialysate-extracting apparatus is provided in which scattering of dialysate that may occur when an opening-and-closing device is detached from a collecting port can be prevented and the cleanliness of the collecting port can be assuredly maintained. The dialysate-extracting apparatus includes a dialysate-extracting device connected to a dialysate flow route and having a collecting port from which dialysate flowing in the dialysate flow route is collectable, and an opening-and-closing device detachable from and attachable to the dialysate-extracting device in such a manner as to open and close the collecting port and including a seal portion that seals the collecting port in a closed state. When the opening-and-closing device is detached from the dialysate-extracting device, a part of the opening-and-closing device that is on an inner side with respect to the seal portion is bendable and displaceable toward the collecting port.

A blood purification apparatus is provided that can easily and accurately determine before treatment whether or not blocking of liquid by a check valve is appropriate. In the blood purification apparatus including a blood circuit, a dialyzer, a dialysate introduction line and a dialysate discharge line, pressure detection device, a dialysate extraction device, a dialysate supply line, and a check valve that blocks flow of a liquid from the blood circuit to the dialysate introduction line, there are provided a control means that makes it possible to generate a pressure difference between a side of the blood circuit and a side of the dialysate introduction line across the check valve, a monitor means that makes it possible to monitor a change in a detection value of the pressure detection device based on the pressure difference, and a determination means that makes it possible to determine whether or not blocking of liquid by the check valve is appropriate based on the change in the detection value of the pressure detection device.

A blood reservoir may be used in combination with other elements such as a heart lung machine (HLM), oxygenator, heat exchanger, arterial filter and the like to form an extracorporeal blood circuit that may be employed in a procedure such as a bypass procedure. The blood reservoir may be configured to receive, filter and store blood from a number of sources including vent blood (from within the heart), venous blood (from a major vein), purge blood (from a sampling line) and cardiotomy or suction blood (from the surgical field).

An arterial air capture chamber (101) is used in dialysis. The arterial air capture chamber (101) includes an upwardly extending fluid inlet (102) terminating in a fluid inlet port (105) positioned at about a 90 turn relative to a fluid flow of a fluid inlet tube (107). The arterial air capture chamber (101) includes a draw tube (104) with an opposedly positioned beveled opening (306) at about 180 relative to the fluid inlet port (105). The arterial air capture chamber (101) provides improved fluid dynamics, reducing both stagnant flow and turbulence. The arterial air capture chamber (101) also provides for bidirectional flow of fluid through the arterial air capture chamber (101).

An apparatus for extracorporeal treatment of blood (1) comprising a filtration unit (2), a blood withdrawal line (6), a blood return line (7), an effluent fluid line (13), a pre and/or post-dilution fluid line (15, 25) connected to the blood withdrawal line, and a dialysis fluid line. Pumps (17, 18, 21, 22, 27) act on the fluid lines for regulating the flow of fluid. A control unit (10) is configured to periodically calculate a new value for the patient fluid removal rate to be imposed on an ultrafiltration actuator in order to keep a predefined patient fluid removal rate across a reference time interval irrespective of machine down times.

A dry disconnect device including a first portion defining an outlet and an outlet portion of a fluid pathway and a female valve disposed within the first portion having an extended position, including the female valve being configured to seal the outlet portion, and a retracted position. A second portion defining an inlet and an inlet portion of the fluid pathway is lockingly engageable with the first portion. A male valve is disposed within the second portion including a male valve transition member configured to translate the male valve from an extended position to a retracted position including the male valve being configured to seal the inlet portion. The extended position of the male valve causes the female valve to transition from the extended position to the retracted position and causes the outlet portion and the inlet portion of the fluid pathway to be in fluid communication with each other.

A medical fluid management assembly includes: a pneumatic manifold including a plurality of pneumatic passageways and a plurality of pneumatic connectors; a pump and valve engine including a plurality of valve chambers and at least one pump chamber, the pump and valve engine including a plurality of pneumatic connectors mated sealingly and releaseably with the pneumatic connectors of the pneumatic manifold, the pump and valve engine further including a plurality of fluid connectors; and a fluid manifold including a plurality of fluid pathways and a plurality of fluid connectors mated sealingly and releaseably with the fluid connectors of the pump and valve engine.

A blood reservoir may be used in combination with other elements such as a heart lung machine (HLM), oxygenator, heat exchanger, arterial filter and the like to form an extracorporeal blood circuit that may be employed in a procedure such as a bypass procedure. The blood reservoir may be configured to receive, filter and store blood from a number of sources including vent blood (from within the heart), venous blood (from a major vein), purge blood (from a sampling line) and cardiotomy or suction blood (from the surgical field).

The present invention generally relates to hemodialysis and similar dialysis systems, including a variety of systems and methods that would make hemodialysis more efficient, easier, and/or more affordable. One aspect of the invention is generally directed to new fluid circuits for fluid flow. In one set of embodiments, a hemodialysis system may include a blood flow path and a dialysate flow path, where the dialysate flow path includes one or more of a balancing circuit, a mixing circuit, and/or a directing circuit. Preparation of dialysate by the preparation circuit, in some instances, may be decoupled from patient dialysis. In some cases, the circuits are defined, at least partially, within one or more cassettes, optionally interconnected with conduits, pumps, or the like. In one embodiment, the fluid circuit and/or the various fluid flow paths may be at least partially isolated, spatially and/or thermally, from electrical components of the hemodialysis system. In some cases, a gas supply may be provided in fluid communication with the dialysate flow path and/or the dialyzer that, when activated, is able to urge dialysate to pass through the dialyzer and urge blood in the blood flow path back to the patient. Such a system may be useful, for example, in certain emergency situations (e.g., a power failure) where it is desirable to return as much blood to the patient as possible. The hemodialysis system may also include, in another aspect of the invention, one or more fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, mixers, or the like, which can be actuated using a control fluid, such as air. In some cases, the control fluid may be delivered to the fluid handling devices using an external pump or other device, which may be detachable in certain instances. In one embodiment, one or more of the fluid handling devices may be generally rigid (e.g., having a spheroid shape), optionally with a diaphragm contained within the device, dividing it into first and second compartments.