Abstract: A system for performing a dialysis treatment includes a dialysis fluid machine; a disposable dialysis fluid carrying member operable with the dialysis fluid machine; and a venting filter provided by the disposable member, the venting filter positioned and arranged to be coupled along with the disposable member to the dialysis fluid machine to perform the dialysis treatment and to vent air from the disposable member.

Abstract: A system for performing a dialysis treatment includes a dialysis fluid machine; a disposable dialysis fluid carrying member operable with the dialysis fluid machine; and a venting filter provided by the disposable member, the venting filter positioned and arranged to be coupled along with the disposable member to the dialysis fluid machine to perform the dialysis treatment and to vent air from the disposable member.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes a disposable cassette including a flexible sheet and a plurality of dialysis fluid pathways, a plurality of actuators operable with the flexible sheet to direct dialysis fluid through the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways, and a controller configured to (i) determine at least one limitation of the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways, (ii) generate a flow schedule indicating how dialysis fluid should be directed through the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways in accordance with the at least one limitation, and (iii) control the plurality of actuators so that dialysis fluid is pumped through the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways according to the flow schedule.

Abstract: An embodiment of a peritoneal dialysis system includes an enclosure, a door hingedly attached to the enclosure, a stepper motor housed by the enclosure, a solid pump piston in operable communication with the stepper motor and including a solid pump shaft attached to or integrally formed with a solid pump head, and a disposable unit contacting the enclosure and the door. The disposable unit includes a moveable membrane operable with the solid pump head. The stepper motor is configured to move the solid pump head towards and away from the disposable unit. The system further includes a position detection apparatus operable with the stepper motor and located to provide an output indicative of a position of the solid pump head relative to a reference position.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide automatic injection devices in which a shroud is automatically deployed to protectively sheath a needle after an injection is performed. Exemplary embodiments also provide shroud deployment assemblies including a shroud and a syringe carrier that, when cooperatively configured in an automatic injection device, ensure that the shroud is automatically and completely deployed after an injection is performed using the automatic injection device. Exemplary embodiments are also configured to ensure that, once the shroud is deployed to an extended position to sheath the needle, accidental forces applied to the shroud do not succeed in subsequently retracting the shroud to a retracted position in which the needle would become exposed.

Abstract: Automatic injection device includes a housing, a syringe, a plunger, and a syringe carrier. The housing includes a barrel between a first end and a second end. The barrel includes an elongated window to allow viewing of contents inside the housing. The syringe is disposed within the housing and has a reservoir. The plunger is at least partially disposed within the syringe and includes a visual indicator. The syringe carrier is disposed within the housing and configured to contain the syringe and displace the syringe within the housing between a first position and a second position. The syringe carrier can be substantially transparent. The syringe carrier can have first and second legs and an extension disposed therebetween, and at least a portion of the extension can be configured to align with the window and the reservoir when the syringe carrier is in the first position.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide automatic injection devices in which a shroud is automatically deployed to protectively sheath a needle after an injection is performed. Exemplary embodiments also provide shroud deployment assemblies including a shroud and a syringe carrier that, when cooperatively configured in an automatic injection device, ensure that the shroud is automatically and completely deployed after an injection is performed using the automatic injection device. Exemplary embodiments are also configured to ensure that, once the shroud is deployed to an extended position to sheath the needle, accidental forces applied to the shroud do not succeed in subsequently retracting the shroud to a retracted position in which the needle would become exposed.

Abstract: Automatic injection device includes a housing, a syringe, a plunger, and a syringe carrier. The housing includes a barrel between a first end and a second end. The barrel includes an elongated window to allow viewing of contents inside the housing. The syringe is disposed within the housing and has a reservoir. The plunger is at least partially disposed within the syringe and includes a visual indicator. The syringe carrier is disposed within the housing and configured to contain the syringe and displace the syringe within the housing between a first position and a second position. The syringe carrier can be substantially transparent. The syringe carrier can have first and second legs and an extension disposed therebetween, and at least a portion of the extension can be configured to align with the window and the reservoir when the syringe carrier is in the first position.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes a disposable cassette including a flexible sheet and a plurality of dialysis fluid pathways, a plurality of actuators operable with the flexible sheet to direct dialysis fluid through the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways, and a controller configured to (i) determine at least one limitation of the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways, (ii) generate a flow schedule indicating how dialysis fluid should be directed through the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways in accordance with the at least one limitation, and (iii) control the plurality of actuators so that dialysis fluid is pumped through the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways according to the flow schedule.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes a disposable cassette including a flexible sheet; a hardware unit including (i) at least one pump actuator and piston head moved by the pump actuator, (ii) at least one valve actuator, (iii) at least one sensor, and (iv) a disposable cassette interface for interfacing with the disposable cassette, the disposable cassette interface including: (a) at least one pump aperture, the at least one piston head moveable out of and retractable into the at least one pump aperture to move a corresponding pumping portion of the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette, the piston head moving within a vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber enabling a vacuum to be pulled around the piston head to the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette; (b) at least one valve aperture, at least a portion of the at least one valve actuator located in the valve aperture to move a valve portion of the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette; and (c) at least one sensor aperture, the at least one sensor

Abstract: An embodiment of a peritoneal dialysis system includes an enclosure, a door hingedly attached to the enclosure, a stepper motor housed by the enclosure, a solid pump piston in operable communication with the stepper motor and including a solid pump shaft attached to or integrally formed with a solid pump head, and a disposable unit contacting the enclosure and the door. The disposable unit includes a moveable membrane operable with the solid pump head. The stepper motor is configured to move the solid pump head towards and away from the disposable unit. The system further includes a position detection apparatus operable with the stepper motor and located to provide an output indicative of a position of the solid pump head relative to a reference position.

Abstract: A coupler includes a conductive polymer material that is so constructed and arranged to join tubing, wherein the conductive polymer material includes a conductive polymer component selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophenes, polyethylenedioxythiophene, poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Automatic injection device includes a housing, a syringe, a plunger, and a syringe carrier. The housing includes a barrel between a first end and a second end. The barrel includes an elongated window to allow viewing of contents inside the housing. The syringe is disposed within the housing and has a reservoir. The plunger is at least partially disposed within the syringe and includes a visual indicator. The syringe carrier is disposed within the housing and configured to contain the syringe and displace the syringe within the housing between a first position and a second position. The syringe carrier can be substantially transparent. The syringe carrier can have first and second legs and an extension disposed therebetween, and at least a portion of the extension can be configured to align with the window and the reservoir when the syringe carrier is in the first position.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide automatic injection devices in which a shroud is automatically deployed to protectively sheath a needle after an injection is performed. Exemplary embodiments also provide shroud deployment assemblies including a shroud and a syringe carrier that, when cooperatively configured in an automatic injection device, ensure that the shroud is automatically and completely deployed after an injection is performed using the automatic injection device. Exemplary embodiments are also configured to ensure that, once the shroud is deployed to an extended position to sheath the needle, accidental forces applied to the shroud do not succeed in subsequently retracting the shroud to a retracted position in which the needle would become exposed.

Abstract: A coupler includes a conductive polymer material that is so constructed and arranged to join tubing, wherein the conductive polymer material includes a conductive polymer component selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophenes, polyethylenedioxythiophene, poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A fluid pumping mechanism in one embodiment includes a fluid reservoir, and a multiple layer film extending over a portion of the fluid reservoir, wherein fluid is moved through the reservoir by movement of the film from a first position to a second position, the film including first and second layers, each of first and second layers comprising a blend of a polypropylene and a styrene ethylene butadiene block copolymer. Peritoneal dialysis systems are also provided and may include a peritoneal dialysis machine and a disposable cassette defining at least one pump chamber and having a multiple layer film extending over a portion of the at least one pump chamber, the film including first and second layers, each of the first and second layers comprising a blend of a polypropylene and a styrene ethylene butadiene block copolymer.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes a disposable cassette including a flexible sheet; a hardware unit including (i) at least one pump actuator and piston head moved by the pump actuator, (ii) at least one valve actuator, (iii) at least one sensor, and (iv) a disposable cassette interface for interfacing with the disposable cassette, the disposable cassette interface including: (a) at least one pump aperture, the at least one piston head moveable out of and retractable into the at least one pump aperture to move a corresponding pumping portion of the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette, the piston head moving within a vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber enabling a vacuum to be pulled around the piston head to the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette; (b) at least one valve aperture, at least a portion of the at least one valve actuator located in the valve aperture to move a valve portion of the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette; and (c) at least one sensor aperture, the at least one sensor

Abstract: A dialysis machine includes: a hardware unit including at least one pump actuator, at least one valve actuator and a cassette interface, the cassette interface including: (i) a plate that abuts the cassette; (ii) at least one pump aperture defined by the plate; (iii) at least one pump head moveable out of and retractable into the at least one pump aperture to operate a pumping portion of the cassette; (iv) at least one valve aperture defined by the plate; (v) at least one valve apparatus moveable out of and retractable into the at least one valve aperture to operate a valve portion of the cassette; (vi) at least one sensor aperture defined by the plate; and (vii) at least one sensor located in the least one sensor aperture, the at least one sensor operable with a sensor portion of the cassette.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes: (i) an enclosure; (ii) a stepper motor housed by the enclosure; (iii) a pump head in operable communication with the stepper motor; and (iv) a disposable unit including at least one flexible membrane attached to a rigid piece, the enclosure configured to receive the disposable unit such that the stepper motor can move the pump head towards and away from the flexible membrane to cause, (a) the flexible membrane to move outwardly with respect to the rigid piece as the pump head is moved away from the disposable unit, and (b) the flexible membrane to move inwardly with respect to the rigid piece as the pump head is moved away from the disposable unit.