A method to determine a type of blood circuit attached to an extracorporeal blood treatment console including: pumping a liquid through a blood passage of the blood circuit, sensing a first pressure in: the blood passage while the passage is closed and pumping stopped, pumping an additional amount of the liquid into the blood passage while the blood passage is and remains closed and thereafter sensing a second pressure, and determine a dimensional characteristic of a fluid passage in the blood passage based on the additional amount of the liquid and the second pressure.

A control system is configured to implement a method of preparing a blood treatment apparatus (1) for blood treatment. The method comprises installing, by use of a disposable arrangement, first and second flow circuits (C1, C2) separated by a semi-permeable membrane (25), the first flow circuit (C1) being connected for fluid communication with the apparatus (1) and the second flow circuit (C2) being connected to form a closed loop that includes a sterilizing filter (46) and, optionally, a container (30). The method further comprises performing backfiltration to transfer a human-compatible fluid from the first flow circuit (C1) to the second flow circuit (C2) through the semi-permeable membrane (25), and circulating (304) the human-compatible fluid in the closed loop of second flow circuit (C2), to thereby sterilize the human-compatible fluid by the sterilizing filter (46) and, optionally, collect a resulting sterile fluid in the container (30) for later use.

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.

The specification discloses a portable dialysis machine having a detachable controller unit and base unit. The controller unit includes a door having an interior face, a housing with a panel, where the housing and panel define a recessed region configured to receive the interior face of the door, and a manifold receiver fixedly attached to the panel. The base unit has a planar surface for receiving a container of fluid, a scale integrated with the planar surface, a heater in thermal communication with the planar surface, and a sodium sensor in electromagnetic communication with the planar surface. Embodiments of the disclosed portable dialysis system have improved structural and functional features, including improved modularity, ease of use, and safety features.

Fluid access devices include a machine-side hydraulic circuit and a patient-side hydraulic circuit, and are configurable between a connected state and at least one disconnected state. In the connected state, fluid flows between the machine-side hydraulic circuit and the patient-side hydraulic circuit. In the disconnected state, fluid does not flow between the machine-side hydraulic circuit and the patient-side hydraulic circuit. In some disconnected states, fluid recirculates through at least one of the machine-side hydraulic circuit or the patient-side hydraulic circuit in the disconnected state.

Apparatus and methods for providing extracorporeal blood circulation and oxygenation control include multi-stage deairing of blood to provide automated cardiopulmonary replacement to sustain patient life during a medical procedure such as cardiopulonary bypass graft surgery, keyhole cardiopulmonary bypass graft surgery, percutaneous angioplasty, percutaneous stent placement, and percutaneous atherectomy.

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.

According to embodiments, priming systems, methods, and devices are disclosed which allow medical treatment devices which pump fluid to be primed with minimal operator intervention and a high level of convenience. A blood circuit with a filter fitted with one or more air vents on a non-blood compartment is attached to a treatment system and priming fluid pumped slowly through the blood circuit in a loop. The source of fluid may be elevated, or the pumping may generate pressure, such that priming fluid is forced through the membrane of the filter and out the air vent(s). In embodiments, the vents are hydrophobic which prevent fluid from being ejected, so the priming system can run without intervention.

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.

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.