Abstract: Described is an apparatus and method of optoacoustic monitoring of blood concentrations of one or more constituents by directing a flow of a patient's blood through a substantially transparent vessel to optoacoustically detect a concentration of one or more constituents. To detect constituents, pulses of laser light can be passed through the blood flow at one or more frequencies in order to generate an altered laser emission from the exposed blood, and/or induce detectable optoacoustic responses from the constituents. The detectable responses can be detected and measured by analyzing an alteration of the laser emissions and/or the frequency, slope and/or amplitude of the optoacoustic responses for different constituents in the blood.

Abstract: Method for in-vivo plasmapheresis utilizing a plurality of elongated hollow microporous filter fibers periodically interrupt diffusion of blood plasma from a patient, and, for a selected time, directing backflush fluid into the fibers at a pressure and interval sufficient to cleanse the fiber pores, after which plasma diffusion is resumed. The backflush fluid, preferably a normal saline solution, may contain an anticoagulant such as heparin, citrate or NO donor in suitable concentration for systemic anti-coagulation or for treating the fiber for thromboresistance.

Abstract: An apparatus configured for carrying out CRRT on patients weighing up to about 20 kg incorporates a control unit having a blood pump and a plurality of fluid pumps mounted thereon, and a controller configured for operating the blood pump and fluid pumps, and an interactive operator control system including an operator interface screen operatively connected to the controller, the controller including software configured to operate the apparatus in response to operator input selections. The interactive operator control system includes operator inputs for setting patient weight, blood pump flow rate and fluid pump flow rates and the controller is configured to calculate and display maximum allowable fluid gain or loss based solely on patient weight settings between zero kg and about 20 kg and trigger warnings and alarms for selected or calculated levels of patient fluid gain or loss and stop operation of the pumps or termination of CRRT in response to patient fluid gain or loss in excess of the maximum.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out selected fluid management and/or renal replacement patient therapy is characterized by an interactive operator control system having operator inputs for selectively changing a panel kit, replacing a filter cartridge, and/or changing to a different patient therapy during a currently running patient therapy, and providing operator instructions for carrying out tasks for completing same. In one embodiment, the interactive operator control system is also characterized by automatically serially identifying different setup steps to be carried out during system setup, displaying the successive steps substantially throughout the system setup as well as displaying on the operator interface screen sequential tasks to be carried out for each of the different setup steps.

Abstract: A panel assembly for being manually mounted on a blood therapy apparatus is characterized by three panels, a center panel configured for manually securing a hemofilter cartridge and opposite side panels, hingedly connected to the center panel. The side panels have generally flat, planar interior surfaces defined by a rim extending around its perimeter. Tubing is secured along and adjacent to the interior panel surfaces, which are also provided with tubing supports having slanted tubing channels for supporting arched pump rotor engaging tubing sections and prevent tubing droop.

Abstract: In a blood therapy apparatus having a load cell sensor and a coupler for securing a load, a bag thereon is characterized by a free hanging link hanging from the coupler, and a bag hanger comprising an elongated rod having a plurality of bag engaging hooks and upwardly extending hook secured at the weight center of the rod and freely hanging from the links.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood therapy control unit housing has a first and second manually mounted panels and spring loaded components configured for releasably engaging and tensioning the said panels against a side of said housing. The first and second panels have arch-shaped tubing segments mounted on the interior side of said respective panels. Each of the tubing segments are held in operational engagement with a different peristaltic pump rotor by the panel engaging and tensioning components.

Abstract: A plasmapheresis and/or ultrafiltration membrane comprises elongated hollow fibers each fiber having an interior lumen extending along the fiber length, the fiber wall having a plurality of zones between the inner and outer wall surfaces, each of the zones having a mass density different than the mass density of an adjacent zone. The fiber wall is characterized by having a lower mass density zone at the inner wall surface and a higher mass density zone at the outer wall surface. The fiber is further characterized by having an average elongation breaking force strength of at least about 0.2 lbs. and an average elongation of at least about 45%.

Abstract: An in-vivo plasmapheresis or in-vivo ultrafiltration membrane comprises a plurality of elongated hollow microporous fibers each fiber having an outer wall, an inner wall and an interior lumen extending along the length thereof and defined by an inner wall surface, and wherein the fiber wall structure is a substantially continuous change in mass density from the outer wall to the inner wall and comprises a continuum of voids bounded by solid frames, the fiber wall having an asymmetrical pore size and asymmetrical mass density between said inner wall surface and the outer wall surface with a higher mass density adjacent to the outer wall and a lower mass density adjacent to said inner wall, and characterized by a nitric oxide donor composition capable of producing or releasing nitric oxide or inducing nitric oxide production or release in-vivo with a blood vessel, distributed on or in the fiber wall.

Abstract: Method for in-vivo plasmapheresis utilizing a plurality of elongated hollow microporous filter fibers periodically interrupt diffusion of blood plasma from a patient, and, for a selected time, directing backflush fluid into the fibers at a pressure and interval sufficient to cleanse the fiber pores, after which plasma diffusion is resumed. The backflush fluid, preferably a normal saline solution, may contain an anticoagulant such as heparin, citrate or NO donor in suitable concentration for systemic anti-coagulation or for treating the fiber for thromboresistance.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing blood therapy having a plurality of pumps for engaging blood and fluid tubing is characterized by a plurality of manually mounted and disengagable panels installed on the sides of the apparatus housing, the panels having pump engaging tubing mounted on the inside of the respective panels.

Abstract: Patient fluid management is carried out by separating plasma from whole blood in vivo via an implantable filter device comprising one or more elongated hollow tubes and a plurality of elongated microporous fibers having an interior lumen extending along the length thereof, each fiber having a first and second end secured to the one or more elongated hollow tubes by passing plasma through the fiber wall from the outer wall surface to the inner wall surface and to the interior fiber lumen, directing the separated plasma to an ultrafiltration apparatus having a sieving coefficient cutoff between about 1×104 and about 6×104 daltons, separating plasma water and selected plasma components, from the separated plasma, and directing the treated plasma to the patient.

Abstract: Method for in-vivo plasmapheresis utilizing a plurality of elongated hollow microporous filter fibers periodically interrupt diffusion of blood plasma from a patient, and, for a selected time, directing backflush fluid into the fibers at a pressure and interval sufficient to cleanse the fiber pores, after which plasma diffusion is resumed. The backflush fluid, preferably a normal saline solution, may contain an anticoagulant such as heparin, citrate or NO donor in suitable concentration for systemic anti-coagulation or for treating the fiber for thromboresistance.

Abstract: An elongated hollow microporous fiber comprises an inner wall surface defining an interior fiber lumen, an outer wall surface, and a microporous fiber wall therebetween, the fiber wall having one or more continuous, cohesive, elongated filaments embedded in the fiber and extending lengthwise of the elongated fiber along substantially the full length of the fiber.

Abstract: Apparatus for carrying out therapeutic apheresis includes a filter device for being implanted in a blood vessel for carrying out in-vivo plasma separation having one or more elongated hollow tubes and a plurality of elongated hollow microporous fibers capable of separating plasma from whole blood at pressure and blood flow within a patient's vein, a multiple lumen catheter secured to the proximal end of the filter device having one or more lumens in fluid communication with the interior of said one or more hollow tubes and a plasma return lumen, and therapeutic apheresis apparatus for removing and/or separating selected disease-related components from the separated plasma and means for directing plasma between said catheter and the selective component removal apparatus.

Abstract: An in-vivo plasmapheresis and/or in-vivo ultrafiltration membrane comprises elongated hollow fibers each fiber having an interior lumen extending along the fiber length, the fiber wall having a plurality of zones between the inner and outer wall surfaces, each of the zones having a mass density different than the mass density of an adjacent zone. The fiber wall is characterized by having a lower mass density zone at the inner wall surface and a higher mass density zone at the outer wall surface. The fiber is further characterized by having an average elongation breaking force strength of at least about 0.2 lbs. and an average elongation of at least about 45%.

Abstract: Segmental edema is treated by inserting a plasma extraction filter device in a major vein of a body segment or servicing the body segment containing the edemic tissues, and inserting a return catheter in a major artery of the body segment affected or feeding the body segment from which plasma is extracted. Blood plasma and plasma proteins extracted from the edemic body segment through the plasma extraction filter fluids are directed to an ultrafiltration apparatus where plasma water is separated from the plasma proteins. Plasma proteins are returned to the body segment from which the plasma was extracted via the return catheter in the major artery of the subject body segment.

Abstract: A filter device for being implanted in a blood vessel for carrying out in-vivo plasma separation comprises one or more elongated hollow tubes and a plurality of elongated hollow microporous fibers, each fiber having a first and second end secured to one or more of the elongated hollow tubes with the interior lumen of each of the fibers communicating with the interior of the one or more of the hollow tubes, and wherein the fiber wall has a higher mass density zone adjacent to the outer wall surface and a lower mass density zone adjacent to the inner wall surface.

Abstract: A method for carrying out therapeutic apheresis comprises separating plasma from whole blood in-vivo and removing selected disease-related components from the separated plasma. Apparatus for carrying out therapeutic apheresis includes a filter device for being implanted in a blood vessel for carrying out in-vivo plasma separation having one or more elongated hollow tubes and a plurality of elongated hollow microporous fibers capable of separating plasma from whole blood at pressure and blood flow within a patient's vein, a multiple lumen catheter secured to the proximal end of the filter device having one or more lumens in fluid communication with the interior of said one or more hollow tubes and a plasma return lumen, and therapeutic apheresis apparatus for removing and/or separating selected disease-related components from the separated plasma and means for directing plasma between said catheter and the selective component removal apparatus.

Abstract: An in-vivo plasmapheresis and/or in-vivo ultrafiltration membrane comprises a plurality of elongated hollow fibers each fiber having an interior lumen extending along the fiber length, the fiber wall having a plurality of zones between the inner and outer wall surfaces, each of the zones having a mass density different than the mass density of an adjacent zone. The fiber wall is characterized by having a lower mass density zone at the inner wall surface and a higher mass density zone at the outer wall surface.