Abstract: A blood treatment system with pressure sensors may be configured to control blood flow to and from the patient and use readings of the pressure sensors to determine a change in a pressure drop across a flow restriction in the blood circuit to estimate a condition of the machine or the patient, or outputting data responsive to the estimation. Further embodiments employ measurement of pressure drop to detect abnormal viscosity or viscosity variations in order to detect possible infection.

Abstract: A method of determining a condition of a filter located within a system is provided. The method may include determining a first air flow measurement value for a first air flow through the filter, determining a first energy consumption value associated with generating the first air flow through the filter, determining a first ratio between the first air flow measurement value and the first energy consumption value, determining a second air flow measurement value for a second air flow through the filter, determining a second energy consumption value associated with generating the second air flow through the filter, and determining a second ratio between the second air flow measurement value and the second energy consumption value. The filter may then be replaced based on a comparison between the determined first and the determined second ratio.

Abstract: A method of determining a condition of a filter located within a system is provided. The method may include determining a first air flow measurement value for a first air flow through the filter, determining a first energy consumption value associated with generating the first air flow through the filter, determining a first ratio between the first air flow measurement value and the first energy consumption value, determining a second air flow measurement value for a second air flow through the filter, determining a second energy consumption value associated with generating the second air flow through the filter, and determining a second ratio between the second air flow measurement value and the second energy consumption value. The filter may then be replaced based on a comparison between the determined first and the determined second ratio.

Abstract: An adhesive or sealant composition for use in alternating magnetic fields includes fiber based heating agents which have remarkably and unexpectedly high heating efficiencies. The fibers operate efficiently at lower field intensities; at lower frequencies and with smaller diameters (related to skin depths) than prior art technologies. The fibers may be formed from a variety of ferromagnetic materials, including, for example: iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium and alloys thereof. The preferred materials group is: carbon steel, magnetic stainless steel, nickel, ferromagnetic coated electrically conductive materials, ferromagnetic coated electrically nonconductive materials. The fibers are sized, in accordance with skin effect theory, to heat effectively at a frequency substantially higher that the actual frequency to be utilized.

Abstract: Thermoset heating compositions for use in alternating magnetic fields include fiber based heating agents which have remarkably and unexpectedly high heating efficiencies. The fibers operate efficiently at lower field intensities; at lower frequencies and with smaller diameters (related to skin depths) than prior art technologies. The fibers may be formed from a variety of ferromagnetic materials, including, for example: iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium and alloys thereof. The preferred materials group is: carbon steel, magnetic stainless steel, nickel, ferromagnetic coated electrically conductive materials, ferromagnetic coated electrically nonconductive materials. The fibers are sized, in accordance with skin effect theory, to heat effectively at a frequency substantially higher that the actual frequency to be utilized.

Abstract: A unique class of high efficiency heating agents consisting of fibers and in particular ferromagnetic fibers for use in alternating magnetic fields is disclosed which have remarkably and unexpectedly high heating efficiencies. The fibers operate efficiently at lower field intensities; at lower frequencies; and, with smaller diameters (related to skin depths) than prior art technologies. The heating agents may be formed from a variety of materials, for example fibers including ferromagnetic material selected from the group consisting of: iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium and alloys thereof; preferably, the fibers can be selected from the group consisting of: carbon steel fibers, magnetic stainless steel fibers, nickel, ferromagnetic coated electrically conductive fibers, ferromagnetic coated electrically nonconductive fibers.

Abstract: Collapsible gridworks for confining fluent materials within cells defined by the gridworks to form stable columns capable of withstanding substantial vertical and horizontal loading are each made up of a plurality of interwoven/intermeshed longitudinal and latitudinal strips. In the preferred embodiment, the strips include slots formed on alternating sides thereof, with the gridworks being formed by interweaving the slots on one side of the longitudinal strips with corresponding slots on the opposite side of the latitudinal strips such that the gridwork is defined by mechanically interlocking joints which permit motion for collapsing the gridwork into both a multilayer strip and a substantially flat sheet. The open state of the grid work and both of its collapsed states are similarly stable and can be freely handled without fear of the gridwork falling apart.

Abstract: Collapsible gridworks for confining fluent materials within cells defined by the gridworks to form stable columns capable of withstanding substantial vertical and horizontal loading are each made up of a plurality of interwoven/intermeshed longitudinal and latitudinal strips. In the preferred embodiment, the strips include slots formed on alternating sides thereof, with the gridworks being formed by interweaving the slots on one side of the longitudinal strips with corresponding slots on the opposite side of the latitudinal strips such that the gridwork is defined by mechanically interlocking joints which permit motion for collapsing the gridwork into both a multilayer strip and a substantially flat sheet. The open state of the gridwork and both of its collapsed states are similarly stable and can be freely handled without fear of the gridwork falling apart.