Systems and methods for priming sorbent-based hemodialysis

1. A method for priming a hemodialysis treatment comprising:

providing a sorbent cartridge for cleaning spent dialysate fluid returning from a dialyzer;

preparing a batch of dialysate in a quantity commensurate with being recycled through the sorbent cartridge multiple times;

priming a dialysate circuit in fluid communication with the dialyzer using the batch of dialysate; and

reversing a blood pump at least one time to prime a blood circuit in fluid communication with the dialyzer using a biologically safe fluid other than dialysate.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biologically safe fluid is saline, and which includes pulling the saline from a saline source.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein preparing the batch includes mixing water and concentrate.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein preparing the batch includes using on the order of five liters of water to mix the dialysate.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein priming the blood circuit includes venting air through a vent.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein priming the blood circuit includes connecting the ends of arterial and venous lines of the blood circuit together.

7. The method of claim 1 , which includes opening and closing at least one valve in the blood circuit in combination with the reversing of the blood pump at least one time to prime the blood circuit.

8. The method of claim 1 , which includes, in combination with reversing the blood pump, opening and closing (i) a first valve operating with the blood circuit on a first side of an inlet of the biologically safe fluid to the blood circuit and (ii) a second valve operating with the blood circuit on a second side of the inlet.

9. The method of claim 1 , which includes drawing the biologically safe fluid into the blood circuit and pushing the biologically safe fluid at one time in a first direction towards an air trap located in the blood circuit and at another time in a second direction towards a dialyzer located in the blood circuit.

10. The method of claim 1 , which includes drawing the biologically safe fluid into the blood circuit and pushing the biologically safe fluid at one time in a therapy operation direction and at another time in a reverse of the therapy operation direction.

11. The method of claim 1 , which includes beginning the priming of the dialysate circuit prior to beginning the priming of the blood circuit.

12. A method for priming a hemodialysis treatment comprising:

providing a sorbent cartridge for cleaning spent dialysate fluid returning from a dialyzer;

preparing a batch of dialysate in a quantity commensurate with being recycled through the sorbent cartridge multiple times;

priming a dialysate circuit in fluid communication with the dialyzer using the batch dialysate; and

priming a blood circuit by allowing a biologically safe fluid to be drawn into the blood circuit and to flow in different directions within the blood circuit.

13. The method of claim 12 , which includes drawing the biologically safe fluid into the blood circuit via a blood pump.

14. The method of claim 12 , which includes flowing the biologically safe fluid in different directions within the blood circuit using a blood pump.

15. The method of claim 14 , which includes reversing the blood pump.

16. A dialysis machine configured and arranged to perform the method of claim 12 .

17. A dialysis system comprising:

a batch container;

a sorbent cartridge;

first and second dialysate pumps;

a blood pump;

a source of biologically safe fluid;

a dialyzer;

a dialysate circuit (i) in fluid communication with the batch container, the sorbent cartridge, and the dialyzer and (ii) in operable communication with the first and second dialysate pumps;

a blood circuit (i) in fluid communication with the source of biologically safe fluid and the dialyzer and (ii) in operable communication with the blood pump; and

at least one processor configured and arranged to operate a priming sequence in which (i) dialysate prepared in the batch container is flowed through the dialysate circuit (ii) the biologically safe fluid is drawn from the source and (iii) the blood pump is reversed to flow the biologically safe fluid through the blood circuit.

18. The dialysis system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor is configured and arranged to operate at least one of the first and second dialysate pumps to flow the dialysate through the dialysate circuit.

19. The dialysis system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor is configured and arranged to operate the blood pump to draw the biologically safe fluid from the source.