US 12,083,259 B2
Fluid circuit priming methods, devices, and systems
James M. Brugger, Newburyport, MA (US); and William J. Schnell, Libertyville, IL (US)
Assigned to NxStage Medical, Inc., Lawrence, MA (US)
Filed by NxStage Medical, Inc., Lawrence, MA (US)
Filed on Oct. 8, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/065,964.
Application 17/065,964 is a division of application No. 15/977,764, filed on May 11, 2018, granted, now 10,835,662.
Application 15/977,764 is a continuation of application No. 14/765,001, granted, now 10,022,484, issued on Jul. 17, 2018, previously published as PCT/US2014/015172, filed on Feb. 6, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/926,704, filed on Jan. 13, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/783,774, filed on Mar. 14, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/762,197, filed on Feb. 7, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/761,405, filed on Feb. 6, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0023291 A1, Jan. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. A61M 1/36 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 1/3646 (2014.02) [A61M 1/365 (2014.02); A61M 1/3647 (2014.02); A61M 1/3649 (2014.02)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A kit for priming a blood treatment circuit that is configured for use in hemodialysis, comprising:
a dialyzer that includes at least a first blood port, a second blood port, a first non-blood port, and a second non-blood port, the dialyzer further including a microtubular filter fiber bundle with lumens of the microtubular filter fiber bundle terminated by an inlet header and an outlet header, the inlet header fluidly connected to the first blood port and the outlet header fluidly connected to the second blood port, and a casing surrounding the microtubular filter fiber bundle and defining a non-blood compartment that is fluidly connected to the first non-blood port and the second non-blood port;
a blood circuit coupled to the dialyzer, with at least a first fluidly connected to the first blood port and a second fluid line fluidly connected to the second blood port;
at least one cap fluidly connected to the first non-blood port of the dialyzer and having a hole in a central region of the at least one cap;
a hydrophobic membrane attached to the at least one cap and covering the hole such that water or aqueous fluid is prevented from flowing through the hole while air or other gas is permitted to flow through the hole;
a connector on at least one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line to allow a fluid connection to a fluid source; and
a container of a priming fluid for said priming, the container being connectable to the first fluid line and the second fluid line, wherein
priming fluid from the container of the priming fluid generates a positive transmembrane pressure across walls of microtubular filter fibers of the microtubular filter fiber bundle to push air out of the walls into the non-blood compartment, when the container of the priming fluid is fluidly connected to the first fluid line and the second fluid line.