Blood treatment systems and methods

Abstract

Dialysis systems comprising actuators that cooperate to perform dialysis functions and sensors that cooperate to monitor dialysis functions are disclosed. According to one aspect, such a hemodialysis system comprises a user interface model layer, a therapy layer, below the user interface model layer, and a machine layer below the therapy layer. The user interface model layer is configured to manage the state of a graphical user interface and receive inputs from a graphical user interface. The therapy layer is configured to run state machines that generate therapy commands based at least in part on the inputs from the graphical user interface. The machine layer is configured to provide commands for the actuators based on the therapy commands.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling the administration of an anticoagulant in a dialysis system, the method comprising:
 storing, on at least one storage medium, an anticoagulant protocol comprising a maximum amount of anticoagulant;   automatically administering the anticoagulant according to the anticoagulant protocol; and   prohibiting the administration of additional anticoagulant after determining that the maximum amount of anticoagulant has been administered.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the anticoagulant protocol comprises a prescribed rate of anticoagulant administration; and   automatically administering the anticoagulant according to the anticoagulant protocol comprises automatically administering the anticoagulant at the prescribed rate.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the anticoagulant protocol comprises a basal rate of anticoagulant administration and a maintenance rate of anticoagulant administration. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein automatically administering the anticoagulant according to the anticoagulant protocol comprises automatically administering a bolus of anticoagulant via an arterial blood line prior to a dialysis operation. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein automatically administering an anticoagulant according to the anticoagulant protocol comprises automatically administering a bolus of anticoagulant via a venous blood line prior to a dialysis operation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein automatically administering the bolus of anticoagulant via the venous blood line is performed in response to an indication that air is present in a blood flow path. 
     
     
         19 . At least one computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on at least one processing unit, perform a method for controlling the administration of an anticoagulant in a dialysis system, the method comprising:
 electronically receiving an anticoagulant protocol comprising a maximum amount of anticoagulant;   controlling a plurality of actuators to administer the anticoagulant according to the anticoagulant protocol; and   prohibiting the administration of additional anticoagulant after determining that the maximum amount of anticoagulant has been administered.   
     
     
         20 - 34 . (canceled)