System and a method for determining integrity of a dialyzer

A method for determining integrity of a dialyzer having a gas within an interior of the dialyzer, the method comprising the steps of:

• connecting a first chamber holding a liquid to the dialyzer;
• creating a pressure gradient within the dialyzer;
• and
• monitoring a pressure decay within the dialyzer.

A method for determining integrity of a dialyzer having an interior and further having air within the interior, the method comprising the steps of:

• transferring a liquid toward the dialyzer to create a pressure gradient within the dialyzer;
• compressing the air within the dialyzer;
• allowing the air within the dialyzer to escape from the dialyzer to create a pressure change;
• and
• measuring the pressure change caused by the air which escapes from the dialyzer.

A system for determining integrity, the system comprising:

• a dialyzer having an interior and further having hollow fibers within the interior wherein the hollow fibers have an interior and wherein the hollow fibers contain a first gas and wherein the dialyzer has a leak threshold associated with the dialyzer wherein the leak threshold indicates an amount of the gas which may leak from the dialyzer which renders the dialyzer unfit for use;
• a liquid pump;
• a liquid supply;
• at least one fluid pathway connecting said liquid supply, said liquid pump and said dialyzer wherein said pathway initially contains a second gas;
• at least one transducer monitoring a pressure within the hollow fibers wherein the transducer produces a signal indicating the pressure;
• and
• a processor receiving the signal from the pressure transducer wherein the processor determines a rate of pressure change within the dialyzer and compares the rate of pressure change to the leak threshold associated with the dialyzer.

A method for determining the integrity of a dialyzer having a gas within an interior of the dialyzer, the method comprising the steps of:

• connecting the dialyzer to a disposable set having an air separation chamber, a pump, a valve and a fluid delivery line which contains a gas;
• connecting a liquid supply to the disposable set;
• and
• creating a pressure within the disposable set and dialyzer by moving fluid from the liquid supply towards the dialyzer;
• stopping the movement of fluid towards the dialyzer;
• and
• monitoring a rate of pressure decay within the dialyzer.