Blood rinseback system and method

A hemodialysis system configured to return blood to a patient, the hemodialysis system comprising:

• a dialyzer;
• a dialysis fluid circuit in fluid communication with the dialyzer via dialysis fluid inlet and outlet lines, the dialysis fluid circuit including
• a fresh dialysis fluid pump,
• a used dialysis fluid pump,
• a blood circuit in fluid communication with the dialyzer and including
• an arterial line for removing blood from a patient and delivering the blood to the dialyzer,
• a venous line for returning blood from the dialyzer to the patient,
• a blood pump operable with the arterial line upstream of the dialyzer,
• a physiologically acceptable fluid source in fluid communication with the arterial line between a patient end of the arterial line and the blood pump,
• a drip chamber located along the venous line;
• a blood detector operable with the venous line;
• and
• a blood rinseback scheme wherein, with the dialysis fluid inlet and outlet lines connected to the dialyzer, blood is pushed to the patient via the physiologically acceptable fluid being introduced from its source into the arterial line between the arterial line patient end and the blood pump, and flowed through the dialyzer, through the venous drip chamber and to the blood detector along the venous line, where the physiologically acceptable fluid is sensed by the blood detector to indicate an end of the blood rinseback.

A hemodialysis system configured to return blood to a patient, the hemodialysis system comprising:

• a dialyzer;
• a dialysis fluid circuit in fluid communication with the dialyzer via dialysis fluid inlet and outlet lines, the dialysis fluid circuit including
• a fresh dialysis fluid pump,
• a used dialysis fluid pump,
• a blood circuit in fluid communication with the dialyzer and including
• an arterial line for removing blood from a patient and delivering the blood to the dialyzer,
• a venous line for returning blood from the dialyzer to the patient,
• a blood pump operable with the arterial line upstream of the dialyzer,
• a physiologically acceptable fluid source in fluid communication with the arterial line between a patient end of the arterial line and the blood pump,
• a drip chamber located along the venous line;
• a blood detector operable with the venous line;
• and
• a blood rinseback scheme wherein, with the dialysis fluid inlet and outlet lines connected to the dialyzer, blood is transferred to the patient by the physiologically acceptable fluid, wherein the physiologically acceptable fluid is introduced from its source into the arterial line between the arterial line patient end and the blood pump, and flowed through the dialyzer, through the venous drip chamber and to the blood detector along the venous line, where the physiologically acceptable fluid is sensed by the blood detector to indicate an end of the blood rinseback.