Abstract: A system and method are presented that electrically stimulates the phrenic nerve whereby said stimulation results in muscle activation of the diaphragm as observed by a measurement of work or power of breathing associated with the inspiratory portion of a stimulated breath.

Abstract: A system and method are presented that electrically stimulates the phrenic nerve whereby said stimulation results in muscle activation of the diaphragm as observed by a measurement of work or power of breathing associated with the inspiratory portion of a stimulated breath.

Abstract: Extracorporeal blood treatment systems and methods to display graphical user interfaces displaying a plurality of fluids areas, each including a flow rate, and displaying adjustment notifications proximate one or more fluid areas. For example, when a user adjusts a flow rate to a limit, one or more notifications may be displayed proximate other flow rates that may be adjusted to modify the limit.

Abstract: A method for filtering blood including: withdrawing blood from an adult patient; performing ultrafiltration by filtering the withdrawn blood in a filter having an active filter membrane surface of no greater than 0.2 meters squared (m2) to remove ultrafiltrate from the blood, wherein the filter membrane blocks the passage of blood molecules having a molecular weight of at least 60,000 Daltons, wherein an amount of the removed ultrafiltrate is an effective therapeutic amount for treating a fluid overload condition of the patient; infusing the ultrafiltrated blood into the adult patient, and pumping the ultrafiltrate from the filter a rate no greater than one liter per hour.

Abstract: Extracorporeal blood treatment systems and methods to display status information for one or more fluids used in extracorporeal blood treatments. For example, a graphical user interface may include a fluids region depicting one or more fluid areas. Each fluid area may include pump and reservoir elements that depict flow rate information, reservoir volume information, and/or a notification related thereto.

Abstract: Extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus with reservoir status lights and methods of monitoring reservoir status using the same are described. The extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus include a plurality of reservoir scales (30), each of which is configured to weigh a reservoir (32) used in connection with the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus. A plurality of reservoir status lights (40) are provided, with one or more of the reservoir status lights (40) associated with one of the reservoir scales (30). The one or more reservoir status lights (40) associated with one of the reservoir scales (30) emit light from a location that is closer to their associated reservoir scale than to any other reservoir scale of the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus.

Abstract: A system, method or apparatus to detect abnormalities in delivery of a fluid may include an infusion apparatus that is controllable to cause one or more perturbations in a fluid flow (e.g., each of the one or more perturbations in the fluid flow may result in a measurable perturbed force response). A force signal representative of the perturbed force response may be used to determine an integrated perturbed force response value (e.g., using integration of the force signal over a perturbation time period; the integrated perturbed force response value being representative of an additional force caused by the at least one perturbation over an equilibrium force). A ratio between the integrated perturbed force response value and a normalizing value (e.g., based at least on a maximum perturbation force of the perturbed force response) may be used to determine if fluid flow is occluded.

Abstract: Extracorporeal blood treatment systems and methods to use and modify/create treatment profiles for extracorporeal blood treatments. For example, treatment profiles may include one or more preset, or predefined, settings or values for an extracorporeal blood treatment such as, e.g., therapy type, therapy set (e.g., tubing set, filter set, etc.), anticoagulation type, and one or more flow rates, etc.

Abstract: Syringe pump apparatus and methods for detecting proper or improper engagement of a syringe pump drive system with a syringe in the syringe pump are disclosed. The apparatus and methods can determine proper or improper engagement between a drive system and the plunger of a syringe in a syringe pump by detecting the force required to move a plunger clip in reverse while restricting flow into the syringe. The apparatus and methods may also be used to determine that a syringe in the syringe pump apparatus is properly connected to a delivery line.

Abstract: Extracorporeal blood treatment systems and methods to display and select various historical data for extracorporeal blood treatments. Historical data related to extracorporeal blood treatments may be displayed on a two-dimensional graph and in a list view that may be switched there between. Further, historical data may include various datasets (e.g., fluid datasets, patient fluid removal datasets, anticoagulation datasets, etc.) and event information that may be displayed simultaneously.

Abstract: Extracorporeal blood treatment systems and methods to detect the connection of one or more components (e.g., of an extracorporeal blood set) thereto (e.g., to one or more pressure transducers contained in the system housing) by, for example, controlling an air pump apparatus to provide air to a connection port at which the component is to be connected and monitoring pressure resulting therefrom to detect whether the component is operatively connected (e.g., based on a detected change in the monitored pressure due to the increased resistance, based on a monitored rate of decay of pressure of injected air, etc.).

Abstract: Pressure measurement system (e.g., for an extracorporeal treatment system), method and pressure pod apparatus including a position sensor for use in repositioning a diaphragm that separates a liquid side cavity from a transducer side cavity (e.g., operatively connected to a pressure transducer); the liquid side cavity being in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet.

Abstract: Methods and extracorporeal blood treatment systems reposition a diaphragm of a pressure measurement apparatus (e.g., a pressure pod apparatus of an extracorporeal blood set) by, for example, controlling an air pump apparatus to move the diaphragm toward a target measuring position based on a calculated target air volume (e.g., wherein the calculated target air volume is representative of the air volume necessary to move the diaphragm to the target measuring position based at least on a monitored air pressure). For example, after the diaphragm is bottomed out or topped out, as air is added to or removed from the transducer side cavity of a pressure pod apparatus, the target air volume may be iteratively calculated until it is determined that the diaphragm is repositioned in the target measuring position.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing method using a blood circuit comprising a pair of blood passages attached to opposite flow ends of a blood treatment device and said blood circuit is mounted on a blood pump console, the method includes: withdrawing blood from a vascular system of a human patient and drawing the blood into the blood circuit; pumping the withdrawn blood through one of the pair of blood passages using a first blood pump of the console and into the blood treatment device; pumping the treated blood from the treatment device through the other of the pair of blood passages using a second blood pump of the console; infusing the treated blood from the other blood passage and into the vascular system of the patient, and periodically reversing a flow direction of blood through the pair of blood passages and blood treatment device.

Abstract: A method for filtering blood including: withdrawing blood from an adult patient; performing ultrafiltration by filtering the withdrawn blood in a filter having an active filter membrane surface of no greater than 0.2 meters squared (m2) to remove ultrafiltrate from the blood, wherein the filter membrane blocks the passage of blood molecules having a molecular weight of at least 60,000 Daltons, wherein an amount of the removed ultrafiltrate is an effective therapeutic amount for treating a fluid overload condition of the patient; infusing the ultrafiltrated blood into the adult patient, and pumping the ultrafiltrate from the filter a rate no greater than one liter per hour.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling blood withdrawal and infusion flow rate with the use of a pressure controller. The pressure controller uses pressure targets based upon occlusion limits that are calculated as a function of flow. The controller has the ability to switch from controlling withdrawal pressure to controlling infusion pressure based upon the detection of an occlusion. The controller distinguishes between partial and total occlusions of the withdrawal vein providing blood access. Depending on the nature of occlusion, the controller limits or temporarily reverses blood flow and, thus, prevents withdrawal vessel collapse or reverses blood flow to quickly infuse blood into the vessel without participation from operator.

Abstract: An ultrafiltration filter for an extracorporeal blood circuit having an input for blood withdrawn from a human patient and a blood output for filtered blood to be infused into the patient including: a filter body having a length of at least 20 centimeters (cm) and an interior diameter of no greater than 1.5 cm; an input at a first end of the body to receive the withdrawn blood; an output at a second end of the body to discharge the filtered blood; a filter membrane in the body defining a blood passage through the body, wherein the membrane has an active filter membrane surface area of no greater than 0.2 meters squared (m2) and the filter membrane blocks passage of blood molecules having a molecular weight cut of greater than 60,000 Daltons and a volume of the blood passage in the filter being less than two percent of a cardiac output of the patient, and an ultrafiltrate output to the body and open to a side of the filter surface area opposite to the blood passage.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing method using a blood circuit comprising a pair of blood passages attached to opposite flow ends of a blood treatment device and said blood circuit is mounted on a blood pump console, the method includes: withdrawing blood from a vascular system of a human patient and drawing the blood into the blood circuit; pumping the withdrawn blood through one of the pair of blood passages using a first blood pump of the console and into the blood treatment device; pumping the treated blood from the treatment device through the other of the pair of blood passages using a second blood pump of the console; infusing the treated blood from the other blood passage and into the vascular system of the patient, and periodically reversing a flow direction of blood through the pair of blood passages and blood treatment device.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing method using a blood circuit comprising a pair of blood passages attached to opposite flow ends of a blood treatment device and said blood circuit is mounted on a blood pump console, the method includes: withdrawing blood from a vascular system of a human patient and drawing the blood into the blood circuit; pumping the withdrawn blood through one of the pair of blood passages using a first blood pump of the console and into the blood treatment device; pumping the treated blood from the treatment device through the other of the pair of blood passages using a second blood pump of the console; infusing the treated blood from the other blood passage and into the vascular system of the patient, and periodically reversing a flow direction of blood through the pair of blood passages and blood treatment device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling blood withdrawal and infusion flow rate with the use of a pressure controller. The pressure controller uses pressure targets based upon occlusion limits that are calculated as a function of flow. The controller has the ability to switch from controlling withdrawal pressure to controlling infusion pressure based upon the detection of an occlusion. The controller distinguishes between partial and total occlusions of the withdrawal vein providing blood access. Depending on the nature of occlusion, the controller limits or temporarily reverses blood flow and, thus, prevents withdrawal vessel collapse or reverses blood flow to quickly infuse blood into the vessel without participation from operator.