Enhanced systems and methods for performing Direct Sodium Removal (DSR) therapy are provided in which an implantable device includes a variable speed motor-driven pump that may be programmed to output different flow rates at different stages of a DSR therapy session, wherein the system monitors operational parameters of the pump and is configured to generate an alarm condition indicative of a fault that may be displayed on a patient's smartphone to permit corrective action, and in which a catheter set implanted with the implantable device enables a DSR solution may be instilled into the patient's peritoneal cavity using a peritoneal catheter that is subsequently used to remove the DSR solution and sodium-rich ultrafiltrate from the peritoneal cavity to the patient's bladder.

Systems and methods are provided for performing a medical procedure within a patient's body that involves a thoracic duct including an ostium communicating with the patient's venous system. A distal end of a catheter is introduced through the patient's venous system into a body lumen adjacent the ostium of the thoracic duct. An expandable member on the distal end of the tubular member may be expanded adjacent the ostium, e.g., within the body lumen or the thoracic duct itself, and used to isolate the thoracic duct from the body lumen, whereupon a medical procedure may be performed via the thoracic duct. For example, lymphatic fluid may be removed from the thoracic duct through a lumen of the tubular member and/or one or more agents may be introduced into the thoracic duct through the tubular member.

An embodiment provides a method for treating a body fluid of a patient, including: removing the body fluid from a patient; applying a treatment to the body fluid, wherein the treatment comprises an antibody that joins with an aging process targeted antigen (TA) in the body fluid to form an antibody-TA complex, wherein the antibody comprises a tag sensitive to an illumination; removing the antibody-antigen complex from the body fluid; and returning the body fluid to the patient. Other aspects are described and claimed.

An extracorporeal blood treatment device and a method are provided for removing a secondary membrane formed on a semipermeable membrane of a dialyzer during an extracorporeal blood treatment. The extracorporeal blood treatment device operates in a first operating mode in which a dialysate outlet valve is open such that dialysate flows through a dialyzer feed line, through a dialysate chamber, and into and through a dialyzer discharge line. The extracorporeal blood treatment device operates in a second operating mode to remove the secondary membrane from the semipermeable membrane. During the second operating mode, the dialysate outlet valve is closed for a duration of time such that dialysate is prevented from flowing through the dialyzer discharge line. A backflush procedure results wherein a volume of dialysate passes from the dialysate chamber through the semipermeable membrane and into the blood chamber.

A device and method for purifying blood. The method includes the steps of separating the blood plasma from the blood cells, adjusting the pH of the blood plasma to a pH close to an isoelectric point of at least one predetermined protein, treating the blood plasma by ion-exchange chromatography, neutralizing the pH of the blood plasma, and pooling of the blood plasma and blood cells.

An embodiment provides a method for treating a body fluid of a patient with an inflammatory cytokine storm, including: removing the body fluid from a patient; applying a treatment to the body fluid, wherein the treatment comprises an antibody that joins with an antigen in the body fluid to form an antibody -antigen complex; removing the antibody-antigen complex from the body fluid; and returning the body fluid to the patient. Other aspects are described and claimed.

A wearable ultrafiltration apparatus is provided. The apparatus can include a first dialyzer for filtering a patient's blood along a first fluid path and a second dialyzer for filtering the patient's blood along a second fluid path. The apparatus can also include a valve being positionable in a first position for directing the patient's blood along the first fluid path. The valve can also be positioned in a second position for directing the patient's blood along the second fluid path. When the valve is in the first position, blood can flow along the first fluid path and prevent blood from flowing along the second fluid path. When the valve is in the second position, blood can flow along the second fluid path and prevent blood from flowing along the first fluid path. When the valve is in the first position, the second dialyzer can be idle and capable of being serviced or replaced and when the valve is in the second position, the first dialyzer can be idle and capable of being serviced or replaced. Therefore, when a dialyzer fouls, blood can be directed to the other dialyzer while the fouled dialyzer is being serviced or replaced.

The present invention concerns an extracorporeal circuit for regional scoagulation of blood comprising a line for taking the blood from the patient, a first filtering unit, and a line for returning the blood to the patient defining a main circuit, the extracorporeal circuit comprising a secondary circuit for recirculation of the plasma water comprising: a calcium removal assembly adapted to provide a solution with low calcium content in said main circuit;
the extracorporeal circuit further comprising: first means for the infusion of said solution with low calcium content into said main circuit upstream of said first filtering unit and of said calcium removal assembly with respect to the blood flow direction in the main circuit and second means for the infusion of an electrolytic re-establishment solution located downstream of said first means with respect to the direction of the blood flow in said main circuit.

A blood treatment method is described that is adapted to at least partially eliminate the carbon dioxide content of the type comprising a step of drawing a blood flow. Advantageously according to the invention, the method further comprises the steps of: acidifying the blood flow with transformation of the related blood bicarbonate content into gaseous carbon dioxide; and eliminating the gaseous carbon dioxide content by means of a pressure gradient.

The present disclosure relates to a dialyzer comprising a bundle of semipermeable hollow fiber membranes which is suitable for blood purification, wherein the dialyzer has an increased ability to remove larger molecules while at the same time it is able to effectively remove small uremic toxins and efficiently retain albumin and larger proteins. The invention also relates to using said dialyzer in hemodialysis.