Patent ID: 7780619

Claim:
A blood treatment system, comprising: a blood processing machine having first and second parts that are connected together, the first and second parts being movable with respect to each other and being configured to separate to define a gap between a first face of the first part and a first face of the second part in a loading configuration and to come together to close the gap in an operating configuration, the first part first face opposing the second part first face; a cartridge with a fluid circuit supported by the cartridge, the cartridge having a front face, a back face, a top edge, a bottom edge, and side edges, the fluid circuit and the cartridge being configured to fit into the gap; the blood processing machine having actuators and pumps facing the gap and configured to engage with portions of the fluid circuit when the blood processing machine is placed in the operating configuration with the cartridge in the gap; and a support mechanism between the first faces of the first and second parts of the blood processing machine, the support mechanism being configured such that the bottom edge of the cartridge can be rested thereon in the loading configuration so as to support the cartridge and to align the portions of the fluid circuit with said actuators and pumps for engagement of the portions of the fluid circuit therewith, wherein at least the side edges of the cartridge are free from contact with the support mechanism when the cartridge is rested thereon, wherein the bottom edge of the cartridge includes engagement surfaces that, upon the cartridge being inserted vertically into the blood processing machine, engage portions of the support mechanism such that the cartridge is progressively self-aligned with the actuators and pumps of the blood processing machine, and wherein the cartridge is configured such that it is progressively aligned in a lateral direction as the engagement surfaces travel along portions of the support mechanism toward a vertical travel limit.