1. An alignment tool for use with the display of a computer, said display having a display screen, a frame, a pair of opposed display screen sides, a display screen top and a display screen bottom, said alignment tool comprising:
an interface portion for engaging said display;
an alignment portion attached to said interface portion, wherein said alignment portion further comprises:
a generally rectangular first planar element having a pair of opposed sides, a first end and an opposed second end connected by said sides;
a generally rectangular second planar element having a pair of opposed sides, a first end and an opposed second end connected by said sides, said first end of said second planar element attached to second end of said first planar element and
a third planar element having a pair of sloped converging sides, a first end and an opposed second end connected by said sides, said first end of said third planar element attached to said second end of said second planar element;
a first alignment index disposed on said alignment tool, said first alignment index disposed in said first planar element; and
a second alignment index disposed on said alignment tool, said second alignment index attached to said second end of said third planar element.
2. The alignment tool according to claim 1, wherein said second planar element is disposed perpendicular to said first planar element.
3. The alignment tool according to claim 1, wherein said third planar element is disposed perpendicular to said second planar element.
4. The alignment tool according to claim 1, wherein said first planar element and said third planar element are disposed parallel to each other.
5. The alignment tool according to claim 1, wherein said first alignment index is a slot extending through said first planar element.
6. The alignment tool according to claim 5, wherein said first alignment index is disposed equidistant from said display screen top and said display screen bottom, and said alignment tool is centered on one of said sides.
7. The alignment tool according to claim 1, wherein said second alignment index is a pointer extending from said second end of said third planar element.
8. An alignment tool for use with the display of a computer, said display having a display screen, a frame, a pair of opposed display screen sides, a display screen top and a display screen bottom, said alignment tool comprising:
an alignment arm having a proximal end and a distal end;
a pivot member attached to said proximal end of said alignment arm and rotabably attached to said frame;
a first alignment index disposed in said frame;
a second alignment index extending from said distal end of said alignment arm; and
a receptacle in said frame, said receptacle configured to contain aid alignment arm and said second alignment index.
9. The alignment tool according to claim 8, wherein said first alignment index is a slot.
10. The alignment tool according to claim 8, wherein said second alignment index is a pointer.
11. The alignment tool according to claim 8, further comprising a spring to pivot said pivot member.
12. The alignment tool according to claim 11, further comprising a lug mounted inside said frame, said spring having a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said alignment arm, and said second end attached to said lug.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An air trap for a blood circuit in a dialysis unit, comprising:
a blood inlet supply line;
a blood outlet supply line; and
a container having an approximately spherical internal wall, an inlet at a top end of the container connected to the blood inlet supply line, and an outlet at a bottom end of the container connected to the blood outlet supply line, the inlet being offset from a vertical axis of the approximately spherical internal wall such that blood entering the container through the inlet is directed to flow in around the approximately spherical wall in a spiral-like path;
wherein when blood is supplied to the container via the blood inlet supply line and blood in the container is removed from the container via the blood outlet supply line, air in the blood entering the container remains in the container.
2. The air trap of claim 1, wherein the container is formed by an approximately spherical shell.
3. The air trap of claim 1, wherein the blood circuit includes a dialyzer and the air trap receives blood via the blood inlet supply line from the dialyzer.
4. The air trap of claim 1, further comprising:
a self-sealing port located at a top of the container.
5. The air trap of claim 4, wherein the self-sealing port is formed by a split septum.
6. The air trap of claim 4, wherein the split septum is arranged to permit introduction of fluid into, and withdrawal of liquid from, the container by inserting a needleless device through the split septum.
7. The air trap of claim 4, wherein the self-sealing port is arranged to be self-cleaning when disinfection liquid is circulated through the container.
8. The air trap of claim 7, wherein an inner surface of the self-sealing port is approximately flush with the internal wall of the container at a top of the container.
9. The air trap of claim 8, wherein the self-sealing port is cleaned by introducing liquid into the container via the blood outlet supply line and removing liquid from the container via the blood inlet supply line.
10. The air trap of claim 1, wherein the inlet port is arranged to receive air in the container when liquid is introduced into the container via the outlet port during a priming operation.
11. The air trap of claim 1, wherein the inlet port is arranged to introduce blood into the container in a direction that is approximately tangential to the approximately spherical inner wall of the container.
12. The air trap of claim 1, wherein the inlet port is arranged to introduce blood into the container in a direction that is approximately perpendicular to the vertical axis of the container.
13. A method for removing air from a flow of blood in a dialysis unit, comprising:
introducing blood into an upper portion of an approximately spherical container;
causing the blood to flow in a spiral-like path in the container; and
removing the blood from a lower portion of the approximately spherical container.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of introducing comprises:
introducing blood into the container in a direction that is approximately tangential to an approximately spherical inner wall of the container.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of introducing comprises:
introducing blood into the container in a direction that is approximately perpendicular to the vertical axis of the container.
16. An air trap for a blood circuit in a dialysis unit, comprising:
a blood inlet supply line;
a blood outlet supply line;
a container having an approximately spherical internal wall, an inlet at a top end of the container connected to the blood inlet supply line, and an outlet at a bottom end of the container connected to the blood outlet supply line, the inlet being offset from a vertical axis of the approximately spherical internal wall such that blood entering the container through the inlet is directed to flow in around the approximately spherical wall in a spiral-like path; and
a self-sealing port located at a top of the container, the self-sealing port having an inner surface that is approximately flush with the internal wall of the container at the top of the container,
wherein when blood is supplied to the container via the blood inlet supply line and blood in the container is removed from the container via the blood outlet supply line, air in the blood entering the container remains in the container, and wherein any air in the container is substantially completely removed by introducing liquid into the container via the blood outlet supply line and removing liquid from the container via the blood inlet supply line.
17. The air trap of claim 16, wherein the inlet, outlet and internal wall of the container and the self-sealing port are arranged to substantially eliminate stagnation regions.