Abstract: A hemodialysis system including (i) an instrument; (ii) first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps operated by the instrument; (iii) a cassette including a rigid structure and first and second dialysate pumping tubes carried by the rigid structure; and (iv) a mechanism configured to initially allow the cassette to be accepted by the dialysis instrument after which the mechanism engages the first and second dialysate pumping tubes for operation with the first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps.

Abstract: A hemodialysis system includes: (i) a dialyzer; (ii) a dialysate source; a dialysate pump; (iii) a dialysate cassette operatively connected to the dialysate pump such that the dialysate pump can pump dialysate through the dialysate cassette when the dialysate cassette is in fluid communication with the dialysate source, the dialysate cassette in fluid communication with the dialyzer; (iv) a blood pump; and (v) a blood cassette separate from the dialysate cassette, the blood cassette operatively connected to the blood pump such that the blood pump can pump blood through the blood cassette, the blood cassette including a housing, the housing including a from-patient tube connector, a to-patient tube connector, a saline/priming tube connector, a to-dialyzer tube connector, a from-dialyzer tube connector, and an internal air separation chamber.

Abstract: A hemodialysis system includes (i) a dialyzer; (ii) a blood pump; (iii) a blood cassette operatively connected to the dialyzer and the blood pump; (iv) a dialysate heater; (v) first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps; and (vi) a dialysate cassette separate from the blood cassette, the dialysate cassette including an organizer configured to support a drain tube, a to-dialyzer tube and a from-dialyzer tube, the cassette further including a first pumping tube, a second pumping tube and an inline fluid heating pathway, the cassette when mounted for operation orienting (a) the first pumping tube for operation with the first peristaltic dialysate pump, (b) the second pumping tube for operation with the second peristaltic dialysate pump and (c) the fluid heating pathway for operation with the dialysate heater.

Abstract: A hemodialysis system for operation with a blood source and a dialysate source, the system including: (i) a first machine portion including a blood pump; (ii) a blood cassette operatively connected to the blood pump such that the blood pump can pump blood through the blood cassette when the blood cassette is in fluid communication with the blood source; (iii) a dialyzer fluidly connected to the blood cassette; (iv) a second machine portion separate from the first machine portion, the second machine portion including a dialysate pump; and (v) a dialysate cassette separate from the blood cassette, the dialysate cassette operatively connected to the dialysate pump such that the dialysate pump can pump dialysate through the dialysate cassette when the dialysate cassette is in fluid communication with the dialysate source, the dialysate cassette being fluidly connected to the dialyzer.

Abstract: A kidney failure therapy system includes: (a) a dilaysate supply; (b) at least one valve actuator; (c) at least one pump actuator; and (d) a disposable unit including first and second flexible sheets sealed together for form: (i) at least one flow path configured to be placed in fluid communication with the dilaysate supply; and operable with the at least one valve actuator; and (ii) at least one pumping portion configured to operate with the at least one pump actuator.

Abstract: A renal therapy blood cleaning system includes: a blood filtering device in communication with an extracorporeal circuit; a first pump configured to pump fluid to the blood filtering device; a second pump configured to pump fluid from the blood filtering device; a balance chamber in fluid communication with first and second lines, the first and second lines in fluid communication with the first and second pumps, respectively, the balance chamber configured to exchange like volumes of fresh and spent fluid; a plurality of valves; and a control scheme programmed to operate the plurality of valves to enable spent fluid taken from the balancing chamber through one of the first and second lines to be recirculated to the balance chamber through the other of the first and second lines to compensate for a volume of fresh fluid delivered to the blood filtering device.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood system includes: an extracorporeal blood machine including an extracorporeal blood circuit; an access device enabling the extracorporeal blood circuit to be connected to a patient; first and second tube connecting members for connecting respectively to first and second tubes of the extracorporeal circuit; first and second electrodes held, at least in part, by the first and second tube connecting members so as to contact blood flowing through the extracorporeal blood circuit, the first and second electrodes enabling an electrical signal to be injected into the extracorporeal blood circuit; first and second contact members contacting the first and second electrodes respectively; and electronics coupled operably to the first and second contact members for applying the electrical signal, the signal used to monitor the access device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving medical fluid delivery systems, such as hemofiltration (“HF”) and hemodiafiltration (“HDF”) are provided. In first embodiments, systems and methods for selectively performing pre- and postdilution HF and HDF clearance modes is provided. In other embodiments, systems and methods for providing prime bolus and rinseback fluid volumes before, during and/or after HF and HDF therapies are provided. In further embodiments, improved systems and methods for removing ultrafiltrate from the patient are provided. Still further, improved filtration configurations and methods are provided.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood system includes: (i) an extracorporeal blood machine; an extracorporeal blood circuit coupled operably to the machine, the extracorporeal blood circuit including first and second blood lines, the blood lines configured to be in blood flow communication with a patient; (ii) an electrical loop including first and second electrodes placed in contact with blood flowing through the extracorporeal blood circuit; (iii) a device configured to inject an electrical signal into the blood circuit via the loop; and (iv) a third electrode placed in contact with blood flowing through the extracorporeal blood circuit, the third electrode configured to enable a change in an electrical value to be measured so that an access disconnection of the extracorporeal blood circuit from the patient can be measured.

Abstract: A system and method for balancing flows of renal replacement fluid is disclosed. The method uses pressure controls and pressure sensing devices to more precisely meter and balance the flow of fresh dialysate and spent dialysate. The balancing system may use one or two balancing devices, such as a balance tube, a tortuous path, or a balance chamber.

Abstract: A dialysis machine includes a dialysis instrument having a pump actuator and first and second valve actuators, and a disposable cassette operable with the dialysis instrument, the disposable cassette including a pump portion operable with the pump actuator, first and second valve chambers operable with the first and second valve actuators, the first and second valve chambers communicating fluidly with each other, at least the first valve chamber communicating fluidly with a compliance chamber, the compliance chamber negating a first backpressure due to a pneumatic closing pressure used to close the first valve chamber to help to ensure the pneumatic pressure applied to the first valve chamber will close the first valve chamber against a second backpressure from an existing closure of the second valve chamber.

Abstract: An air purging method includes: (a) detecting a low fluid level in a blood circuit indicating a high amount of air in the blood circuit; (b) stopping a blood pump; (c) closing a venous patient line; (d) opening a blood circuit air vent valve and a drain valve; and (e) running the blood pump to meter air through the air vent valve and the drain valve to a drain.

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 kidney failure treatment system includes: (i) a dialysate supply; (ii) a weighing device; a control container coupled operably to the weighing device; (iii) a diffusion membrane; (iv) a drain; first and second pumps; (v) a first fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the dialysate supply and the diffusion membrane, the first fluid conduit coupled operably to the first pump; (vi) a second fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the control container and the drain, the second fluid conduit coupled operably to the first pump; and (vii) a third fluid conduit coupled fluidly to the diffusion membrane and the control conduit, the third fluid conduit coupled operably to the second pump.

Abstract: A number of improvements relating to methods and apparatuses for kidney dialysis are disclosed. These include a method providing an apparatus for dialyzing to a consumer, with the apparatus including a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery system for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a dialyzer, and a user/machine interface having a touch screen to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the apparatus for use in dialysis and to enable a user though touching the indicium to effect a change in the parameter. The method also includes providing supplies that are useable with the apparatus to the consumer.

Abstract: A number of improvements relating to methods and apparatuses for kidney dialysis are disclosed.

Abstract: A kidney failure therapy system includes: (a) a dilaysate supply; (b) at least one valve actuator; (c) at least one pump actuator; and (d) a disposable unit including first and second flexible sheets sealed together for form: (i) at least one flow path configured to be placed in fluid communication with the dilaysate supply; and operable with the at least one valve actuator; and (ii) at least one pumping portion configured to operate with the at least one pump actuator.

Abstract: A number of improvements relating to methods and apparatuses for kidney dialysis are disclosed.

Abstract: A number of improvements relating to methods and apparatuses for kidney dialysis are disclosed. These include methods such as supplying a dialysis machine including a touch screen interface to a machine user and supplying to the machine user accessory devices to be used with the dialysis machine in operation.

Abstract: A fastening arrangement comprising a thread-forming lobular screw and a member defining a non-tapped pilot hole therein. The screw has a shaft and a head joined to a proximal end of the shaft, the shaft defining a plurality N of lobes circumferentially spaced about a central longitudinal axis of the shaft, a thread being formed on an outer surface of the shaft. The pilot hole comprises a central portion of a diameter intermediate the minor and major diameters of the screw thread, and a plurality N of circumferentially spaced cutouts extending radially out from the central portion. A plurality of longitudinally extending edges parallel to the axis of the screw are defined at junctures between the cutouts and central portion of the pilot hole. The screw thread forms a thread in the member beginning at the longitudinal edges of the pilot hole.