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.

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.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for the separation of blood into blood products and, more particularly, to systems and methods that permit automated recovery of white blood cells after producing a leukocyte-reduced blood product.

Disclosed herein are devices and methods related to UV disinfection of a transfer catheter during peritoneal dialysis. The transfer catheter comprises a first and second end, the second end comprising a transfer valve. The transfer valve body comprises an inlet, outlet, and a flush hole. The valve core comprises a notch configured to allow fluid flow between the various flow paths. The valve core and body are positioned off axis with respect to the fluid flow path. The transfer catheter can allow for a small volume kill zone, which can minimize the amount of UV required to disinfect the catheter.

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 portable adapter is provided that can include a closure system configured to control the flow of blood and/or dialysate between the adapter and a blood treatment apparatus. Modular systems are also provided that include the portable adapter engaged with various units such as a portable blood processing module, a non-portable base module, and/or a remote module. Methods of conducting blood treatments such as blood circulation, hemodialysis, and hemofiltration, hemodiafiltration, using the modular systems are also provided. The systems, units, and methods enable the engagement and disengagement of the adapter from the various units to conduct, interrupt, and resume blood treatments without disconnecting the adapter from the vasculature of a patient. Modular systems including interchangeable portable and base modules configured for various blood treatments are also provided that can be engaged and disengaged with each other without disconnecting the portable module from the vasculature of a patient.

Techniques and apparatus for de-priming processes are described. For example, in one embodiment, an apparatus may include at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory may include instructions that, when executed by the processor, may cause the at least one processor to determine a priming volume of a primer fluid infused into a priming system associated with the patient during a priming phase of the dialysis treatment, cause an ultrafiltration rate of an ultrafiltration pump of the dialysis machine in fluid communication with the patient to be changed from a treatment ultrafiltration rate to a de-priming ultrafiltration rate to remove the priming volume over a de-priming time period, and cause, after the de-priming time period, the ultrafiltration rate of the ultrafiltration pump to be changed back the treatment ultrafiltration rate. Other embodiments are described.

A method for collecting plasma includes determining the weight, height, and hematocrit of a donor, and calculating a donor plasma volume and a target plasma collection volume. The target plasma collection volume is based on the donor plasma volume and a target percentage of plasma. The method then withdraws blood from the donor through a line connected to a blood component separation device, and introduces anticoagulant into the withdrawn blood. The blood component separation device separates the blood into a plasma component and a second blood component, and the plasma component is collected from the blood component separation device and into a plasma collection container. The method may then calculate the volume of pure plasma collected within the plasma collection container, and continue processing/collecting until the calculated volume of pure plasma equals the target plasma collection volume.

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.

A drain cassette for a dialysis unit has a fluid channel between venous and arterial connection ports, and a valve may controllably open and close fluid communication between a drain outlet port and the venous connection port or the arterial connection port. A blood circuit assembly and drain cassette may be removable from the dialysis unit, e.g., by hand and without the use of tools. A blood circuit assembly may include a single, unitary member that defines portions of a pair of blood pumps, control valves, channels to accurately position flexible tubing for an occluder, an air trap support, and/or other portions of the assembly. A blood circuit assembly engagement device may assist with retaining a blood circuit assembly on the dialysis unit, and/or with removal of the assembly. An actuator may operate a retainer element and an ejector element that interact with the assembly.