An extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus is provided comprising a filtration unit connected to a blood circuit and to a dialysate circuit, a preparation device for preparing and regulating the composition of the dialysis fluid; a control unit is configured for receiving a desired sodium mass transport at the end of the treatment session and for setting the sodium concentration value for the dialysis fluid in the dialysis supply line at a set point to achieve the desired sodium mass transport at the end of the treatment session.

A dialysis machine useful in hemodialysis can process or treat a reverse osmosis water flow received through the machine to prepare a dialysate. The machine can include an additive source to introduce an additive, such as bicarbonate, to the reverse osmosis water flow. The machine can include a sensor in fluid communication with the additive introduction point that can measure the conductivity or similar characteristic of the solution. During a first time period when additive is actively introduced to the reverse osmosis water flow, the sensor can measure a relatively high conductivity value. During a second time period when additive is not introduced to the reverse osmosis water flow, the sensor can measure a relatively low conductivity value. The dialysis machine can include a controller that processes these measurements to assist control and operation of the machine.

Method and apparatus for controlling the dialysate flow in a dialysis device. A change of the value of a control factor, caused by a variation of a property of the dialysate or of the blood or by a change of the dialysate flow, is determined in order to control the dialysate flow. The control factor is a measure for the exchange of substances via the dialyzer and thus the effectiveness of the dialyzer. If the change of the value of the control factor exceeds a limit, the dialysate flow is increased. On the other hand, the dialysate flow is reduced if the change of the value of the control factor falls short of the limit range.

A dialysis system has a module with a dialyzer configured to remove one or more substances from a dialysis solution as it passes through a dialyzer. The module has a fluid line, a sorbent cartridge, and a sodium control system adapted to actively alter a sodium concentration of dialysis solution passing through the fluid line as the dialysis solution exits the sorbent cartridge. The sodium control system has a conductivity sensor that sends a signal indicating the conductivity of the dialysis solution as the dialysis solution exits the sorbent cartridge, the conductivity meter being in communication with the sodium control system, a processor configured to receive the signal from the conductivity sensor, compare the conductivity signal to a threshold value lower than a prescription value, and cause the sodium control system to stop actively altering the sodium concentration if the signal is greater than the threshold value.

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. According to one aspect, a blood pump is configured to pump blood to a dialyzer of a hemodialysis apparatus, the blood pump comprising a pneumatically actuated or controlled reciprocating diaphragm pump. In an embodiment, the diaphragm of the pump comprises a flexible membrane formed or molded to generally conform to a curved inner wall of a pumping chamber or control chamber of the pump, wherein the diaphragm is pre-formed or molded to have a control side taking a convex shape, so that any elastic tension on the diaphragm is minimized when fully extended into a control chamber of the pump. In another aspect, a system for monitoring the adequacy of blood flow in a blood line of the hemodialysis apparatus allows a controller to suspend dialysate pumping operations if the adequacy of blood flow in the blood line is sub-optimal, and to present information on a display on the quality of blood flow in the blood line.

This disclosure relates to medical fluid sensors and related systems and methods. In certain aspects, a nuclear magnetic resonance device includes a support frame, a first magnet connected to the support frame, a second magnet connected to the support frame in a manner such that the second magnet is disposed within the magnetic field of the first magnet and a magnetic attraction exists between the first magnet and the second magnet, and a spacer disposed between the first magnet and the second magnet. The spacer is configured to maintain a space between the first magnet and the second magnet.

A peritoneal dialysis system includes a cycler including a pump actuator, a heater and a heating pan operable with the heater, and a disposable set operable with the cycler. The heating pan includes a sidewall forming a slot. The disposable set includes a pumping cassette and a heater/mixing container. The pumping cassette includes a pump chamber configured to be actuated by the pump actuator. Additionally, the heater/mixing container is in fluid communication with the pumping cassette and is sized to be received at the heating pan. The heater/mixing container includes a port configured such that when the port is slid into the slot of the heater pan sidewall, the port is prevented from rotating about an axis transverse to a direction of flow through the port.

Systems and methods of generating a customized dialysate solution are provided. The system and methods use stock concentrates, with the addition of spikes to generate a customized dialysate solution based on the needs of the patient.

An apparatus for extracorporeal treatment of fluid and a process of setting up a medical apparatus for the delivery or collection of fluids are disclosed. According to the apparatus and the process, a control unit (10) is configured calculate set values of two or more of the fluid flow rates by imposing that an emptying time of containers of fresh fluid (16, 20, 21, 26) and/or a filling time of a waste container is substantially same as, or multiple of, the emptying time of one or more of the other containers of fresh fluid.

A blood circuit and a dialysate circuit bidirectionally circulate a fluid through a blood purification membrane of a blood purifier, and include a first flow route that causes a dialysate to flow from the dialysate circuit into the blood circuit through a connection flow route connecting the dialysate circuit to the blood circuit while bypassing the blood purifier, and a second flow route that causes the dialysate to flow from the dialysate circuit into the blood circuit through the blood purification membrane. The controller performs control such that blood in the blood circuit is returned to the body by feeding the dialysate to one of these flow routes, determine if a flow amount of the dialysate reaches a predetermined flow amount, and control such that the blood in the blood circuit is returned to the body by feeding the dialysate to the other one of these flow routes.