Weight/sensor-controlled sorbent system for hemodialysis

1. A hemodialysis system comprising:

a dialyzer;

a blood circuit including a blood pump in fluid communication with the dialyzer;

a dialysate circuit including a dialysate circulation pump in fluid communication with the dialyzer, the dialysate circuit further including a sorbent cartridge for cleaning used dialysate;

a container holding an initial supply of dialysate;

a container pump in fluid communication with the dialysate circuit and the container;

a supply of concentrate, wherein the container pump is also positioned and arranged to pump concentrate from the concentrate supply to the dialysate circuit; and

an electronic weight balance positioned and arranged to weigh the supply of concentrate.

2. The hemodialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the container doubles as an ultrafiltration collection container.

3. The hemodialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic weight balance is positioned and arranged to weigh both the concentrate supply and the container.

4. The hemodialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the dialysate circuit includes at least one sensor for sensing a toxin level of dialysate flowing through the dialysate circuit.

5. The hemodialysis system of claim 4 , wherein an output from the sensor is used to control a rate of reconstitution from the supply of concentrate.

6. The hemodialysis system of claim 1 , wherein the dialysate circuit is vented.

7. The hemodialysis system of claim 6 , wherein the dialysate circuit is vented at the sorbent cartridge.

8. A hemodialysis system comprising:

a dialyzer;

a blood circuit including a blood pump in fluid communication with the dialyzer;

a dialysate circuit including a dialysate circulation pump in fluid communication with the dialyzer, the dialysate circuit further including a sorbent cartridge for cleaning used dialysate;

a container holding an initial supply of dialysate;

a supply of concentrate;

a concentrate pump positioned and arranged to pump concentrate from the concentrate supply to the dialysate circuit; and

an electronic weight balance positioned and arranged to weigh the dialysate supply container.

9. The hemodialysis system of claim 8 , wherein the electronic weight balance is positioned and arranged to weigh both the concentrate supply and the dialysate container.

10. The hemodialysis system of claim 8 , wherein the dialysate container doubles as an ultrafiltration collection container.

11. The hemodialysis system of claim 8 , which includes a valve configured to selectively allow dialysate removed from the dialyzer to be directed to the sorbent cartridge or to the dialysate container as ultrafiltration.

12. The hemodialysis system of claim 8 , which includes a first valve positioned between the dialyzer and the dialysate circulation pump and a second valve positioned between the dialysate circulation pump and the sorbent cartridge.

13. The hemodialysis system of claim 8 , which includes a check valve positioned and arranged to prevent regenerated dialysate exiting the sorbent cartridge from reentering the sorbent cartridge.

14. The hemodialysis system of claim 8 , which includes a sensor positioned and arranged in the blood circuit for sensing air in the blood circuit.

15. The hemodialysis system of claim 8 , which includes a sensor positioned and arranged to monitor regenerated dialysate exiting the sorbent cartridge.

16. The hemodialysis system of claim 8 , which includes a sensor positioned and arranged to monitor a toxin removal efficiency of the system.

17. The hemodialysis system of claim 8 , which includes a sensor positioned and arranged so that an output of the sensor can be used to control a rate of flow from the supply of concentrate.

18. A hemodialysis system comprising:

a dialyzer;

a blood circuit including a blood pump in fluid communication with the dialyzer;

a dialysate circuit including a dialysate circulation pump in fluid communication with the dialyzer, the dialysate circuit further including a sorbent cartridge for cleaning used dialysate;

a container holding an initial supply of dialysate;

a supply of concentrate;

a concentrate pump positioned and arranged to pump concentrate from the concentrate supply to the dialysate circuit; and

wherein the hemodialysis system is configured to electronically weigh the dialysate supply container.

19. The hemodialysis system of claim 18 , which is configured to weigh both the dialysate supply container and the supply of concentrate.

20. A hemodialysis system comprising:

a dialyzer;

a blood circuit including a blood pump in fluid communication with the dialyzer;

a dialysate circuit including a dialysate circulation pump in fluid communication with the dialyzer, the dialysate circuit further including a sorbent cartridge for cleaning used dialysate and at least one sensor for sensing a toxin level of dialysate flowing through the dialysate circuit;

a container holding an initial supply of dialysate;

a container pump in fluid communication with the dialysate circuit and the container;

a supply of concentrate; and

an electronic weight balance positioned and arranged to weigh the supply of concentrate.

21. The hemodialysis system of claim 20 , wherein an output from the sensor is used to control a rate of reconstitution from the supply of concentrate.

22. A hemodialysis system comprising:

a dialyzer;

a blood circuit including a blood pump in fluid communication with the dialyzer;

a dialysate circuit including a dialysate circulation pump in fluid communication with the dialyzer, the dialysate circuit further including a sorbent cartridge for cleaning used dialysate, and wherein the dialysate circuit is vented at the sorbent cartridge;

a container holding an initial supply of dialysate;

a container pump in fluid communication with the dialysate circuit and the container;

a supply of concentrate; and

an electronic weight balance positioned and arranged to weigh the supply of concentrate.