The present disclosure provides methods and systems for treating a biological fluid of a subject suffering from a microbial infection (e.g., a drug-resistant microbial infection). In some embodiments, these methods and systems involve a complement receptor immobilized on, or otherwise associated with a polymer substrate, for example, high surface area particles, membranes, hollow fibers, and/or other porous or non-porous media. In other embodiments, the methods and systems involve a complement receptor present in a dialysate used in a dialyzer for extracting pathogens out of a biological fluid, for example, the blood of a patient.

The invention is an innovative hybrid venous reservoir designed to receive and store blood during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the hybrid venous reservoir consisting of an air purging chamber that limits air in the venous blood entering the air purging chamber from exiting the air purging chamber in combination with a compliant storage chamber with at least one pliable wall, the combination providing a large volume capacity while limiting the area of the blood-air interface to that of the air purging chamber.

A purger device for hollow fiber oxygenators, including a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and a fluid communication feature between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. The purger device further including an accumulation chamber having a variable volume plenum ported to the fluid communication feature, and a flow control unit configured to vary fluid communication patterns in the fluid communication feature and having a first operating condition and a second operating condition, wherein in the first operating condition the flow control unit enables a fluid communication between the gas inlet and gas outlet, and wherein in the second operating condition the flow control unit enables a fluid communication between the gas inlet and the variable volume plenum of the accumulation chamber.

An extracorporeal blood treatment machine includes a blood treatment device, a conveying device for conveying blood through the blood treatment device, and a connection mask designed to interchangeably receive a tube set in a predefined arrangement. The tube set has pressure-monitoring lines that branch off from the tube set and can be connected to pressure sensor connections located on the connection mask. The pressure sensor connections are spaced apart and positioned so as to match the tube set such that, when the tube set is mounted in the predefined arrangement on the connection mask, each pressure-monitoring line, owing to its limited length and the predefined arrangement of the associated branch on the blood treatment machine, can be connected exclusively to only one of the pressure sensor connections. A corresponding tube set is used with the extracorporeal blood treatment machine.

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.

Automated control mechanisms and methods for controlling fluid flow in a hemodialysis apparatus are described. The methods can involve a controller receiving information from a pressure sensor in a control chamber of a reciprocating diaphragm-based blood pump and causing the application of a time-varying pressure waveform on a diaphragm of the blood pump during a fill-stroke of the blood pump. The controller can be configured and programmed to monitor a pressure variation in the control chamber measured by the pressure sensor and to compare the measured pressure variation to a pre-determined value. Based on such comparison, the controller can initiate a procedure to pause or stop a dialysate pump of the hemodialysis apparatus if the magnitude of the measured pressure variation deviates from the pre-determined value.

A hydrophobic filter for filtering an airflow or another gaseous flow in a medical application comprises a housing encompassing a filter chamber, an inlet port arranged on the housing and forming an inlet opening, an outlet port arranged on the housing and forming an outlet opening, and a hydrophobic structure extending along a plane of extension and separating the filter chamber into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber. The inlet opening opens into the inlet chamber and the outlet opening opens into the outlet chamber. Herein, the outlet opening opens into the outlet chamber at a first location when viewed along the plane of extension and the inlet opening opens into the inlet chamber at a second location different from the first location when viewed along the plane of extension.

An occlusion assembly for compressing a pair of collapsible tubes comprises a frame comprising a tubing guide configured for positioning the collapsible tube. The occlusion assembly also comprises a tubing occluder mounted to the frame with an occluding member constructed and positioned to controllably occlude or release occlusion of the collapsible tube. A door mounted to the frame is positioned to cover at least a portion of the collapsible tube and tubing occluder when closed and provide user access when open. The assembly includes a retainer mechanism engaged by the door when the door is closed to permit operation of the tubing occluder when the door is closed and retain the tubing occluder in a non-occluding configuration when the door is opened.

An oxygenator apparatus for use in an extracorporeal circuit. The apparatus includes a housing and a membrane assembly disposed within the housing. The membrane assembly includes a first plurality of gas exchange elements disposed in a first zone and a second plurality of gas exchange elements disposed in a second zone. The second zone is arranged concentrically around the first zone. The first and second plurality of gas exchange elements are fluidly open along a body and fluidly separated along a distal end. The first zone is configured to be fluidly coupled to an oxygen source and the second zone is configured to be fluidly coupled to a negative pressure source. A blood flow path includes a generally radial flow through the first zone to add oxygen to the blood and the second zone to separate gaseous micro emboli from the blood through the plurality of gas exchange elements.

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 to 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.