Abstract: A method and device that identify impairments of the blood flow in an extra-corporeal blood circuit during extracorporeal treatment of the blood using an extracorporeal haemodialysis device, where the phase angle of at least one harmonic oscillation of an oscillating pressure signal that propagates in the extracorporeal blood circuit is determined. Impairments of the blood flow are detected in the extracorporeal blood circuit based on a characteristic modification of the phase angle of at least one harmonic oscillation of the pressure signal. A temporal modification of the phase angle may be compared with a predefined threshold value and an impairment is detected if the value of the modification of the phase angle is greater than the predefined threshold value. The method and device permit an early identification of a coagulation of the blood that flows through the haemodialysis unit, so that countermeasures can be initiated promptly.

Abstract: A method and a device for recognition of paravasal bleeding upon a supplying of blood to a vascular access via a line and/or upon the removal of blood from a vascular access via a line is provided. A device for extracorporeal blood treatment comprising a device for recognition of paravasal bleeding is also provided. The method and the device are based on the change of arterial pressure in the arterial branch or the venous pressure in the venous branch of the extra-corporeal circuit being registered during the extracorporeal blood treatment. One aspect of the method and the device is that pressure changes that come from a pressure level exhibiting a large difference from a reference value are more strongly considered than those that come from a pressure level that exhibits only a minor difference from the reference value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and to a device for detecting the entry of air in a fluid system, in particular in an extracorporeal blood circuit of a blood treatment device comprising an arterial branch leading to the blood treatment unit and a venous branch leading from said blood treatment unit. Periodic fluctuations in the fluid system, in particular in the arterial tube, are measured upstream of the blood pump arranged in said arterial tube. The measured periodic pressure signal is analyzed spectrally in a system of functions, in particular a system of orthogonal functions, for example sine and cosine functions and the entry of air is deduced if at least one of the coefficients of the functions exceeds or falls below predefined threshold values.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the dialysate flow in a dialysis device. A change of the value of a control factor, caused by a variation of a property of the dialysate or of the blood or by a change of the dialysate flow, is determined in order to control the dialysate flow. The control factor is a measure for the exchange of substances via the dialyzer and thus the effectiveness of the dialyzer. If the change of the value of the control factor exceeds a limit, the dialysate flow is increased. On the other hand, the dialysate flow is reduced if the change of the value of the control factor falls short of the limit range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for regulating supply of substituate in an extracorporeal blood treatment with an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus comprising a dialyzer divided by a semipermeable membrane into a blood chamber and a dialyzing fluid chamber and a device for supplying substituate. Moreover, the present invention relates to an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus having a device for regulating supply of substituate. Regulation of supply of substituate in the extracorporeal blood treatment takes place as a function of the rheological loading of the dialyzer. To regulate supply of substituate during extracorporeal blood treatment, rheological loading of the dialyzer is determined from transmembrane pressure on the dialyzer and flow resistance of the dialyzer and substituate rate is increased or reduced according to the loading.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an extracorporeal blood treatment device comprising a treatment unit and a device for controlling the treatment unit for preparing and carrying out the blood treatment. The blood treatment device also comprises an internal communication unit for communicating with an external communication unit. In order to the prepare the device blood treatment, the patient sends an initiation code by means of an external communication unit to the internal communication device. Routines required for preparing the blood treatment are then started. One main advantage is that the patient, for example during home dialysis, does not need to be present when the device is preparing for dialysis and the dialysis preparation can be started when the patient thinks of returning home in time for the beginning of the preparation phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for inspecting filters for extracorporeal blood treatment devices, e.g., filters for filtering dialysis fluid. The inspection of the filter according to the present invention is based on the measurement of the flow potential before and after changing the fluid flow of an electrolytic fluid between a transversal flow through the semi-permeable membrane of the filter and a longitudinal flow along the semi-permeable membrane of the filter, or vice versa. Changing the flow direction of the electrolytic fluid results in a change to the conductivity proceeding from a base value P to a higher value P2 or a lower value P1, wherein the conductivity readjusts to the base value P after a certain time interval T1, T2. An improper state of the filter is determined on the basis of the change in conductivity after changing the flow direction of the electrolytic fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and to a method for monitoring access to vessels during extracorporeal blood treatment. The invention forms a loop in the arterial and/or venous line and provides device for fixing a section of the line in a loop. When the line is stressed under tension, the loop contracts and the line finally kinks. The modification of the diameter of the line and the formation of a kink in the line leads to a rise of pressure in the line, which is monitored by a pressure monitoring device. If the pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the aspirating cannula is in danger of slipping out of the vessel access or has partially or completely slipped out, thus allowing the threshold value to be determined for alarms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring a fluid system of an extracorporeal blood treatment device. In the method according to the present invention and the device according to the present invention, the pressure in a ventilation line branching off the venous drip chamber in the venous blood line is measured, a hydrophobic filter being disposed in the ventilation line. A fault in the fluid system is determined in the absence of pressure variations in the segment of the ventilation line remote from the venous drip chamber. The pressure variations in the ventilation line can be generated downstream of the hydrophobic filter by alternately ventilating the ventilation line that is closed downstream of the hydrophobic filter during blood treatment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for operating an electric peristaltic hose pump, in particular a hose pump for transporting fluids in medical-technical devices, in particular extracorporeal blood treatment devices. In order to monitor the regular operation of a hose pump, the power consumption of the pump or a physical variable in correlation with the power consumption, in particular the pump flow, is monitored. The pump flow includes a periodically non-altering direct component which is superimposed on a periodically altering alternating component. In order to monitor the regular operation of the hose pump, the alternating component of the power consumption in relation to the direct component of the power consumption is monitored as whether it increases and/or decreases during blood treatment.

Abstract: The invention further relates to an apparatus and method for monitoring a peristaltic hose pump, in particular a peristaltic hose pump of an extracorporeal blood treatment device. The power consumed by the pump and/or the pressure in the tubing segment upstream or downstream of the pump is/are measured during operation of the pump and test signals I1(t), I2(t) which are associated with the individual displacement members are determined. The power or pressure signals associated with the individual displacement members significantly differ from each other during abnormal operation of the hose pump, but no significant differences can be recognized during normal operation of the pump.

Abstract: A method and a device for recognition of paravasal bleeding upon a supplying of blood to a vascular access via a line and/or upon the removal of blood from a vascular access via a line, particularly paravasal bleeding during extra-corporeal blood treatment, such as for hemodialysis, hemofiltration or hemodiafiltration is provided. A device for extra-corporeal blood treatment, particularly for hemodialysis, hemofiltration or hemodiafiltration, comprising a device for recognition of paravasal bleeding is also provided. The method and the device are based on the change of arterial pressure in the arterial branch or the venous pressure in the venous branch of the extra-corporeal circuit being registered during the extra-corporeal blood treatment.

Abstract: A method and a hemodialysis machine provide for at least partial emptying of an extracorporeal blood circulation after patient blood in the circulation has been returned to the patient via an infusion liquid which displaces the blood. The method includes emptying at least a blood chamber of a hemodialyzer subdivided by a semipermeable membrane into the blood chamber and a dialysis fluid chamber without additionally connecting an arterial blood line and a venous blood line of the circulation to one another. The arterial blood line is actively or passively aerated at a first point and the venous blood line is actively or passively aerated at a second point. The infusion liquid is emptied through the membrane into the dialysis fluid chamber and then via a dialysis fluid discharge line. The method is operable by a control program that runs automatically without requiring any manual input after activation of the program.

Abstract: A device for the extracorporal blood treatment in a single-needle operating mode includes means for delivering blood into, and means for delivering blood out of means for collecting blood, and a controller for setting the respective delivery rates of the means for the delivery of blood. The operating mode of the means for delivering blood is continually switched between an arterial and a venous phase by the controller, wherein during the arterial phase the delivery rate Qb of the means for delivering blood is greater than the delivery rate Qsn of the means for delivering blood such that blood may be withdrawn from the patient during the arterial phase, and during the venous phase the delivery rate Qb is smaller than the delivery rate Qsn such that blood may be administered to the patient during the venous phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring a vascular access during an extracorporeal blood treatment. The method and the device according to the invention are based on the monitoring of the difference between the venous pressure measured by a venous pressure sensor and the arterial pressure measured by an arterial pressure sensor (in the extracorporeal blood circuit. According to the method and the device according to the invention, a test function describing disturbances in the extracorporeal blood circuit is determined. Said test function is used to determine a noise-free differential pressure from the measured venous and arterial pressure, said differential pressure being evaluated in an arithmetic and evaluation unit to identify a defective vascular access.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an extracorporeal blood treatment device comprising a treatment unit and a device for controlling the treatment unit for preparing and carrying out the blood treatment. The blood treatment device also comprises an internal communication unit for communicating with an external communication unit. In order to the prepare the device blood treatment, the patient sends an initiation code by means of an external communication unit to the internal communication device. Routines required for preparing the blood treatment are then started. One main advantage is that the patient, for example during home dialysis, does not need to be present when the device is preparing for dialysis and the dialysis preparation can be started when the patient thinks of returning home in time for the beginning of the preparation phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for checking and/or monitoring the correct operation of an adding device of a medical apparatus, wherein the medical apparatus includes an extracorporeal circuit with which the adding device is connected such that an agent can be introduced into the extracorporeal circuit by means of the adding device, the pressure loss in the extracorporeal circuit being measured and evaluated for checking and/or monitoring the correct operation of the adding device. In accordance with the invention, the adding device for this purpose generates an oscillating pressure course.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a hemodialysis machine for at least partial emptying of an extracorporeal blood circulation after the blood of a patient in the extracorporeal blood circulation has been returned to the patient with the help of an infusion liquid which displaces the blood and after the patient has been separated from the extracorporeal blood circulation. The object of the invention is to empty at least the blood chamber of a hemodialyzer (1) that is subdivided by a semipermeable membrane (2) into a blood chamber (3) and a dialysis fluid chamber (4) without additionally connecting the arterial blood line (5) and the venous blood line (7) of the extracorporeal blood circulation to one another.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring a blood treatment unit, subdivided by a semipermeable membrane into a blood chamber and a dialysis liquid chamber, of an extra-corporeal blood treatment device, which comprises an extra-corporeal blood circuit having an arterial branch leading to the blood chamber of the blood treatment unit, a venous branch, which extends away from the blood chamber, and a dialysis fluid system, in which the dialysis liquid chamber is arranged.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the filling of a metering apparatus of a therapy device having an extracorporeal circuit with which the metering apparatus is in communication such that an agent can be infused into the extracorporeal circuit during the operation of the therapy device by means of the metering device, with the method comprising the step of the dilution of a concentrate located in the metering apparatus, wherein the dilution of the concentrate located in the metering apparatus takes place in that the metering apparatus takes up the diluting agent from the extracorporeal circuit in the condition connected to the extracorporeal circuit.