Abstract: Systems, methods, and/or apparatuses may be operative to perform a dialysis process that includes a displacer infusion process. In one embodiment, a method for determining a displacer compound may include constructing a plurality of target protein quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models, one for each of the plurality of binding sites, analyzing a set of candidate compounds using the plurality of QSAR models to determine a set of at least one potential compound with an affinity for binding to each of the plurality of binding sites, and selecting at least one displacer compound from the set of at least one potential compound. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: Dialysis systems for operating dialysis machines (e.g., peritoneal dialysis machines) for conducting dialysis treatments are disclosed. The dialysis system may include a spent dialysate container for receiving spent dialysate from a patient. In use, the spent dialysate containers are arranged and configured to provide one or more mechanical advantages to ease disposal of the spent dialysate. For example, the spent dialysate container may receive the spent dialysate from the patient and enable the patient or caregiver to dispose of the spent dialysate without requiring the patient or caregiver to lift bags of spent dialysate or incorporate lengthy drain lines. The spent dialysate container may include a reservoir to receive the spent dialysate, wheels to enable the patient or caregiver to transport the reservoir, mechanisms to facilitate disposal of the spent dialysate from the reservoir, a nozzle to dispose of the spent dialysate, and/or a disinfectant to disinfect the drain.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for de-priming processes are described. For example, in one embodiment, an apparatus may include at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory may include instructions that, when executed by the processor, may cause the at least one processor to determine a priming volume of a primer fluid infused into a priming system associated with the patient during a priming phase of the dialysis treatment, cause an ultrafiltration rate of an ultrafiltration pump of the dialysis machine in fluid communication with the patient to be changed from a treatment ultrafiltration rate to a de-priming ultrafiltration rate to remove the priming volume over a de-priming time period, and cause, after the de-priming time period, the ultrafiltration rate of the ultrafiltration pump to be changed back the treatment ultrafiltration rate. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: A dialyzer housing manufacturing system includes a molding device configured to mold a dialyzer housing, and a tool coupled to a robotic arm and configured to retrieve the dialyzer housing from the molding device after the dialyzer housing is molded. The tool includes a frame, a first suction cup connected to a first portion of the frame, and a second suction cup connected to a second portion of the frame, the second suction cup being oriented about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees relative to the first suction cup.

Abstract: The disclosed devices for lateral flow testing may include a receptacle for receiving bodily fluids from a patient that has a predetermined fluid volume for application to one or more lateral flow test strips. A test strip holder may be positioned to receive the predetermined fluid volume of the bodily fluids from the receptacle. Various other components, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A lightweight inflatable vest is provided with embedded listening devices. Once inflated, the vest enables a physician to hear amplified lung sounds and heart beats and rhythms of a patient wearing the vest, via connection to a smart phone application, through a patient portal, or the like. By using the device on a patient, a physician is provided with an accurate way to perform a respiratory and heart health assessment of the patient during a telehealth visit.

Abstract: A dialysis access site monitoring system may generate a treatment recommendation for treating a condition of an access site based on a video of the access site. The dialysis access site monitoring system may include an apparatus having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory may include instructions that, when executed by the processor, may cause the processor to generate video information based on a video of a dialysis access site of a patient, determine change in the number of pixels (CNP) information of the video information, the CNP information associated with movement of a skin surface of the patient due to blood flow through the dialysis access site, determine frequency domain information of the CNP information, determine a maximum-to-median power (M2) value of the frequency domain information, and determine at least one access site characteristic based on the M2 value.

Abstract: A self-cannulation training system is provided that includes a cannulation pad, a simulated access, a simulated cannula, a control unit, and first and second indicators. The cannulation pad includes conductors for a cannulation electrical circuit and an infiltration electrical circuit. An insulating layer electrically insulates the conductors from one another. The simulated access connects to the cannulation electrical circuit and includes an electrically conductive material retained inside an outer sheath. The simulated cannula has an electrical conductor and connects to the control unit. The control unit has a power source that connects to both the cannulation electrical circuit and to the infiltration electrical circuit. The first indicator is activated when the cannula needle electrically completes the cannulation electrical circuit. The second indicator is activated when the cannula needle infiltrates and completes the infiltration electrical circuit.

Abstract: A method comprising: establishing a wireless connection between a first medical device and a second medical device, comprising: receiving, by the first medical device, via a short-range wireless technology protocol, connection information related to the second medical device; and establishing, by the first medical device, a wireless connection with the second medical device based on the connection information.

Abstract: A system for monitoring percentage change in blood volume (?BV %) during dialysis treatment includes a sensor device configured to obtain hematocrit (Hct)-related measurements based on detecting light which has passed through extracorporeal blood of a patient undergoing the dialysis treatment; one or more controllers configured to: determine Hct values based on the Hct-related measurements obtained by the sensor device; determine ?BV % values based on the determined Hct values; and generate a GUI having a ?BV % plot based on the determined ?BV % values; and a display device having a display configured to display the GUI having the ?BV % plot. Zone indicators are provided on the display to distinguish between a first zone corresponding to a first ?BV % profile, a second zone corresponding to a second ?BV % profile, and a third zone corresponding to a third ?BV % profile.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to dialysis systems and methods. In some implementations, a dialysis system includes a dialysis machine with a fluid line and a drain line, a blood line set configured to be connected to the dialysis machine, and a drain apparatus coupled to the dialysis machine. The drain apparatus includes a chamber configured to receive an end of a patient line of the blood line set, an inlet line, an outlet line, and a valve. The inlet line has a first end configured to be coupled to the chamber and a second end configured to be coupled to the fluid line of the dialysis machine. The outlet line has a first end configured to be coupled to the chamber and a second end configured to be coupled to the drain line of the dialysis machine. The valve is configured to control flow of fluid through the outlet line.

Abstract: A leak may be detected in a heat exchanger of a hemodialysis device. A drain valve is opened by the controller, and then closed by the controller after a pre-selected time period. An initial pressure is determined in the spent dialysate circuit and stored in the memory. A system pressure is determined at periodic time intervals and compared to a pre-determined maximum pressure. The controller then determines whether the heat exchanger has a leak, in that in response to the system pressure exceeding a predetermined maximum pressure, a command is generated to execute an event including suspending a disinfectant operation with a disinfecting agent, and in response to the initial pressure subtracted from the system pressure being greater than a predetermined minimum pressure differential, a command is generated to execute an event including suspending the cleanse operation with the disinfecting agent.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a patient's risk of developing an infection is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system and method includes extracting patient data from one or more databases corresponding to a pool of patients receiving treatment; using one or more predictive models with the extracted patient data to generate, for each of the patients in the pool of patients, a respective patient risk score for developing an infection within a selected time period; generating a report including at least a portion of the identified subset of the pool of patients and their respective patient risk scores; and transmitting the report to one or more health care facilities, the one or more health care facilities further identifying one or more patients from the portion of the identified subset of the pool of patients for interventional treatment, consultation, training, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Dialysis systems and methods for operating dialysis machines (e.g., peritoneal dialysis machines) for conducting dialysis treatments are disclosed. The dialysis system may include a dialysis machine for transferring dialysate to a patient from a dialysate source. The dialysate may flow from the dialysate source through a cartridge or cassette (e.g., a disposable cartridge or cassette) positionable within the dialysis machine. The cassette includes a fluid flow channel. The dialysis machine includes a heating chamber for in-line heating of the dialysate in the fluid flow channel. The fluid flow channel is arranged and configured to provide turbulent flow of the dialysate through the fluid flow channel to provide increased heat transfer from the heating chamber to the dialysate.

Abstract: A blood treatment machine includes a patient comfort feedback mechanism configured to be adjusted by a patient to indicate comfort levels of the patient. The machine is configured to adjust one or more treatment parameters based on the patient feedback.

Abstract: A medical wetness sensing device includes a base adapted to be disposed on a wearer of the medical wetness sensing device. The base includes a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor electrically insulated from the first electrical conductor. The first electrical conductor includes a hinge portion enabling a first portion of the first electrical conductor to deflect, at the hinge portion, relative to a second portion of the first electrical conductor. The medical wetness sensing device includes a controller electrically connected to the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. The controller is configured to detect a presence or an absence of a medical fluid electrically connecting the first and second electrical conductors.

Abstract: The disclosed devices for lateral flow testing may include a receptacle for receiving bodily fluids from a patient that has a predetermined fluid volume for application to one or more lateral flow test strips. A test strip holder may be positioned to receive the predetermined fluid volume of the bodily fluids from the receptacle. Various other components, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses for determining an estimated cardiac output for a patient during dialysis treatment are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include a memory and logic coupled to the memory. The logic may be configured to determine an upper body oxygen consumption for a patient, determine, during a dialysis process: a hemoglobin concentration and a venous oxygen saturation measured via an optical blood monitor operably coupled to an extracorporeal circuit of a dialysis system performing the dialysis process; an arterial oxygen saturation measured via a pulse oximeter operably coupled to the extracorporeal circuit; an arterial-venous oxygen content difference based on the arterial oxygen saturation and the venous oxygen saturation; and an upper body blood flow (UBBF) as (upper body oxygen consumption)/(arterial-venous oxygen content difference), and determine a treatment recommendation based on the upper body blood flow. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a medical device, and a system for acquiring user-specific customization data, i.e. user-specific language packages, are provided. The computer-implemented method comprises: determining a first set of user-specific customization data stored on the medical device; comparing the first set of user-specific customization data with a second set of user-specific customization data that is required by a user; and upon determining that the second set of user-specific customization data is different from the first set of user-specific customization data, acquiring, from a data storage external to the medical device, the second set of user-specific customization data or a delta between the first set and the second set of user-specific customization data.