Abstract: A dialysis machine (e.g., a peritoneal dialysis (PD) machine) can include a pressure sensor mounted at a proximal end of a patient line that provides PD solution to a patient through a catheter. During treatment, an occlusion can occur at different locations in the patient line and/or the catheter. Elastic waves may be generated at a pump that introduces (e.g., for fill cycles) or withdraws (e.g., for drain cycles) the solution into/out of the patient line. For example, when the solution is introduced or withdrawn suddenly, elastic waves travel distally down the patient line until they encounter the occlusion, and are then reflected back (e.g., toward the pressure sensor).

Abstract: Augmented reality-based training and troubleshooting is described for medical devices. An electronic mobile device can be equipped with an AR application that, when executed, causes the electronic mobile device to provide augmented reality-based training on how to set up, or perform maintenance on, one or more components of a medical device. The AR application, when executed, can also cause the electronic mobile device to provide augmented reality-based troubleshooting for one or more components of a medical device.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming a microporous membrane that incorporates an additive having low water solubility at the membrane's active surface from a precipitation fluid. The incorporated additive at the membrane's active surface can improve one or more of the membrane's hydrophilicity, wettability, anti-fouling behavior, blood compatibility, and stability over long periods of use or repetitive use. The microporous membrane with this modified active surface can be a hollow fiber, flat sheet, or other self-supporting shape. The microporous membranes can be used for membrane filtering or a solute and/or solvent exchange process, which involve contacting aqueous-based fluid or blood with the microporous membrane, such processes for dialysis, blood oxygenation, or blood separation filtering, or other processes.

Abstract: An intelligent support assembly, for example, a mobile support assembly (e.g., cart) for a dialysis machine (e.g., a peritoneal dialysis cycler), and methods for performing dialysis treatment using such an assembly. The intelligent support assembly may be configured to determine one or more properties relating to a dialysis treatment being performed on a patient using the dialysis machine, and to control one or more actions that affect the dialysis treatment based at least in part on the determined one or more properties. The cart may be configured to receive information corresponding to the one or more properties from, and transmit such information to, the dialysis machine, network access devices, sensor devices, and other devices. The controlled actions may include adjusting a height of dialysis solution or other items relative to a height of the patient, and moving the cart relative to the location of the patient.

Abstract: Systems and sensor clip assemblies for optically monitoring blood flowing through a blood chamber are provided. A sensor clip assembly includes emitters and photodetectors positioned on opposing arms, a signal conditioning circuit for conditioning raw analog signals generated by the photodetectors while the sensor clip assembly is fastened to a blood chamber, and an analog-to-digital converter for converting the conditioned analog signals to raw digital data. The sensor clip assembly may include a microcontroller for calculating parameters of blood flowing through the blood chamber such as hematocrit, oxygen saturation, and change in blood volume from the raw digital data. The sensor clip assembly is in communication with a networked computer, and the networked computer is in communication with a remote computer configured to provide a user interface for monitoring and/or controlling the sensor clip assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating the post-treatment ultrafiltration rate of a patient are provided. A medical device can be configured to determine an estimated post-treatment ultrafiltration rate based on one or more values associated with a patient prepared to undergo treatment with the medical device. The medical device can also be configured to compare the estimated post-treatment ultrafiltration rate with one or more threshold values. The medical device can be configured to have an alert module, which can be activated when the estimated post-treatment ultrafiltration rate exceeds the one or more threshold values.

Abstract: A multi-purpose cap adapted to fit onto fluid ports of different sizes and configurations of medical devices used for purifying or concentrating biological samples, wherein the cap is adapted to press fit onto diverse fluid ports on dialyzers and other blood treatment devices.

Abstract: A medical device includes a plurality of electromechanical components and a control unit, coupled to the electromechanical components, that actuates the electromechanical components. For each of the electromechanical components, the control unit maintains a count of a number of times a respective one of the electromechanical components is actuated and/or a run time duration of the respective one of the electromechanical components. The medical device also includes a table having observed values for each of the electromechanical components, where a maintenance alert is provided for at least one of the electromechanical components in response to the count and/or the run time for the at least one of the electromechanical components exceeding a corresponding maintenance limit for the electromechanical component. The maintenance limits are independent for different ones of the electromechanical components. The medical device may be a dialysis machine.

Abstract: A method of preparing a medical fluid with a medical fluid generating machine includes receiving, at the medical fluid generating machine, a container to be filled with the medical fluid, receiving, at a processor, instructions to prepare the medical fluid, the instructions including an identification a medical fluid type from among a plurality of medical fluids and a desired volume of the medical fluid, preparing the medical fluid according to the received instructions, testing the prepared medical fluid to ensure that one or more characteristics of the prepared medical fluid is within an acceptable range, filling the container with the prepared fluid and labelling the container with information about the medical fluid, the information including the identification of the medical fluid type within the filled container, and an expiration date of the fluid.

Abstract: A dialysis system, comprising: a dialysis machine; a voice recognition component configured to identify a voice command in audio information received by a microphone of the dialysis system; an authentication component configured to determine a source of the voice command; and a processor configured to perform a function determined based on the voice command.

Abstract: The present specification describes a modular, portable hemofiltration system, for providing improved clearance levels of blood toxins, which includes at least one roller pump that is designed and operated to generate a rapidly varying pressure profile of fluid within at least a blood circuit of the hemofiltration system.

Abstract: A portable adapter is provided that can include a closure system configured to control the flow of blood and/or dialysate between the adapter and a blood treatment apparatus. Modular systems are also provided that include the portable adapter engaged with various units such as a portable blood processing module, a non-portable base module, and/or a remote module. Methods of conducting blood treatments such as blood circulation, hemodialysis, and hemofiltration, hemodiafiltration, using the modular systems are also provided. The systems, units, and methods enable the engagement and disengagement of the adapter from the various units to conduct, interrupt, and resume blood treatments without disconnecting the adapter from the vasculature of a patient. Modular systems including interchangeable portable and base modules configured for various blood treatments are also provided that can be engaged and disengaged with each other without disconnecting the portable module from the vasculature of a patient.

Abstract: A container for forming a solution for use in a hemodialysis device comprises a first portion comprising a powder, a second portion disposed separate from and in fluid communication with the first portion, and a filter disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The container is configured to receive a fluid flow into the first portion to at least partially dissolve the powder thereby forming a solution, such that the solution and at least a portion of the dissolved powder is passable through the filter into the second portion, and further such that any undissolved portion of the powder is not passable through the filter into the second portion. The filter may be configured such that the solution of the fluid and the at least the portion of the dissolved powder is filtered into the second portion of the container is homogenous.

Abstract: In one aspect, a peritoneal dialysis system includes a tray for supporting a bag that can receive dialysate from a source of dialysate, multiple force sensors disposed adjacent a portion of the tray that is in contact with the bag when the bag is supported by the tray, and one or more processors configured to receive data from the multiple force sensors and to determine, based on the data, an amount of dialysate contained in the bag.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis (PD) system for infusing a volume of PD solution into a patient's peritoneal cavity in order to perform peritoneal dialysis on the patient includes a peritoneal cavity monitor (PCM) that measures this volume of fluid in the patient's peritoneal cavity by segmental bioimpedance spectroscopy (SBIS), to thereby determine an ultrafiltration volume of fluid in the patient's peritoneal cavity, and a switch, controlled by the PCM, for filling the patient's peritoneal cavity and draining the patient's peritoneal cavity when the ultrafiltration volume is unchanged over time, significantly decreased, or decreasing at a significant rate.

Abstract: Dialysis machines and methods for heating dialysate before delivery into a dialysis patient (e.g., peritoneal dialysis machines) may comprise a dialysis machine including one or more internal cooling components configured to expel heated air from the dialysis machine. A receptacle may be configured to receive one or more containers of dialysate. The one or more containers of dialysate may be positionable relative to the expelled heated air of the dialysis machine. The expelled heated air may be flowable around the one or more containers of dialysate to increase a temperature of the dialysate. The receptacle may include a stand for positioning the dialysis machine such that the expelled heated air is directed around the one or more containers of dialysate.

Abstract: A method forming a surface modifying composition with reduced need for organic solvent and evaporation thereof for removal of insoluble reaction byproducts from the composition. The purified composition can be used in the formation of articles having improved biocompatibility, such as medical articles (e.g., spun hollow fiber).

Abstract: A method for operating a blood treatment apparatus including an extracorporeal blood circuit having a blood filter with a blood chamber and a dialysate chamber, between which a membrane is arranged. The method encompasses operating a blood pump from a first time point, at which an ultrafiltration pump is stopped, at least until a second time point, at which at least one of the following conditions is met for the first time after the first time point: a time interval after has elapsed, the blood pump has conveyed a volume after, a measurement of a fluid in the extracorporeal blood circuit exceeds or falls below a threshold.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for measuring the circumference of a limb of an individual, e.g., the individual's arm and/or calf. The apparatus uses one or more magnetic strips which surround the limb and contain magnetic coding of length information. Tension is applied to the magnetic strip by a tensioning assembly, which can be a pressure cuff or a stepping motor, and a magnetic read head reads the magnetic coding of length information from the strip. When used in a bioimpedance analysis procedure, the length information can be used to convert measured voltage differences into normalized bioimpedance values, e.g., resistivity values.

Abstract: Treatment controllers and methods are provided that can be integrated with treatment systems, such as peritoneal dialysis systems, hemodialysis systems, and nocturnal treatment systems, to manage execution of treatment operations or a course of treatment based on timing information and/or patient sleep state.