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.

The invention relates to a dialysis machine having the capability of determining a predialytic property in the blood of a dialysis patient which has an extracorporeal blood circuit, a dialyzate circuit, a dialyzer and a processing unit, wherein at least one sensor for determining a property of the dialyzate is arranged in the dialyzate circuit. The processing unit is configured such that temporal evaluation ranges are fixed during an initial phase of the dialysis treatment, in which temporal evaluation ranges all stability criteria from a predefined group are satisfied; and in that only measured values determined by the at least one sensor within these temporal evaluation ranges are used for determining a predialytic property of the patient's blood.

The present invention is a system to continuously monitor, in real-time, the small molecules being dialyzed during hemodialysis treatment using Raman spectroscopy and press control algorithms. By monitoring the treatment, the amount of water needed per dialysis treatment is drastically reduced by optimizing analyte saturation and removal of wastes. This will significantly conserve water and reduce the cost of dialysis treatments, possibly reducing the amount of time necessary for dialysis treatment, improving quality of life for patients during and after treatment, and reducing the costs of building new treatment centers as well as operating costs.

A pressure sensing device includes a case provided on a liquid flow path through a liquid, a diaphragm that is provided so as to divide a space in the case into a first space with the liquid flowing therethrough and a second space filled with a gas, a pressure sensor to measure pressure of the gas, and a diaphragm initial position adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting an initial position of the diaphragm to a desired position. The diaphragm initial position adjustment mechanism includes a reciprocating pump that includes a cylinder in communication with the second space, a plunger provided so as to be able to advance and retract within the cylinder, and a plunger driving part to advance and retract the plunger, and adjusts a filling amount of the gas filling the second space by advancing and retreating the plunger in the cylinder by the plunger driving part.

Systems and methods used to detect blood leaks (in, for example, extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus) by detecting the presence of blood in liquid above a selected threshold amount based on the flow rate of the liquid flowing through a passage (for example, a tube, etc.) are described.

An extracorporeal blood treatment machine includes a dialyzer and a sensor device downstream of the dialyzer on a dialysis fluid side. The machine is connected to a control and computing unit configured to qualitatively and quantitatively determine at least one preferably selected or selectable blood component in the used dialysis fluid. The control and computing unit is adapted to put the machine into a mode in which a dialysis fluid amount is confined within the dialyzer at least until the concentrations of the blood component on the dialysis fluid side and on the blood side of the dialyzer are in equilibrium, and thereupon to switch the machine into a mode in which the dialysis fluid flow is permitted to leave the dialyzer to feed the confined dialysis fluid amount as a dialysis fluid bolus to the sensor device for determining the blood component concentration contained in the bolus.

A blood filtering device includes a filter having two compartments, at least one allows the passage of blood, being separated by a membrane allow passage of a filtered fraction from the first to the second compartment. The filtering device includes an outlet conduit to collect the filtered fraction leaving the filter. The filtered fraction flows along the outlet conduit along a flow direction. A first sensor includes at least one semiconductor laser source with a laser cavity adapted to generate a laser light beam striking the outlet conduit along an irradiation direction incident to the flow direction; and at least one front and one lateral photodiode, at least in correspondence of the semiconductor laser source, the outlet conduit is transparent to the laser light beam.

The filtering device processes said the two electrical signals to generate a signal indicative of the quantity of suspended particles moving along the outlet conduit.

The invention provides a method and an apparatus or system for dialysis. The method and apparatus or system are useful for removing an undesirable protein-binding substance such as a toxin from a biological fluid such as blood or blood plasma. As such, the method and apparatus or system are useful for treating a subject in need of dialysis such as a subject suffering from hepatic disease. The methods feature a) dialyzing a biological fluid against a dialysis fluid containing an adsorber for a protein-binding substance to be removed through a semipermeable membrane, b) adjusting the dialysis fluid so that the binding affinity of the adsorber for the protein-bound substance to be removed is lowered and the substance to be removed passes into solution, and c) balancing the volume or flow of one or more fluids in the apparatus or system suitable for dialyzing a biological fluid containing a protein-binding substance to be removed. The apparatus or system features a) a biological fluid circuit (3); b) a dialysis fluid circuit (2); c) a means (4; 6; 7; 8; 9) for solubilizing the protein-binding substance to be removed; d) a dialysis, filtration or diafiltration device (5); e) a balancing system or apparatus suitable for balancing the volume or flow of one or more fluids in the apparatus or system suitable for dialyzing a biological fluid containing a protein-binding substance to be removed; and f) a dialysate regeneration unit.

A monitoring method for an extracorporeal blood treatment machine, a monitoring device of an extracorporeal blood treatment machine, and an extracorporeal blood treatment machine including a monitoring device. The monitoring device is configured to detect a signal representing a concentration of pollutants in a used dialysis liquid, to automatically evaluate a signal course with respect to at least one predetermined indicator for an existing recirculation, and to automatically initiate a recirculation measurement or automatically output a request for initiating a recirculation measurement to a user upon determination of the at least one indicator.

An apparatus used in analyzing spent dialysate includes: at least one surface configured to accommodate a dialysate drain bag or drain line in a predetermined position; a light source positioned to emit light through the dialysate drain bag or drain line; and a light sensor positioned to sense light emitted by the light source through the dialysate drain bag or drain line.