Blood set priming method and apparatus

The method of priming an extracorporeal blood set with physiological solution for use in a dialysis process, which set comprises set tubing having a patient connector on the end thereof, and a first branch tube in connection with a source of said solution, said branch tube branching from said set tubing and connecting with said set between ends thereof, said first branch tube connecting in branching relation with a second connector capable of sealing connection with said patient connector, said patient and second connectors each having a minimum flow-through bore diameter of at least 2 mm;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• connecting the patient connector and the second connector to form a closed loop of tubing;
• passing said solution from said source in flow through said first branch tube, said second connector, and said patient connector to fill them and said set tubing with said solution, and further comprising the step of occluding flow through said first branch tube at a first point between said second connector and said set tubing, to temporarily cause all of said solution flow from said solution source to pass through said second connector and said patient connector, and then through said set tubing;
• and disconnecting said patient connector from the second connector for subsequent connection with the vascular system of a patient;
• and further including the step of subsequently reconnecting the patient connector and said second connector, and again passing said physiological solution from said source in flow through said branch tubing, second connector and patient connector to flush said set tubing with said solution.

The method of ending a process of extracorporeal blood treatment using a blood-filled tubular set, said set comprising set tubing having a patient connector on an end thereof and in blood flow connection with a patient;

• and a first branch tube branching from said set tubing in connection with a source of physiological solution, said first branch tube connecting with said set between ends thereof;
• said first branch tube communicating in branching relation with a second connector capable of sealing connection with said patient connector, each of said connectors having a minimum flow-through bore diameter of at least about 2 mm.;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• disconnecting the patient connector from the patient, and reconnecting the patient connector with the second connector to form a closed loop of tubing;
• and passing said physiological solution from said source, with flow through said first branch tube, said second connector, and said patient connector, to replace blood in said set tubing with said solution.