Abstract: Enterprise organizations may use observational data to gather information about user experiences with their products and tools. For instance, patients with kidney failure may undergo dialysis treatment in order to remove toxins and excess fluids from their blood. The dialysis treatment may be performed at a hospital or clinic, or in a user's home, and the enterprise organization may use gathered information to gain understanding of user experiences with their dialysis machines and services. A user experience computing system gathers and processes user experience information from across the enterprise organization. Using stored observation data (e.g., surveys, studies etc.) in its smallest common form, the computing system may use this data as building blocks for creating more complex data objects (e.g. journey matrices and/or empathy gardens) using inputs from multiple different sources, and to facilitate presenting this information in an effective and empathetic way to product developers.

Abstract: The present teachings include techniques for securing a connection to a dialyzer or the like—e.g., securing the junction between a dialyzer port and a connector (e.g., a DIN connector) that couples the port to tubing of an extracorporeal circuit of a hemodialysis system. To this end, a locking device may engage both a DIN connector and a portion of the dialyzer, such as the cap or an adapter engaged therewith. The locking device may include an interior void sized and shaped to accommodate winged portions (or other portions) of the DIN connector to mitigate rotation thereof relative to the port to which it is engaged. Further, the locking device may be used to ensure that coupling between the DIN connector and the port is proper and secure. In this manner, a locking device can mitigate leaks, which can be catastrophic during a hemodialysis treatment or the like.

Abstract: A device for measuring conductivity of a fluid. The device including a chamber and at least two electrodes. The chamber includes an inlet, an outlet, an upper surface, and a lower surface that runs separate from the upper surface. The fluid enters the chamber through the inlet and flows out of the chamber through the outlet. Moving along a length of the chamber from the inlet to the outlet or from the outlet to the inlet, a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface changes in at least one dimension of the chamber. The two electrodes are configured to measure electrical voltage in the fluid that enters the chamber through the inlet and flows out of the chamber through the outlet.

Abstract: A dialysis system is provided that includes a dialysis machine and a potassium sensing device that is configured to measure the concentration of potassium in the patient's blood, in spent dialysate resulting from treating the patient, or in both. The potassium sensing device can be configured to generate a sensed value of the concentration of potassium. A control and computing unit, including a processor and a memory, is configured to receive the sensed value, compare the value with one or more values stored in the memory, and generate a control signal based on the comparison. A potassium infusion circuit uses the control signal to infuse supplemental potassium solution into the treatment dialysate, a replacement fluid, or both. The memory can include stored patient-historical and population data.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a medical system includes a dialysis machine having at least one outer surface to be disinfected at a given location, at least one disinfection sensor connected to the dialysis machine at the given location, the disinfection sensor including two or more electrode in fluid contact with the outside surface of the dialysis machine, and a conductivity sensor component in electrical contact with the two or more electrodes, the conductivity sensor component configured to send an electrical signal indicating a conductivity of a liquid on an outside surface of the dialysis machine and in contact with the two or more electrodes, a processor configured to receive the electrical signal and thereby determine a disinfection status of the given location, and a user interface configured to indicate the disinfection status of the given location.

Abstract: A delivery robot is provided for the delivery of home dialysis supplies to a home dwelling of a home dialysis patient. The delivery robot can be an autonomous delivery robot. The delivery robot can have an outdoor set of wheels or other traction devices, and an indoor set of wheels or other traction devices. The delivery robot can be configured to switch between an outdoor configuration for traversing an outdoor surface, and an indoor configuration for traversing an inside surface, inside the home of the home dialysis patient. A network is also provided and can include a robot delivery vehicle, a warehouse, a remote computer within the patient's home, or a combination thereof. Methods of delivering home dialysis supplies are also provided that utilize the delivery robot and network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical blood detector system that rapidly detects the presence of blood due to a blood leak in a system. The blood detector system contains a reusable blood sensor that is able to accurately detect the presence of blood in, for example, an extracorporeal blood treatment system by optically sensing light from a sensing region and determining if the light came from a leaked blood. The blood sensor may be responsive to reflected light or light emitted from blood due to bio-fluorescence excited by a light source in the blood detector system. The blood detector system can be placed against absorbent material adjacent to an intravenous needle injection site and quickly detect any blood wicked into the absorbent material. The blood detector system can eliminate the need for medical personnel to continuously inspect numerous patients visually for potentially fatal blood leaks due to needle dislodgement.

Abstract: A method includes, after an extracorporeal blood treatment, connecting a fluid source to an access line that is connected to a patient, and delivering a fluid from the fluid source to the access line to infuse blood from the access line to the patient, wherein the fluid delivered to the access line has a temperature from about 30 degrees Celsius to about 38 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: Described herein are computer systems and methods for generating, in silico, one or more virtual patients. The one or more virtual patients can be used, for example, to conduct a virtual clinical trial, such as to determine an efficacy of a therapy or medical device. The one or more virtual patients mathematically represent a physiological system in an actual patient for a health condition. Also, the one or more virtual patients can be used, for example, to determine an adverse effect from a therapy or any other deviation from a therapy, or compliance of a patient suffering from a health condition on a therapeutic protocol.

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 invention provides, in some aspects, a container system for medical solutions such as peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions. The invention particularly features a system which includes a first compartment that contains a first medical solution, e.g., a PD osmotic agent, and a second compartment that contains a second medical solution, e.g., a PD buffer agent. The compartments maintain their respective contents separately from one another for purposes of transport, storage and/or sterilization. However, the compartments are fluidly couplable, so that their respective contents can be combined with one another, e.g., following sterilization of the agents and prior to their introduction into the patient's abdomen. To that end, a container system can include a diffuser that is disposed in a fluid pathway between the first and second compartments, e.g., to facilitate homogeneous mixing of the first and second PD agents.

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 dialysis machine comprising: a power supply for providing power to the dialysis machine, the power supply including a power supply cable that includes a first ground wire electrically connected to a first ground prong; and a hydraulics system for making dialysate, supplying the dialysate to a dialysate circuit, and draining spent dialysate from the dialysate circuit, the hydraulics system including a hydraulics grounding cable that includes a second ground wire electrically connected to a second ground prong.

Abstract: A dialysis machine (e.g., a peritoneal dialysis (PD) machine) can include a safety feature that is used to isolate individual fluid lines attached to a disposable cassette. The PD machine can include an interface for a disposable cassette, a plurality of safety mechanisms, and a processor. A plurality of fluid lines are connected to the disposable cassette, and each safety mechanism corresponds to a particular fluid line in the plurality of fluid lines. The processor is configured to detect a hazard condition, such as a loss of power to the PD machine or leak in the disposable cassette, and activate one or more safety mechanisms to isolate corresponding fluid lines connected to the disposable cassette. In one embodiment, the safety mechanisms are spring-loaded clamping mechanisms configured to compress a distensible tube connected to the fluid line. In another embodiment, the safety mechanisms include relay solenoids and/or check valves.

Abstract: The present teachings generally include parabiotic dialysis systems and techniques. For example, the present disclosure includes parabiotic liver dialysis, e.g., for use in settings with limited resources. To this end, a parabiotic liver dialysis system may include a device having a semipermeable membrane with an average pore size that allows for the passage of albumin therethrough. In such a system, a first extracorporeal circuit may connect the device to the vascular system of a first animal (e.g., a liver patient), and a second extracorporeal circuit may connect the device to the vascular system of a second animal (e.g., a human with normal liver function), where the exchange of albumin therebetween is facilitated through the device. The present disclosure also includes various safety measures for parabiotic dialysis systems and techniques, such as biometric verification systems and techniques.

Abstract: A prosthetic abdomen for peritoneal dialysis training is provided. The prosthetic abdomen has 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. 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. A method of training a patient to carry out a peritoneal dialysis self-treatment, using the prosthetic abdomen, is also provided.

Abstract: A dialysate mixing machine may be configured to make dialysate on demand using, among other things, a plurality of concentrates in solid tablet form. For example, a prescription may be received by the dialysate mixing machine indicating the particular chemical constituents and amounts of each chemical constituent to be included in the dialysate. Based on the prescription, the dialysate mixing machine can determine the number of tablets required for each chemical constituent (and, e.g., the required amounts of other chemical constituents that are not in tablet form). The tablets are automatically dispensed and mixed with purified water, bicarbonate, and sodium chloride in a mixing chamber to produce the dialysate according to the prescription. The dialysate mixing machine may be used with and/or coupled to a dialysis machine (e.g., a hemodialysis (HD) machine designed for home use) to provide the dialysate on demand for a dialysis treatment.

Abstract: A hemodialysis system includes: a hemodialysis machine configured to provide hemodialysis treatment to a patient, wherein the hemodialysis treatment includes circulating extracorporeal blood of the patient through an extracorporeal blood circuit; a first oxygen saturation sensor device configured to measure oxygen saturation corresponding to the extracorporeal blood of the patient in the extracorporeal blood circuit; a second oxygen saturation sensor device configured to measure oxygen saturation corresponding to blood flowing within the patient; and at least one controller configured to determine one or more oxygen saturation phase shift (OSPS) values or one or more transcutaneous travel time values corresponding to the patient based on oxygen saturation measurements from the first oxygen saturation sensor device and the second oxygen saturation sensor device.

Abstract: A secure artificial intelligence (AI) enabled wearable medical sensor platform is used for adaptive operation according to features and techniques described herein. Operational parameters are modified based on data inputs thereto that provide feedback to the AI systems of the wearable sensor platform. The described technology can facilitate adaptive optimizations provided by AI machine learning algorithms in a manner that can beneficially assist in the monitoring and treatment of a patient. For example, the system described herein may be used for the continuous monitoring of the physiological parameters and health of a patient's vascular access point (for example, the fistula) and may provide, among other things, early warnings of possible infection at the vascular access location.