Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus and methods for controlling and sterilizing the flow of fluids through a medical treatment device such as a dialyzer including a fluid flow inlet for feeding the fluid to the medical treatment device, a heater for controlling the supply of heat to the fluid in the fluid flow inlet, a fluid flow outlet for withdrawing contaminated fluid from the dialyzer, a recirculation duct for recirculating at least a portion of the heated fluid from a point in the fluid flow inlet to an upstream point in the fluid flow inlet in which the heated fluid can again pass through the heater, and valves for selectively directing at least a portion of the fluid to the recirculation duct for sterilization purposes. The method further includes flowing the fluid through a fluid flow inlet, supplying heat to the fluid in the fluid flow inlet, feeding the heated fluid to the dialyzer, withdrawing contaminated fluid from the dialyzer, and intermittently recirculating at least a portion of the heated fluid from a point upstream of the dialyzer to a point in the fluid flow inlet whereby the recirculated heated fluid can again pass through the heater so that the fluid flow inlet can be sterilized thereby.

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First Claim