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.

An external functional means comprises at least one housing body, at least one chamber integrated into the housing body for receiving medical fluids, at least one passage integrated into the housing body for receiving and/or conducting a medical fluid, and at least one valve means completely or partly integrated into the housing body for controlling or regulating a fluid flowing through the external functional means. The invention further specifies a blood treatment apparatus and methods which may be carried out by means of the external functional means of the invention and by means of the blood treatment apparatus, respectively.

Pressure measurement system (e.g., for an extracorporeal treatment system), method and pressure pod apparatus including a position sensor for use in repositioning a diaphragm that separates a liquid side cavity from a transducer side cavity (e.g., operatively connected to a pressure transducer); the liquid side cavity being in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet.

The present specification describes a modular, portable hemofiltration system, for providing improved clearance levels of blood toxins, which includes at least one roller pump that is designed and operated to generate a rapidly varying pressure profile of fluid within at least a blood circuit of the hemofiltration system.

Described are embodiments that include methods and devices for separating composite liquids into components. Embodiments involve the use of a flexible membrane for separating a composite liquid into components. The composite liquid may include, in embodiments, a cellular containing liquid, such as whole blood or components of whole blood. In one specific embodiment, the composite liquid is a buffy coat.

A disposable cartridge for use in a hemodialysis machine has a blood flow path for carrying a volume of blood to be treated in a dialyser and a dialysate flow path, isolated from the blood flow path, for delivering a flow of dialysate solution through the dialyser. The cartridge is received in an engine section of the machine. The engine section has first and second platens which close when the cartridge is inserted to retain the cartridge. Actuators and sensors arranged on the second platen control operation of the cartridge.

Dialysis systems and methods are described which can include a number of features. The dialysis systems described can be to provide dialysis therapy to a patient in the comfort of their own home. The dialysis system can be configured to prepare purified water from a tap water source in real-time that is used for creating a dialysate solution. The dialysis systems described also include features that make it easy for a patient to self-administer therapy.

Methods and systems for maintaining patient fluid balance during an extracorporeal cell treatment are disclosed. The method includes minimizing the amount of saline or other fluid that is returned to the donor. Saline used during priming of the fluid circuit may be used to increase the volume of the collected cells to arrive at a treatment-ready product with a suitable hematocrit.

A system for collecting plasma comprises a separator to separate whole blood from a donor into a plasma product and a second blood component, an anticoagulant line to combine anticoagulant with the whole blood, a touchscreen, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive donor parameters electronically from a donor management system. The controller is configured to use a target volume for raw plasma which is based at least in part on donor height and weight used to calculate total donor blood volume, the target volume for raw plasma based on the total donor blood volume. The controller is configured to control the system to operate draw and return phases to withdraw whole blood from a donor and return the second blood component to the donor until a volume of raw plasma in the collection container equals the target volume of raw plasma.

A method of collecting plasma includes receiving donor parameters at a controller of a plasma collection device electronically from a donor management system. The method includes storing a target volume for raw plasma which is based at least in part on donor height and weight used to calculate total donor blood volume, the target volume for raw plasma based on the total donor blood volume. The method includes setting the target volume for raw plasma and controlling the plasma collection device to operate draw and return phases to withdraw whole blood from a donor and separate the whole blood into the plasma product and a second blood component comprising red blood cells and to return the second blood component to the donor. The controller operates the draw and return phases until a volume of raw plasma in the collection container equals the target volume of raw plasma.