Patent ID: 7458951

Claim:
A method of structuring a machine to heat a dialysis fluid comprising: supporting a radiant energy emitter via a housing having an opening; covering the opening with a radiant energy transmissive material; disposing a radiant energy reflector opposite the radiant energy emitter such that a disposable dialysis fluid pumping unit when installed is positioned between the radiant energy emitter and the radiant energy reflector; supporting a resistance heater so that it is adjacent to the disposable dialysis fluid pumping unit when installed; and wherein the radiant energy emitter, the radiant energy reflector and the resistance heater are supported and disposed such that when the disposable dialysis fluid pumping unit is installed, (i) radiant energy from the radiant energy emitter is directed towards the radiant energy transmissive material to heat the dialysis fluid within the disposable unit to a first temperature, and (ii) heating energy from the resistance heater is directed towards the disposable unit to heat the dialysis fluid to a second temperature.