Abstract: An apparatus for performing blood therapy having a plurality of pumps for engaging blood and fluid tubing is characterized by a plurality of manually mounted and disengagable panels installed on the sides of the apparatus housing, the panels having pump engaging tubing mounted on the inside of the respective panels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lysis, binding and/or wash reagent for isolating and/or purifying nucleic acids and a method for isolating and/or purifying nucleic acids.

Abstract: This document provides devices, systems, and methods for delivering fluids. In some cases, the devices, systems, and methods include a deformable reservoir being at least partially defined by rigid plastically-deformable web. An actuator can press against said rigid plastically-deformable web to plastically deform said web. In some cases, a controller is adapted to receive a cartridge including a deformable reservoir and control the pressing of an actuator against a rigid plastically-deformable web to deliver fluid from the deformable reservoir.

Abstract: Methods for monitoring patient parameters and blood fluid removal system parameters include identifying those system parameters that result in improved patient parameters or in worsened patent parameters. By comparing the patient's current parameters to past parameters in response to system parameters or changes in system parameters, a blood fluid removal system may be able to avoid future use of parameters that may harm the patient and may be able to learn which parameters are likely to be most effective in treating the patient in a blood fluid removal session.

Abstract: A separation membrane includes a membrane comprising a polymer, characterized in that a functional layer is formed on the surface in one side of the membrane, the peak area percentage of carbon derived from ester group measured by the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) on the surface of the preceding functional layer is 0.1% (by atomic number) or more but not more than 10 (% by atomic number), and the peak area percentage of carbon derived from ester group measured by the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) on the surface opposite to the functional layer is not more than 10 (% by atomic number). A separation membrane module suffering from little sticking of organic matters, proteins, platelets and so on is provided with the separation membrane as a built-in membrane.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including a plurality of islets, and a hydrogel configured to macroencapsulate the plurality of islets. The hydrogel is implantable in a subcapsular space (21) of a kidney (22) of a subject and is shaped to define a planar configuration. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A method of treating blood withdrawn from patient including: simultaneously withdrawing blood and infusing withdrawn blood from and to the patient by flowing the withdrawn blood through an extracorporeal dialysis circuit including a dialyzer having a semi-permeable dialysis membrane and a dialysate side adjacent the membrane; feeding a dialysate containing 1 to 5 mM total calcium and 2 to 8 mM citrate to the dialysate side of the dialyzer, and introducing an anticoagulation fluid including at least 8 mM citrate into the arterial blood line.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes an extracorporeal circuit, a dialysis fluid circuit including first and second balance chambers, a fresh dialysis fluid pump in fluid communication with first and second fresh compartments of the first and second balance chambers, respectively. The first and second fresh compartments are in fluid communication with a fresh dialysate fluid inlet of the dialyzer, and a used dialysis fluid pump is in fluid communication with first and second spent compartments of the first and second balance chambers, respectively. The system is configured to run a blood rinseback sequence in which (i) at least one of the fresh used dialysis fluid pumps is operated to pump dialysis fluid through the dialyzer and into the extracorporeal circuit and (ii) the blood pump is operated to push blood back to a patient connected to the extracorporeal circuit.

Abstract: A washer press apparatus for washing and dewatering a wide range of solids concentrations of pulp in liquid suspensions includes multiple distinct displacement wash zones about a drum with multiple nips.

Abstract: A method for filtering blood including: withdrawing blood from an adult patient; performing ultrafiltration by filtering the withdrawn blood in a filter having an active filter membrane surface of no greater than 0.2 meters squared (m2) to remove ultrafiltrate from the blood, wherein the filter membrane blocks the passage of blood molecules having a molecular weight of at least 60,000 Daltons, wherein an amount of the removed ultrafiltrate is an effective therapeutic amount for treating a fluid overload condition of the patient; infusing the ultrafiltrated blood into the adult patient, and pumping the ultrafiltrate from the filter a rate no greater than one liter per hour.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for treating amyloid disease in humans by clearing amyloid peptides from one or more bodily fluids such as, e.g., blood, of a patient. In particular, the methods are based on the administration of compounds capable of binding to amyloid-beta (A?) or on dialysis of blood or plasma exchange in order to remove A? peptides from the blood circulation, and/or brain or other affected organs.

Abstract: A continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) device is provided that weighs between 2 and 10 pounds. The CRRT device can be portable, mobile or completely worn on the person of the patient. Blood and dialysate are each pumped in a pulsed or pulsatile manner through a dialyzer such that a significant portion of the peak pulse of the blood flow coincides with a significant portion of a low pulse portion of the dialysate flow. An differential pressure between a dialysate inlet of the dialyzer and the blood inlet of the dialyzer periodically changes from a high differential pressure of between 70 and 120 mmHg for a first time period and a low differential pressure of between ?10 and 10 mmHg for a first time period and a low differential pressure of between ?10 and 10 mmHg for a second time period. The frequency of the high and low differential pressure cycle is between about 0.5 and 4 Hz.

Abstract: Methods and devices for providing dialysis treatment are provided. The device comprises a cartridge for providing regenerative dialysis, the cartridge comprising: a body having an inlet and an outlet and defining an interior, the interior including at least a layer comprising urease, a layer comprising zirconium oxide, a layer comprising zirconium phosphate, and a layer comprising carbon, wherein at least two of the layers are blended together to provide a gradient of the two materials.

Abstract: Methods and devices implementing, for detecting a recirculation, at the side of a dialysis solution, by a blood-sided administration of a bolus are disclosed. Recirculation may be detected by: measuring a first light absorbance value (ad) of a dialysis solution (d) draining off a dialyzer using a spectrometer, prior to the administration of the bolus; venous administration of the bolus having a predefined volume (QBven) at the venous access; measuring a second light absorbance value (bd) of the draining dialysis solution using a spectrometer, after the administration of the bolus; and determining a change in the absorbance value between the first (ad) and second (bd) measured absorbance values due to the presence of a bolus in the dialysis solution during recirculation as a basis for the recirculation quantification.

Abstract: A method for priming a hemodialysis treatment includes: providing a sorbent cartridge for cleaning spent dialysate fluid returning from a dialyzer; preparing a batch of dialysate in a quantity commensurate with being recycled through the sorbent cartridge multiple times; priming a dialysate circuit in fluid communication with the dialyzer using the batch of dialysate; and priming a blood circuit in fluid communication with the dialyzer using the batch of dialysate.

Abstract: Whole blood is treated extracorporeally to remove substances contrary to health using mesoporous/microporous or macroporopus/microporous carbon in the form of beads or a channel monolith. The carbon may be the result of carbonizing a mesoporous or macroporous phenolic resin. Substances contrary to health include externally introduced toxins such as bacterially derived staphylococcus enterotoxins A, B, TSST-1 or autologous, biologically active molecules with harmful, systemic effects when their activity is excessive or unregulated. Examples include the removal of inappropriate amounts of pro- or anti-inflammatory molecules and toxic mediators of systemic inflammatory response syndrome related to sepsis, cardio-pulmonary by-pass surgery, ischaemic reperfusion injury; the removal of larger molecular weight and protein bound uremic toxins related to kidney and hepatic toxins related to liver failure and the removal of toxins relevant to biological and chemical warfare.

Abstract: A method for a hybrid blood and peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) machine comprising: (i) determining whether a previous treatment left a last fill of dialysate in a patient's peritoneum; (ii) if a next treatment is a PD treatment, and if the previous treatment did not leave the last fill of dialysate, causing a PD treatment in which a first cycle is a fill cycle to be initiated; (iii) if the next treatment is a PD treatment, and if the previous treatment did leave the last fill of dialysate, causing a PD treatment in which a first cycle is a last fill drain cycle to be initiated; and (iv) if the next treatment is a blood treatment and if the previous treatment did leave the last fill of dialysate, causing a blood treatment including a last fill drain cycle to be initiated.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling an extra-corporeal blood treatment in a medical device, comprising a blood treatment device (7), an extra-corporeal blood transport line (4), a fluid transport line (3) for a treatment fluid for the blood, at least a sensor adapted to provide a measure (M) correlated to at least a treatment parameter of the extra-corporeal blood treatment and/or of the treatment device (7) in the medical device (1), at least one storage memory (29), and at least a control device (28), operatively connected at least with the storage memory (29) and with the sensor, and configured for receiving the measure (M) from the sensor, correlating the measure (M) with referential data (R) of the treatment device for the treatment parameter provided by the at least one storage memory (29), and correlating the measure (M) with patient historical data (H) for the treatment parameter for obtaining an information representative of the quality of the extra-corporeal blood treatment.

Abstract: A hemodialysis system including (i) a dialyzer; (ii) a blood circuit including a blood pump in fluid communication with the dialyzer; (iii) a dialysate circuit including a dialysate circulation pump in fluid communication with the dialyzer, at least a portion of the dialysate circuit incorporated into a disposable dialysate cassette; (iv) a sorbent cartridge for cleaning used dialysate flowing in the dialysate circuit; (v) a reservoir holding an initial supply of dialysate; (vi) a reservoir pump in fluid communication with the dialysate circuit and the reservoir; (vii) a supply of infusate; and (viii) an infusate pump in fluid communication with the dialysate circuit and the supply of infusate.

Abstract: The invention provides a highly aligned and closely packed hollow fiber assembly, wherein the assemblies of fibrous membrane has a width-to-fiber diameter ratio (W/d) larger than 10 and the orientation of the fibers is no larger than +/?10°. Also provided is an electrospinning process for the preparation of the fiber assembly of the invention and its applications.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for peritoneal dialysis with a means for the regular discharge and reuptake of dialysate, which comprises a conduit with a catheter, wherein a measurement bag is present, in which dialysate can be introduced, wherein first means are provided, with which the static pressure in the conduit between catheter and measurement bag can be determined, and second means are provided, by means of which the dialysate volume flow can be introduced into the measurement bag for a certain period. In accordance with the invention, third means are present, by means of which the volume of the dialysate introduced into the measurement bag can be determined, and furthermore fourth means are present, by which the catheter resistance substantially can be calculated from the values determined by the first to third means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for removing antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants from a platelet preparation. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of flowing the platelet preparation through a filtering tube comprising a filtering membrane and separating the antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants from the platelet preparation by tangential flow filtration. In another embodiment, the method includes the step of passing the platelet preparation through porous material that specifically binds to the antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants.

Abstract: There is provided a flow system of a dialysis device including a dialysate conduit which is capable of being in fluid communication with the peritoneal cavity of a patient's body and of being in fluid communication with a flow path, the flow path allowing dialysate to flow from a patient's body to a sorbent capable of removing contaminants within the dialysate in an outflow mode and in an inflow mode returning the dialysate substantially free of contaminants to the patient's body. The device also includes a pump for moving the dialysate along the flow path in both the outflow mode and inflow mode and a plurality of valves disposed along the flow path. There is also provided a portable dialysis device.

Abstract: A patient wearable, continuously operating extracorporeal pump apparatus which accesses the patient's arterial venous pressure differential by applying external pressure to a subcutaneous graft that has been cannualized to modulate blood flow through an extracorporeal circuit and to drive the pump for delivering a medicament, such as an anticoagulant, to the site of an intravenous cannula to prevent clogging thereof and also to move a dialysate through a circuit, including a dialyzer and a dialysate rejuvenating cartridge, whereby kidney failure can be treated without recourse to prior art hemodialysis machines found in most treatment facilities. With slight modification, the present invention can be used to remove excess fluids from CHF patients, to remove toxins from the blood in those suffering from liver failure and to facilitate administration of insulin to diabetics and/or glucose to those having hypoglycemia.

Abstract: A blood circuit assembly for a dialysis unit may include an organizing tray, a pair of pneumatic pumps mounted to the organizing tray for circulating blood received from a patient through a circuit including a dialyzer unit and returned to the patient, an air trap mounted to the organizing tray arranged to remove air from blood circulating in the circuit, a pair of dialyzer connections arranged to connect to the inlet and outlet of a dialyzer unit, and a pair of blood line connectors, one inlet blood line connector for receiving blood from the patient and providing blood to the pneumatic pumps and the other outlet blood line connector for returning blood to the patient.

Abstract: Blood separation material which separates blood collected in a blood-sampling container, into blood cells and plasma or serum within a short period of time. An apparatus for separating blood with the blood separation material. An instrument for separating blood having a first hollow needle extending toward one end, a second hollow needle extending toward the other end, a tubular container with an inner space in which the blood flows, and a blood separation material. A container with a first channel for supplying blood into an inner space through which blood flows from the needlepoint of the first hollow needle into the inner space, a second channel for blood to flow out from the inner space toward the needlepoint of the second hollow needle, and a third channel which allows air to flow from the outer space toward the needlepoint of the first hollow needle.

Abstract: An implantable dialysis device with a related medical system for intracorporeal dialysis and ultrafiltration of blood, and methods of use are described. The medical system includes an extracorporeal module, a cutaneous module, and an implantable module. Features of the implantable module facilitate delivery and flow of blood and dialysate through the medical system. A filter pack within the implantable module performs dialysis and ultrafiltration of blood. System cleansing is also described.

Abstract: A method for the filling and flushing of a blood tube set including a pump segment for a blood pump, an arterial line connected to an inlet of a dialyser, a venous line connected to an outlet of a dialyser, a substituate line connected to a substituate port and having a pump segment for a substituate pump, and a three-way connector connected to the arterial line, the venous line and a rinse port. The method includes the steps of opening the rinse port, filling and simultaneously flushing the arterial and venous lines with the substituate supplied from the substituate line via the substituate pump, while substituate is drained off via the rinse port, closing the rinse port, and circulating the substituate in the circuit of arterial line, dialyser and venous line by the blood pump.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to heat-exchanger systems that can be used to heat or cool a fluid such as blood. Pod pumps that provide low shear and low turbulence may be used in such systems, particularly for systems that pump blood. A certain heat-exchanger system used to heat blood or other fluids may be used to provide whole-body hyperthermic treatments or regional hyperthermic chemotherapy treatments. A disposable unit may be used to separate the fluid path from the fluid control systems. The disposable unit typically includes a heat-exchanger component that is received by a corresponding heat exchanger in a base unit. Fluid pumped through the heat-exchanger component is heated by the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Synthetic aqueous storage solutions are disclosed for use in the processing and the storing of red blood cells prepared from whole blood including cells derived from whole blood held for an extended period at room temperature.

Abstract: The present relates to a molecular exchange device. In particular, the present invention relates to a molecular exchange device comprising an outer tube extending from an approximal end to a distal end of the device; an inner tube defining at least one fluid passageway, the inner tube positioned concentrically within the outer tube and the area between the inner and the outer tube defining at least one fluid passageway; and a projection positioned within the area between the inner and the outer tube, wherein the projection prevents displacement of the inner tube with respect to the outer tube.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus and methods to consistently separate and concentrate selected blood components. The system includes, e.g., a computerized fluid handling system to transfer blood components between a centrifugal blood separation disc, containers and a concentrator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing hemodialysis to remove metabolic waste from the blood of a patient are disclosed. The systems and methods preferably comprise at least one blood processing apparatus that receives whole blood from a patient. Cellular blood components are removed from the whole blood by hemofiltration, to provide filtered plasma comprising metabolic waste that is substantially reduced of blood cells. The cellular blood components may be returned to the patient. The filtered plasma comprising waste may be removed from the blood processing apparatus through a waste path for further processing in a separate apparatus, or in the same apparatus in a second stage processing procedure to remove metabolic waste components and excess water from the plasma by hemodialysis. At least one of the hemofiltration and hemodialysis processing apparatus comprises a Taylor vortex-enhanced separation apparatus.

Abstract: A system for separating bodily fluid constituents is disclosed. The system includes a first substrate which, in a first main surface, has a first cavity for holding a bodily fluid sample, a second substrate, which, in a first main surface facing the first substrate, has a second cavity) for holding constituents separated from the bodily fluid sample, which second cavity lies opposite to the first cavity, a filter layer, which is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate and which is designed to separate constituents of the bodily fluid sample in the first cavity and to pass the separated constituents to the second cavity, and a first thermoplastic connection layer, which is arranged between the first substrate and the filter layer, interconnects the first main surface of the first substrate and the filter layer in a fluid-tight manner and has a cutout lying opposite to the first cavity.

Abstract: A method includes initiating a blood fluid removal session of a patient; monitoring an indicator of tissue fluid volume of the patient, or a portion thereof, during the blood fluid removal session; monitoring an indicator of blood fluid volume of the patient during the blood fluid removal session; determining whether a ratio of the indicator of tissue fluid volume to indicator of blood fluid volume is outside of a predetermined range; and altering the rate of fluid removal during the blood fluid removal session if the ratio is determined to be outside of the predetermined range. A blood fluid removal system may be configured to carry out the method.

Abstract: The present invention includes a comprehensive replacement fluid system and method for the delivery of regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) to extracorporeal blood circuits, wherein the system may include an online clearance monitor (OCM) and a circuit effluent online sensor system (OSS) for the continuous determination of patient plasma content of ultrafilterable solutes.

Abstract: Provided herein composition and methods for nanoporous membranes comprising single walled, double walled, or multi-walled carbon nanotubes embedded in a matrix material. Average pore size of the carbon nanotube can be 6 nm or less. These membranes are a robust platform for the study of confined molecular transport, with applications in liquid and gas separations and chemical sensing including desalination, dialysis, and fabric formation.

Abstract: An aggregate-removing filter material efficiently removes aggregates that are contained in a blood product for transfusion and may cause transfusion reactions without clogging, and exhibits excellent quality stability, and a blood product filtration method uses a filter apparatus that includes the aggregate-removing filter material and a leukocyte-removing filter material. The aggregate-removing filter material includes short fibers having a fineness of 0.7 to 4.0 dtex and a fiber length of 1 to 80 mm, and a ground fabric that includes long fibers, a fiber axis of the long fibers being oriented in a planar direction of the ground fabric, the short fibers being entangled with the ground fabric so that the aggregate-removing filter material has a total weight per unit area of 10 to 80 g/m2, and a layer of the short fibers forming a three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: A method includes monitoring an indicator of fluid volume of a patient via a sensor device, and setting an initial fluid volume removal prescription for a blood fluid removal session based on the monitored indicator of fluid volume. The method may further include transmitting data regarding the indicator of fluid volume from the implantable sensor device to fluid removal device. In some embodiments, the fluid removal device sets or calculated the initial fluid volume removal prescription based on the data received from the implantable sensor. The indicator of fluid volume may be an indicator of tissue fluid volume or an indicator of blood fluid volume.

Abstract: Patients suffering from acute renal failure must be diagnosed and treated quickly so that a physician can confidently prescribe either peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis. In one way of quickly treating the patients, software is used to calculate a suitable peritoneal dialysis prescription without regard to how short or how long a dialysis cycle is used, and without regard to a total dialysate fluid volume for a therapy. For patients with suitable peritoneal membrane transport properties, the software program suggests that, at least over a short period of time, unexpectedly high ultrafiltrate volumes and high clearances may be achieved.

Abstract: A coupler includes a conductive polymer material that is so constructed and arranged to join tubing, wherein the conductive polymer material includes a conductive polymer component selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophenes, polyethylenedioxythiophene, poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A dialysate regeneration chamber is provided. In one embodiment, the dialysate regeneration chamber may include a toxin trap configured to selectively trap toxins and repel select cations. In another embodiment, generating a toxin trap may include oxidizing an activated carbon fiber and attaching a fatty acid to the oxidized activated carbon fiber to generate an ion-selective barrier, wherein the fatty acid extends away from the activated carbon fiber.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a multipart fluid system for use in CRRT, wherein the multipart fluid system comprises an anticoagulation fluid and at least one fluid from the group consisting of a dialysis fluid and an infusion fluid. According to the invention the anticoagulation fluid comprises at least 8 mM citrate, and the dialysis fluid and/or infusion fluid comprises 2-8 mM citrate and 1-5 mM total calcium. The present invention further concerns a system for regional citrate anticoagulation in an extracorporeal blood circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating plasma by which plasma can be separated from a small amount of whole blood cell sample without centrifugation is disclosed. This apparatus includes a blood channel through which blood flows; and a plasma channel through which plasma separated from said blood flows. The plasma channel is arranged at least partially in parallel with said blood channel and the blood channel and the plasma channel are at least partially in contact with each other along the longitudinal direction of the channels. Blood is made to flow at a flow rate at which blood cell components in the blood flowing through the blood channel axially accumulate and at which hemolysis does not occur. The plasma moves to the plasma channel after being separated into a blood cell layer and a plasma layer.

Abstract: In a process for testing filters (4) and (13) of treatment fluid of a hemodiafiltration apparatus (1), each filter has a wet semipermeable membrane (5, 14) which separates a gas-filled first chamber (6 and 15) from a liquid-filled second chamber (7 and 16). The first chambers are pressurised by a pump (19) supplying air, while the second chambers are placed in depression by a drainage pump (17) of used dialysis fluid. A first closed system is formed which includes the first chambers and a second closed system is formed which includes the second chambers. Two pressure gauges (P1 and P2) monitor the pressure in the two closed systems for a predetermined time. The monitoring provides indications relating to the filter integrity.

Abstract: An apparatus for purifying body fluid with solution including a casing having first and second input and output ports and dual safety or check valves monolithically formed with the casing that operate in conjunction with a dialysis machine or other apparatus used in hemodialysis is disclosed. The dual safety valves are configured at the input and output ports of a dialyzer such that the apparatus allows body fluid to move in one direction. This configuration prevents the reverse flow of body fluid back into the apparatus. A method for purifying body fluid with solution using an apparatus is further disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to extracorporeal blood circuits, and components thereof (e.g., hollow fiber membranes, potted bundles, and blood tubing), including 0.005% to 10% (w/w) surface modifying macromolecule. The extracorporeal blood circuits have an antithrombogenic surface and can be used in hemofiltration, hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration, hemoconcentration, blood oxygenation, and related uses.

Abstract: A dialysis method comprising coding a wireless receiver of a dialysis machine with at least one of an address or a personal identification number (“PIN”); and receiving at least one of blood pressure data from a blood pressure monitor wirelessly or patient weight data from a weight scale wirelessly, wherein the at least one coded address or PIN ensures that the at least one of the blood pressure data or the patient weight data is received by the receiver as opposed to a receiver of another dialysis machine.

Abstract: A method for separating, or removing, particulate material, e.g., blood cells, from a sample of fluid, e.g., whole blood of a patient, in which the particulate material is suspended. In the case of separating blood cells from blood plasma or blood serum, the resulting samples of blood plasma or blood serum can be used for in vitro diagnostic applications. In normal practice, a whole blood sample of a patient are provided and then introduced into an apparatus that contains a flow channel. An acoustic field, which contains acoustic standing waves from external ultrasonic transducers, is located within the flow channel. Laminar flow is maintained in the flow channel. Blood cells and platelets are separated from blood plasma or blood serum at the end of the flow channel and collected. The method described herein allows fluid components to differentially migrate to areas of preferred acoustic interaction.

Abstract: Treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning of a body by removal of a portion of the blood from the body, placing the portion in an exposure cell, exposing the portion in the cell to light of wave length and intensity that causes dissociation of carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, and returning the portion to the body. The intensity and wave length of the light is sufficient to dissociate a therapeutically-effective amount of carbon monoxide from the hemoglobin in the blood. The blood is circulated from and to the body through a concentric double lumen cannula. The wave lengths of the light are 540 and/or 570 nanometers. The cell exposes the blood to at least 9.5 Joules of dissociative light per milliliter of blood, and least 9.5 Watts of dissociative light per milliliter of blood per second. Oxygen is provided to, and the dissociated carbon monoxide is removed from the system.