Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes: (i) an enclosure; (ii) a stepper motor housed by the enclosure; (iii) a pump head in operable communication with the stepper motor; and (iv) a disposable unit including at least one flexible membrane attached to a rigid piece, the enclosure configured to receive the disposable unit such that the stepper motor can move the pump head towards and away from the flexible membrane to cause, (a) the flexible membrane to move outwardly with respect to the rigid piece as the pump head is moved away from the disposable unit, and (b) the flexible membrane to move inwardly with respect to the rigid piece as the pump head is moved away from the disposable unit.

Abstract: A dialysis machine includes: a hardware unit including at least one pump actuator, at least one valve actuator and a cassette interface, the cassette interface including: (i) a plate that abuts the cassette; (ii) at least one pump aperture defined by the plate; (iii) at least one pump head moveable out of and retractable into the at least one pump aperture to operate a pumping portion of the cassette; (iv) at least one valve aperture defined by the plate; (v) at least one valve apparatus moveable out of and retractable into the at least one valve aperture to operate a valve portion of the cassette; (vi) at least one sensor aperture defined by the plate; and (vii) at least one sensor located in the least one sensor aperture, the at least one sensor operable with a sensor portion of the cassette.

Abstract: A method for making a peritoneal dialysis therapy machine having a tubing set includes: packaging an end of each of a plurality of the tubes of the set in a body; arranging the tubes according to a sequence of steps of a dialysis treatment set-up so that a user is urged to remove the tubes from the single body in a desired order; and configuring the body to plug connectors attached to each of the ends of the tubes.

Abstract: A breakaway transformer base for a lighting pole includes four upstanding corner members (preferably formed of aluminum castings), and four side sheets. Each side sheet is attached to two of the corner members, e.g., by welds or fasteners, thereby interconnecting the corner members. Each corner member forms bolt holes for enabling the base to be bolted to a lighting standard and to an anchored foundation.

Abstract: A frame for reinforcing a handhole of a round metallic utility pole, includes a generally elliptical body defining a major axis and a minor axis and forming a generally elliptical outer periphery, and a generally elliptical inner periphery bordering an opening extending through front and back sides of the body, the opening defining a center axis of the frame. A flange is formed integrally with the body and projects forwardly therefrom at a location spaced inwardly from the outer periphery, wherein the flange is separated from the outer periphery by a forwardly facing shoulder surface of the body. The flange includes an outer flank facing outwardly and intersecting the shoulder surface, wherein the flange outer flank forms an oblique angle with the center axis as seen in a sectional view taken along the major axis, and lies substantially parallel to the center axis as seen in a sectional view taken along the minor axis.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for performing peritoneal dialysis are provided. To this end, in part, a medical system is provided that includes (i) a liquid pump; (ii) tubing in communication with the liquid pump; and (iii) at least one processor that operates with the liquid pump to: (a) pump liquid through the tubing, the tubing having an end and a hydrophobic filter at the end, the filter allowing air but not the liquid to escape from the end of the tubing, (b) receive a signal indicating a pressure increase inside the tubing, and (c) cause the pumping to stop when air has been purged substantially from the tubing.