The present disclosure concerns a method for preparing an extracorporeal blood circuit for its use in a blood treatment of a patient, which treatment is carried out using a blood treatment apparatus and using a blood treatment device, which comprises a blood chamber and a dialysate chamber partitioned off therefrom by a membrane, The method comprising: filling the extracorporeal blood circuit using a priming solution, wherein the priming solution comprises citrate, or filling of the extracorporeal blood circuit using a priming solution and using a citrate solution. The invention further comprises devices suitable for carrying out the method.

An air purging method includes: (a) detecting a low fluid level in a blood circuit indicating a high amount of air in the blood circuit; (b) stopping a blood pump; (c) closing a venous patient line; (d) opening a blood circuit air vent valve and a drain valve; and (e) running the blood pump to meter air through the air vent valve and the drain valve to a drain.

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.

Described here are systems, devices, and methods of renal replacement therapy. In some variations, a continuous ambulatory dialysis device may comprise a first fluid conduit configured to receive a fluid from a patient, a second fluid conduit configured to output the fluid to the patient, and an electroosmotic pump configured to pump and filter the fluid. The electroosmotic pump may be coupled between the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit. The electroosmotic pump may comprise a first electrode configured to adsorb urea in the fluid, a second electrode, and a porous substrate coupled therebetween.

A dialysis system includes a dialysis instrument including a blood pump, a dialysate inlet pump, a dialysate outlet pump, and at least one fluid velocity sensor, each sensor including an emitter and a receiver, a dialyzer arranged (i) to receive blood pumped by the blood pump, (ii) to receive fresh dialysate pumped by the dialysate inlet pump and (iii) such that used dialysate is pumped from the dialyzer by the dialysate outlet pump, and a disposable cassette including a to-dialyzer dialysate pathway carrying dialysate pumped by the dialysate inlet pump and a from-dialyzer dialysate pathway carrying used dialysate pumped by the dialysate outlet pump, wherein at least one of the to-dialyzer dialysate pathway or the from-dialyzer dialysate pathway includes at least one sensing area so positioned and arranged such that when the disposable cassette is mounted to the instrument, the sensing area is coupled operably with both the emitter and the receiver of the at least one fluid velocity sensor.

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.

A method and system for collecting leukoreduced red blood cells employing a spinning membrane separator including a housing having an upper end region and a lower end region in an operating position with a red blood cell outlet in the upper end region of the housing and a whole blood inlet in the lower end region of the housing. The method and system provide for flowing additive solution into the whole blood inlet of the housing to prime the separator; flowing whole blood into the whole blood inlet of the housing; separating red blood cells from the whole blood; flowing separated red blood cells out of the red blood cell outlet of the housing; combining the separated red blood cells with additive solution: passing the separated red blood cells and additive solution combination through a leukoreduction filter; and collecting the filtered red blood cells and additive solution.

A blood purification device used with a blood circuit includes an arterial-side line and a venous-side line attached to a blood purifier to which, at the ends thereof, the arterial-side line and the venous-side line are connected, the blood purification device including: a supply line connected to a supply unit which supplies a priming fluid, and which is capable of being connected to a leading end of the venous-side line; a discharge line connected to a discharge unit which discharges the priming fluid after use, and which is capable of being connected to a leading end of the arterial-side line; and a blood pump which is disposed upon the arterial-side line. By driving the blood pump in a state of the supply line being connected to the venous-side line and the discharge line being connected to the arterial-side line, the blood circuit and the blood purifier are primed.

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.