Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for assisting a user of a drug delivery device with an application executing on a mobile computing device. The mobile computing device may receive information from the drug delivery device related to its condition and/or operation and subsequently select an informational and/or instructional prompt to be displayed to the user based on the received information. The mobile computing device may also generate a display in the application including the selected informational prompt and/or the instructional prompt. Accordingly, the user of the drug delivery device can be guided through the drug delivery process in real time, thereby reducing the likelihood of improper or incomplete use of the drug delivery device.

Abstract: A drug delivery system is disclosed that includes a drug delivery device having a reservoir, a delivery cannula having a proximal end in fluid communication with the reservoir and a distal end to be received within a patient, and one or more controllable elements. The drug delivery system may further include one or more sensors coupled to the drug delivery device, and a controller coupled to the one or more sensors and the one or more controllable elements. The controller may be configured to use the one or more sensors to determine a condition or an operational state of the drug delivery device. Furthermore, the controller may be configured to control the controllable element based on the condition or the operational state of the drug delivery device and/or identity information stored in a memory onboard the device. A method for use with a drug delivery device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A drug delivery system is disclosed that includes a drug delivery device having a reservoir and a delivery cannula having a proximal end in fluid communication with the reservoir and a distal end to be received within a patient. The drug delivery system may further include one or more sensors coupled to the drug delivery device, a wireless transmitter, and a controller coupled to the one or more sensors and the wireless transmitter. The controller may be configured to use the one or more sensors to determine a condition or an operational state of the drug delivery device, and control the wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit one or more reports representative of the condition or the operational state of the drug delivery device. A method for use with a drug delivery device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for supporting a patient's use of a drug delivery device. The patient may be associated with a support group via, for example, a social networking service for the purpose of increasing the likelihood that the patient will comply with a treatment regimen. Based on data representative of a condition and/or operational state of the drug delivery device, it may be determined whether the patient is compliant with the treatment regimen. If the patient is not compliant, the systems and method disclosed herein may transmit a communication to the support group requesting the support group to counsel the patient about the treatment regimen. The counseling may take the form of words of encouragement, coaching, suggestions, reminders, and/or any other communication likely to urge the patient to comply with the treatment regimen.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for processing sensor data collected by a drug delivery device with an external computing device. The drug delivery device may include a reservoir and a delivery cannula having a proximal end in fluid communication with the reservoir and a distal end to be received within a patient. The drug delivery device may further include one or more sensors configured to generate sensor data representative of a condition and/or operational state of the drug delivery device, and a communication module configured to transmit information to the external computing device. The external computing device may process the information received from the drug delivery device according to information stored in a memory of the external computing device to determine the condition or the operational state of the drug delivery device and/or generate instructional or informational prompts to be displayed to a user or patient.

Abstract: A drug delivery system includes a reservoir and a drug delivery device coupled to the reservoir. The drug delivery device also may include at least one temperature-sensitive component and a lock having locked and unlocked states. The system further includes an output device, and a controller coupled to the lock and the output device. The controller may also include a temperature sensor, or may be coupled to the temperature sensor. The controller is programmed or configured to determine if the temperature of a drug in the reservoir or of the temperature-sensitive component exceeds an upper limit or is below a lower limit, and to activate the lock in either event. The controller is also programmed or configured to determine, directly or indirectly, if the temperature subsequently is between the upper and lower limits, and to unlock lock as a consequence.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes: an enclosure including an actuation surface and a door; a stepper motor housed by the enclosure; a pump head and a solid pump piston structurally linking the pump head to the stepper motor; and a disposable unit accepted by the enclosure, the disposable unit including a flexible membrane attached to a rigid piece, the actuation surface of the enclosure and the disposable unit so configured and arranged that when the stepper motor turns and consequently translates the solid pump piston and the pump head towards the door, the pump head physically contacts and stretches the membrane from a relaxed position to a stretched position, and when the stepper motor turns and consequently translates the solid pump piston and the pump head away from the door, the membrane follows the pump head and transitions from the stretched position to the relaxed position.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes a dialysis instrument including a blood pump, a dialysate inlet pump, a dialysate outlet pump, and at least one fluid velocity sensor, each sensor including an emitter and a receiver, a dialyzer arranged (i) to receive blood pumped by the blood pump, (ii) to receive fresh dialysate pumped by the dialysate inlet pump and (iii) such that used dialysate is pumped from the dialyzer by the dialysate outlet pump, and a disposable cassette including a to-dialyzer dialysate pathway carrying dialysate pumped by the dialysate inlet pump and a from-dialyzer dialysate pathway carrying used dialysate pumped by the dialysate outlet pump, wherein at least one of the to-dialyzer dialysate pathway or the from-dialyzer dialysate pathway includes at least one sensing area so positioned and arranged such that when the disposable cassette is mounted to the instrument, the sensing area is coupled operably with both the emitter and the receiver of the at least one fluid velocity sensor.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes a dialyzer; a blood pump coupled operably to a dialyzer; a dialysate inlet pump couple operably to a dialysate inlet of the dialyzer; a dialysate outlet pump coupled operably to a dialysate outlet of the dialyzer; a first non-invasive fluid velocity sensor positioned to sensor of inlet flowrate of dialysate pumped to the dialysate inlet by the dialysate inlet pump; and a second non-invasive fluid velocity sensor positioned to sense an outlet flowrate of dialysate pumped from the dialysate outlet by the dialysate outlet pump.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system is provided that includes a hardware unit, a disposable unit received by the hardware unit, and a controller. The hardware unit includes a recessed area, a piston having a contact surface, a pneumatic source for supplying a negative pressure, and an actuator configured to move the contact surface of the piston into and out of at least a portion of the recessed area. The disposable unit includes an outer member fitted at least partially within the recessed area of the hardware unit and a moveable membrane positioned between the contact surface of the piston and the outer member when the disposable unit is received by the hardware unit. The controller is configured to cause the pneumatic source to apply the negative pressure to the moveable membrane so as to conform the moveable membrane to a shape of the contact surface of the piston and follow the contact surface when the piston is moved towards and away from the outer member fitted at least partially within the recessed area.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis machine including a membrane pump and a touch screen display that includes a mode-indicating portion and an operation-descriptive portion, the mode-indicating portion having a plurality of touch sensitive indicia each indicating one of a plurality of modes in which the machine can operate, the display being used to keep a patient continually informed of which one mode of at least three operating modes the machine is operating in, as the operation-descriptive portion changes to display details of a specific operation being carried out within the one mode, the indicia for each of the three operating modes always being visible to the patient while the machine is operating, the operating mode being selected by the patient touching one of the indicia on the screen.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes: an enclosure including an actuation surface and a door; a stepper motor housed by the enclosure; a pump head and a solid pump piston structurally linking the pump head to the stepper motor; and a disposable unit accepted by the enclosure, the disposable unit including a flexible membrane attached to a rigid piece, the actuation surface of the enclosure and the disposable unit so configured and arranged that when the stepper motor turns and consequently translates the solid pump piston and the pump head towards the door, the pump head physically contacts and stretches the membrane from a relaxed position to a stretched position, and when the stepper motor turns and consequently translates the solid pump piston and the pump head away from the door, the membrane follows the pump head and transitions from the stretched position to the relaxed position.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis machine including a membrane pump and a touch screen display that includes a mode-indicating portion and an operation-descriptive portion, the mode-indicating portion having a plurality of touch sensitive indicia each indicating one of a plurality of modes in which the machine can operate, the display being used to keep a patient continually informed of which one mode of at least three operating modes the machine is operating in, as the operation-descriptive portion changes to display details of a specific operation being carried out within the one mode, the indicia for each of the three operating modes always being visible to the patient while the machine is operating, the operating mode being selected by the patient touching one of the indicia on the screen.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis machine including a membrane pump and a touch screen display that includes a mode-indicating portion and an operation-descriptive portion, the mode-indicating portion having a plurality of touch sensitive indicia each indicating one of a plurality of modes in which the machine can operate, the display being used to keep a patient continually informed of which one mode of at least three operating modes the machine is operating in, as the operation-descriptive portion changes to display details of a specific operation being carried out within the one mode, the indicia for each of the three operating modes always being visible to the patient while the machine is operating, the operating mode being selected by the patient touching one of the indicia on the screen.

Abstract: A dialysis system instrument includes a dialysis instrument, a disposable pumping and valving cassette apparatus operable with pumping and valving actuators of the dialysis instrument, the disposable cassette including an electronic cell and electronics associated with the electronic cell, the electronics configured to determine an electrical property of a solution flowing through the electronic cell of the disposable apparatus.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis machine including a membrane pump and a touch screen display that includes a mode-indicating portion and an operation-descriptive portion, the mode-indicating portion having a plurality of touch sensitive indicia each indicating one of a plurality of modes in which the machine can operate, the display being used to keep a patient continually informed of which one mode of at least three operating modes the machine is operating in, as the operation-descriptive portion changes to display details of a specific operation being carried out within the one mode, the indicia for each of the three operating modes always being visible to the patient while the machine is operating, the operating mode being selected by the patient touching one of the indicia on the screen.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis machine including a membrane pump and a touch screen display that includes a mode-indicating portion and an operation-descriptive portion, the mode-indicating portion having a plurality of touch sensitive indicia each indicating one of a plurality of modes in which the machine can operate, the display being used to keep a patient continually informed of which one mode of at least three operating modes the machine is operating in, as the operation-descriptive portion changes to display details of a specific operation being carried out within the one mode, the indicia for each of the three operating modes always being visible to the patient while the machine is operating, the operating mode being selected by the patient touching one of the indicia on the screen.

Abstract: An access needle for extracorporeal therapy is equipped with a mount and a sleeve having a metal or magnetic component at its distal end. The mount includes a sensor for detecting when the distal end is pressed against the mount. The sensor is a hall-effect sensor or a proximity sensor. When therapy is begun, the sleeve is rolled up and urged against the mount, exposing the needle for use with the patient. While the sleeve, and the piece of metal or magnet, remains in contact with the sensor, the needle has not been dislodged and therapy may continue. If the needle is dislodged, the sleeve pushes away from mount, moving the metal or magnet away from the sensor. The sensor notes the dislodgement and sends a signal to alert the patient or a caregiver.

Abstract: A machine for controlling a medical fluid includes a base and an actuator comprising an electroactive polymer and disposed on the base. The actuator is configured for movement between an extended position and a contracted position.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes a dialyzer; a blood pump coupled operably to a dialyzer; a dialysate inlet pump couple operably to a dialysate inlet of the dialyzer; a dialysate outlet pump coupled operably to a dialysate outlet of the dialyzer; a first non-invasive fluid velocity sensor positioned to sensor of inlet flowrate of dialysate pumped to the dialysate inlet by the dialysate inlet pump; and a second non-invasive fluid velocity sensor positioned to sense an outlet flowrate of dialysate pumped from the dialysate outlet by the dialysate outlet pump.