Abstract: A prosthetic abdomen for peritoneal dialysis training is provided. The prosthetic abdomen is in the form of a belt having an inner layer of material, an outer layer of material, and a pouch formed between the inner layer of material and the outer layer of material. A belt fastener is provided at one or both ends of the belt. The outer layer of material has an inner surface partially defining the pouch, and an outer surface having a skin tone color. The positioning of the belt and skin tone color can be selected to mimic the actual peritoneum of a patient. The pouch is expandable to hold a bag of liquid having a volume of at least 1000 milliliters (ml). A method of training a patient to carry out a peritoneal dialysis self-treatment, using the prosthetic abdomen, is also provided.

Abstract: A simulated cannula for a self-cannulation training system is provided. The simulated cannula includes a coupler that houses an LED light source and includes an electrical conductor and an optical fiber extending therefrom. The coupler can couple to a off-the-shelf cannula that can be easily modified for such purpose. The training system also includes a cannulation pad, a control unit, and first and second indicators. The control unit can include a rechargeable battery. 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 or bypasses the simulated access and completes the infiltration electrical circuit. Methods of training a patient for self-cannulation, using the simulated cannula and training systems, are also provided.

Abstract: A medical system, comprising: a medical machine; and a gateway device configured to communicate with the medical machine to allow access to a network, the gateway device comprising a data allowance and limitation unit that is configured to limit communication between the medical machine and the network when the data allowance and limitation unit is in an open state, wherein the data allowance and limitation unit is placed in the open state when a plannable system event occurs, and wherein, while in the open state, the data allowance and limitation unit is placed in a closed state when an unplanned event occurs, thereby providing less limited communication between the medical machine and the network compared to the open state.

Abstract: A medical treatment machine, such as a home dialysis machine, can receive prescription parameters that define parameters of a medical treatment to be administered to a patient. A medical prescription is entered by a clinician into a clinical information system (CIS) that calls a system to evaluate the compatibility of the entered prescription by transmitting the prescription parameters to a server that has access to a database of medical devices and their operational parameters. The server compares the treatment parameters of the medical prescription to the operational parameters of the medical device and generates a prescription compatibility response indicting if the treatment parameters of the medical prescription can be executed by the medical device. The server returns to the CIS the prescription compatibility response to allow the prescription, e.g. in a digital or program form, to be securely transmitted or delivered via a connected health system to the medical device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for determining beginning blood volume of a patient during dialysis (e.g., hemodialysis). Ultrafiltration rates are determined at different time stamps during dialysis by obtaining a blood flowrate measurement and hematocrit measurements at input port and output port of a dialyzer connected to the patient. The flowrate and hematocrit measurements are used to determine fluid removed from the patient during dialysis. The ultrafiltration rates and fluid removed from the patient are used to determine the beginning blood volume of the patient.

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: The disclosed packaging containers may include a body including a sidewall and at least one top flap for at least partially covering an opening of the body when assembled and perforations in the sidewall of the body. The perforations may include a lower perforation having a first end portion and a second end portion; a first side perforation extending upward toward the top flap from the first end portion of the lower perforation; and a second side perforation extending upward from the second end portion of the lower perforation, wherein the first side perforation and the second side perforation converge toward each other as they extend upward from the lower perforation. Various other packaging containers, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Constraining adaptive optimizations of a state of an operation module of a medical device includes determining if a new state has at least one operational parameter that is outside a constraint that has been provided to the medical device in a non-repudiable manner, accepting the new state if no operational parameters are outside any of the constraints, and reverting the medical device to a previous valid state if at least one operational parameter is outside at least one of the constraints. The adaptive optimizations may be provided using artificial intelligence along with relevant inputs thereto. The medical device may be a dialysis system. Constraint data may be provided to the medical device along with a one-way hash value of the constraint data using, for example, a SHA 256 hash. The one-way hash value may be digitally signed using a private key that is part of a public/private key pair.

Abstract: A device for detecting potential health issues includes a retinal scanner configured to capture retinal data of the user, a blood pressure sensor configured to capture blood pressure data of the user, an alert module configured to alert the user of a potential health risk, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the retinal scanner, the blood pressure sensor, and the alert module.

Abstract: Dialysis machines and methods for operating dialysis machines (e.g., peritoneal dialysis machines) may include delivering dialysate to a patient and detecting a temperature of a volume of the dialysate, an air content of the dialysate volume, or another condition, or combinations thereof, wherein the detected temperature of the dialysate volume is compared to a predetermined maximum temperature, the detected air content of the dialysate volume is compared to a predetermined maximum air content and the detected other condition generates a signal. The volume of dialysate may be diverted in response to the detected temperature exceeding the predetermined maximum temperature, the air content exceeding the predetermined maximum air content, or the other condition generated signal, or combinations thereof.

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: Medical devices may have the ability to connect through a secure gateway to a network, including both local and external networks. According to the described system, a connection component of the medical device may include a wireless connection dongle system using a wireless adapter, such as a dongle, that is inserted into and/or otherwise coupled to the medical device and that transmits or casts information wirelessly, such as via real-time streaming, to a separate receiving display. The communication may be facilitated by another dongle inserted into and/or otherwise coupled to the receiving display that receives the casted display screen. This transmitted casting capability provides the ability to connect the medical device, such as a peritoneal dialysis machine, to other display devices to duplicate the screen of the medical device on one or more larger or more easily accessible displays via secure one-way communication.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a blood treatment system including a blood treatment machine, a dialyzer configured to be coupled to the blood treatment machine, a blood line having a first end configured to be connected to the dialyzer and a second end configured to be connected to a needle for insertion into a patient, and one or more sensors operable to transmit, to the blood treatment machine, data related to tension along the blood line. The blood treatment machine is configured to take action in response to the data received from the one or more sensors.

Abstract: A sorbent cartridge device includes an ion-exchange material containing zirconium phosphate and no more than about 0.1 mg of leachable phosphate ions per about 1 g of the ion-exchange material. In one example, the cartridge also includes a phosphate-adsorbing material containing zirconium oxide. In this example, the weight ratio between zirconium phosphate and zirconium oxide in the cartridge is from about 10:1 to about 40:1. The zirconium phosphate may be alkaline zirconium phosphate prepared by a process including the following steps: (i) drying acid zirconium phosphate to obtain a dry acid zirconium phosphate; (ii) combining the dry acid zirconium phosphate with an aqueous solution to obtain an aqueous slurry; and (iii) combining the slurry with an alkali hydroxide to obtain the alkaline zirconium phosphate. During step (ii), any free phosphate ions in the dry acid zirconium phosphate leach out into the aqueous phase of the slurry.

Abstract: A technique for determining skin sodium content using bioimpedance spectroscopy includes applying a current at a predetermined frequency to skin of a subject, measuring a voltage across the skin of the subject produced by the current, determining a resistance across the skin of the subject at the predetermined frequency using the measured voltage, and determining skin sodium content using the measured voltage.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane and methods of making the hollow fiber membrane are described. The membrane includes a hydrophobic polymer such as polysulfone, a hydrophilic polymer such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and a fluropolymer additive, and optionally a stabilizer, for instance, to stabilize the fluoropolymer additive in the membrane, particularly during conditioning or E-beam sterilization or both. Further conditioning improvements to membrane manufacturing are disclosed. The membrane may be incorporated into a dialysis filter for use in hemodialysis and related applications. The membrane has improved hemocompatibility, charge stability, or middle molecule clearance compared to conventional membranes. Also disclosed is a method of evaluating membrane charge stability.

Abstract: The specification discloses a portable dialysis machine having a detachable controller unit and base unit with an improved reservoir heating system. The controller unit includes a door having an interior face, a housing with a panel, where the housing and panel define a recessed region configured to receive the interior face of the door, and a manifold receiver fixedly attached to the panel. The base unit has a reservoir with an internal pan and external pan, separated by a space that holds a heating element. The heating element is electrically coupled to electrical contacts attached to the external surface of the external pan.

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: This disclosure relates to remote control of dialysis machines. In certain aspects, a method includes receiving a request for a network connection from a dialysis machine and establishing the network connection with the dialysis machine. The method also includes receiving, from a client device, a request to access the dialysis machine, authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine, receiving, from the dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine, and providing, to the client device, the received information.