A dialysis system may include a blood circuit, a cassette, a subsystem having a processor, a sensor, and a blood pumping mechanism, a housing in which the subsystem is arranged, a movable support arranged in the housing and configured to hold the sensor and/or the blood pumping mechanism of the subsystem, a cassette holder configured to removably receive the cassette, and a loading system. The loading system may be configured to move the movable support, e.g. by an axial movement, to a first position and to a second position relatively to the housing while the cassette holder is fixedly arranged in the housing. The loading system may have an electric motor controlled by the processor, a drive assembly coupled to the electric motor, and a guiding assembly configured to cooperate with the drive assembly.

The disclosed subject matter relates to extracorporeal blood processing or other processing of fluids. Volumetric fluid balance, a required element of many such processes, may be achieved with multiple pumps or other proportioning or balancing devices which are to some extent independent of each other. This need may arise in treatments that involve multiple fluids. Safe and secure mechanisms to ensure fluid balance in such systems are described.

A blood purification apparatus that is capable of, with no preparatory operations, performing substitution by supplying dialysate in a dialysate introduction line to a blood circuit during ultrafiltration treatment, or performing blood return by immediately supplying the dialysate in the dialysate introduction line to the blood circuit after the ultrafiltration treatment. A blood purification apparatus includes a dialyzer, a dialysate introduction line, a dialysate drain line L2 through which drain liquid from the dialyzer is drained, and an ultrafiltration pump capable of removing water from the blood in the blood circuit. The blood purification apparatus is capable of performing substitution or blood return by supplying the dialysate in the dialysate introduction line L1 to the blood circuit. In an ultrafiltration treatment in which the ultrafiltration pump is activated while the introduction of the dialysate into the dialyzer is stopped, dialysate delivery is performed while the introduction of the dialysate into the dialyzer is prevented.

An apparatus (1) for extracorporeal blood treatment comprises a filtration unit (2) having a primary chamber (3) and a secondary chamber (4) separated by a semi-permeable membrane (5), a blood circuit (17) comprising at least a blood withdrawal line (6) and a blood return line (7), a fluid circuit (32) comprising a fluid supply source (50) for providing a sterile fluid, and at least one gas inlet (49) to allow gas to enter into the blood circuit (17). The apparatus further comprises a control unit configured to perform a blood restitution procedure towards the patient for ending an extracorporeal blood treatment and before disconnecting the patient, said blood restitution procedure comprising the steps of infusing a predetermined amount of sterile fluid from the supply source (50) into the blood circuit (17) and causing a predetermined amount of gas to enter into the blood circuit (17) from the gas inlet (49).

Dialysis systems comprising actuators that cooperate to perform dialysis functions and sensors that cooperate to monitor dialysis functions are disclosed. According to one aspect, such a hemodialysis system comprises a user interface model layer, a therapy layer, below the user interface model layer, and a machine layer below the therapy layer. The user interface model layer is configured to manage the state of a graphical user interface and receive inputs from a graphical user interface. The therapy layer is configured to run state machines that generate therapy commands based at least in part on the inputs from the graphical user interface. The machine layer is configured to provide commands for the actuators based on the therapy commands.

A method controls a device for extracorporeal blood gas exchange. The device has a membrane as a gas-liquid barrier between a bloodstream and a gas stream. The membrane further makes possible a passing over of the carbon dioxide content from the bloodstream into the gas stream. The device has at least one actuator. A change in a value of an operating parameter of the actuator brings about a change in a value of the carbon dioxide content that passes over from the bloodstream into the gas stream. The method further includes providing breathing gas information that indicates a carbon dioxide concentration in breathing gas and providing a control signal, which indicates a request for setting a value of the operating parameter and changing of the value of the operating parameter as a function of the carbon dioxide concentration in the breathing gas.

A solid fiber is described, where the solid fiber is characterized by (a) a modification degree Do/Di, in a cross section of the solid fiber of 1.20 to 8.50 where the inscribed circle diameter is denoted by Di and the circumscribed circle diameter is denoted by Do; and (b) a porous specific surface area of not less than 30 m.sup.2/g.

This disclosure relates to dialysis systems and methods. In some implementations, a dialysis system includes a dialysis machine with a fluid line and a drain line, a blood line set configured to be connected to the dialysis machine, and a drain apparatus coupled to the dialysis machine. The drain apparatus includes a chamber configured to receive an end of a patient line of the blood line set, an inlet line, an outlet line, and a valve. The inlet line has a first end configured to be coupled to the chamber and a second end configured to be coupled to the fluid line of the dialysis machine. The outlet line has a first end configured to be coupled to the chamber and a second end configured to be coupled to the drain line of the dialysis machine. The valve is configured to control flow of fluid through the outlet line.

Dialysis systems comprising actuators that cooperate to perform dialysis functions and sensors that cooperate to monitor dialysis functions are disclosed. According to one aspect, such a hemodialysis system comprises a user interface model layer, a therapy layer, below the user interface model layer, and a machine layer below the therapy layer. The user interface model layer is configured to manage the state of a graphical user interface and receive inputs from a graphical user interface. The therapy layer is configured to run state machines that generate therapy commands based at least in part on the inputs from the graphical user interface. The machine layer is configured to provide commands for the actuators based on the therapy commands.

This invention is directed to system and methods for the oxygenation of the blood of a patient, comprising an extracorporeal blood circulation path adapted to be coupled to the patient's vascular system, and comprising apparatus for oxygenating blood flowing therein and withdrawing CO2 therefrom, wherein the flow rate of blood flowing in said extracorporeal blood circulation path does not exceed 2/5 of the patient's blood flow. The extracorporeal blood circulation path preferably comprise a cartridge including an oxygenator and at least one cannula.