Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes: a drain container; a drain line placed in fluid communication with the drain container and configured to be placed in fluid communication with a patient's peritoneal cavity; a vacuum source configured to apply a pneumatic force to cause used dialysis fluid to flow through the drain line from the patient's peritoneal cavity to the drain container; a weight sensor configured to output a weight of used dialysis fluid delivered to the drain container from the patient's peritoneal cavity; and a controller configured to: (i) determine an actual flow rate of used dialysis fluid removed from the patient's peritoneal cavity based on the output from the weight sensor; (ii) compare the actual flow rate to a desired flow rate; and (iii) adjust the pneumatic force applied by the vacuum source to attempt to match the actual flow rate to the optimal flow rate.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes: a drain container; a drain line placed in fluid communication with the drain container and configured to be placed in fluid communication with a patient's peritoneal cavity; a vacuum source configured to apply a pneumatic force to cause used dialysis fluid to flow through the drain line from the patient's peritoneal cavity to the drain container; a weight sensor configured to output a weight of used dialysis fluid delivered to the drain container from the patient's peritoneal cavity; and a controller configured to: (i) determine an actual flow rate of used dialysis fluid removed from the patient's peritoneal cavity based on the output from the weight sensor; (ii) compare the actual flow rate to a desired flow rate; and (iii) adjust the pneumatic force applied by the vacuum source to attempt to match the actual flow rate to the optimal flow rate.

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 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 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 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 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 dialysis system and a method for automatically priming a dialyzer are provided. The priming of the dialyzer is accomplished in two steps; namely, the use of a blood pump to prime a dialyzer followed by the use of the blood pump and a dialysate pump to prime the dialyzer. The dialysis system filters a fluid through an extracorporeal circuit, a balanced flow loop and a dialysate loop which is connected to the dialyzer. The dialysis system and method may prevent air or air bubbles from entering the blood stream of a patient during dialysmis. Moreover, the dialysis system may be, for example, a hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis system.