Abstract: The costs of some blood treatments are strongly driven by the cost of the filter media. For example, hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration filters use expensive media to process blood. In operation, most of the pressure drop occurs near the input end of the filter. Since pressure is what drives fluid across the filter, this results in a low utilization of the filter media toward the outlet end. Also, as blood runs across the media, it lays down blankets of oriented proteins, which occlude flow through, and across, the media. According to the invention, a short filter with a flow restriction at the outlet maintains high blood-filtrate pressure differential and concomitant high utilization. Also, by reversing the flow of blood periodically, the occluding material may be removed increasing utilization overall and permitting the use of smaller quantities of expensive media.

Abstract: During hemofiltration, blood is conveyed from an individual through a blood line into a hemofilter to remove waste fluid. Waste fluid is conveyed from the hemofilter through a waste removal line at a waste removal rate. Waste fluid pressure is sensed in the waste removal line. A controller adjusts the waste removal rate to maintain waste fluid pressure at a predetermined set value.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and kits are provided for performing peritoneal dialysis. In a first aspect, subcutaneous and transcutaneous systems are described for performing continuously cycling peritoneal dialysis. In a second aspect, fully implanted systems are described for performing flow-through peritoneal dialysis.

Abstract: A body lumen access system comprises a distal access cannula and a proximal access cannula. The distal access cannula is attached to or within the body lumen and the proximal access cannula is attached to an implantable port or is transcutaneously positioned and attached to a luer or other external connector. The distal and proximal access cannulas are usually implanted separately, cut to length, and attached at a subcutaneous junction location. Preferably, the proximal access cannula has a larger lumen diameter than that of the distal access cannula in order to reduce flow resistance within the cannula system. In some cases the distal and proximal access cannulas may be formed integrally.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and kits are provided for performing peritoneal dialysis. In a first aspect, subcutaneous and transcutaneous systems are described for performing continuously cycling peritoneal dialysis. In a second aspect, fully implanted systems are described for performing flow-through peritoneal dialysis.