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 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 peritoneal dialysis system includes: a hardware unit including a piston having a contact surface, a pneumatic source for supplying a negative pressure, a stepper motor, a controller including a processor and memory programmed to control the pneumatic source and the stepper motor, and a video monitor operating with a touch screen for sending and receiving information to and from the controller; and a disposable unit including a moveable membrane positioned adjacent to the contact surface, the programmed processor and memory operable to (i) cause the pneumatic source to apply the negative pressure to the membrane so that the negative pressure moves the membrane to conform to a shape of the contact surface and (ii) control the stepper motor so that the membrane follows the piston as the piston is moved away from the disposable unit and moves with the piston as the piston is moved into the disposable unit.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes: a hardware unit including a piston having a contact surface, a pneumatic source for supplying a negative pressure, a stepper motor, a controller including a processor and memory programmed to control the pneumatic source and the stepper motor, and a video monitor operating with a touch screen for sending and receiving information to and from the controller; and a disposable unit including a moveable membrane positioned adjacent to the contact surface, the programmed processor and memory operable to (i) cause the pneumatic source to apply the negative pressure to the membrane so that the negative pressure moves the membrane to conform to a shape of the contact surface and (ii) control the stepper motor so that the membrane follows the piston as the piston is moved away from the disposable unit and moves with the piston as the piston is moved into the disposable unit.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes a hardware unit including a piston having a contact surface and a stepper motor configured to move the piston; and a disposable unit received by the hardware unit, the disposable unit including a moveable membrane operable with the contact surface of the piston, the piston moveable towards and away from the disposable unit, wherein (i) the piston and the membrane are positioned relative to each other and (ii) the hardware unit is configured to apply a negative pressure to the moveable membrane of the disposable unit so that the negative pressure causes the moveable membrane to contact and conform to a shape of the contact surface and to follow the piston as the piston is moved away from the disposable unit by the stepper motor, and wherein the shape-contacted membrane moves with the piston as the piston is moved into the disposable unit by the stepper motor.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes a hardware unit including a piston having a contact surface and a stepper motor configured to move the piston; and a disposable unit received by the hardware unit, the disposable unit including a moveable membrane operable with the contact surface of the piston, the piston moveable towards and away from the disposable unit, wherein (i) the piston and the membrane are positioned relative to each other and (ii) the hardware unit is configured to apply a negative pressure to the moveable membrane of the disposable unit so that the negative pressure causes the moveable membrane to contact and conform to a shape of the contact surface and to follow the piston as the piston is moved away from the disposable unit by the stepper motor, and wherein the shape-contacted membrane moves with the piston as the piston is moved into the disposable unit by the stepper motor.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes: (i) a hardware unit, the hardware unit including a pump actuator; (ii) a disposable unit received by the hardware unit, the disposable unit having a moveable membrane operable with the pump actuator, the pump actuator moveable towards and away from the disposable unit; and (iii) the hardware unit and disposable unit configured to hold a negative pressure between the pump actuator and the moveable membrane of the disposable unit, the negative pressure causing the moveable membrane to follow the pump actuator as the actuator is moved away from the disposable unit, the pump actuator and membrane positioned relative to each other such that the membrane moves with the pump actuator as the actuator is moved into the disposable unit.

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 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 peritoneal dialysis system includes: (i) a hardware unit, the hardware unit including a pump actuator; (ii) a disposable unit received by the hardware unit, the disposable unit having a moveable membrane operable with the pump actuator, the pump actuator moveable towards and away from the disposable unit; and (iii) the hardware unit and disposable unit configured to hold a negative pressure between the pump actuator and the moveable membrane of the disposable unit, the negative pressure causing the moveable membrane to follow the pump actuator as the actuator is moved away from the disposable unit, the pump actuator and membrane positioned relative to each other such that the membrane moves with the pump actuator as the actuator is moved into the disposable unit.

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.

Abstract: A fluid volumetric pumping system has a fluid pump and capacitor plates disposed around a pump chamber of the fluid pump. The capacitance between the capacitor plates changes as the volume of fluid in the pump chamber changes. An electrical circuit measures a change in the capacitance between the plates and outputs a signal indicative of the volume of fluid in the pump chamber. The pump having the capacitance sensor of the present invention fluidly connects to a patient. In an embodiment, a peritoneal dialysis system provides dialysate to the patient via the pump, and the capacitance sensor measures the volume of dialysate supplied to and drained from a peritoneal cavity of the patient.

Abstract: Improved cassette-based medical fluid therapy systems, apparatuses and methods are provided. In one aspect, various peristaltic pump tubing materials are provided. Cassette and membrane materials, configurations and manufacturing improvements are provided. Various aspects of the invention include: a head height sensing and compensating method and apparatus; an admixing method and apparatus; a pH measuring method and apparatus; an air detecting and removal methods and apparatuses; an active priming apparatus and method; and a volumetric accuracy improvement apparatus and method.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for performing peritoneal dialysis are provided. To this end, in part, a method of controlling pressure in a medical fluid pump is provided. The method includes the steps of controlling a pump member acceleration during a first portion of a pump stroke and adaptively changing the pump member velocity during a second portion of the pump stroke.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for performing peritoneal dialysis are provided. To this end, in part, a method of controlling pressure in a medical fluid pump is provided. The method includes the steps of controlling a pump member acceleration during a first portion of a pump stroke and adaptively changing the pump member velocity during a second portion of the pump stroke.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for performing peritoneal dialysis are provided. To this end, in part, a peritoneal dialysis apparatus is provided that includes a body provided with an operating portion and a display, a mounting portion provided on the body for detachably mounting a cassette, a pumping actuating device for setting a diaphragm in a positive and negative pressure state to distribute fluid from the dialysis fluid container to the drained fluid container, and a heater for heating an amount of dialysis fluid. The apparatus further includes a flow path switching device for opening/closing a flow path switching portion in order to form a flow path through which the heated dialysis fluid is distributed into and drained from a peritoneal cavity of a patient, and a controller for controlling operation of the operating portion, the display, the pumping actuating device, the heater, and the flow path switching device.

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.

Abstract: A fluid volumetric pumping system has a fluid pump and capacitor plates disposed around a pump chamber of the fluid pump. The capacitance between the capacitor plates changes as the volume of fluid in the pump chamber changes. An electrical circuit measures a change in the capacitance between the plates and outputs a signal indicative of the volume of fluid in the pump chamber. The pump having the capacitance sensor of the present invention fluidly connects to a patient. In an embodiment, a peritoneal dialysis system provides dialysate to the patient via the pump, and the capacitance sensor measures the volume of dialysate supplied to and drained from a peritoneal cavity of the patient.