Abstract: An access disconnection system includes: an arterial line; a venous line; a transmitter configured to transmit a sound wave in one of the arterial and venous lines when connected to a patient; a receiver configured to receive the sound wave from the other of the arterial and venous lines when connected to the patient; and electronic circuitry coupled to at least one of the transmitter and receiver, the circuitry configured to send a disconnection output indicative of a change in the sound waves received by the receiver from the transmitter sufficient to expect that an access disconnection of one of the arterial line and venous lines has occurred.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a sound card or an internal capability for generating sounds from a digital music or sound file. The medical instrument is one which generates unwanted noise and is constantly in the presence of a patient or an operator, and may be in a home, a clinic, a laboratory, or other intimate setting. For instance, a patient may be typically connected for hours to a hemodialysis machine that has a noisy pump. A blood-plasma volunteer may be hooked to a noisy blood separation machine for a period of time. A laboratory technician may work in close proximity to a sample preparation machine that constantly gurgles and whirrs. In each instance, a sound card and a speaker can generate previously-recorded masking noises that make that the presence and operation of the machine more tolerable.

Abstract: An access disconnection system includes a blood treatment machine including a housing, an access site detection housing separate from the blood treatment machine housing, a transmitter positioned in the access site housing and configured to transmit an ultrasound wave into a blood stream of a patient, a receiver positioned in the access site housing and configured to receive a reflection of the ultrasound wave from the blood stream of the patient; and electronic circuitry in communication with the transmitter and the receiver. The electronic circuitry is supported by the access site detection housing, and the transmitter is configured to send a wireless disconnection output to the blood treatment machine. The disconnection output is indicative of a change in the reflected ultrasound wave received by the receiver sufficient to expect that an access disconnection of one of the arterial line and the venous line has occurred.

Abstract: A method of performing peritoneal dialysis includes: (i) locating a supply of fresh dialysis fluid above a patient's peritoneal cavity; (ii) locating a drain or a drain container below the patient's peritoneal cavity; (iii) connecting a supply line to the supply of fresh dialysis fluid and the patient's peritoneal cavity; (iv) connecting a drain line to the patient's peritoneal cavity and the drain or drain container; (v) pneumatically opening a supply line valve during a fill cycle; (vi) gravity filling the patient's peritoneal cavity with the supply line valve open during the fill cycle; (vii) pneumatically opening a drain line valve during a drain cycle; and (viii) draining the patient's peritoneal cavity with the drain line valve open during the drain cycle.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis machine including a membrane pump and a touch screen display that includes a mode-indicating portion and an operation-descriptive portion, the mode-indicating portion having a plurality of touch sensitive indicia each indicating one of a plurality of modes in which the machine can operate, the display being used to keep a patient continually informed of which one mode of at least three operating modes the machine is operating in, as the operation-descriptive portion changes to display details of a specific operation being carried out within the one mode, the indicia for each of the three operating modes always being visible to the patient while the machine is operating, the operating mode being selected by the patient touching one of the indicia on the screen.

Abstract: An access disconnection system includes a blood treatment machine including a housing, an access site detection housing separate from the blood treatment machine housing, a transmitter positioned in the access site housing and configured to transmit an ultrasound wave into a blood stream of a patient, a receiver positioned in the access site housing and configured to receive a reflection of the ultrasound wave from the blood stream of the patient; and electronic circuitry in communication with the transmitter and the receiver. The electronic circuitry is supported by the access site detection housing, and the transmitter is configured to send a wireless disconnection output to the blood treatment machine. The disconnection output is indicative of a change in the reflected ultrasound wave received by the receiver sufficient to expect that an access disconnection of one of the arterial line and the venous line has occurred.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes: an enclosure including an actuation surface and a door; a stepper motor housed by the enclosure; a pump head and a solid pump piston structurally linking the pump head to the stepper motor; and a disposable unit accepted by the enclosure, the disposable unit including a flexible membrane attached to a rigid piece, the actuation surface of the enclosure and the disposable unit so configured and arranged that when the stepper motor turns and consequently translates the solid pump piston and the pump head towards the door, the pump head physically contacts and stretches the membrane from a relaxed position to a stretched position, and when the stepper motor turns and consequently translates the solid pump piston and the pump head away from the door, the membrane follows the pump head and transitions from the stretched position to the relaxed position.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis machine includes: (i) a housing; (ii) an actuator carried by the housing so as to be able to interact with a peritoneal dialysis fluid carrying disposable; (iii) at least one heating element carried by the housing; (iv) a heater pan providing an upper surface of the housing, the heater pan cooperating with the at least one heater element to provide heat to a container of peritoneal dialysis fluid placed onto the heater pan, the container being part of or in communication with the peritoneal dialysis fluid carrying disposable; and (iv) a weight sensor cooperating with the heater pan to sense the weight of the peritoneal dialysis fluid located within the container.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis machine including a membrane pump and a touch screen display that includes a mode-indicating portion and an operation-descriptive portion, the mode-indicating portion having a plurality of touch sensitive indicia each indicating one of a plurality of modes in which the machine can operate, the display being used to keep a patient continually informed of which one mode of at least three operating modes the machine is operating in, as the operation-descriptive portion changes to display details of a specific operation being carried out within the one mode, the indicia for each of the three operating modes always being visible to the patient while the machine is operating, the operating mode being selected by the patient touching one of the indicia on the screen.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis machine including a membrane pump and a touch screen display that includes a mode-indicating portion and an operation-descriptive portion, the mode-indicating portion having a plurality of touch sensitive indicia each indicating one of a plurality of modes in which the machine can operate, the display being used to keep a patient continually informed of which one mode of at least three operating modes the machine is operating in, as the operation-descriptive portion changes to display details of a specific operation being carried out within the one mode, the indicia for each of the three operating modes always being visible to the patient while the machine is operating, the operating mode being selected by the patient touching one of the indicia on the screen.

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 machine includes: (i) a housing; (ii) an actuator carried by the housing so as to be able to interact with a peritoneal dialysis fluid carrying disposable; (iii) at least one heating element carried by the housing; (iv) a heater pan providing an upper surface of the housing, the heater pan cooperating with the at least one heater element to provide heat to a container of peritoneal dialysis fluid placed onto the heater pan, the container being part of or in communication with the peritoneal dialysis fluid carrying disposable; and (iv) a weight sensor cooperating with the heater pan to sense the weight of the peritoneal dialysis fluid located within the container.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis machine includes: (i) a supply bag; (ii) an apparatus configured to support the supply bag, the supply bag located above the peritoneal cavity of a patient; (iii) a vacuum source; (iv) a patient line configured to be connected to the patient; (v) a drain line configured to be connected to a drain; and (vi) a logic implementor configured to enable (a) fresh dialysate to be gravity fed from the supply bag through the patient line to the peritoneal cavity during a fill cycle and (b) the vacuum source to cause spent dialysate to be pulled from the peritoneal cavity through the drain line to the drain during a drain cycle.

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 machine including a membrane pump and a touch screen display that includes a mode-indicating portion and an operation-descriptive portion, the mode-indicating portion having a plurality of touch sensitive indicia each indicating one of a plurality of modes in which the machine can operate, the display being used to keep a patient continually informed of which one mode of at least three operating modes the machine is operating in, as the operation-descriptive portion changes to display details of a specific operation being carried out within the one mode, the indicia for each of the three operating modes always being visible to the patient while the machine is operating, the operating mode being selected by the patient touching one of the indicia on the screen.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes a hardware unit including a piston and at least one vacuum source; a door connected to the hardware unit, the door including a cavity, the cavity having a diameter; the hardware unit further including a structure positioned opposite the door, the structure defining an aperture; a disposable unit including first and second fluid receiving membranes, the disposable unit disposed between the structure and the door; the at least one vacuum source operable to apply a vacuum to at least one of the first and second membranes of the disposable unit; the piston, at least a portion of which moves through the aperture, in operation contacting one of the membranes, the piston including a piston head having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cavity in the door; and a dialysis fluid opening enabling dialysis fluid to be pulled in between the first and second membranes.

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 machine including a membrane pump and a touch screen display that includes a mode-indicating portion and an operation-descriptive portion, the mode-indicating portion having a plurality of touch sensitive indicia each indicating one of a plurality of modes in which the machine can operate, the display being used to keep a patient continually informed of which one mode of at least three operating modes the machine is operating in, as the operation-descriptive portion changes to display details of a specific operation being carried out within the one mode, the indicia for each of the three operating modes always being visible to the patient while the machine is operating, the operating mode being selected by the patient touching one of the indicia on the screen.

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 and at least one vacuum source; a door connected to the hardware unit, the door including a cavity, the cavity having a diameter; the hardware unit further including a structure positioned opposite the door, the structure defining an aperture; a disposable unit including first and second fluid receiving membranes, the disposable unit disposed between the structure and the door; the at least one vacuum source operable to apply a vacuum to at least one of the first and second membranes of the disposable unit; the piston, at least a portion of which moves through the aperture, in operation contacting one of the membranes, the piston including a piston head having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cavity in the door; and a dialysis fluid opening enabling dialysis fluid to be pulled in between the first and second membranes.