Abstract: A dialysis system includes a dialysis machine comprising a motorized autoconnection mechanism, a fluid supply line connected to a source of dialysis fluid, and a cassette for use with the dialysis machine. The cassette includes a frame, a pump chamber within the frame, a first set of valves for routing the dialysis fluid from the fluid supply line to the pump chamber, and a second set of valves for routing the dialysis fluid from the pump chamber to a patient line. The cassette also includes a plurality of ports communicating with the first and second set of valves. Each port includes an integral spike. The motorized autoconnection mechanism is configured to move the fluid supply line and the patient line automatically so as to be spiked open respectively by the plurality of ports of the cassette.

Abstract: A dialysis system including a disposable fluid pumping cassette including at least one flexible membrane attached to a housing and at least one port extending from the housing, the at least one port including a spike; at least one dialysis fluid supply in fluid communication with at least one tubing and tubing connector; an autoconnection device including a shuttle for moving the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port, the autoconnection device including at least one lead screw in mechanical communication with the shuttle, a motor and power transmission equipment to transmit power from the motor to the at least one lead screw; and a controller programmed to operate the motor to move the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port of the disposable fluid pumping cassette.

Abstract: A dialysis system including a disposable fluid pumping cassette including at least one flexible membrane attached to a housing and at least one port extending from the housing, the at least one port including a spike; at least one dialysis fluid supply in fluid communication with at least one tubing and tubing connector; an autoconnection device including a shuttle for moving the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port, the autoconnection device including at least one lead screw in mechanical communication with the shuttle, a motor and power transmission equipment to transmit power from the motor to the at least one lead screw; and a controller programmed to operate the motor to move the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port of the disposable fluid pumping cassette.

Abstract: A dialysis system including a disposable fluid pumping cassette including at least one flexible membrane attached to a housing and at least one port extending from the housing, the at least one port including a spike; at least one dialysis fluid supply in fluid communication with at least one tubing and tubing connector; an autoconnection device including a shuttle for moving the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port, the autoconnection device including at least one lead screw in mechanical communication with the shuttle, a motor and power transmission equipment to transmit power from the motor to the at least one lead screw; and a controller programmed to operate the motor to move the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port of the disposable fluid pumping cassette.

Abstract: A system for automatically connecting tubing to a medical fluid machine includes at least one fluid container including a tube having a cap on an end of the tube, a shuttle configured to receive the tube, a driving mechanism configured to translate the shuttle, a cap removal device configured to remove the cap from the end of the tube, and a control unit programmed to cause (i) the driving mechanism to translate the shuttle holding the tube in a first direction towards the cap removal device so that the cap removal device can engage the tube cap, (ii) the driving mechanism to translate in a second direction away from the cap removal device so that the cap removal device removes the cap from the end of the tube, and (iii) the driving mechanism to translate the shuttle in the first direction with the cap removed from the tube so that the tube can be mated with the medical fluid machine.

Abstract: A dialysis system including a disposable fluid pumping cassette including at least one flexible membrane attached to a housing and at least one port extending from the housing, the at least one port including a spike; at least one dialysis fluid supply in fluid communication with at least one tubing and tubing connector; an autoconnection device including a shuttle for moving the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port, the autoconnection device including at least one lead screw in mechanical communication with the shuttle, a motor and power transmission equipment to transmit power from the motor to the at least one lead screw; and a controller programmed to operate the motor to move the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port of the disposable fluid pumping cassette.

Abstract: A hinge is provided for mechanically and electrically coupling a machine and a display wirelessly. The hinge includes a machine portion having a first transceiver for wirelessly sending a signal concerning an operation or status of the machine and a display portion having a second transceiver for wirelessly receiving the operating signal. The hinge machine portion and the hinge display portion are mechanically connected so as to: (i) swivel with respect to each other; or (ii) tilt with respect to each other.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes a dialysis machine including at least one fluid pump, and an autoconnection mechanism including a moveable holder; a plurality of pierceable connectors each held by the moveable holder of the autoconnection mechanism, each of the pierceable connectors in fluid communication with a source of medical fluid; a plurality of spikes each held fixed by the dialysis machine, each of the spikes in fluid communication with a disposable component that is positioned and arranged to operate with the at least one fluid pump; and wherein the moveable holder is moved automatically by the autoconnection mechanism, so that (i) the spikes pierce the pierceable connectors and (ii) the sources of medical fluid can communicate with the disposable component positioned and arranged to operate with the at least one fluid pump.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis machine includes an enclosure; dialysate pump located within the enclosure; a graphical user interface allowing a patient to program a treatment including at least one patient fill performed by the dialysate pump, at least one dwell, and at least one drain performed by the dialysate pump; and the GUI further programmed to provide an alert when it is time to begin the treatment so as to complete the at least one patient fill, dwell and drain by a prescribed time.

Abstract: A medical fluid system including: fluid containers and a tube extending from same, each tube including a cap; a pumping cassette including port spikes; a medical fluid machine including: occluders; a shuttle configured to receive the tubes, wherein each tube is associated with one of the occluders; a driving mechanism translating the shuttle; a cap removal device between the cassette and the shuttle; and a control unit programmed to cause: (i) the occluders to pinch their tubes, (ii) cause the driving mechanism to translate the shuttle towards the fluid pumping cassette, the cap removal device engaging the tube caps, (iii) the driving mechanism to translate the shuttle away from the fluid pumping cassette and cap removal device, pulling the tube caps off of the tubes, and (iv) the driving mechanism to translate the shuttle back towards the fluid pumping cassette for the port spikes to spike the occluded tubes.

Abstract: A system for automatically connecting tubing to a medical fluid machine includes at least one fluid container including a tube having a cap on an end of the tube, a shuttle configured to receive the tube, a driving mechanism configured to translate the shuttle, a cap removal device configured to remove the cap from the end of the tube, and a control unit programmed to cause (i) the driving mechanism to translate the shuttle holding the tube in a first direction towards the cap removal device so that the cap removal device can engage the tube cap, (ii) the driving mechanism to translate in a second direction away from the cap removal device so that the cap removal device removes the cap from the end of the tube, and (iii) the driving mechanism to translate the shuttle in the first direction with the cap removed from the tube so that the tube can be mated with the medical fluid machine.

Abstract: A dialysis fluid heating system includes a plurality of conductive tubes; first and second end caps located at first and second ends of the tubes, respectively, the first end cap including a dialysis fluid inlet and a dialysis fluid outlet, the end caps and the tubes configured such that dialysis fluid can flow from the fluid inlet of the first end cap, through at least one first tube to the second end cap, and through at least one second tube back to the first end cap; a conductive wire wound around an outside of the conductive tubes; and electronics configured to supply power to the conductive wire, the wire forming a primary coil of a transformer, the tubes forming a secondary coil of the transformer.

Abstract: A hinge is provided for mechanically and electrically coupling a machine and a display wirelessly. The hinge includes a machine portion having a first transceiver for wirelessly sending a signal concerning an operation or status of the machine and a display portion having a second transceiver for wirelessly receiving the operating signal. The hinge machine portion and the hinge display portion are mechanically connected so as to: (i) swivel with respect to each other; or (ii) tilt with respect to each other.

Abstract: An operating machine, such as a medical machine or a dialysis machine, includes a housing for operating components of the machine and a moveable user interface or display for viewing and entering information concerning operation of the machine. Signals concerning operating information are wirelessly transmitted between the machine and the display using one of several techniques. Power is also transmitted wirelessly from the operating machine to the screen, or from a separate power source to the display. The wireless signals may be transmitted via induction, radio, infrared or optical means.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing machine, such as a peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis machine, includes a dispenser or cassette that pumps a medical fluid for dialysis or other treatments for patients. The machine includes and uses an autoconnect device for connecting containers of liquid, such as bags of dialysis fluid or medication fluids, to the machine, while maintaining the sterility of the connection. The autoconnect device removes the cap from the fluid bag and pierces a sealing membrane on tubing from the bag. This makes it easier for patients to receive treatment, especially home treatment. The cassettes preferably have tubing ports with integral spikes for piercing the membrane on tubing from bags of liquids. The ports may be staggered for sequential engagement with the spikes. Other embodiments are useful for dispensing other liquids from other types of dispensing or pumping machines.

Abstract: A medical fluid machine with supply autoconnection, the machine comprising: a cassette-receiving wall; a disposable cassette held firmly by the wall, the disposable cassette including a port spike, the port spike fitted with a spike cap; a translating shuttle including a channel sized to hold a portion of a supply tube and including a fixture for releasably holding a supply tube end; a supply tube including an end configured to be releasably held by the fixture of the channel of the translating shuttle, the supply tube fitted with a supply tube cap; a cap removal device selectively positionable between the disposable cassette and the translating shuttle; and a controller programmed to (i) translate the shuttle holding the supply tube at the supply tube end towards the disposable cassette, so that the cap removal device is likewise moved towards the disposable cassette and the spike cap of the disposable cassette is engaged, (ii) translate the shuttle holding the supply tube at the supply tube end away from th

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis machine includes an enclosure; dialysate pump located within the enclosure; a graphical user interface allowing a patient to program a treatment including at least one patient fill performed by the dialysate pump, at least one dwell, and at least one drain performed by the dialysate pump; and the GUI further programmed to provide an alert when it is time to begin the treatment so as to complete the at least one patient fill, dwell and drain by a prescribed time.

Abstract: A medical fluid autoconnection method includes: enabling acceptance a pierceable connector that is capable of fluidly communicating with a source of medical fluid into a moveable holder; temporarily fixing a spike to a medical fluid pumping machine; automatically detecting whether the pierceable connector has been placed into the moveable holder; if the pierceable connector is sensed as being placed in the moveable holder, moving the holder so that the spike pierces the pierceable connector; and enabling medical fluid to be pumped from the source through the connected spiked and connector.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes a dialysis machine including at least one fluid pump, and an autoconnection mechanism including a moveable holder; a plurality of pierceable connectors each held by the moveable holder of the autoconnection mechanism, each of the pierceable connectors in fluid communication with a source of medical fluid; a plurality of spikes each held fixed by the dialysis machine, each of the spikes in fluid communication with a disposable component that is positioned and arranged to operate with the at least one fluid pump; and wherein the moveable holder is moved automatically by the autoconnection mechanism, so that (i) the spikes pierce the pierceable connectors and (ii) the sources of medical fluid can communicate with the disposable component positioned and arranged to operate with the at least one fluid pump.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis machine includes an enclosure; dialysate pump located within the enclosure; a graphical user interface allowing a patient to program a treatment including at least one patient fill performed by the dialysate pump, at least one dwell, and at least one drain performed by the dialysate pump; and the GUI further programmed to provide an alert when it is time to begin the treatment so as to complete the at least one patient fill, dwell and drain by a prescribed time.