Abstract: A wearable ultrafiltration apparatus is provided. The apparatus can include a first ultrafilter for filtering a patient's blood along a first fluid path and a second ultrafilter for filtering the patient's blood along a second fluid path. The apparatus can also include a valve being positionable in a first position for directing the patient's blood along the first fluid path. The valve can also be positioned in a second position for directing the patient's blood along the second fluid path. When the valve is in the first position, blood can flow along the first fluid path and prevent blood from flowing along the second fluid path. When the valve is in the second position, blood can flow along the second fluid path and prevent blood from flowing along the first fluid path. When the valve is in the first position, the second ultrafilter can be idle and capable of being serviced or replaced and when the valve is in the second position, the first ultrafilter can be idle and capable of being serviced or replaced.

Abstract: A wearable ultrafiltration apparatus is provided. The apparatus can include a first ultrafilter for filtering a patient's blood along a first fluid path and a second ultrafilter for filtering the patient's blood along a second fluid path. The apparatus can also include a valve being positionable in a first position for directing the patient's blood along the first fluid path. The valve can also be positioned in a second position for directing the patient's blood along the second fluid path. When the valve is in the first position, blood can flow along the first fluid path and prevent blood from flowing along the second fluid path. When the valve is in the second position, blood can flow along the second fluid path and prevent blood from flowing along the first fluid path. When the valve is in the first position, the second ultrafilter can be idle and capable of being serviced or replaced and when the valve is in the second position, the first ultrafilter can be idle and capable of being serviced or replaced.

Abstract: A wearable ultrafiltration apparatus is provided. The apparatus can include a first ultrafilter for filtering a patient's blood along a first fluid path and a second ultrafilter for filtering the patient's blood along a second fluid path. The apparatus can also include a valve being positionable in a first position for directing the patient's blood along the first fluid path. The valve can also be positioned in a second position for directing the patient's blood along the second fluid path. When the valve is in the first position, blood can flow along the first fluid path and prevent blood from flowing along the second fluid path. When the valve is in the second position, blood can flow along the second fluid path and prevent blood from flowing along the first fluid path. When the valve is in the first position, the second ultrafilter can be idle and capable of being serviced or replaced and when the valve is in the second position, the first ultrafilter can be idle and capable of being serviced or replaced.

Abstract: A wearable ultrafiltration apparatus is provided. The apparatus can include a first dialyzer for filtering a patient's blood along a first fluid path and a second dialyzer for filtering the patient's blood along a second fluid path. The apparatus can also include a valve being positionable in a first position for directing the patient's blood along the first fluid path. The valve can also be positioned in a second position for directing the patient's blood along the second fluid path. When the valve is in the first position, blood can flow along the first fluid path and prevent blood from flowing along the second fluid path. When the valve is in the second position, blood can flow along the second fluid path and prevent blood from flowing along the first fluid path. When the valve is in the first position, the second dialyzer can be idle and capable of being serviced or replaced and when the valve is in the second position, the first dialyzer can be idle and capable of being serviced or replaced.

Abstract: A blood treatment device provides a photopheresis treatment using a microfluidic separation channel to separate blood components into layers The layering caused by laminar flow in the microfluidic separation channel allows light to be projected through plasma onto leukocytes without hindrance by erythrocytes.

Abstract: A membraneless separation device can be applied to a variety of treatments, such as the ultrafiltration of blood for a patient with end stage renal disease. An ultrafiltration device can include a membraneless separation device, which separates an incoming blood flow into a substantially cytoplasmic body-free plasma flow and remaining fraction, and a dialysate-free second stage, which selectively removes excess fluid, toxins and other substances from the plasma flow and returns the processed plasma to the membraneless separation device. A treatment protocol can include ultrafiltering blood of a patient using the ultrafiltration device and performing a secondary treatment on the blood of the patient at a reduced frequency compared to the ultrafiltering. The membraneless separation device can also be applied to treatment, analysis, and/or exchange of plasma from blood, or combined with conventional dialyzers to perform dialysis on a cytoplasmic body-free plasma fraction.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for removing undesirable materials from a sample fluid by contact with a second fluid. The sample fluid flows as a thin layer adjacent to, or between, concurrently flowing layers of the second fluid, without an intervening membrane. In various embodiments, a secondary separator is used to restrict the removal of desirable substances and effect the removal of undesirable substances from blood. The embodiments may be used for the removal of components from a sample fluid that vary in size. When blood is the sample fluid, for example, this may include the removal of small molecules, middle molecules, macromolecules, macromolecular aggregates, and cells, from the blood sample to the extractor fluid.

Abstract: A device, system and method for exchanging components between first and second fluids by direct contact in a microfluidic channel. The fluids flow as thin layers in the channel. One of the fluids is passed through a filter upon exiting the channel and is recycled through a secondary processor which changes the fluid's properties. The recycled fluid is reused for further exchange. The filter excludes blood cells from the recycled fluid and prevents or limits clogging of the filter. The secondary processor removes metabolic waste and water by diafiltration.

Abstract: A blood filtration device, system, and method that can and selectively remove or reduce an unwanted, in certain cases unknown, substance from a patient's blood stream. More specifically, a specific size or size range of unwanted substance is selectively removed. The unwanted substance includes one or more of a pathogen, a toxin, an activated cell, and an administered drug. The device and system employ a microfluidic separation device that minimizes thrombogenesis and can permit the use of anticoagulants to be avoided. The device or system can be portable and can include its own power supply. Sensors in the system may monitor for the presence and/or concentration of unwanted species including pathogens or drugs and invoke a blood cleansing process responsively to the sensor signals in closed loop control process. The control may combine the infusion of therapeutic agents into the blood of a patient as well.

Abstract: A device, system and method for exchanging components between first and second fluids by direct contact in a microfluidic channel. The fluids flow as thin layers in the channel. One of the fluids is passed through a filter upon exiting the channel and is recycled through a secondary processor which changes the fluid's properties. The recycled fluid is reused for further exchange. The filter excludes blood cells from the recycled fluid and prevents or limits clogging of the filter. The secondary processor removes metabolic waste and water by diafiltration.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump with a removable pump race module has guiding channels for receiving at least a portion of a flexible fluid-carrying tubing and an adjusting device for displacing a flexible inner portion of the removable pump race module to change the compression on the fluid-carrying tubing. The arrangement of the various elements makes it particularly suitable in configurations where compactness and convenience are important considerations.

Abstract: A risk of thrombogenesis is minimized in a tubular fiber membrane filter by flowing blood or other fluid through a header manifold that ensures a minimum shear rate on the wetted surfaces without flow reversal, stagnation volumes, or a shear rate that is too high. In an embodiment, fluid is conveyed into a header space and into a manifold face at a perimeter of the header space. The header space has a progressively decreasing clearance that is minimal to provide for substantial shear rate and decreasing toward a minimum clearance in a region that is remote from the perimeter and vented by openings to the microtubular membrane fibers. Other features and embodiments are described.

Abstract: A device, system and method for exchanging components between first and second fluids by direct contact in a microfluidic channel. The fluids flow as thin layers in the channel. One of the fluids is passed through a filter upon exiting the channel and is recycled through a secondary processor which changes the fluid's properties. The recycled fluid is reused for further exchange. The filter excludes blood cells from the recycled fluid and prevents or limits clogging of the filter. The secondary processor removes metabolic waste and water by diafiltration.

Abstract: A microfluidic separation device suitable for high throughput applications such as medical treatments, and associated methods and systems, are described. Embodiments are suitable for treatment of end stage renal disease.

Abstract: A device, system and method for exchanging components between first and second fluids by direct contact in a microfluidic channel. The fluids flow as thin layers in the channel. One of the fluids is passed through a filter upon exiting the channel and is recycled through a secondary processor which changes the fluid's properties. The recycled fluid is reused for further exchange. The filter excludes blood cells from the recycled fluid and prevents or limits clogging of the filter. The secondary processor removes metabolic waste and water by diafiltration.

Abstract: A device for separating fluids includes a microfluidic channel with one or more wall filters or membranes through which portions of the flow in the microfluidic channel can be removed. The wall filters can have precisely defined pores therein which restrict the removal of certain particles while allowing other particles and/or fluids to freely flow therethrough. Because of the high and uniform pore density and low flow resistance of these filters, the pressure drop along the microfluidic channel may result in a negative trans-filter pressure, thereby causing reverse flow of extracted fluid back through the filter and into the microfluidic channel. Precise design of the microfluidic channel and control of flow characteristics can minimize and/or eliminate this reverse flow while allowing for sufficient sweeping of the filter surface to inhibit clogging with particles.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for removing undesirable materials from a sample fluid by contact with a second fluid. The sample fluid flows as a thin layer adjacent to, or between, concurrently flowing layers of the second fluid, without an intervening membrane. In various embodiments, a secondary separator is used to restrict the removal of desirable substances and effect the removal of undesirable substances from blood. The embodiments may be used for the removal of components from a sample fluid that vary in size. When blood is the sample fluid, for example, this may include the removal of small molecules, middle molecules, macromolecules, macromolecular aggregates, and cells, from the blood sample to the extractor fluid.

Abstract: A device, system and method for exchanging components between first and second fluids by direct contact in a microfluidic channel. The fluids flow as thin layers in the channel. One of the fluids is passed through a filter upon exiting the channel and is recycled through a secondary processor which changes the fluid's properties. The recycled fluid is reused for further exchange. The filter excludes blood cells from the recycled fluid and prevents or limits clogging of the filter. The secondary processor removes metabolic waste and water by diafiltration.

Abstract: A device, system and method for exchanging components between first and second fluids by direct contact in a microfluidic channel. The fluids flow as thin layers in the channel. One of the fluids is passed through a filter upon exiting the channel and is recycled through a secondary processor which changes the fluid's properties. The recycled fluid is reused for further exchange. The filter excludes blood cells from the recycled fluid and prevents or limits clogging of the filter. The secondary processor removes metabolic waste and water by diafiltration.

Abstract: A device, system and method for exchanging components between first and second fluids by direct contact in a microfluidic channel. The fluids flow as thin layers in the channel. One of the fluids is passed through a filter upon exiting the channel and is recycled through a secondary processor which changes the fluid's properties. The recycled fluid is reused for further exchange. The filter excludes blood cells from the recycled fluid and prevents or limits clogging of the filter. The secondary processor removes metabolic waste and water by diafiltration.