Abstract: A method includes: receiving measurements of a blood-related parameter corresponding to a patient undergoing hemodialysis; estimating a value of one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters by applying a vascular refill model based on the received measurements of the blood-related parameter, wherein the one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters are indicative of an effect of vascular refill on the patient caused by the hemodialysis; determining, based on the one or more estimated values of the one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters, a hemodialysis treatment-related operation; and facilitating performance of the treatment-related operation. The vascular refill model is a two-compartment model based on a first compartment corresponding to blood plasma in the patient's body, a second compartment based on interstitial fluid in the patient's body, and a semi-permeable membrane separating the first compartment and the second compartment.

Abstract: The described technology may include processes to model parathyroid gland (PTG) functionality and/or calcimimetic administration to patients with a health abnormality that affects PTG function. In one embodiment, a method may include providing a PTG functionality model configured to simulate functionality of a PTG of a patient with a health abnormality affecting PTG function, the model may receive a parameters configured to regulate activity of calcium-sensing receptors (CaSR), the parameters may include a calcium concentration, a vitamin D concentration, and a phosphorous concentration, simulate CaSR expression and vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression via a positive feedback loop between the CaSR expression and the VDR expression, and suppression of the CaSR expression and the VDR expression by P, initiate at least one PTG adaptation based on the parameters, and determine a model output comprising a parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration at one or more time intervals. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and/or apparatuses may be operative to perform a dialysis process using RBV-based UF control. Embodiments may include methods operative to receive RBV target information comprising population-based dialysis data of real patient outcomes of a patient population associated with the patient, determine an RBV value of a patient during the dialysis process, and determine UF information to control a UF pump of the dialysis device to maintain the RBV value within a target RBV range defined by the RBV target information. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: A method includes: receiving measurements of a blood-related parameter corresponding to a patient undergoing hemodialysis; estimating a value of one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters by applying a vascular refill model based on the received measurements of the blood-related parameter, wherein the one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters are indicative of an effect of vascular refill on the patient caused by the hemodialysis; determining, based on the one or more estimated values of the one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters, a hemodialysis treatment-related operation; and facilitating performance of the treatment-related operation. The vascular refill model is a two-compartment model based on a first compartment corresponding to blood plasma in the patient's body, a second compartment based on interstitial fluid in the patient's body, and a semi-permeable membrane separating the first compartment and the second compartment.

Abstract: A system includes a device having a blood side, a solution side, and a semipermeable membrane structurally configured for diffusion of one or more solutes therethrough. The system also includes a first extracorporeal circuit having one or more first fluid connectors for connecting the blood side of the device to the vascular system of a first animal, a second extracorporeal circuit including one or more second fluid connectors for connecting the solution side of the device to the vascular system of a second animal, a first pump in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second extracorporeal circuits, and a driver mechanically coupled to the first pump, the driver configured to drive the first pump using energy from an energy source.

Abstract: A method of performing regional citrate anticoagulant dialysis of a patient's blood includes flowing blood from and back to the patient through an extracorporeal circuit including a dialyzer having semi-permeable dialysis membranes and a dialysate chamber surrounding the membranes. The method further includes flowing a dialysate containing calcium and citrate through the dialysate chamber of the dialyzer and introducing citrate into the patient's blood upstream of the dialyzer, whereby the patient's blood is dialyzed. The method can further include predicting the concentration of systemic ionized calcium in the blood of the patient at any point in the dialysis treatment or post-dialysis, such as by a mathematical model. The method can further include statistically correcting the preliminary predicted post-dialysis concentration of systemic ionized calcium in the patient's blood to provide a final predicted post-dialysis systemic ionized calcium concentration.

Abstract: A system includes a dialyzer having a blood side and a dialysate side, a first extracorporeal circuit including one or more first fluid connectors structurally configured to connect the blood side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a kidney patient, and a second extracorporeal circuit including one or more second fluid connectors structurally configured to connect the dialysate side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a healthy animal. The present teachings may thus include a system where hemodialysis is performed using a healthy animal (e.g., a person with normal kidney function) to help remove harmful solutes from, and provide helpful solutes to, a kidney patient. In this manner, the healthy animal is “virtually donating” its kidney function to the kidney patient.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and/or apparatuses may be operative to perform a dialysis process that includes a displacer infusion process. The dialysis machine may include at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, may cause the at least one processor to access dialysis information for a dialysis process performed by a dialysis machine, the dialysis information indicating a target substance to be displaced from a binding compound by a displacer, and determine an infusion profile for infusing the displacer into a patient during a displacer infusion process of the dialysis process, the infusion profile determined based on the dialysis information and an infusion constraint. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: A system includes a dialyzer having a blood side and a dialysate side, a first extracorporeal circuit including one or more first fluid connectors for connecting the blood side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a kidney patient, a second extracorporeal circuit including one or more second fluid connectors for connecting the dialysate side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a healthy animal, a first pump in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second extracorporeal circuits, and a driver mechanically coupled to the first pump, where the driver is configured to drive the first pump using energy from an energy source.

Abstract: A system includes a dialyzer having a blood side and a dialysate side, a first extracorporeal circuit including one or more first fluid connectors for connecting the blood side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a kidney patient, a second extracorporeal circuit including one or more second fluid connectors for connecting the dialysate side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a healthy animal, a first pump in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second extracorporeal circuits, and a driver mechanically coupled to the first pump, where the driver is configured to drive the first pump using energy from an energy source.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a patient's undesired hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration to a value within a desired range at a predetermined time with an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) regimen includes obtaining patient parameters required for input into a model for predicting the patient's hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration at a predetermined time with a selected ESA administration regimen, and employing the patient parameters and an initially selected EPO administration regimen in the model to predict the patient's hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration at the predetermined time with the initially selected ESA administration regimen.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses for access recirculation of a patient during dialysis treatment are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one memory, and logic coupled to the at least one memory. The logic may be configured to determine a first hemoglobin concentration for a dialysis system, determine a change in an ultrafiltration rate, determine a second hemoglobin concentration modified due to the change in the ultrafiltration rate based on a dialysis system model of the dialysis system, and determine an access recirculation value for the dialysis system. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assessing patient blood flow using video image processing. According to one aspect, a method of analyzing at least one blood flow characteristic of a patient includes capturing a video including a plurality of frames of an arterio-venous (AV) fistula on the patient; amplifying motion in the video to produce a motion-amplified video; determining a difference in intensity between consecutive frames in the motion-amplified video to produce a time-function of an amplitude of the optic flow representing movement in an area of interest on the patient; and determining the at least one blood flow characteristic of the patient based on the time-function.

Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods for estimating progression of chronic kidney disease in a patient and applying clinical interventions may include determining historic values of at least one patient parameter that varies as a function of the progression of the chronic kidney disease over time, and computationally estimating a trend corresponding to the historic values. Based on the trend, at least one marker may be automatically provided that identifies a clinical intervention and a time in the future when the clinical intervention is expected to be needed. Based on the at least one marker, clinical preparations may be executed at a time prior to the administration of the intervention in order to improve at least one of a) timeliness of the execution of the intervention and b) effectiveness of the intervention.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of identifying a patient undergoing periodic hemodialysis treatments at increased risk for death that includes determining at least one of the patient's clinical or biochemical parameters, consisting of serum bicarbonate concentration level, serum potassium concentration level, serum calcium concentration level, hemoglobin concentration level, serum phosphorus concentration level, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, equilibrated normalized protein catabolic rate (enPCR), equilibrated fractional clearance of total body water by dialysis and residual kidney function (eKdrt/V), EPO resistance index, transferrin saturation index, serum ferritin concentration level, serum creatinine concentration level, platelet count, Aspartat-Aminotransferase level, and Alanin-Aminotransferase level at periodic hemodialysis treatments, and identifying a patient as having an increased risk for death if the patient has a significant change in the rate of change of at least one of the patient's cli

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses for determining fluid volumes of a patient are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one memory, and logic coupled to the at least one memory. The logic may be configured to receive baseline bioimpedance information for at least a portion of a human body at a baseline pressure, receive pressurized bioimpedance information of the portion of the human body at a pressurized pressure, the pressurized pressure greater than the baseline pressure and configured to substantially remove blood volume from the portion at the pressurized pressure, and determine at least one of interstitial fluid volume (VIT) or peripheral blood volume (BVP) based on the baseline bioimpedance information and the pressurized bioimpedance information. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: An embodiment of the disclosure provides a method for measuring change in blood volume using a transcutaneous measurement system applied to a patient's skin. The method involves placing a sensor in contact with the skin of a patient, where the sensor includes a light emitter and a photodetector. An intensity of light emanating from the light emitter is set and an initial intensity of light received at the photodetector is determined, where the light received at the photodetector has traveled through the patient's tissue. A later determination is then made of the intensity of the light received at the photodetector. A change in the blood volume is determined based on the intensity of the light emanating from the light emitter, the initial intensity of light received at the photodetector and the final intensity of light received at the photodetector.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assessing patient blood flow using video image processing. According to one aspect, a method of analyzing at least one blood flow characteristic of a patient includes capturing a video including a plurality of frames of an arterio-venous (AV) fistula on the patient; amplifying motion in the video to produce a motion-amplified video; determining a difference in intensity between consecutive frames in the motion-amplified video to produce a time-function of an amplitude of the optic flow representing movement in an area of interest on the patient; and determining the at least one blood flow characteristic of the patient based on the time-function.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assessing patient blood flow using video image processing. According to one aspect, a method of analyzing at least one blood flow characteristic of a patient includes capturing a video including a plurality of frames of an arterio-venous (AV) fistula on the patient; amplifying motion in the video to produce a motion-amplified video; determining a difference in intensity between consecutive frames in the motion-amplified video to produce a time-function of an amplitude of the optic flow representing movement in an area of interest on the patient; and determining the at least one blood flow characteristic of the patient based on the time-function.

Abstract: A method of detecting an indication of a potential intradialytic morbid event (IME) by monitoring a patient's condition during excess fluid removal by ultrafiltration during a hemodialysis treatment includes determining the patient's relative blood volume (RBV), and removing a portion of the volume of excess fluid from blood of the patient at an initial ultrafiltration rate while periodically monitoring a second derivative over time of the relative blood volume (SDRBV). The method then includes continuing to remove excess fluid from blood of the patient at the same ultrafilration rate, or, optionally, incrementally increasing the ultrafiltration rate. The method further includes triggering an alarm for an IME for the patient if the SDRBV is in a range of between a low SDRBV alarm level and a high SDRBV alarm level, and, alternatively or additionally monitoring the patient's normalized blood pressure ratio, and taking a remedial action if the alarm is triggered.