Dialysis systems and methods including moving dialyzer

Abstract

A dialysis system includes a dialysis machine having a blood pump and a renal treatment fluid pump. The system further includes a blood filter operable with the dialysis machine and a device movably coupled to the blood filter and configured to move the blood filter to dislodge gas bubbles suspended within the blood filter.

1 . A dialysis system comprising:
 a dialysis machine including a blood pump and a renal treatment fluid pump;   a blood filter operable with the dialysis machine;   a blood filter holder coupled to the dialysis machine and configured to hold the blood filter; and   a device configured to move the blood filter holder when the blood filter holder is holding the blood filter to dislodge gas bubbles suspended within the blood filter.   
     
     
         2 . The dialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a motor or a vibrator. 
     
     
         3 . The dialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a vibrator coupled to the dialysis machine such that the blood filter holder is exposed to receive the blood filter. 
     
     
         4 . The dialysis system of  claim 3 , wherein the vibrator includes a head coupled to the blood filter holder, the head configured to vibrate into and out of a body of the vibrator. 
     
     
         5 . The dialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the device is pivotally connected to the blood filter holder so as to allow the blood filter holder to be reciprocated. 
     
     
         6 . The dialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the blood filter holder includes an arm coupled at a first end to the dialysis machine and at a second end to the blood filter. 
     
     
         7 . The dialysis system of  claim 6 , wherein the first end includes a bearing slidable within the dialysis machine, the device configured to slide the arm via the bearing relative to the dialysis machine. 
     
     
         8 . The dialysis system of  claim 6 , wherein the second end includes a ring configured to snap-fit onto the blood filter. 
     
     
         9 . The dialysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes an ultrasonic vibrator. 
     
     
         10 . A dialysis system comprising:
 a dialysis machine including a blood pump and a renal treatment fluid pump;   a blood filter operable with the dialysis machine; and   a device movably coupled to the blood filter and configured to move the blood filter to dislodge gas bubbles suspended within the blood filter.   
     
     
         11 . The dialysis system of  claim 10 , wherein the device includes a motor or a vibrator. 
     
     
         12 . The dialysis system of  claim 11 , wherein the dialysis machine includes a motor controller configured to (i) rotate the motor in a single rotational direction to dislodge gas bubbles suspended within the blood filter, or (ii) rotate the motor in two rotational directions to dislodge gas bubbles suspended within the blood filter. 
     
     
         13 . The dialysis system of  claim 10 , wherein the device includes a motor, and which includes a rotatable disk coupled to the motor, and an arm coupling the rotatable disk to the blood filter. 
     
     
         14 . The dialysis system of  claim 10 , which includes an arm coupled to the motor, the arm including first and second branches, the first and second branches each pivotally coupled to the blood filter at opposing sides of the blood filter. 
     
     
         15 . The dialysis system of  claim 10 , wherein the dialysis machine includes at least one track, the blood filter moveable within the at least one track. 
     
     
         16 . The dialysis system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one track includes two tracks disposed substantially horizontally, the device configured to move the blood filter within the two tracks such that the blood filter moves substantially horizontally. 
     
     
         17 . The dialysis system of  claim 10 , wherein the device is a motor including a shaft coupled to an unbalanced load, and which includes a plate movably coupling the blood filter to the unbalanced load. 
     
     
         18 . The dialysis system of  claim 17 , wherein the plate defines an aperture, the unbalanced load coupled to the plate via the aperture. 
     
     
         19 . A dialysis system method comprising:
 moving a blood filter mechanically so as to dislodge gas bubbles suspended within the blood filter.   
     
     
         20 . The dialysis system method of  claim 19 , wherein moving the blood filter includes vibrating the blood filter. 
     
     
         21 . The dialysis system method of  claim 19 , which includes moving the blood filter during priming.