The present invention relates to a dialysis machine having an extracorporeal circuit in which a dialyzer is located which has a chamber on the blood side which is flowed through by blood and a first pressure sensor, which is located upstream of the chamber on the blood side in the direction of flow of the blood, for determining a first pressure value and a second pressure sensor, which is located downstream of the chamber on the blood side in the direction of flow of the blood, for determining a second pressure value, wherein the dialysis machine has first means for determining the pressure difference between the second pressure value and the first pressure value, second means for determining the dynamic viscosity of the blood on the basis of the determined pressure difference, of the blood flow rate through the chamber on the blood side and of one or more characteristic properties of the dialyzer and third means for determining the hematocrit or the hemoglobin value of the blood on the basis of the determined viscosity, and wherein the dialysis machine has a control or regulation unit which is configured such that it sets the blood flow rate and/or the dilution rate and/or the ultrafiltration rate such that the time change of the hematocrit and/or of the hemoglobin value does not exceed a limit value or lies in a desired value range.

Apparatus and methods for providing extracorporeal blood circulation and oxygenation control include seven-stage de-airing of blood to provide automated cardiopulmonary replacement to sustain patient life during a medical procedure comprising repairing or replacing the heart valve in a patient.

Simple-to-use systems, methods, and devices for priming replacement blood treatment devices, for swapping the blood treatment devices out, for replacing swapped-out blood treatment devices, and other related operations are described. In embodiments, a blood treatment device can be primed while a therapy is still running. When the replacement blood treatment device is needed, the therapy can be stopped momentarily (less than a minute) for the rapid and safe swap of the blood treatment device. Blood loss can be minimized. The down time from therapy can be minimized.

A method for filling and venting a device for extracorporeal blood treatment is disclosed, such as a patient module in a heart-lung machine, without attached patient. A filling liquid from a filling liquid container located higher than the device flows by gravity via a venous side of the system into a reservoir and flows onwards into a blood pump located at the lower end of the reservoir, wherein a first controllable valve (HC1) for a venting line of a filter is opened and, after the response of an upper filling level sensor in the reservoir, is closed. An upper level of the filter is positioned higher than the upper filling level sensor, and a start-stop motion of the blood pump is performed, as a result of which a stepped flooding of the filter is made providing for an advantageous de-airing of the device.

A control system (23) is arranged to control the operation of an apparatus (200) for extracorporeal blood treatment. The apparatus (200) comprises an extracorporeal blood circuit (20) and a connection system (C) for connecting the blood circuit (20) to the vascular system of a patient. The blood circuit (20) comprises a blood processing device (6), and at least one pumping device (3). The control system is operable to switch between a pre-treatment mode and a blood treatment mode. The blood treatment mode involves operating the blood circuit (20) to pump blood from the vascular system via the connection system (C) through the blood processing device (6) and back to the vascular system via the connection system (C). The control system (23) is operable to obtain measurement data from at least one energy transfer sensor (40) arranged to sense a transfer of energy between the patient and the connection system (C) or between the patient and the blood circuit (20). The control system (23) is configured to, in the pre-treatment mode, process the measurement data for identification of a characteristic change indicating a connection of the blood circuit (20) to the vascular system of the patient, and, upon such identification, take dedicated action. The action may involve activating at least part of a patient protection system and/or enabling entry into the blood treatment mode. The control system may be included in an apparatus (200) for blood treatment, such as a dialysis machine.

A hemodialysis system includes a dialyzer; a dialysis fluid circuit including a fresh dialysis fluid pump, and a used dialysis fluid pump; a blood circuit including a blood pump operable with an arterial line upstream of the dialyzer, a medical fluid source in fluid communication with the arterial line between a patient end of the arterial line and the blood pump, a drip chamber located along a venous line; a blood rinseback sequence wherein blood is transferred to the patient by the medical fluid, wherein the medical fluid is introduced from its source into the arterial line between an arterial line patient end and the blood pump, and flowed through the dialyzer, through the venous drip chamber along the venous line; and a blood circuit priming sequence initiated in the blood circuit via the arterial line.

Methods and systems for priming a disposable fluid circuit for the processing of a biological fluid are disclosed. The methods and systems allow for variable and configurable priming of the flow path(s) leading to one or more biological fluid source containers.

A renal therapy machine includes a blood filter including a plurality of porous fibers; a blood circuit in communication with the blood filter; and a dialysate circuit in communication with the blood filter and operable with at least one pump, wherein the renal therapy machine is configured to perform a priming sequence in which a physiologically compatible solution, other than dialysate, primes the blood circuit and is flowed within the fibers and through pores in the fibers of the blood filter, and the pump of the dialysate circuit vents air from the blood filter into the dialysate circuit.

Dialysis systems comprising actuators that cooperate to perform dialysis functions and sensors that cooperate to monitor dialysis functions are disclosed. According to one aspect, such a hemodialysis system comprises a user interface model layer, a therapy layer, below the user interface model layer, and a machine layer below the therapy layer. The user interface model layer is configured to manage the state of a graphical user interface and receive inputs from a graphical user interface. The therapy layer is configured to run state machines that generate therapy commands based at least in part on the inputs from the graphical user interface. The machine layer is configured to provide commands for the actuators based on the therapy commands.

This disclosure relates to dialysis systems and methods. In some implementations, a dialysis system includes a dialysis machine with a fluid line and a drain line, a blood line set configured to be connected to the dialysis machine, and a drain apparatus coupled to the dialysis machine. The drain apparatus includes a chamber configured to receive an end of a patient line of the blood line set, an inlet line, an outlet line, and a valve. The inlet line has a first end configured to be coupled to the chamber and a second end configured to be coupled to the fluid line of the dialysis machine. The outlet line has a first end configured to be coupled to the chamber and a second end configured to be coupled to the drain line of the dialysis machine. The valve is configured to control flow of fluid through the outlet line.