Liquid pumping cassettes and associated pressure distribution manifold and related methods

A disposable blood cassette with a vial holder for use in a hemodialysis unit, comprising:

• a blood pump comprising:
• a housing;
• a blood pump;
• a blood inlet;
• a blood outlet;
• and
• one or more fluid channels fluidly connecting the blood inlet to the blood pump and fluidly connecting the blood pump to the blood outlet;
• and
• a vial holder to receive a vial and comprising:
• a vial support comprising:
• a vertically oriented spine fused to the housing;
• a support ring that is integral to the spine and oriented so a center axis of the ring is vertical;
• a support arm that extends horizontally from the spine;
• a hollow spike with a first end that extends vertically from the support arm and a second end that extends through the support arm to a fluid channel;
• and
• a support cylinder aligned with the support ring and comprising:
• two pads located on opposite sides of the support cylinder and attached to the support cylinder by living hinges that bend about a vertical axis;
• a first complete ring above the pads;
• a second complete ring below the pads;
• and
• tabs that extend vertically off the second ring that mechanically attach the support cylinder to the support ring;
• wherein said vial holder is configured to receive a cylindrical vial;
• wherein the two opposed pads are configured to center the vial over the hollow spike.

A disposable blood cassette with a vial holder for use in a hemodialysis unit, comprising:

• a blood pump comprising:
• a housing;
• a blood pump;
• a blood inlet;
• a blood outlet;
• and
• one or more fluid channels fluidly connecting the blood inlet to the blood pump and fluidly connecting the blood pump to the blood outlet;
• and
• a vial holder to receive a vial and comprising:
• a vial support comprising:
• a vertically oriented spine fused to the housing;
• a support ring that is integral to the spine and oriented so a center axis of the ring is vertical;
• a support arm that extends horizontally from the spine;
• and
• a hollow spike with a first end that extends vertically from the support arm and a second end that extends through the support arm to a fluid channel;
• and
• a support cylinder aligned with the support ring and comprising:
• two windows on opposite sides of the support cylinder;
• and
• two pads, each located in a window and attached to the support cylinder by a living hinge that bends about a vertical axis;
• wherein the support cylinder is mechanically attached to the support ring;
• wherein the vial holder is configured to receive a vial;
• and
• wherein the two opposed pads center the vial toward a plane defined by the first end of the hollow spike and the spine.