Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for generating sterile infusion fluid from non-sterile infusion fluid produced by a machine. In one embodiment, the sterile infusion fluid is produced by a sterile fluid generating device that is an ancillary device designed to operate in conjunction with the existing machine. For example, the sterile fluid generating device is used in conjunction with a dialysis machine according to one embodiment resulting in sterile infusion fluid being produced.

Abstract: Improved transporter compositions effective for detecting or killing cells in acidic areas of tumors are described. Each composition includes a transporter peptide which at pH 7.2 and above is poly-anionic and so repels from cells in normal tissues, but at lower pH in hypoxic areas of tumors the transporter peptide converts to a non-ionic lipophilic form which transports across membranes of cells. Each composition also includes a cargo component which can be pulled across cell membranes by the transporter peptide and which is effective for detecting or killing cells into which the transporter composition has entered.

Abstract: Embedder compositions effective for detecting or killing cells in acidic areas of tumors are described. Each composition includes an embedder peptide which at pH 7.2 and above is poly-anionic and so repels from cells in normal tissues, but at lower pH in hypoxic areas of tumors the embedder peptide converts to a non-ionic lipophilic form effective to embed into membranes of cells. Each composition also includes a cargo component which cannot be pulled across cell membranes by the embedder peptide and which is effective for detecting or killing cells in whose membranes the embedder peptide has embedded.

Abstract: In a blood dialysis system including a source of substitution fluid (10) and a blood dialysis machine, a hemodiafiltration system having a first dialyzer (1) including a first blood compartment (4) having a first blood inlet which receives blood to be cleaned and a first blood outlet which discharges partially diafiltered blood and a first dialysate compartment (5) having a first dialysate inlet and a first dialysate outlet, means (8) for mixing the partially diafiltered blood with substitution fluid from the source to obtain a blood/substitution fluid mixture, and a second hemofilter (2) including a second blood compartment (11) having a second blood inlet which receives the blood/substitution fluid mixture and a second blood outlet which discharges filtered blood and a second permeate compartment (12) having a second permeate outlet.

Abstract: A dual-stage system and methods for using the same include first and second filtration cartridges is provided and is particularly suited for hemodiafiltration and/or hemodialysis. As fluid enters the first filtration cartridge, the hydroxyl ion concentration and hence pH is increased by exposing it to either a strong base or a salt of a weak acid across a filter membrane. This stage allows for improved removal of certain toxins in the fluid, such as protein-bound substances that disassociate more readily from proteins at higher pH. As the filtered fluid enters the second filtration cartridge, the pH of the fluid is restored to normal levels prior to infusion to a patient.

Abstract: Weak-base amphiphilic delivery peptide compositions are described for use in delivering large polar substances (cargo) into the cytosol of animal cells via an indirect endocytosis-mediated delivery process. The delivery peptides, which are predominantly non-ionic at neutral pH, bind but do not permeabilize cell membranes. After endocytosis of both delivery peptides and cargo, acidification of the endosome converts the delivery peptides to their polycationic form, whereupon they permeabilize the endosomal membrane and allow co-endocytosed cargo to pass from the endosome to the cytosol of the cell.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for a hemodiafiltration delivery module that is used in conjunction with a UF controlled dialysis machine to enable hemodiafiltration therapy to be performed. The advantage is that one can fully utilize a current functioning dialysis machine to perform a hemodiafiltration therapy as opposed to purchasing a completely new machine that offers this capability.

Abstract: A dual-stage system and methods for using the same include first and second filtration cartridges is provided and is particularly suited for hemodiafiltration and/or hemodialysis. As fluid enters the first filtration cartridge, the hydroxyl ion concentration and hence pH is increased by exposing it to either a strong base or a salt of a weak acid across a filter membrane. This stage allows for improved removal of certain toxins in the fluid, such as protein-bound substances that disassociate more readily from proteins at higher pH. As the filtered fluid enters the second filtration cartridge, the pH of the fluid is restored to normal levels prior to infusion to a patient.

Abstract: A dual-stage system and methods for using the same include first and second filtration cartridges is provided and is particularly suited for hemodiafiltration and/or hemodialysis. As fluid enters the first diafiltration cartridge, the hydrogenion concentration (pH) is reduced by exposing it to an acidic solution such as citric acid across a filter membrane. This stage allows for improved removal of certain toxins in the fluid, such as protein-bound substances that disassociate more readily from proteins at lower pH. As the filtered fluid enters the second filtration cartridge, the pH of the fluid is restored to normal levels prior to infusion to a patient.

Abstract: Abstract: A hemodiafiltration/hemofiltration cartridge (10) is provided and is preferably formed of a single cartridge providing multi-stage hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration defined by a first hemodiafiltration stage (13) having first filtering elements (16) and a second hemofiltration stage (14) having second filtering elements (15), both stages being provided in the single cartridge. The present cartridge can be employed in one of a mid-dilution scheme, a pre-dilution scheme and a post-dilution scheme.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for preventing retrograde flow of fluid, e.g., blood products, into a source of sterile substitution fluid (50). The apparatus of the present invention includes a controllable pinch valve member (110) that is placed on a section of a conduit (90) which carries sterile substitution fluid to an extracorporeal circuit (30). In one embodiment, control over the valve member (110) is based on a control unit (120) using fluid pressures that are sensed upstream and downstream of the valve member (110) by upstream sensor (121) and downstream pressure (122) respectively. The valve member (110) is preferably opened only when the upstream pressure is greater than the downstream pressure. This assures that the substitution fluid flows only in a single direction when the pinch valve member (110) completely occludes the conduit (90) when in a closed position. Therefor, blood will not contaminate the sterile fluid by being drawn into the conduit (90) due to pressure differences.

Abstract: A dual-stage filtration cartridge is provided. The cartridge can be embodied as a mid-dilution hemodiafiltration cartridge or a redundant sterilization filtration cartridge. The cartridge includes a housing having a first end and an opposing second end. The housing has a primary fluid inlet and outlet at the first end of the cartridge. The housing also defines first and second filtration stages with the first filtration stage including first filtering elements disposed between the first and second ends of the housing. Each stage has a separate inter-lumen fiber space, but shares a common extra-lumen space. The primary fluid inlet communicates with the first filtering elements at the first end so that fluid flows through the first filtering elements toward the second end. The second filtration stage includes second filtering elements disposed between the first and second ends of the housing with the fluid outlet communicating with the second filtering elements at the first end.

Abstract: In a blood dialysis system including a source of substitution fluid (10) and a blood dialysis machine, a hemodiafiltration system having a first dialyzer (1) including a first blood compartment (4) having a first blood inlet which receives blood to be cleaned and a first blood outlet which discharges partially diafiltered blood and a first dialysate compartment (5) having a first dialysate inlet and a first dialysate outlet, means (8) for mixing the partially diafiltered blood with substitution fluid from the source to obtain a blood/substitution fluid mixture, and a second hemofilter (2) including a second blood compartment (11) having a second blood inlet which receives the blood/substitution fluid mixture and a second blood outlet which discharges filtered blood and a second permeate compartment (12) having a second permeate outlet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hemodialysis or hemodiafiltration system and method using two dialyzer stages (122, 138), wherein the temperature of a dialysate fluid stream of the first cartridge (122) is increased such that the blood in the first cartridge (122) is dialyzed or diafiltered at an elevated temperature, while blood in the second cartridge (138) is dialyzed or diafiltered against a dialysate stream at normal blood temperature. This results in an increased solute diffusivity and a corresponding increase in removal of blood substances by diffusion. When diafiltration is performed, an additional removal of substances occurs by convection as a larger portion of plasma water from a blood compartment (142) can be filtered across a semi-permeable membrance (140) at the same transmembrane pressure due to the reduced viscosity of the heated blood and plasma water.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for generating sterile infusion fluid from non-sterile infusion fluid produced by a machine. In one embodiment, the sterile infusion fluid is produced by a sterile fluid generating device that is an ancillary device designed to operate in conjunction with the existing machine. For example, the sterile fluid generating device is used in conjunction with a dialysis machine according to one embodiment resulting in sterile infusion fluid being produced.

Abstract: A filtration assembly is presented which removes bacteria and endotoxin from a solution so that a sterile fluid is produced. The sterile fluid is suitable for direct on-line infusion to a patient from a device, such as a dialysis machine. The filtration assembly is constructed so that two separate filtration compartments exist, resulting in redundant filtration of the fluid prior to infusion. Each compartment holds a filter which preferably consists of a longitudinal bundle of semipermeable hollow fibers. The filter is sized so that it creates a separate area within the compartment for filtrate and infusate flow. This redundant filtration produces a lower risk of creating a pyrogenic or septic condition in the patient due to filter failure.

Abstract: A dual-stage filtration system and methods for using the same include first and second filtration cartridges (122, 138) particularly suited for hemodiafiltration and/or hemodialysis As fluid enters the first filtration carridge (122), the hydrogenion concentration (pH) is reduced by exposing it to an acidic solution such as citric acid across a filter membrane (124). This stage allows for improved removal of certain toxins in the fluid, such as protein-bound substances that disassociate more readily from proteins at a lower pH.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hemodialysis or hemodiafiltration system and method using two dialyzer stages (122, 138), wherein the temperature of a dialysate fluid stream of the first cartridge (122) is increased such that the blood in the first cartridge (122) is dialyzed or diafiltered at an elevated temperature, while blood in the second cartridge (138) is dialyzed or diafiltered against a dialysate stream at normal blood temperature. This results in an increased solute diffusivity and a corresponding increase in removal of blood substances by diffusion. When diafiltration is performed, an additional removal of substances occurs by convection as a larger portion of plasma water from a blood compartment (142) can be filtered across a semi-permeable membrane (140) at the same transmembrane pressure due to the reduced viscosity of the heated blood and plasma water.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for a hemodiafiltration delivery module that is used in conjunction with a UF controlled dialysis machine to enable hemodiafiltration therapy to be performed. The advantage is that one can fully utilize a current functioning dialysis machine to perform a hemodiafiltration therapy as opposed to purchasing a completely new machine that offers this capability.

Abstract: In a blood dialysis system including a source of substitution fluid and a blood dialysis machine, a hemodiafiltration system comprises a first dialyzer including a first blood compartment having a first blood inlet which receives blood to be cleaned and a first blood outlet which expels partially diafiltered blood and a first dialysate compartment having a first dialysate inlet and a first dialysate outlet, means for mixing the partially diafiltered blood with substitution fluid from the source to obtain a blood/substitution fluid mixture, and a second dialyzer including a second blood compartment having a second blood inlet which receives the blood/substitution fluid mixture and a second blood outlet which expels diafiltered blood and a second dialysate compartment having a second dialysate inlet and a second dialysate outlet.