Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining a substance in a fluid excreted/extracted from the body or spent dialysate, e.g., for determining a quality measure for the dialysis, such as the concentration of selected toxic substances, and/or for determining a removed total quantity of uremic toxins during a dialysis with a dialysis apparatus. A concentration of a substance in the fluid may be determined by: detecting, by an absorption sensor, a first extinction signal of the fluid at an analysis wavelength at a defined first pH value of the fluid; adjusting, by a pH adjusting device, a second pH value of the fluid which differs from the first pH value; detecting, by the absorption sensor, a second extinction signal of the fluid at the analysis wavelength at the second pH value; and processing/comparing the two extinction signals for the first and the second pH values and determining an absolute concentration of the substance dissolved in the fluid.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying a malfunction in the extracorporeal blood circulation of a dialysis machine are disclosed. The malfunction may be identified by detecting at least one state parameter; determining a first evaluation criterion for identifying a malfunction in the extracorporeal blood circulation (FEB); using the first evaluation criterion, making a decision with respect to the presence of a malfunction in the extracorporeal blood circulation, generating a first error signal, and monitoring the detected state parameter; determining at least one further evaluation criterion; using the at least one further evaluation criterion, making a decision with respect to the presence of a malfunction in the extracorporeal blood circulation and generating at least one further error signal; combining the first error signal and the at least one further error signal to result in a combined error signal; and triggering an alarm if the combined error signal exceeds a predetermined limit value.

Abstract: A patient data monitoring system is disclosed for central monitoring of vital parameters of at least one dialysis patient in a therapy-free interval. The system includes a central patient database for storing patient data, at least one measuring device carried along or kept at home by a patient during the therapy-free interval, and a portable data processing and communication device carried along or kept at home by the patient in the therapy-free interval that assigns a corresponding patient ID to each measured vital parameter received from the at least one measuring device via data communication, automatically sets up a remote data connection to the central patient database and, once the connection to the central patient database is set up, automatically transmits a data set including patient ID and the at least one measured vital parameter to the central patient database.

Abstract: Apparatus and control methods for determining a distribution volume of at least one uremic substance in a dialysis patient are disclosed. The apparatus may include a dialyzer, an optional flow rate measuring system for detecting the flow rate of a dialysis fluid through the dialyzer, a dialysis fluid measuring system for detecting at least one dialysis fluid parameter that depends on the at least one substance in the dialysis fluid, and a computer for establishing a dialysis dose based on the dialysis fluid parameter and for establishing the distribution volume based on the dialysis dose taking a clearance factor and dialysis duration into account.

Abstract: Devices and methods for the prognosis of intradialytic parameters such as a blood pressure are described, wherein at least one learning algorithm and/or at least one neural network is/are provided. A memory device stores patient-individual intradialytic parameters, laboratory parameters, and/or machine parameters, which can be used in the prognosis of patient-specific parameter progress during a dialysis treatment.

Abstract: A device for extracorporeal blood treatment is disclosed that includes a detection equipment for detecting uremic toxins in a used dialysis liquid by measuring the absorbance, the detection equipment being provided at such a position downstream the outflow of the dialysis liquid from a filter element that at least one of the following requirements is fulfilled: a) the filling volume of the fluid line and of the components starting from the outflow of the used dialysis liquid from the filter element to the detection equipment is less than or equal to 100 ml; and b) the length of the fluid line starting from the outflow of the used dialysis liquid from the filter element to the detection equipment is at most 250 cm.

Abstract: The described system and method for blood treatment are configured to detect at least two hemodynamic parameters, for example the blood pressure and the relative blood volume, during the blood treatment. At least two fuzzy modules receive measuring values of the hemodynamic parameters as input variables, wherein the output signals transmitted by the fuzzy modules are weighted by at least one weighting module. A setting means effectuates setting of at least one variable, for example an ultrafiltration rate, a dialysis fluid conductivity or a dialysis fluid temperature, in response to the output signal transmitted by the weighting module. In this way, e.g. threatening intradialytic hypotensive episodes can be detected and avoided. The system can be designed as a dialyser for hemodialysis, hemofiltration or hemodiafiltration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the treatment of blood are disclosed allowing for the determination of an internal convection in a blood purification device e.g. in the form of a dialyzer. The internal convection in the purification device can be determined on the basis of pressure differences in the purification device. The blood purification may be, for instance, a hemodialysis or a hemodiafiltration. Pressure sensors serve for measuring the pressures of the blood at the input and/or output of the purification device as well as optionally for detecting the pressure of a cleaning fluid or dialysis fluid at the input and/or output of the purification device.

Abstract: Control methods of a dialysis machine for allowing the dialysate-side detection of a recirculation in an arteriovenous shunt of a patient during ongoing hemodialysis are described. A sensor is arranged downstream of a dialyser and detects a change of a physicochemical parameter PD of outflowing dialysis fluid. Control elements are provided to guide the dialysis fluid in a selected manner through the dialyser or pass it by.

Abstract: A method as well as an apparatus is disclosed for determining the efficiency of a currently performed kidney replacement therapy on the dialysis side making use of a dialysis machine which in a first step is operated in a hemodialysis or hemodiafiltration process and in a second step is sequentially changed over to a hemofiltration process or is changed over to a sequential mode in which merely a flow from the blood compartment via the semipermeable membrane to the dialysis fluid compartment of the dialyser is generated in which, according to a third step, a sensor for determining or measuring the concentration at least of uremic toxins in the saturated dialysate or ultra-filtrate which is connected downstream of a dialyser on the dialysis side outputs corresponding measuring signals that are representative of the current concentration at least of uremic toxins in the blood to a calculation or determination unit.

Abstract: A waveguide core made of hydrogel serves as an immobilization matrix having receptor molecules embedded therein.

Abstract: A waveguide core made of hydrogel serves as an immobilization matrix having receptor molecules embedded therein.