Dialyzer systems can consolidate multiple technologies and functionalities of blood treatment systems in a significantly integrated fashion. For example, this disclosure describes dialyzer systems that include a magnetically driven and magnetically levitating pump rotor integrated into the dialyzer. Such a dialyzer can be used with treatment modules that include a magnetic field-generating pump drive unit. In some embodiments, the dialyzers include pressure sensor chambers with flexible membranes with which corresponding pressure transducers of the treatment modules can interface to detect arterial and/or venous pressures.

The hemodialysis system includes a closed loop dialysate flow path which includes a dialyzer and a reservoir for storing dialysate, and a closed loop blood flow path which passes through the dialyzer in the opposite direction as the dialysate flow path. In addition, the hemodialysis system includes pumps for pumping dialysate and blood through their respective flow paths, a flow sensor for measuring the flow rate of dialysate in the dialysate flow path, and a level sensor for measuring the level of dialysate in the dialysate reservoir. A processor is connected to the flow sensor, reservoir level sensor and pumps to provide a first closed loop control system including the processor, flow sensor and a first dialysate pump, and a second closed loop control system including the processor, level sensor and a second dialysate pump which enable the processor to initiate, monitor and maintain ultrafiltration.

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.

Certain disclosed embodiments concern systems and methods of preparing dialysate for use in a home dialysis system that is compact and light-weight relative to existing systems and consumes relatively low amounts of energy. The method includes coupling a household water stream to a dialysis system; filtering the water stream; heating the water stream to at least about 138 degrees Celsius in a non-batch process to produce a heated water stream; maintaining the heated water stream at or above at least about 138 degrees Celsius for at least about two seconds; cooling the heated water stream to produce a cooled water stream; ultrafiltering the cooled water stream; and mixing dialysate components into the cooled water stream in a non-batch process.

The invention relates to an apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment that comprises a device 1 for providing fresh dialysate and a drain 2 for used dialysate, a balancing device 4 for balancing fresh dialysate and used dialysate, an ultrafiltration device 15, and a dialyser 3 that is divided into a blood chamber 6 and a dialysate chamber 7 by a semi-permeable membrane 5. The invention further relates to a method for operating such an apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment. The apparatus according to the invention is based on the use of the ultrafiltration device 15 of the blood treatment apparatus for raising the liquid level in the air separation device 12 on the secondary side of the dialysate system I. In the apparatus according to the invention, the ultrafiltration device 15 is designed such that the ultrafiltration device can be operated not only in an ultrafiltration mode, but also in a ventilation mode. In the ultrafiltration mode, the ultrafiltration device 15 is operated in such a way that used dialysate is removed from the container 12A of the first air separation device 12 whereas in a ventilation mode the ultrafiltration device 15 is operated in the opposite direction so that used dialysate is supplied into the container 12A of the first air separation device 12, as a result of which the liquid level 12D rises in the container of the first air separation device.

Dialysis systems and methods for operating dialysis machines (e.g., peritoneal dialysis machines) for conducting dialysis treatments, may include a dialysis machine for transferring dialysate to a patient from a dialysate bag, and a warmer pouch for flowing the dialysate through to heat to a predetermined temperature before flowing into the patient. The dialysate may flow from the dialysate bag through the warmer pouch for pumping into the patient via tubing. A filter may be coupled to the warmer pouch, and the filter may be configured to filter out air content from the dialysate.

The invention relates to a degassing vessel and related systems and methods that can remove certain gases such as carbon dioxide from a dialysis system with minimal foaming inside the degassing vessel. The invention further relates to mechanical systems and methods for degassing a dialysate or any fluid used for, during or resulting from dialysis.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for degassing liquids comprising a degassing system, wherein the degassing system has a first degassing chamber, a second degassing chamber, a liquid store, a pump, and a supply line that connects the liquid store to the first degassing chamber; wherein the pump is connected to the first degassing chamber at the intake side and to the second degassing chamber at the pressure side; and wherein the degassing system furthermore has a return line that can be cut off and that connects the two degassing chambers to one another, and wherein the apparatus comprises a controller that is configured to operate the degassing system in a first operating mode and in a second operation mode; wherein the degassing system is connected in the first operation mode such that the pump conducts liquid away from the first degassing chamber and supplies it to a removal unit for degassed liquid; and wherein the degassing system is connected in the second operating mode such that liquid is returned from the second degassing chamber to the first degassing chamber through the return line.

Dialysis systems and methods for operating dialysis machines (e.g., peritoneal dialysis machines) for conducting dialysis treatments are disclosed. The dialysis system may include a dialysis machine for transferring dialysate to a patient from a dialysate bag. The dialysate may flow from the dialysate bag through a disposable cartridge or cassette positionable within the dialysis machine. A filter may be included in, coupled to, etc., the dialysis machine. In use, the filter may be configured to filter out air content from the dialysate. In some embodiments, the filter may be incorporated into and/or operatively coupled to the disposable cartridge or cassette inserted into the dialysis machine.

The invention relates to a device (10) for degassing dialysis concentrates for automatic density measurement in mixing systems, comprising: an overflowable filter element (53), wherein the overflowable filter element (53) converts gas bubble-laden dialysis concentrate at the input end into a gas bubble-free dialysis concentrate at the output end. The invention also relates to a mixing system (M) having a device (10) according to the invention and a method for degassing dialysis concentrates for automatic density measurement in mixing systems (M), comprising the steps: Introducing (100) the dialysis concentrate laden with gas bubbles into the overflowable filter element (53), Filtering out (200) gases, Diverting (300) the gas bubble-free dialysis concentrate, Measuring (400) the density of the gas bubble-free dialysis concentrate.