Dialysis systems and methods for operating dialysis machines (e.g., peritoneal dialysis machines) for conducting dialysis treatments are disclosed. The dialysis system may include a dialysis machine for transferring dialysate to a patient from a dialysate source. The dialysate may flow from the dialysate source through a cartridge or cassette (e.g., a disposable cartridge or cassette) positionable within the dialysis machine. The cassette includes a fluid flow channel. The dialysis machine includes a heating chamber for in-line heating of the dialysate in the fluid flow channel. The fluid flow channel is arranged and configured to provide turbulent flow of the dialysate through the fluid flow channel to provide increased heat transfer from the heating chamber to the dialysate.

There is provided an aerosol generating system, the system comprising: aerosol generating means; aerosol delivery means; and an aerosol guiding device (1). The aerosol guiding device comprises a chamber having an air inlet (14) and an air outlet (12) and the aerosol delivery means is configured such that aerosol is introduced from the aerosol generating means into the chamber in use. An airflow route is defined from the air inlet to the air outlet so as to convey the aerosol to the air outlet, and the relative dimensions of the air inlet and the air outlet are selected to provide pressure control means for controlling the pressure differential between the air inlet and the air outlet. There is also provided an aerosol guiding device for use in an aerosol generating system, the device comprising: a chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet. Aerosol is introduced from an aerosol generating means into the chamber in use, an airflow route is defined from the air inlet to the air outlet so as to convey the aerosol to the air outlet, and the relative dimensions of the air inlet and the air outlet are selected to provide pressure control means for controlling the pressure differential between the air inlet and the air outlet.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol precursor consumable, and an aerosol delivery device that comprises a control unit that defines a receiving chamber, and a removable and replaceable aerosol precursor consumable, at least a portion of the consumable configured to be received into the receiving chamber. The aerosol precursor consumable comprises a housing defining an outer wall, an aerosol precursor composition reservoir located in the housing and configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition, an atomizer located in the housing, and at least one aroma diffuser. The atomizer is configured to vaporize the aerosol precursor composition to generate an aerosol for oral delivery to a user, and the at least one aroma diffuser is configured to diffuse an aroma composition for olfactory delivery to the user.

Disclosed are apparatus and methods of detecting user interaction with a respiratory therapy device and effecting an action in response to the detection. The apparatus comprises a sensor which is positioned so as to detect the presence of a user's hand or fingers near to the apparatus, such as a surface or handle. In embodiments the apparatus may be configured to detect gestures or movement of the user. On detection of a user, the apparatus may be configured to effect one or more actions, such as disabling a feature of an input or output device or alerting a user.

Systems, methods and apparatuses for aerosolizing all or substantially all plant matter, medications, flavors, smells, liquid and/or other material to be aerosolizing are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention comprise an aerosolization chamber sealed except for two or more conduits, a first conduit coupled to a source of fully or almost fully oxygenated gas, a heating element capable of heating the aerosolization chamber to a temperature above a combustion temperature, a second conduit configured to transport aerosolized gases and elements out of the chamber and, in one implementation, at least one valve positioned in the second conduit preventing the flow of atmospheric air into the vaporization chamber. In some instances, the first gas substantially clears the vaporization chamber of atmospheric air prior to reaching combustion temperature. A second gas containing oxygen may be intermixed with the vaporization gases and vaporized elements proximal to the combustion chamber.

A security tag can prohibit unauthorized usage of a device or product. The device may include an electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS”) device, which may include aerosol delivery devices such as smoking articles that produce aerosol. The security tag can prevent usage until authorized. Attempts at usage without authorization can result in the device being unusable. The authorization may include identity confirmation or age verification.

The present disclosure describes a novel therapeutic apheresis system and, more specifically, methods and an apparatus for performing therapeutic apheresis. The present disclosure provides highly efficient methods for therapeutic apheresis that modulate the immune system, thereby resulting in treatment of one or more underlying immunological disease processes. In some embodiments, the disclosed methods return at least a portion of blood from an extracorporeal circuit to a patient in pulsatile flow, where the portion of blood that is returned is augmented. In other embodiments, the disclosed methods and apparatus use the central arterial system to exchange volumes of plasma to immunomodulate disease processes. The disclosed methods combine concepts of intermittent flow and continuous flow therapeutic apheresis with established cardiovascular concepts. In addition, the disclosed methods reduce the amount of time spent by patients in therapeutic apheresis sessions and decrease patients' dependence on immunological drugs that may have detrimental adverse effects.

A medical treatment system, such as a peritoneal dialysis system, may include a control system and other features to enhance patient comfort and ease of use. For example, the peritoneal dialysis system may include the control system that can adjust a volume of fluid infused into a peritoneal cavity to prevent an intraperitoneal fluid volume from exceeding a pre-determined amount. The control system can adjust by adding one or more therapy cycles, allowing for fill volumes during each cycle of the one or more therapy cycles to be reduced. The control system may continue to allow the fluid to drain from the peritoneal cavity as completely as possible before starting the next therapy cycle of the one or more therapy cycles. The control system may also adjust a dwell time of the fluid within the peritoneal cavity during the one or more therapy cycles in order to complete a therapy within a scheduled time period. A cycler may also be configured to have a heater control system that monitors both a temperature of a heating tray and a temperature of a bag of dialysis fluid in order to bring a temperature of the dialysis fluid rapidly to a specified temperature, with minimal temperature overshoot.

A hemodiafiltration system with a disposable pumping unit is disclosed. An example system includes a medical fluid pump actuator, a medical fluid heater, a blood filter and a disposable unit. The example disposable unit includes a medical fluid cassette portion including a medical fluid cassette housing configured to be operatively connected to the medical fluid pump actuator to pump medical fluid through the medical fluid cassette portion when the medical fluid cassette portion is in fluid communication with a medical fluid source. The example medical fluid cassette portion is also configured to be placed in fluid communication with the blood filter and with an extracorporeal circuit communicating with the blood filter, the fluid communication enabling hemodiafiltration to be performed. The example disposable unit also includes a heater bag configured to be placed in operable communication with the medical fluid heater and in fluid communication with the medical fluid cassette portion.

An example article includes a rigid member defining a plurality of fluid flow paths and a plurality of flexible tubes each defining a lumen and configured to be occluded via a pressure applied externally to the respective lumen and unoccluded in the absence of the externally applied pressure. Each flexible tube is configured to be fluidically connected to a flow path of the plurality of flow paths, and different fluid flow paths of the plurality of fluid flow paths are defined by occluding different flexible tubes of the plurality of flexible tubes.