Patent ID: 8137300

Claim:
An extracorporeal blood system comprising: an extracorporeal blood machine including an extracorporeal blood circuit; an access device enabling the extracorporeal blood circuit to be connected to a patient; first and second coupling devices for connecting respectively to first and second tubes of the extracorporeal circuit; first and second electrodes held, at least in part, by the first and second coupling devices so as to contact blood flowing through the extracorporeal blood circuit, the first and second electrodes enabling an electrical signal to be injected into the extracorporeal blood circuit; first and second contact members contacting the first and second electrodes respectively, wherein at least one of the first and second coupling devices includes a stem portion into which at least one of the first and second contact members is inserted to contact at least one of the first and second electrodes, respectively; and electronics coupled operably to the first and second contact members for applying the electrical signal, the signal used to monitor the access device.