Hemodialysis systems and methods

Abstract

Hemodialysis dialysis systems are disclosed. Hemodialysis systems of the invention may include a dialysate flow path including a balancing circuit, a mixing circuit, and/or a directing circuit. The circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuits may be at least partially isolated, spatially and/or thermally, from electrical components of the system. A gas supply may be provided in fluid communication with the dialysate flow path and/or the dialyzer to, urge dialysate through the dialyzer and blood back to the patient. The hemodialysis systems may include fluid handling devices actuated using a control fluid, optionally delivered using detachable pump. Fluid handling devices may be generally rigid and of a spheroid shape, optionally with a diaphragm dividing the device into compartments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hemodialysis system comprising:
 a dialysis unit comprising an automation computer and dialysis equipment;   a user interface unit comprising a user interface computer and a user interface, the user interface being adapted to display information and receive inputs;   wherein the automation computer is configured to receive requests for safety-critical information from the user interface computer, and the automation computer is configured to access the safety-critical information on behalf of the user interface computer; and   wherein the user interface computer is configured to display information related to a dialysis process via the user interface using the safety-critical information.   
     
     
         2 . The hemodialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the safety-critical information relates to a state of a display of the user interface, the state of the display being based, at least in part, on a state of the dialysis process. 
     
     
         3 . The hemodialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the safety-critical information comprises data collected from the dialysis process. 
     
     
         4 . The hemodialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface computer is configured to receive an input specifying a display mode and to select, based on the specified display mode, a subset of the safety-critical information to use to display the information related to the dialysis process. 
     
     
         5 . The hemodialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the automation computer comprises an interface to the dialysis equipment;   the user interface computer is configured to receive an input relating to a requested dialysis process and transmit the input to the automation computer; and   the automation computer is configured to issue, in response to receipt of the input, a command to the interface to initiate the dialysis process.   
     
     
         6 . The hemodialysis system of  claim 5 , wherein the automation computer is further configured to verify the input prior to issuing the command. 
     
     
         7 . The hemodialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface computer is further configured to display information related to the dialysis process via the user interface using screen design information accessed directly by the user interface computer. 
     
     
         8 . The hemodialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the automation computer is configured to control all safety-critical information stored in the hemodialysis system. 
     
     
         9 . The hemodialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the hemodialysis system comprises a database for storing the safety-critical information, and wherein the automation computer is configured to control the storage of the safety-critical information to the database. 
     
     
         10 . The hemodialysis system of  claim 9 , wherein the user interface computer is prevented from writing information to the database. 
     
     
         11 . The hemodialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the dialysis equipment comprises a mixing circuit, a blood flow circuit, a balancing circuit, and an external dialysate circuit. 
     
     
         12 . The hemodialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the automation computer is configured to trigger an alarm condition when an abnormal condition is detected by at least one sensor associated with the dialysis equipment. 
     
     
         13 . The hemodialysis system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface computer is configured to control a display of alarm information indicative of the alarm condition via the user interface. 
     
     
         14 - 33 . (canceled)