An example medical system includes a hemodialysis device configured to receive blood from vasculature of a patient via an arterial line and to deliver blood to the vasculature of the patient via a venous line. The medical system includes a hematocrit sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a hematocrit level of blood in at least one of the arterial line or the venous line. The medical system also includes processing circuitry configured to determine a change in blood volume of the patient over time based on the signal indicative of the hematocrit level, determine a threshold blood volume reduction over time for the patient, compare the change in the blood volume of the patient over time to the threshold blood volume reduction over time, and based on the comparison, generate an indication of vascular access recirculation.

A peritoneal dialysis cassette that uses an external pump to drive fluid through the peritoneal dialysis cassette is provided. The peritoneal dialysis cassette can include two inlet/outlet ports connected to an inlet and outlet of the external pump. The external pump drives fluid through fluid passages in the peritoneal dialysis cassette connecting a plurality of other inlet/outlet ports, with one or more valves usable to selectively direct fluid through the peritoneal dialysis cassette.

A portable hemodialysis system is provided including a dialyzer, a closed loop blood flow path which transports blood from a patient through the dialyzer and back to the patient, and a closed loop dialysate flow path which transports dialysate through the dialyzer. Preferably, the hemodialysis system includes a sorbent filter in the dialysate flow path. Furthermore, the hemodialysis machine includes a blood pump, and a pair of dialysate pumps. A processor controls the flow of blood through the blood flow path, and the processor controls the flow of dialysate through the dialysate flow path. In addition, the processor stores a patient treatment plan wherein the flow rate of the dialysate through the dialysate flow path reduces throughout the patient's treatment to maximize the amount of urea removed by the sorbent filter.

A portable hemodialysis system is provided including a dialyzer, a closed loop blood flow path which transports blood from a patient through the dialyzer and back to the patient, and a closed loop dialysate flow path which transports dialysate through the dialyzer. Preferably, the hemodialysis system comprises a sorbent filter in the dialysate flow path. Furthermore, the hemodialysis system comprises a dialysate quality sensor disposed directly in the dialysate flow path. The dialysate quality sensor is configured to change color based on a pH level, ammonia level, or ammonium level of the dialysate.

Sorbent cartridges having a flow control insert to improve the functional capacity of a sorbent cartridge is provided. Flow control inserts can include a plurality of flow channels filled with sorbent material through which fluid to be regenerated can travel in the sorbent cartridge.

A method of dialysis is provided that includes sensing the concentration of potassium in a patient's blood serum, in used dialysate resulting from treating the patient, or in both. The method involves generating a sensed value of the concentration of potassium, comparing the sensed value with one or more values stored in a memory, and generating a control signal based on the comparison. Supplemental potassium solution is infused into the treatment dialysate, based on the control signal. The comparison can be made to patient-historical data, population data, or both.

A hemodialysis machine comprising a fluid pathway for delivering a dialysate solution, wherein the fluid pathway comprises a pre-dialysis pathway and a post-dialysis pathway, a dialyser for dialysing patient's blood using the dialysate solution, the dialyser connected between the pre-dialysis pathway and the post-dialysis pathway, a first sensor system configured to sense a characteristic of the dialysate solution at a first location on the pre-dialysis pathway, a second sensor system configured to sense a characteristic of the dialysate solution at a second location on the post-dialysis pathway, and a control system configured to make a comparative analysis of the measurements taken by the first sensor and the second sensor for monitoring the composition of the dialysate solution.

A system and method for identifying a disruption of a flow from an extracorporeal circuit to a patient circulatory system, such as a venous needle dislodgement or an access-bloodline separation, is based on flow rate data of the extracorporeal circuit. A patient contribution to the flow rate data can be identified as a harmonic and monitored to assess the presence of the disruption. The system can identify an inharmonic change, such as a spike, in the flow rate in the extracorporeal circuit, wherein the inharmonic change can be used alone or in conjunction with the identified harmonic to assess the existence of the disruption. The system can employ the spike in a blood flow rate as well as a spike in a dialysate flow rate fluidly connected to the extracorporeal circuit, wherein the spike can be used to identify the disruption.

The present invention relates to a flow sensor for measuring a flow difference having at least two measurement chambers through which fluid is conductible; at least one means for producing a magnetic field for charge separation in a fluid flowing through the at least two measurement chambers; and at least one means for measuring an electric potential in the fluid flowing through the at least two measurement chambers, with the at least two measurement chambers being arranged such that they are run through by the same magnetic field line of the magnetic field for charge separation.

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for increasing the functional capabilities of a sorbent-based dialysis system. The systems and methods allow for the mode of operation of the dialysis system to be switched between single pass mode and a sorbent based multi-pass mode by controlling an amount of water added to the dialysate between 0% to 100% of the dialysate flow rate.