Two stage hemofiltration that generates replacement fluid

1. A system for two-stage blood filtration of a patient, comprising:

a first filtration device, comprising a blood inlet port connected to a blood supply conduit, a blood waste outlet port connected to a blood waste flow conduit, and a filtered blood outlet port connected to a filtered blood flow conduit; and

a second filtration device, comprising a blood waste inlet port connected to the blood waste flow conduit, a replacement fluid outlet port connected to a replacement fluid flow conduit, and a waste product outlet port;

wherein at least one of the first and second filtration devices comprises a Taylor vortex-enhanced filtration device, a downstream end of the replacement fluid flow conduit is connected to either the blood supply conduit or the filtered blood flow conduit, and neither of the first and second filtration devices comprises a dialysis device.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a T-junction connecting the replacement fluid flow conduit to the filtered blood flow conduit to create a return blood flow.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a supplemental fluid source connected to the filtered blood flow conduit.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the supplemental replacement fluid is supplemented with at least one additive.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the return blood flow is substantially equal to blood flow from the patient.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a T-junction connecting the replacement fluid flow conduit to the blood supply conduit to increase blood flow entering the first filtration device.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the blood flow to the first filtration device is further increased by the introduction of a supplemental replacement fluid.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the supplemental replacement fluid is supplemented with at least one additive.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an anticoagulant source for mixing an anticoagulant with the blood from the patient.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein said Taylor vortex-enhanced filtration device comprises:

a housing having a housing wall;

a first rotor having a first wall comprising a filtration membrane and defining a first interior, wherein said first rotor is disposed within said housing and is adapted to rotate therein, such that a first gap exists between the filtration membrane and the housing wall; and

a first rotational drive means for rotating the first rotor within said housing at a speed sufficient to create Taylor vorticity in the first gap.

11. A system for two-stage blood filtration of a patient, comprising:

a first filtration device for receiving the blood from the patient and producing a first filtrate and processed blood, wherein the first filtration device comprises:

a cylindrical housing having a housing wall;

a first cylindrical rotor having a first wall comprising a dialysis membrane, wherein said first cylindrical rotor is disposed coaxially within said housing and adapted to rotate therein, such that a first coaxial gap exists between the dialysis membrane and the housing wall;

a second cylindrical rotor having a second wall, wherein said second cylindrical rotor is disposed coaxially within said first cylindrical rotor and adapted to rotate therein, such that a second coaxial gap exists between the first and second walls;

a first inlet port in the housing wall for conducting the blood from the patient into the first coaxial gap and a first outlet port in the housing wall for conducting processed blood out of the first coaxial gap;

a second outlet port in said housing for conducting the first filtrate out of the second coaxial gap;

a first rotational drive means for rotating the first cylindrical rotor within said housing; and

a second rotational drive means for rotating the second cylindrical rotor within said housing; and

a second filtration device for receiving the first filtrate and producing replacement fluid and waste product;

wherein at least one of the first and second filtration devices comprises a Taylor vortex-enhanced filtration device.