Abstract: A blood purification apparatus includes a blood circuit, a blood purifying device, a first valve, a discharge line, a second valve, and a detection device. The blood circuit has an arterial blood circuit and a venous blood circuit. The first valve opens and closes the venous blood circuit. The second valve opens and closes the discharge line. The detection device detects whether a priming solution is replaced with blood in an end portion of the venous blood circuit at an upstream side from the first valve. The blood purification apparatus automatically turns the first valve from a closed position to an open position and the second valve from an open position to a closed position, respectively, when the detection device detects the priming solution being replaced with the blood.

Abstract: The invention relates to blood processing apparatus comprising a cabinet (2) defining at least an interior housing (6) and presenting an aperture (6a) for allowing access from outside into said housing. The apparatus has a user interface (13) mounted in a movable manner on the cabinet between at least a first position, where the user interface is adjacent to the cabinet in correspondence of said aperture, and a second position, where the user interface is spaced apart from the aperture and opens the access to said housing.

Abstract: A patient end of a venous blood line (26) is connected to a discharge of a dialysis liquid preparation circuit by means of an auxiliary connector (23), and the patient end of an arterial blood line (25) is connected to a service line (32) located at the top of a venous expansion chamber (31). The filling and/or rinsing liquid is removed from the preparation circuit by backfiltering through a membrane (5) of a high-flux dialysis filter (2). The invention enables a blood circuit to be primed simply and rapidly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a regeneratable filtering and adsorbing system, combining the properties of membrane filtration with those of particle-based adsorption in a closed housing.

Abstract: A blood purification apparatus that can make the specific peak to be imparted to the blood more distinct, and therefore can detect blood recirculation reliably and precisely, is presented. It contains a blood circuit route, a blood pump, a dialyzer, dialysate introduction and discharge lines, a duplex pump, a pressurizing pump, a blood concentration means, and detection means that detect the specific peak imparted by the blood concentration means. The blood concentration means is configured to have an atmosphere release line, the tip of which is open to the atmosphere, that extends from between the pressurizing pump and the duplex pump in the dialysate discharge line, and to have an electromagnetic valve that can open or close the atmosphere release line. The electromagnetic valve opens the atmosphere release line to impart the specific peak by rapidly concentrating the blood flowing in the dialyzer for a short period of time.

Abstract: A hemodialysis apparatus includes a dialyzing device, a measuring device and a calculation device. The dialyzing device dialyzes and ultrafiltrates blood of a patient circulating extracorporeally to perform hemodialysis treatment. The measuring device measures a variation rate of a body weight of the patient and a variation rate of a predetermined blood benchmark during the hemodialysis treatment using the dialyzing device. The calculation device calculates, during the hemodialysis treatment, a parameter relating the variation rate of the body weight and the variation rate of the predetermined blood benchmark to each other, and correlating to a dry weight of the patient.

Abstract: A method and a device to increase the efficiency of dialysis for the removal from blood of substances that are more or less tightly bound to carriers such as albumin. According to the invention this is accomplished by a simultaneous significant increase of the flow rate of the dialysis fluid and of the area of the membrane that separates the blood from the dialysis fluid, compared to conventional dialysis.

Abstract: A medical apparatus comprises a user interface for setting parameters and includes: a screen for visualizing values of said parameters, a main control unit connected to the interface, a first memory and a video memory both connected to the main control unit for storing data corresponding to images on screen; the main control unit allows setting of a new value for a parameter, displays the new value on a screen region, stores the new value in the first memory, captures from the video memory data representative of said screen region, verifies from said representative data if the displayed value corresponds to the value in the first memory. A method for setting up a medical apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: The portable dialysis machine may include an enclosure having a removable base. There may be a front panel having associated therewith multiple external connectors, smart function keys, a touch panel element and a voice activated sensor. The front panel may be in communication with an electronic circuit element having a controller in communication therewith. There may be a blood flow element and a hydraulic flow element. A water reservoir and power supply may be included. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a hemodiafiltration apparatus capable of easily and efficiently removing medium to large molecule solutes at a low cost. Provided is a hemodialysis apparatus which uses a hemodialyzer accommodating a hollow yarn membrane in hemodiafiltration to cause a dialysis fluid to flow from a dialysis fluid circuit side to a blood circuit side by forceful back-filtration via the hemodialyzer, and to cause a fluid in the blood circuit to reflux to a dialysis fluid circuit side by filtration via the hemodialyzer, the hemodialysis apparatus being characterized in that a flux operation of the fluid from the dialysis fluid side to the blood circuit side by the back-filtration, and a reflux operation of the fluid from the blood circuit side to the dialysis fluid circuit side by the filtration are repeated intermittently and for at least a plurality of times.

Abstract: A dialysis machine valve manifold assembly includes a plurality of pneumatic valves; a plate including a first side and a second side, the plurality of pneumatic valves mounted to the first side of the plate, the second side of the plate defining a plurality of pneumatic flow paths; and a port header mounted removably to the plate, the port header including a plurality of ports configured to connect sealingly to pneumatic tubing, the ports in fluid communication with the pneumatic valves via the pneumatic flow paths defined in the plate.

Abstract: A dialysate regeneration system for removing contaminants from spent dialysate according to this invention includes a dialysate circulation flow path including a pump that pumps spent dialysate through the dialysate circulation flow path, a first cartridge adapted to remove contaminants from the spent dialysate, including a first cleaning solution inlet and a first cleaning solution outlet, a second cartridge adapted to remove urea from the spent dialysate, the second cartridge including semi-permeable hollow fibers adapted for transport of urea across the walls of the semi-permeable hollow fibers and adapted to retain at least calcium, magnesium, and sodium ions in the spent dialysate, and including a second cleaning solution inlet and a second cleaning solution outlet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices, systems and methods for removing undesirable materials from a sample fluid by contact with a second fluid. The sample fluid flows as a thin layer adjacent to, or between, concurrently flowing layers of the second fluid, without an intervening membrane. In various embodiments, a secondary separator is used to restrict the removal of desirable substances and effect the removal of undesirable substances from blood. The invention is useful in a variety of situations where a sample fluid is to be purified via a diffusion mechanism against an extractor fluid. Moreover, the invention may be used for the removal of components from a sample fluid that vary in size. When blood is the sample fluid, for example, this may include the removal of ‘small’ molecules, ‘middle’ molecules, macromolecules, macromolecular aggregates, and cells, from the blood sample to the extractor fluid.

Abstract: A configuration of a blood microtubular filter/dialyzer used in many kinds of renal replacement therapy systems can provide a highly effective mechanism for removing air from the blood circuit of such systems. Air is removed from an outlet header space of the filter avoiding the need for a bubble trap or settling chamber such as a drip chamber.

Abstract: A continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) device adapted to be worn on a portion of the body of a patient. The CRRT device is worn by the patient and operates on rechargeable batteries for more than 5 hours. Dialysate is used to remove impurities from the blood. The dialysate is recycled and refreshed by a filter section. Less than one liter of dialysate is required to circulate through the wearable CRRT device.

Abstract: An ultrafiltration device adapted to be worn on a portion of the body of a patient includes a blood inlet tube leading from a first blood vessel, a blood pump, an anticoagulant reservoir for infusing anticoagulants into the blood, a blood filter including a substrate through which the blood is circulated and filtered, a fluid bag for storing the excess fluid and a blood outlet tube leading to a second blood vessel.

Abstract: A switch valve for use in an extracorporeal blood flow circuit comprises a valve housing having a chamber, four openings communicating with the chamber, and a valve member located in the valve chamber. A first opening is to be connected to a patient via an arterial cannula, a second opening is to be connected to a patient via an venous cannula, a third opening is to be connected to a first inlet/outlet of a blood treatment device, and a fourth opening is to be connected to a second inlet/outlet of a blood treatment device. The valve member is movable within the valve housing to fluidly connect the first opening to either the third or the fourth opening and to fluidly connect the second opening to either the third or the fourth opening. The width of the valve member is smaller than a peripheral dimension of the openings.

Abstract: A continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) device adapted to be worn on a portion of the body of a patient. The CRRT device is worn by the patient and operates on rechargeable batteries for more than 5 hours. Dialysate is used to remove impurities from the blood. The dialysate is recycled and refreshed by a filter section. Less than one liter of dialysate is required to circulate through the wearable CRRT device.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method of operating a blood treatment apparatus for the extracorporeal blood treatment of a patient , a blood volume monitor for monitoring an extracorporeal blood treatment of the patient by means of a blood treatment apparatus, and a blood treatment apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention constitutes dialysate formulations that are suitable for use in preparing dialysate solutions for use in batch and/or proportioning systems and for improving dialysis efficiency by reducing or preventing clotting of the dialysis flow paths. The dialysate chemical formulations for one batch of dialysate comprise an acid concentrate stored in a first vessel, and a citrate-containing bicarbonate concentrate stored in a second vessel. The contents of the first and second vessels are emptied into a dialysate preparation tank and mixed with water to form a batch quantity of dialysate solution. Alternately, a dry acid and/or a dry citrate-containing base concentrates are dissolved separately in measured quantities of water to form liquid concentrates which are then used in conjunction with a proportioning machine to generate on-line a final dialysis solution stream.

Abstract: A proposed blood treatment apparatus includes: a blood treatment unit, a pair of fluid pumps and a pair blood pumps. The blood treatment unit is configured to receive untreated blood and fresh blood treatment fluid, and emit treated blood and used blood treatment fluid. The fluid pumps are configured to pass blood treatment fluid through the blood treatment unit. The blood pumps are configured to extract untreated blood from a blood source, pass extracted blood through the blood treatment unit and deliver treated blood to a target vessel. Additionally, the fluid pumps are configured to control the operation of the blood pumps via the blood treatment fluid. Moreover, a flow control device is configured to control a trans-membrane flow between the blood side and the a fluid side of the blood treatment unit. Hence, for instance ultrafiltration can be adjusted to a desired level in a very straightforward manner.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of collecting a biological fluid, in particular blood, with an anticoagulant and/or preservation solution added, in which the biological fluid is collected by natural flow and the anticoagulant and/or preservation solution is added by pumping, the method making provision for measuring the flow of fluid collected and slaving the pumping speed to the measured flow, so as to obtain continuously during collection a given ratio between the quantity of fluid collected and the quantity of anticoagulant and/or preservation solution added. The invention also concerns a collection machine and bag system for implementing the method.

Abstract: A method of treating a bodily fluid withdrawn and then returned to a living body. The method involves withdrawing the bodily fluid from the living body and causing the bodily fluid to flow through a treatment system, altering at least the density of the bodily fluid through the action of a second fluid as the bodily fluid flows through the treatment system, sensing at least the density and flow rate of the bodily fluid before the density thereof is altered by the second fluid, sensing at least the density and flow rate of the bodily fluid after the density thereof is altered by the second fluid, sensing at least the density and flow rate of the second fluid, controlling the density and/or flow rate of the second fluid based on the sensed densities and flow rates, and returning the bodily fluid to the living body.

Abstract: An apparatus configured for carrying out CRRT on patients weighing up to about 20 kg incorporates a control unit having a blood pump and a plurality of fluid pumps mounted thereon, and a controller configured for operating the blood pump and fluid pumps, and an interactive operator control system including an operator interface screen operatively connected to the controller, the controller including software configured to operate the apparatus in response to operator input selections. The interactive operator control system includes operator inputs for setting patient weight, blood pump flow rate and fluid pump flow rates and the controller is configured to calculate and display maximum allowable fluid gain or loss based solely on patient weight settings between zero kg and about 20 kg and trigger warnings and alarms for selected or calculated levels of patient fluid gain or loss and stop operation of the pumps or termination of CRRT in response to patient fluid gain or loss in excess of the maximum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to filtration devices and related methods of use. In particular, the present invention relates to implantable filtration devices used, for example, for filtering impurities from a body fluid of a subject.

Abstract: There is provided a method of reducing blood free light chain concentration in a subject, the method comprising the step of subjecting the subject's blood to haemodialysis, haemodiafiltration or haemofiltration. There is also provided the use of a dialysis membrane which is a membrane that allows passage of molecules having a molecular weight of up to 45 kDa in presence of whole blood, and has a molecular weight exclusion limit in water of about 200 kDa in the preparation of a haemodialysis unit for conducting haemodialysis, haemodiafiltration or haemofiltration on a subject to reduce blood free light chain concentration in the patient.

Abstract: A dialysis machine that monitors an elapsed time and a number of accumulated hours during a current servicing interval is disclosed. The machine executes a machine-servicing algorithm on at least the elapsed time and the accumulated operating hours to generate a projected servicing interval duration. A servicing event indicator displays servicing event schedule information based on the projected servicing interval duration. A transfusion pump, similarly equipped, is also provided.

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 second time period. The frequency of the high and low differential pressure cycle is between about 0.5 and 4 Hz.

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 method and apparatus for preventing and treating septicemia in patient blood is provided. The extracorporeal system includes an antimicrobial device to inactivate at least 99% of bloodborne microorganisms, a hemoconcentrator/filtration unit to remove approximately 50-75% of target molecules from the patient blood and a filter unit to remove target molecules from patient blood from the sieved plasma filtrate. Target molecules are produced by microorganisms, as well as by the patient's cells. These molecules include endotoxins from Gram negative bacteria, exotoxins from Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria, as well as RAP protein mediator from Staphylococcus aureus, and cell mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin 1-beta, interleukin 6, complement proteins C3a and C5a, and bradykinin.

Abstract: In a peritoneal dialysis embodiment of the present invention, spent dialysate from the patient's peritoneal cavity passes, along a patient loop, through a dialyzer having a membrane that separates waste components from the spent dialysate, wherein the patient loop returns fresh dialysate to the patient's peritoneal cavity. The waste components are carried away in a second regeneration loop to a regeneration unit or sorbent cartridge, which absorbs the waste components. The regeneration unit removes undesirable components in the dialysate that were removed from the patient loop by the dialyzer, for example, excess water (ultrafiltrate or UF), toxins and metabolic wastes. Desirable components can be added to the dialysate by the system, such as glucose and electrolytes. The additives assist in maintaining the proper osmotic gradients in the patient to perform dialysis and provide the necessary compounds to the patient.

Abstract: The dose of dialysis in terms of urea clearance is marginal in many hemodialysis patients, and metabolic acidosis as determined by the pre-dialysis serum HCO3 level is common. A dialysate that included citric acid rather than acetic acid as acidifying agent provides superior performance properties. Citrate-containing dialysate was used exclusively in 22 hemodialysis patients. Initially, only 8 of the 22 patients had a pre-dialysis serum HCO3>23 mEq/L (lower limit of normal), however, after 12 weeks of dialysis using the citrate-containing dialysate, the serum HCO3 normalized in 15 patients (p=0.0001, Chi-square). Dialysis variables were kept constant in 19 of the patients, who also used and reused the same dialyzer model throughout. In these patients, the initial average urea reduction ratio (URR) was 68.5±5.9%, and after treatment with the citrate dialysate disclosed herein, this ratio had increased to 73±5.3% (p<0.03). SpKt/V, calculated using the Daugirdas II formula, also increased from 1.23±0.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes a filtration system capable of filtering a water stream, a water purification system capable of purifying said water stream in a non-batch process, a mixing system capable of producing a stream of dialysate from mixing one or more dialysate components with the water stream in a non-batch process, and a dialyzer system. The dialyzer may be a microfluidic dialyzer capable of being fluidly coupled to the stream of dialysate and a blood stream.

Abstract: A dual channel pulsatile pump for use with a completely wearable renal replacement device is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the supply of substitution liquid during an extracorporeal blood treatment and to an extracorporeal blood treatment unit equipped with a device for monitoring the supply of substitution liquid. The monitoring of the supply of substitution liquid is based on the measurement of pressure waves, which are generated by the substitution liquid pump, in the extracorporeal blood circulation system. A disturbance in the supply of substitution liquid is inferred when the amplitude of the pressure waves exceeds a predetermined limit value. The amplitude of the pressure waves is preferably monitored in the venous blood line.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices, systems and methods for removing undesirable materials from a sample fluid by contact with a second fluid. The sample fluid flows as a thin layer adjacent to, or between, concurrently flowing layers of the second fluid, without an intervening membrane. In various embodiments, a secondary separator is used to restrict the removal of desirable substances and effect the removal of undesirable substances from blood. The invention is useful in a variety of situations where a sample fluid is to be purified via a diffusion mechanism against an extractor fluid. Moreover, the invention may be used for the removal of components from a sample fluid that vary in size. When blood is the sample fluid, for example, this may include the removal of ‘small’ molecules, ‘middle’ molecules, macromolecules, macromolecular aggregates, and cells, from the blood sample to the extractor fluid.

Abstract: An automatic priming method in which an arterial-side chamber is maintained in a normal position during priming, as in a case of dialysis treatment, and in which forward and backward rotations of a blood pump are employed, and a speed of rotation, in particular, backward rotation, is adjusted to be low, so that air or the like is reliably prevented from entering a dialyzer. The priming method for use in a blood purification circuit in which priming is conducted by supplying physiological saline into a circulation circuit formed by connecting an arterial blood circuit with a venous blood circuit includes filling the venous blood circuit with a priming solution (physiological saline), discharging the priming solution for cleaning the arterial blood circuit, conducting a treatment in a direction opposite to the overflow step, which may be followed by a forward direction re-circulation step, and re-circulating in a forward direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a disposable packaging device (1) including a wall (2) for accommodating a medical article (100) for use in conjunction with a medical machine (200), the medical article (100) including mounting means (101), the medical machine (200) including mounting means (201) for engagement with the mounting means of the medical article (101), the packaging device including:—a passage opening (20) defined in the wall (2) and having a configuration such that the mounting means (101) of the packaged article can be engaged with the mounting means of the machine (201);—a preferential rupture zone (30) produced on the wall 2 to allow predetermined rupture of the wall (2).

Abstract: The invention provides container systems, kits and methods for peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions. Such a system, for example, includes a first compartment that contains a PD osmotic agent and a second compartment that contains a PD buffer agent. The compartments maintain their respective contents separately from one another for purposes of transport, storage and/or sterilization. However, the compartments are fluidly couplable, so that their respective contents can be combined with one another, e.g., following sterilization of the agents and prior to their introduction into the patient's abdomen. The invention provides, in other aspects, such systems, kits and methods that provide protective structure which inhibits breaking of a seal prior between the second compartment and an outlet of the system, prior to breaking of a seal between the first and second compartments.

Abstract: A novel system and method for fluid management for accurate continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CWH) in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The fluid management or CWH system is automated and configured for operation as a stand alone unit and can be easily integrated with an ECMO system. The fluid management system is capable of producing either perfect or negative fluid balance between ultrafiltrate removal and replacement fluid delivery. The fluid management system can achieve electrolyte replacement over a range of flow rates needed to care for patients ranging from neonates to adults. Finally, the novel fluid management system preserves patient safety, maintains sterility during operation, is easy to operate, and is compact enough to fit near a patient's bed.

Abstract: The present invention proposes an apparatus and a method for controlling the temperature of a dialysate, which is present in a dialysate container of a dialysate tank of a dialysis system, in a contact-free manner. It furthermore specifies a method for manufacturing such a dialysate container and system.

Abstract: A method for conductivity calculation in a treatment fluid downstream a filtration unit in a blood treatment apparatus is provided. The conductivity calculation is then used for clearance and fistula flow determination. A flow of treatment fluid is created in the filtration unit; a change in the conductivity of the treatment fluid at the inlet of the filtration unit is imposed to cause an induced conductivity change in the fluid at the outlet of the filtration unit; a predetermined number of conductivity values Cdo downstream from the filtration unit are measured. The measured conductivity values define a curve the pattern of which is estimated by means of one interpolating mathematical function in an interval of time after the occurrence of the induced conductivity change; a characteristic measuring time tcalcclr is determined.

Abstract: Systems and methods handle air and rinsing fluid during fluid processing. The systems and methods eliminate air from a fluid processing system prior to, during, and after use. The systems and methods provide a connector assembly for establishing fluid flow from a fluid source. The connector assembly has discrete first and second passages that prevent communication between the fluid in first passage and the fluid in the second passage. Prior to system use, the connector assembly may be utilized in a priming function to remove residual air from a fluid circuit prior to use. The connector assembly may also be utilized after use to perform a rinse-back function.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for red blood collection and filtration is provided wherein a red blood cell collection assembly provides for leukoreduction filtration concurrent with or soon after the red blood cell separation and collection procedure. Such procedures involve filtering the separated red blood cells in a diluted state after and/or prior to flushing the filter with storage solution. Storage solution may thus be passed through the leukoreduction filter before, with and/or after the RBCs have been filtered therethrough. The red blood cell collection, filtration and storage assembly is preferably preconnected to a blood component separation disposable assembly, including, for example, a centrifuge vessel and a blood removal/return assembly for removing blood from a donor, passing the blood to the centrifuge vessel for separation of the blood into components for collection and providing for filtration of the separated red blood cell component.

Abstract: A controller for blood treatment equipment comprising a treatment unit including a semipermeable membrane separating the treatment unit into a first compartment for the circulation of blood and a second compartment for the circulation of a treatment liquid is enclosed. The controller is adapted to receive one or more entries of information measured during the course of a treatment procedure, to calculate from said measured information a value of a significant parameter indicative of the progress of an extracorporeal blood treatment carried out by the equipment. The controller is also adapted to compare the calculated significant parameter to a prescribed reference value for the same parameter and to generate at least one output control signal responsive to said comparison for automatically controlling one or more operations performed by the equipment. Equipment comprising the controller and a control method the controller can be programmed to carry out are also disclosed.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and system that prevent clotting of blood during blood-processing procedures such as hemofiltration, hemodialysis, and hemodiafiltration are described. A filter with a cap has a housing that is shaped to receive a blood filter. The housing has an inlet for blood and may have an outlet for waste and ultrafiltrate. The cap is attached to the housing. The cap has an outlet for blood and a port adjacent the outlet for receiving dilution fluid. Methods of use during blood-processing procedures to provide immediate hemodilution to blood exiting entering and/or exiting a filter are also described.

Abstract: A blood treatment method is described that is adapted to at least partially eliminate the carbon dioxide content of the type comprising a step of drawing a blood flow. Advantageously according to the invention, the method further comprises the steps of: acidifying the blood flow with transformation of the related blood bicarbonate content into gaseous carbon dioxide; and eliminating the gaseous carbon dioxide content by means of a pressure gradient.

Abstract: Device for haemodiafiltration, which comprises a first circuit for a dialysis solution and a second circuit for blood, so that the toxic substances from the blood flow pass into the dialysis liquid within a haemofilter (11), a liquid pump (20) located upstream of the haemofilter (11) in the first dialysis liquid circuit, is adapted for injecting replacement liquid into the dialysis solution flow after a blood pump (15) finishes pumping blood to the interior of the haemofilter (11).

Abstract: A treatment assembly is positioned along an AV-fistula and couples therapeutic energy to an adjacent area due to a material response to an applied energy field from a remotely located energy source. The treatment assembly may be delivered into the fistula through a hemodialysis needle, or may be secured to the fistula graft itself and implanted therewith in a patient. A cover provides a shield between an anastomosis area and blood flow. Another AV-fistula includes a valved reservoir that receives a fluid agent from a hemodialysis needle while moving the needle into or from the fistula; the agent leaks from the reservoir into the fistula lumen. Another valved fistula is adjustable between an open condition and closed conditions during and between hemodialysis treatments, respectively. Another AV-fistula has a bladder reservoir coupled to a second refillable fluid reservoir and is adapted to locally deliver a therapeutic agent into the fistula lumen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter device, preferably for hemodialysis, that consists of a cylindrical filter housing and a bundle of curled hollow fibers. The bundle is arranged in the filter housing. According to the invention, the curled hollow fibers are provided with an essentially sinusoidal texture and a wavelength that is defined by means of certain limits. The invention also relates to a curled hollow fiber and a method for filling a hollow fiber dialyser.