Abstract: A disposable set and system for dialysis are disclosed. An example peritoneal dialysis system includes an automated peritoneal dialysis (“APD”) machine comprising a pumping mechanism and a peritoneal dialysis fluid heater. The example peritoneal dialysis system also includes a disposable set comprising a disposable cassette operable with the pumping mechanism and a heater bag operable with the heater. The example peritoneal dialysis system additionally includes a conductivity sensor positioned and arranged to provide feedback to the APD machine. The example APD machine is configured to mix a peritoneal dialysis fluid for treatment in the heater bag using a plurality of peritoneal dialysis constituent fluids. In addition, the example APD machine is configured to use feedback from the conductivity sensor to evaluate the mixed peritoneal dialysis fluid for treatment.

Abstract: A sterilization container for sterilizing at least one surgical instrument. The container includes at least one sensor for measuring an environmental characteristic of the container during the sterilization of the instrument. The measure of the environmental characteristic is supplied to a processor. The processor compares the measurement of the container environment to a validated measurement for the sterilization process. If the measured environmental characteristic is at least equal to the validated sterilization process measurement, the processor presents an indication that the surgical instruments was properly sterilized.

Abstract: A dialysis system is disclosed including an autoconnection mechanism. The autoconnection mechanism in an embodiment is configured such that (i) a tip protector remover is translated in a first direction towards a plurality of supply line connectors, (ii) the tip protector remover is locked to each of a plurality of supply line tip protectors connected to the plurality of supply line connectors, (iii) the tip protector remover is translated in a second direction away from the plurality of supply line connectors to remove the plurality of supply line tip protectors from the supply line connectors, the tip protector remover is translated in a third direction different from the first and second directions, and (v) solution line connectors are translated towards the supply line connectors to connect each of the solution line connectors to one of the supply line connectors.

Abstract: A system and method for pairing a dialysis machine with peripheral devices are disclosed. An example system includes first and second memory devices, a first dialysis machine including a first memory device port configured to be connectable to the first memory device, and a second dialysis machine including a second memory device port configured to be connectable to the second memory device. The system also includes an intermediate data transfer unit including a port configured to connect to the first and the second memory devices to enable data transfer with the respective dialysis machines. The intermediate data transfer unit is configured to receive data from a weight sensor, a blood pressure sensor, or a remote exchange device for a patient and store the data to the first or second memory device to communicate the data to the respective first or second dialysis machine.

Abstract: A hemodialysis system configured to purge air from a blood circuit comprises a dialyzer; a dialysis fluid circuit operable with the dialyzer via dialysis fluid inlet and outlet lines, the dialysis fluid circuit including a fresh dialysis fluid pump, and a used dialysis fluid pump; the blood circuit operable with the dialyzer and including an arterial line, a venous line, a blood pump operable with the arterial line upstream of the dialyzer, a physiologically acceptable fluid source in fluid communication with the arterial line upstream of the blood pump, a drip chamber located along the venous line, and a container for accepting air purged from the blood circuit; and an air purging scheme wherein, with the dialysis fluid inlet and outlet lines connected to the dialyzer, the blood pump pumps a fluid through the dialyzer and into the drip chamber, forcing air from the drip chamber into the container.

Abstract: A hemodialysis system configured to purge air from a blood circuit comprising: a dialyzer; a dialysis fluid circuit operable with the dialyzer via dialysis fluid inlet and outlet lines; the blood circuit operable with the dialyzer and including an arterial line, a venous line, a blood pump operable with the arterial line upstream of the dialyzer, and a physiologically acceptable fluid source in fluid communication with the arterial line upstream of the blood pump; and an air purging scheme wherein, with the dialysis fluid inlet and outlet lines connected to the dialyzer, air is purged using dialysis fluid or other physiologically acceptable fluid pumped by at least one of the fresh or used dialysis fluid pumps from the dialysis fluid circuit, through the dialyzer, into the blood circuit, in combination with dialysis fluid or other physiologically acceptable fluid from the source introduced directly into the blood circuit.

Abstract: A dialysis method includes: receiving at least one of blood pressure data from a blood pressure monitor or patient weight data from a weight scale at a dialysis machine at least one of (i) before or (ii) after each treatment performed by the dialysis machine; generating ultrafiltration (“UF”) removed data over a treatment performed by the dialysis machine; sending the UF removed data and at least one of the blood pressure data or the patient weight data to a server; determining at least one of a UF trend, a blood pressure trend or a patient weight trend from the UF removed data, the blood pressure data or the patient weight data, respectively; and displaying at least one of the UF trend, the blood pressure trend or the patient weight trend so that a therapy adjustment can be made if necessary.

Abstract: A dialysis system including a disposable fluid pumping cassette including at least one flexible membrane attached to a housing and at least one port extending from the housing, the at least one port including a spike; at least one dialysis fluid supply in fluid communication with at least one tubing and tubing connector; an autoconnection device including a shuttle for moving the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port, the autoconnection device including at least one lead screw in mechanical communication with the shuttle, a motor and power transmission equipment to transmit power from the motor to the at least one lead screw; and a controller programmed to operate the motor to move the at least one tubing and tubing connector towards the spike of the at least one port of the disposable fluid pumping cassette.

Abstract: A hemodialysis system includes a blood treatment machine, a blood pump housed by the blood treatment machine, a first dialysate pump housed by the blood treatment machine, a second dialysate pump housed by the blood treatment machine; and a fluid cassette including an upper portion and a lower portion. The fluid cassette further includes a blood pumping tube extending from the upper portion to the lower portion of the fluid cassette, a first dialysate pumping tube extending from the upper portion to the lower portion of the fluid cassette, and a second dialysate pumping tube extending from the upper portion to the lower portion of the fluid cassette.

Abstract: An example renal therapy system includes a blood pressure monitor configured to output blood pressure data concerning a patient and a renal therapy machine communicatively coupled to the blood pressure monitor. The renal therapy machine is configured to generate ultrafiltration (“UF”) removed data from a prescribed renal therapy treatment performed by the renal therapy machine on the patient, and transmit the UF removed data and the blood pressure data via a network. At least one of a UF trend or a blood pressure trend from the UF removed data or the blood pressure data is determined, enabling a further determination as to at least one of (a) whether a prescribed renal therapy treatment adjustment or a new prescribed renal therapy treatment needs to be made, (b) whether the patient is complying with the prescribed renal therapy treatment, or (c) whether a condition related to an alarm or an alert exists.

Abstract: An example dialysis system includes a dialysis machine and a receiver coded with at least one of an address or a personal identification number (“PIN”). The dialysis machine is configured to perform a prescribed dialysis treatment on a patient, generate ultrafiltration (“UF”) removed data over the prescribed dialysis treatment performed by the dialysis machine, and transmit the UF removed data. The example receiver is configured to receive sensor data from a sensor attached to the patient. The at least one coded address or PIN ensures that the sensor data is received by the receiver as opposed to another receiver.

Abstract: A sterilization container for sterilizing at least one surgical instrument. The container includes at least one sensor for measuring an environmental characteristic of the container during the sterilization of the instrument. The measure of the environmental characteristic is supplied to a processor. The processor compares the measurement of the container environment to a validated measurement for the sterilization process. If the measured environmental characteristic is at least equal to the validated sterilization process measurement, the processor presents an indication that the surgical instruments was properly sterilized.

Abstract: A renal failure therapy machine includes a blood cleaning filter, a dialysis fluid circuit including a balance chamber, the balance chamber including a fresh dialysis fluid compartment configured to send fresh dialysis fluid to the blood cleaning filter and a used dialysis fluid compartment configured to receive used dialysis fluid from the blood cleaning filter, a fresh dialysis fluid line in fluid communication with the fresh dialysis fluid compartment of the balance chamber and the blood cleaning filter, and a flow restrictor in fluid communication with the blood cleaning filter, the flow restrictor configured to cause fresh dialysis fluid delivered from the fresh dialysis fluid compartment, through the fresh dialysis fluid line, to the blood cleaning filter to be pressurized so that a first amount of the fresh dialysis fluid performs convective clearance and a second amount of the fresh dialysis fluid performs diffusive clearance.

Abstract: A method for priming a hemodialysis treatment includes: providing a disposable cassette including at least a portion of a dialysate circuit and at least a portion of a blood circuit; placing a dialyzer in fluid communication with the dialysate circuit via a to-dialyzer dialysate line and a from-dialyzer dialysate line; placing the dialyzer in fluid communication with the blood circuit via an arterial blood line and a venous blood line; placing a source of dialysis fluid in fluid communication with the dialyzer; priming the dialysate circuit with dialysis fluid from the source while both the to-dialyzer dialysate line and the from-dialyzer dialysate line are connected at their dialyzer ends to the dialyzer; and priming the blood circuit with dialysis fluid from the source by actuating at least one valve provided by the disposable cassette.

Abstract: An example peritoneal dialysis system is disclosed. The example peritoneal dialysis system includes an automated peritoneal dialysis (“APD”) machine comprising a pumping mechanism and a peritoneal dialysis fluid heater. The example peritoneal dialysis system also includes a disposable set comprising a disposable cassette operable with the pumping mechanism and a heater bag operable with the heater. The example peritoneal dialysis system additionally includes a conductivity sensor positioned and arranged to provide feedback to the APD machine. The example APD machine is configured to mix a peritoneal dialysis fluid for treatment in the heater bag using a plurality of peritoneal dialysis constituent fluids. In addition, the example APD machine is configured to use feedback from the conductivity sensor to evaluate the mixed peritoneal dialysis fluid for treatment.

Abstract: A dialysis system is disclosed. The example dialysis system includes a housing, a pump actuator housed by the housing, a fluid pumping cassette coupled operably to the housing and including a flexible membrane covering a pump chamber, and a mechanically actuated piston head provided by the pump actuator and positioned to extend towards and away from the fluid pumping cassette. The fluid pumping cassette is positioned such that the flexible membrane of the fluid pumping cassette faces the piston head so that the piston head can push the flexible membrane into the pump chamber of the fluid pumping cassette to expel a fluid from the pump chamber. The example dialysis system also includes a controller programmed to perform a leak test by monitoring a sensed position of the mechanically actuated piston head while the mechanically actuated piston head applies a force to the flexible membrane of the fluid pumping cassette.

Abstract: A hemodiafiltration system with a disposable pumping unit is disclosed. An example system includes a medical fluid pump actuator, a medical fluid heater, a blood filter and a disposable unit. The example disposable unit includes a medical fluid cassette portion including a medical fluid cassette housing configured to be operatively connected to the medical fluid pump actuator to pump medical fluid through the medical fluid cassette portion when the medical fluid cassette portion is in fluid communication with a medical fluid source. The example medical fluid cassette portion is also configured to be placed in fluid communication with the blood filter and with an extracorporeal circuit communicating with the blood filter, the fluid communication enabling hemodiafiltration to be performed. The example disposable unit also includes a heater bag configured to be placed in operable communication with the medical fluid heater and in fluid communication with the medical fluid cassette portion.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes an on-line dialysate generator, a first dialysate pump in fluid communication with the on-line dialysate generator, and a second dialysate pump in fluid communication with the on-line dialysate generator. The dialysis system also includes a dialyzer in fluid communication with the first and second dialysate pumps. The dialysis system further includes a first valve located between the first dialysate pump and the dialyzer and a second valve located between the second dialysate pump and the dialyzer. The dialysis system is configured to alternate pumping of dialysate from the first and second dialysate pumps to the dialyzer using the first and second valves.

Abstract: A disposable cassette and system for dialysis are disclosed. An example disposable cassette includes a rigid portion, a fluid source inlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with a fluid source, and a fluid pumping receptacle placed in fluid communication with the fluid source inlet. The fluid pumping receptacle is configured to operate with a fluid pump actuator to pump fluid from the fluid source. The example disposable cassette also includes a dampening chamber formed as part of the rigid portion and in fluid communication with the fluid pumping receptacle. The dampening chamber is sized and arranged to reduce pressure fluctuations in the fluid delivered from the fluid pumping receptacle. The example disposable cassette further includes an outlet in fluid communication with the dampening chamber. The outlet provides dialysis fluid for a dialysis treatment.

Abstract: A renal therapy system with cassette-based blood and dialysate pumping is disclosed. An example system includes a blood pump actuator, a dialysis fluid pump actuator, a dialysis fluid heater, a dialyzer, and a disposable unit. The example disposable unit includes a blood cassette portion configured to be operatively connected to the blood pump actuator to pump blood through the blood cassette portion. The example disposable unit also includes a dialysis fluid cassette portion, separate from the blood cassette portion, configured to be operatively connected to the dialysis fluid pump actuator to pump dialysis fluid through the dialysis fluid cassette portion. The blood cassette portion and the dialysis fluid cassette portion are both in fluid communication with the dialyzer. The example disposable unit also includes a heater bag configured to be placed in operable communication with the dialysis fluid heater and in fluid communication with the dialysis fluid cassette portion.