The present disclosure relates to a dialysis apparatus comprising a membrane having at least one protein from the lipocalin family bound thereon. The disclosure further relates to methods of removing non-polar, hydrophobic and/or protein bound uremic toxins from a target subject utilizing the dialysis apparatus described herein as well as methods of extracorporeal detoxification.

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.

A blood component collection cassette that can trap a substance where blood components coagulate by using a simple and economical configuration, and a manufacturing method of the blood component collection cassette are provided. A blood component collection cassette (28) includes a cassette main body (40) where a flow path (42) is formed and is configured to be mountable to a centrifugal separation device (14). The cassette main body (40) has a first sheet (40a) and a second sheet (40b) which are formed of a soft material. The flow path (42) is formed between the first sheet (40a) and the second sheet (40b). A filter member (60) for trapping a substance where blood components coagulate is arranged on the flow path (42) in the cassette main body (40).

An object is to provide a blood processing filter favorable in both of the effectiveness (leukocyte removing performance) and the safety (reduction in the amount of elutable substances). The object can be achieved by a blood processing filter comprising a filtration medium including a polyester fiber, wherein a surface area of the filtration medium is 6.0 m.sup.2 or more, and a maximum absorbance of an aqueous extract of the blood processing filter in the range from 240 to 245 nm is 0.03 or less.

An optical connector includes a first sub-assembly that is factory-installed to a first end of an optical fiber and a second sub-assembly that is field-installed to the first end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber and first sub-assembly can be routed through a structure (e.g., a building) prior to installation of the second sub-assembly. The second sub-assembly interlocks with the first sub-assembly to inhibit relative axial movement therebetween. Example first sub-assemblies include a ferrule, a hub, and a strain-relief sleeve that mount to an optical fiber. Example second sub-assemblies include a mounting block; and an outer connector housing forming a plug portion.

A catheter assembly includes a shaft with two non-communicating lumens for simultaneous inflow and outflow of fluids from a vein. A return lumen extends to an outlet assembly at the tip. A draw lumen includes an inlet assembly, proximally of the outlet assembly, with multiple openings to avoid blockage causing pressure elevation due to suction. The draw lumen has a larger crescent-shape profile while the return lumen has a smaller, circular profile within the arms of the crescent shape.

The invention provides apheresis devices and their use for removal of substantially all types of cell free DNA (cfDNA) in patients' blood, including nucleosome-bound cfDNA, exosome-bound cfDNA and unbound cfDNA (including double stranded DNA (dsDNA), single stranded DNA (ssDNA) and oligonucleotides), to limit the negative effects of the circulating cfDNA and to treat various diseases.

The invention provides apheresis devices and their use for removal of substantially all types of cell free DNA (cfDNA) in patients' blood, including nucleosome-bound cfDNA, exosome-bound cfDNA and unbound cfDNA (including double stranded DNA (dsDNA), single stranded DNA (ssDNA) and oligonucleotides), to limit the negative effects of the circulating cfDNA and to treat various diseases.

A medical fluid delivery system and apparatus for remote machine updating and control are disclosed. An example medical fluid delivery apparatus includes a processor and a dialysis fluid circuit including at least one dialysis fluid pump. The processor is configured to receive a disinfection input to begin a disinfection procedure and cause the at least one dialysis fluid pump to perform a disinfection procedure on the dialysis fluid circuit using a disinfection fluid. The processor is also configured to, after the disinfection procedure is complete, start a disinfection timer. When a dialysis input is received before the disinfection timer reaches zero, the processor enables a dialysis treatment to be performed. When the disinfection timer reaches zero before the dialysis input is received, the processor prevents the dialysis treatment from being performed until the disinfection procedure is performed again.