Abstract: A pivotable cover secures a pump header or tubing to a peristaltic pump of a dialysis machine. The cover includes an integral raceway for engaging the pump header as a rotor of the peristaltic pump rotates along the integral raceway. The cover is pivoted away from the dialysis machine to separate the raceway from the rotor and provide substantial access for loading the pump header about the rotor. The cover is then closed to secure the pump header in place and properly position the integral raceway in relation to the pump rotor. If the pump header is connected to a blood tubing set, the cover also secures the blood tubing set in position against the dialysis machine. A detachable hinge connects the cover to the dialysis machine to allow the cover to be completely detached from the dialysis machine. The detachable cover provides complete access for cleaning the area surrounding the peristaltic pump rotor and the location where the blood tubing set is located.

Abstract: A technique for automatically priming and recirculating sterile fluid through an extracorporeal circuit of a dialysis machine having a blood pump, a dialyzer, and a blood tubing set including an arterial line for drawing blood from a patient and a venous line for returning the blood to the patient. The dialysis machine selectively opens and closes clamps on the arterial and venous lines and further operates a waste valve for selectively opening and closing a waste line leading to a waste drain. A connector attaches both the arterial and venous lines to the waste line downstream of the arterial and venous clamps and upstream of the waste valve. The dialysis machine automatically operating the blood pump, the clamps and the waste valve to flush the dialyzer and the blood tubing set with the sterile fluid and direct the used fluid down the waste drain.

Abstract: A technique for automatically priming and recirculating sterile fluid through an extracorporeal circuit of a dialysis machine having a blood pump, a dialyzer, and a blood tubing set including an arterial line for drawing blood from a patient and a venous line for returning the blood to the patient. The dialysis machine selectively opens and closes clamps on the arterial and venous lines and further operates a waste valve for selectively opening and closing a waste line leading to a waste drain. A connector attaches both the arterial and venous lines to the waste line downstream of the arterial and venous clamps and upstream of the waste valve. The dialysis machine automatically operating the blood pump, the clamps and the waste valve to flush the dialyzer and the blood tubing set with the sterile fluid and direct the used fluid down the waste drain.

Abstract: A dialyzer holder for quickly and securely fastening a variety of different dialyzers in position against a surface of a dialysis machine. The dialyzer holder includes an elongated arm pivotably attached to the dialysis machine. An attachment device for engaging a dialyzer is fixed to the free end of the pivotable elongated arm. The pivotable elongated arm is biased to direct the attachment device toward the dialysis machine, and the elongated arm is of sufficient length to position a dialyzer between the attachment device and the dialysis machine when an operator overcomes the bias force and pivots the arm away from the dialysis machine. The bias on the elongated arm is sufficiently strong to maintain the dialyzer suspended between the attachment device and the dialysis machine, even once the dialyzer is filled with blood and dialysate during patient treatment.