Patent ID: 7776210

Claim:
A dialysate fluid circulation apparatus comprising: (a) a dialyzer; (b) a first housing containing material capable of releasing sodium into dialysate fluid flowing through the first housing; (c) a second housing containing material capable of binding sodium ions from dialysate fluid flowing through the second housing; (d) hydraulic conduit sections configured to extend between the dialyzer, the first housing, and the second housing to connect the dialyzer with the first and second housings in a primary flow path for dialysate fluid to flow from the dialyzer to the first housing, from the first housing to the second housing, and from the second housing back to the dialyzer; and (e) hydraulic conduit sections configured to define a bypass flow path, the bypass flow path providing a flow path for dialysate fluid to bypass the second housing by flowing from the first housing back to the dialyzer.