Abstract: A venous needle monitoring device. An apparatus and system for monitoring for the presence of a needle or cannula to determine if it becomes dislodged from a patient. A venous needle monitoring device comprising: a wearable device; at least one temperature sensor; at least one heart rate sensor; a controller with a transmitter. The at least one temperature sensor and at least one heart rate sensor are disposed on the wearable device. The controller and transmitter are located within the wearable device. The at least one temperature sensor and at least one heart rate sensor are in communication with the controller. The controller generates an alarm signal when a threshold value is reached based upon a temperature value measured by the at least one temperature sensor and a heart rate value measured by the at least one heart rate sensor. Wherein the transmitter is suitably disposed for transmitting the alarm signal to one or more associated medical devices.

Abstract: A pump and valve arrangement (201), a dialysis system (10) comprising the pump and valve arrangement 201 and a method of operating a pump and valve arrangement (201). The pump and valve arrangement (201) has a dialyser having a semi-permeable membrane. The pump and valve arrangement (201) delivers dialysis fluid to and from the dialyser (12). The pump and valve arrangement (201) has a control system (450) configured to shuttle dialysis fluid between an inlet pump assembly and the dialyser (12) one or more times so as to agitate the surface of the semi-permeable membrane of the dialyser (12).

Abstract: A method of sanitizing liquid for use in a medical device, the method comprising the steps of providing a medical device defining a water circuit with a volume of liquid, sensing the temperature of the volume of liquid with a sensor, heating the volume of liquid from an initial temperature to exceed a threshold temperature, maintaining the volume of liquid above the threshold temperature, determining a time-temperature value for the volume of liquid periodically once the threshold temperature has been exceeded, calculating a cumulative time-temperature value and providing an output signal once the cumulative time-temperature value has reached a level indicative of a sanitizing dose. A medical device and a liquid sanitizer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dialysis system (10) comprising a dialysis machine (20) and a water purification system (30). The water purification system (30) comprising a pre-treatment system (10) and a primary treatment system (80). The water purification system (30) is provided within a portable unit (90) defining an enclosure. The dialysis machine (20) is removably provided on an upper surface of the enclosure of the portable unit (90).

Abstract: A method of sanitizing liquid for use in a medical device, the method comprising the steps of providing a medical device defining a water circuit with a volume of liquid, sensing the temperature of the volume of liquid with a sensor, heating the volume of liquid from an initial temperature to exceed a threshold temperature, maintaining the volume of liquid above the threshold temperature, determining a time-temperature value for the volume of liquid periodically once the threshold temperature has been exceeded, calculating a cumulative time-temperature value and providing an output signal once the cumulative time-temperature value has reached a level indicative of a sanitizing dose. A medical device and a liquid sanitizer are also disclosed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method of sanitizing liquid for use in a. medical device, the method comprising the steps of providing a medical device defining a water circuit with a volume of liquid, sensing the temperature of the volume of liquid with a sensor, heating the volume of liquid from an initial temperature to exceed a threshold temperature, maintaining the volume of liquid above the threshold temperature, determining a time-temperature value for the volume of liquid periodically once the threshold temperature has been exceeded, calculating a. cumulative time-temperature value and providing an output signal once the cumulative time-temperature value has reached a level indicative of a sanitizing dose. A medical device and a liquid sanitizer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of sanitizing liquid for use in a. medical device, the method comprising the steps of providing a medical device defining a water circuit with a volume of liquid, sensing the temperature of the volume of liquid with a sensor, heating the volume of liquid from an initial temperature to exceed a threshold temperature, maintaining the volume of liquid above the threshold temperature, determining a time-temperature value for the volume of liquid periodically once the threshold temperature has been exceeded, calculating a. cumulative time-temperature value and providing an output signal once the cumulative time-temperature value has reached a level indicative of a sanitizing dose. A medical device and a liquid sanitizer are also disclosed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method of sanitizing liquid for use in a medical device, the method comprising the steps of providing a medical device defining a water circuit with a volume of liquid, sensing the temperature of the volume of liquid with a sensor, heating the volume of liquid from an initial temperature to exceed a threshold temperature, maintaining the volume of liquid above the threshold temperature, determining a time-temperature value for the volume of liquid periodically once the threshold temperature has been exceeded, calculating a cumulative time-temperature value and providing an output signal once the cumulative time-temperature value has reached a level indicative of a sanitizing dose. A medical device and a liquid sanitizer are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a blood treatment device comprising: a dialyser; an inlet pump assembly; an outlet pump assembly; and a control system. The inlet pump assembly configured to deliver a first volume of dialysate from a dialysate source to the dialyser in an inlet pump cycle having a dialysate delivery stroke. The outlet pump assembly configured to remove a second volume of dialysate from the dialyser and deliver the dialysate away from the dialyser in an outlet pump cycle having a dialysate removal stroke. The control system is configured to operate the inlet pump assembly in the inlet pump cycle, and configured to operate the outlet pump assembly in the outlet pump cycle. For each inlet pump cycle there is a corresponding outlet pump cycle, and each inlet pump assembly dialysate delivery stroke has a commencement time t1 and a termination time h, and each outlet pump assembly dialysate removal stroke has a commencement time t3 and a termination time t4.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump rotor comprising a body, an arm pivotally mounted to the body at an arm-body pivot point, the arm being movable between a deployed condition in which the arm is arranged, in use, to contact tubing in a peristaltic pump so as to effect pumping, and a retracted condition in which the arm is withdrawn from the tubing so that pumping is not effected; an actuator for effecting movement of the arm between the deployed and retracted conditions, the actuator comprising a first link pivotally mounted to the body at one end thereof and to a second link at the other end thereof, the second link being pivotally mounted to the first link at one end thereof and to the arm at the other end thereof at a point on the arm spaced from the arm-body pivot point; the links and pivot points being arranged such that the arm is retained in the deployed condition by the first and second links being arranged over center when the arm is in the deployed condition.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a dialysis system comprising a dialysate side and a blood side. In particular, and for example, in some embodiments, a dialysis system is provided and comprises a dialyzer including and a blood filter configured to divide the dialyzer and dialysis system into a blood side and a dialysate side. The blood side includes a blood circuit comprising a blood pump, a blood removal line, a blood return line, and a blood return line valve (BRV). The blood removal line and blood return line converge to a single venous access line in blood communication with a patient. The dialysate side includes a dialysate fluid circuit comprising first and second pump chambers each having a plurality of respective valves configurable to enable or prevent fluid communication with both the dialyser side of the dialyser and a drain. Each of the first and second pump chambers are configurable, based on the configurations of the valves, to comprise a blood accumulation chamber.

Abstract: A method of sanitizing liquid for use in a medical device, the method comprising the steps of providing a medical device defining a water circuit with a volume of liquid, sensing the temperature of the volume of liquid with a sensor, heating the volume of liquid from an initial temperature to exceed a threshold temperature, maintaining the volume of liquid above the threshold temperature, determining a time-temperature value for the volume of liquid periodically once the threshold temperature has been exceeded, calculating a cumulative time-temperature value and providing an output signal once the cumulative time-temperature value has reached a level indicative of a sanitizing dose. A medical device and a liquid sanitizer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A monitoring device (1) is provided for monitoring the presence of a skin piercing vascular access device, for example a needle (4), the monitoring device comprising: a mount having an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver therein; attachment means (3) for attaching the mount to a patient adjacent a vascular access point such that, in use, a vascular access device (4) entering the patient at the vascular access point, passes underneath a sensing section of the base; control electronics to monitor the signal received at the receiver, and wherein when the vascular access device is underneath said sensing section, ultrasound produced by said transmitter passes through the patient skin and is reflected by the patients body tissues and by the vascular access device (4), and when the vascular access device (4) is not underneath said sensing section, ultrasound produced by said transmitter passes through the patients skin and is reflected by the patients body tissue only, and wherein the control electron

Abstract: A vascular access monitoring device for monitoring characteristics of a skin piercing vascular access device comprising: an acoustic sensor operable to detect an acoustic emission created by flow through said vascular access device and produce an electrical signal indicative of said emission; electronics processing means for processing and monitoring said electrical signal, and to determine, by identifying a change of characteristic of said signal, the possibility that the vascular access device has become dislodged from its normal working position.

Abstract: A pump for a dialysis machine, the pump having a pump chamber and a deformable membrane actuable to pump a fluid from the pump chamber, the pump chamber being substantially conical such that the membrane is actuated to extend into the conical chamber in order to pump the fluid from the chamber.

Abstract: A blood pump 2 comprising: a cartridge 4 having a concave recess 8 therein having a surface, and a flexible membrane 0 covering said recess, the concave recess and flexible membrane forming a pump chamber 12 having an inlet 14 and an outlet 16 wherein: said flexible membrane is movable between a first position, separated from said surface wherein in such position the pump chamber has a maximum volume, and a second position, substantially adjacent said surface such that in said second position the pump chamber has a minimum volume, a pump driver mechanism 18 arranged to interface with the cartridge, said driver operable to move the flexible membrane in a first direction into the recess to, in use, pump blood from the chamber and operable to move the flexible membrane in a second direction away from the recess to, in use, draw blood into said chamber; and wherein the pump driver controls the movement of the flexible membrane in the first direction such that the speed at which it is moving reduces as it approach

Abstract: A blood pump 2 comprising: a cartridge 4 having a concave recess 8 therein having a surface, and a flexible membrane 0 covering said recess, the concave recess and flexible membrane forming a pump chamber 12 having an inlet 14 and an outlet 16 wherein: said flexible membrane is movable between a first position, separated from said surface wherein in such position the pump chamber has a maximum volume, and a second position, substantially adjacent said surface such that in said second position the pump chamber has a minimum volume, a pump driver mechanism 18 arranged to interface with the cartridge, said driver operable to move the flexible membrane in a first direction into the recess to, in use, pump blood from the chamber and operable to move the flexible membrane in a second direction away from the recess to, in use, draw blood into said chamber; and wherein the pump driver controls the movement of the flexible membrane in the first direction such that the speed at which it is moving reduces as it approach

Abstract: A peristaltic pump rotor comprising a body, an arm pivotally mounted to the body at an arm-body pivot point, the arm being movable between a deployed condition in which the arm is arranged, in use, to contact tubing in a peristaltic pump so as to effect pumping, and a retracted condition in which the arm is withdrawn from the tubing so that pumping is not effected; an actuator for effecting movement of the arm between the deployed and retracted conditions, the actuator comprising a first link pivotally mounted to the body at one end thereof and to a second link at the other end thereof, the second link being pivotally mounted to the first link at one end thereof and to the arm at the other end thereof at a point on the arm spaced from the arm-body pivot point; the links and pivot points being arranged such that the arm is retained in the deployed condition by the first and second links being arranged over centre when the arm is in the deployed condition.