Abstract: A system for performing a dialysis treatment includes a dialysis fluid machine; a disposable dialysis fluid carrying member operable with the dialysis fluid machine; and a venting filter provided by the disposable member, the venting filter positioned and arranged to be coupled along with the disposable member to the dialysis fluid machine to perform the dialysis treatment and to vent air from the disposable member.

Abstract: A method of operating a disposable pumping unit includes enabling the disposable pumping unit to be loaded into a peritoneal dialysis hardware unit between a door and a housing of the hardware unit; structuring the disposable pumping unit to have a fluid pump receptacle, the fluid pump receptacle constructed and arranged to extend from both surfaces of the unit so as to fit within a first opening provided in the door and a second opening provided in the housing of the hardware unit; and enabling the disposable pumping unit to be guided into the hardware unit such that the fluid pump receptacle becomes aligned with the opposing first and second openings when the door is closed against the housing.

Abstract: An embodiment of a peritoneal dialysis system includes a peritoneal dialysis hardware unit having a housing with a first opening, a door coupled to the housing and having a second opening, and a solid pump piston having a solid piston shaft attached to or integrally formed with a solid piston head. The system also includes a stepper motor operable to cause the solid pump piston to translate; a disposable pumping unit having a first and a second opposing surface, and a fluid pump receptacle extending from the first and second surface to fit within the second opening. The hardware unit and pumping unit are structured and arranged to allow the pumping unit to be placed into the hardware unit such that the fluid pump receptacle is aligned with the first opening, the second opening, and the solid piston head when the door is closed against the housing.

Abstract: A system for performing a dialysis treatment includes a dialysis fluid machine; a disposable dialysis fluid carrying member operable with the dialysis fluid machine; and a venting filter provided by the disposable member, the venting filter positioned and arranged to be coupled along with the disposable member to the dialysis fluid machine to perform the dialysis treatment and to vent air from the disposable member.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes a disposable cassette including a flexible sheet and a plurality of dialysis fluid pathways, a plurality of actuators operable with the flexible sheet to direct dialysis fluid through the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways, and a controller configured to (i) determine at least one limitation of the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways, (ii) generate a flow schedule indicating how dialysis fluid should be directed through the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways in accordance with the at least one limitation, and (iii) control the plurality of actuators so that dialysis fluid is pumped through the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways according to the flow schedule.

Abstract: An embodiment of a peritoneal dialysis system includes an enclosure, a door hingedly attached to the enclosure, a stepper motor housed by the enclosure, a solid pump piston in operable communication with the stepper motor and including a solid pump shaft attached to or integrally formed with a solid pump head, and a disposable unit contacting the enclosure and the door. The disposable unit includes a moveable membrane operable with the solid pump head. The stepper motor is configured to move the solid pump head towards and away from the disposable unit. The system further includes a position detection apparatus operable with the stepper motor and located to provide an output indicative of a position of the solid pump head relative to a reference position.

Abstract: An embodiment of a peritoneal dialysis system includes a peritoneal dialysis hardware unit having a housing with a first opening, a door coupled to the housing and having a second opening, and a solid pump piston having a solid piston shaft attached to or integrally formed with a solid piston head. The system also includes a stepper motor operable to cause the solid pump piston to translate; a disposable pumping unit having a first and a second opposing surface, and a fluid pump receptacle extending from the first and second surface to fit within the second opening. The hardware unit and pumping unit are structured and arranged to allow the pumping unit to be placed into the hardware unit such that the fluid pump receptacle is aligned with the first opening, the second opening, and the solid piston head when the door is closed against the housing.

Abstract: A method of operating a disposable pumping unit includes enabling the disposable pumping unit to be loaded into a peritoneal dialysis hardware unit between a door and a housing of the hardware unit; structuring the disposable pumping unit to have a fluid pump receptacle, the fluid pump receptacle constructed and arranged to extend from both surfaces of the unit so as to fit within a first opening provided in the door and a second opening provided in the housing of the hardware unit; and enabling the disposable pumping unit to be guided into the hardware unit such that the fluid pump receptacle becomes aligned with the opposing first and second openings when the door is closed against the housing.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes a disposable cassette including a flexible sheet and a plurality of dialysis fluid pathways, a plurality of actuators operable with the flexible sheet to direct dialysis fluid through the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways, and a controller configured to (i) determine at least one limitation of the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways, (ii) generate a flow schedule indicating how dialysis fluid should be directed through the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways in accordance with the at least one limitation, and (iii) control the plurality of actuators so that dialysis fluid is pumped through the plurality of dialysis fluid pathways according to the flow schedule.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes a disposable cassette including a flexible sheet; a hardware unit including (i) at least one pump actuator and piston head moved by the pump actuator, (ii) at least one valve actuator, (iii) at least one sensor, and (iv) a disposable cassette interface for interfacing with the disposable cassette, the disposable cassette interface including: (a) at least one pump aperture, the at least one piston head moveable out of and retractable into the at least one pump aperture to move a corresponding pumping portion of the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette, the piston head moving within a vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber enabling a vacuum to be pulled around the piston head to the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette; (b) at least one valve aperture, at least a portion of the at least one valve actuator located in the valve aperture to move a valve portion of the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette; and (c) at least one sensor aperture, the at least one sensor

Abstract: An embodiment of a peritoneal dialysis system includes a peritoneal dialysis hardware unit having a housing with a first opening, a door coupled to the housing and having a second opening, and a solid pump piston having a solid piston shaft attached to or integrally formed with a solid piston head. The system also includes a stepper motor operable to cause the solid pump piston to translate; a disposable pumping unit having a first and a second opposing surface, and a fluid pump receptacle extending from the first and second surface to fit within the second opening. The hardware unit and pumping unit are structured and arranged to allow the pumping unit to be placed into the hardware unit such that the fluid pump receptacle is aligned with the first opening, the second opening, and the solid piston head when the door is closed against the housing.

Abstract: An embodiment of a peritoneal dialysis system includes an enclosure, a door hingedly attached to the enclosure, a stepper motor housed by the enclosure, a solid pump piston in operable communication with the stepper motor and including a solid pump shaft attached to or integrally formed with a solid pump head, and a disposable unit contacting the enclosure and the door. The disposable unit includes a moveable membrane operable with the solid pump head. The stepper motor is configured to move the solid pump head towards and away from the disposable unit. The system further includes a position detection apparatus operable with the stepper motor and located to provide an output indicative of a position of the solid pump head relative to a reference position.

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 peritoneal dialysis system includes a disposable cassette including a flexible sheet; a hardware unit including (i) at least one pump actuator and piston head moved by the pump actuator, (ii) at least one valve actuator, (iii) at least one sensor, and (iv) a disposable cassette interface for interfacing with the disposable cassette, the disposable cassette interface including: (a) at least one pump aperture, the at least one piston head moveable out of and retractable into the at least one pump aperture to move a corresponding pumping portion of the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette, the piston head moving within a vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber enabling a vacuum to be pulled around the piston head to the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette; (b) at least one valve aperture, at least a portion of the at least one valve actuator located in the valve aperture to move a valve portion of the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette; and (c) at least one sensor aperture, the at least one sensor

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 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: Flow controllers are provided for interconnecting a fluid source to two separate collection zones. The flow controllers include a body having a fluid inlet communicating with the source and two fluid outlets, each communicating with one of the collection zones. An actuator member received within a cavity of the body includes first and second flow paths. In a first position, the first flow path is aligned with the fluid inlet of the body to allow fluid communication with one of the fluid outlets and the associated collection zone. The actuator member is non-rotationally moved to a second position within the cavity to align the second flow path with the fluid inlet of the body, thereby halting flow through the first flow path and allowing fluid communication with the other collection zone. An optional safety feature prevents movement of the actuator member from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods and apparatuses for medical fluid delivery systems that employ a pumping cassette. In particular, the present invention provides systems, methods and apparatuses for cassette-based dialysis therapies including hemodialysis, hemofiltration, APD (including tidal modalities) and CFPD. The embodiments described include a combined pump/valve housing, a fail safe pump/valve arrangement, a cassette auto-alignment feature, a pumping membrane material, a multiplexing valve arrangement, an expert fluid pumping management system, an integral port vent and an in-line air separation chamber and combinations of each of these.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for performing peritoneal dialysis are provided. To this end, in part, a frame of a disposable unit for a medical fluid system is provided. The frame includes a body having a pair of opposing sides and defining a space between the sides, and a number of membranes sealed to the body along the opposing sides. The body and the membranes form at least one medical fluid pathway in the space between the opposing sides, and the opposing sides are bowed.

Abstract: The present invention provides automated peritoneal dialysis systems, methods of operating the systems and devices for performing same. A typical therapy performed by the present invention begins by draining dialysis solution that is already in the patient's peritoneal cavity. The system pumps fresh dialysate from one of a plurality of supply bags, through an in-line heater to the patient's peritoneal cavity. After a dwell period, the spent dialysate in the cavity is pumped out of the patient to a drain or other disposal means. The system then pumps fresh dialysate from the supply bags to the patient and the procedure is repeated as defined in the therapy protocol. The system can pump a last bag of dialysate to the peritoneal cavity for an extended dwell, such as a daytime dwell.