Abstract:
A blood reservoir device (10) comprising a generally flexible blood collection chamber (22) having an inlet portion (70) and a main portion (72). The inlet portion (70) is preferably sized and configured such that blood entering the inlet portion (70) will avoid turbulence and will undergo generally laminar flow through the inlet portion (70) into the main portion (72) of the chamber (22). A vent tube (66) is provided for venting coalesced or collected gas bubbles from the top edge of the chamber (22). Additionally, one or more filter elements may be positioned within the chamber (22) to further facilitate removal of air bubbles from blood passing through the chamber (22).
Abstract:
A device and method are provided for separating mononuclear cells from red blood cell depleted plasma in a centrifuge blood cell separator. The device includes an inlet (51) for receiving plasma, an area (63) for receiving mononuclear cells, and an outlet (53) for receiving mononuclear cell depleted plasma. The distance and flow path (65) between the inlet (51) and outlet (53) being so constructed and arranged as to cause mononuclear cells to sediment out into the area (63) for receiving the mononuclear cells and causing at least 66 % of the platelets contained in the plasma to flow to and through the outlet.
Abstract:
A catheter assembly (20) for measuring a fluid pressure in a body cavity includes pulse modulator (39) responsive to an electrical power source (33) for energizing a light-emitting diode (45) which has drift characteristics which vary in response to temperature. An optical sensor (22) is adapted to receive the light from the light-emitting diode (45) and to provide a measurement signal indicative of the fluid pressure in the cavity. This measurement signal has undesirable characteristics related to the thermal drift characteristics of the diode. A detection circuit (58, 60) detects the measurement signal and provides an output signal indicative of fluid pressure in the cavity. A special filter (63) is included in this detection circuit which has optical characteristics that substantially offset the undesirable characteristics of the measurement signal, so that the output signal is substantially independent of the temperature of the diode. A power conversion circuit (36) enables the assembly to be energized by an excitation voltage which is provided in several different forms by various monitors.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a drive signal for a peristaltic pump motor (42). A first circuit is provided which generates a first series of pulses (SF) at a given frequency. A second circuit is provided which generates a second series of pulses (M4) having a frequency higher than the frequency of the first series of pulses. A third circuit is provided which generates a third series of pulses (M3A) having a frequency between the frequency of the first (SF) and second (M4) series of pulses. Finally, a circuit is provided which combines the three series of pulses into a drive signal (M3). The drive signal length is determined by the frequency of the first series of pulses (SF). The drive signal further is divided into two sections, an initial pulse stage determined by the frequency of the third series of pulses (M3A), and a modulated pulse stage being a series of pulses determined by the frequency of the second series of pulses (M6).
Abstract:
A monitor-driven intracranial catheter assembly including a dual lumen catheter (70, 72) for monitoring intracranial pressure via a pressure sensor (76) located in one lumen while simultaneously draining cerebrospinal fluid through the other lumen (72, 66). The pressure sensor (76) is preferebly a spectral modulation sensor that communicates with a photodetector apparatus by means of a single optical fiber (98), thus minimizing the diameter of the catheter. The photodetector is self-correcting for signal errors caused by temperature change, changes in intensity of the input light, and transmission losses within the optical apparatus. Moreover, the photodetector operates off the output voltage of the standard hospital monitor by ''scaling'' the signal from the monitor to provide a pressure measurement signal that emulates the output of a piezoresistive strain gauge sensor or Wheatstone bridge. Therefore, the entire catheter assembly is designed to be used with any of the common types of hospital monitors. The pressure monitoring catheter assembly can be used in any situation requiring very sensitive pressure measurements and can be zeroed and calibrated in situ.
Abstract:
Sterile interconnection between disassociated segments of thermostable, compressible fluid conduit tubing (22A, 22B) is achieved by arranging within the bore of the free end of each segment a conductive hollow metal tube (30) so as to establish a connected fluid flow path from one segment to the other, through the metal tube (30) and then sterilizing the connection by induction heating.
Abstract:
A static oxygenator (10) for oxygenating a liquid, particularly a suspension culture of animal cells in a liquid culture medium, comprised of a bottom gassing portion comprised of generally concentric vertically oriented hollow cylinders (16, 18) of porous gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable material, and an upper degassing section comprised of vertical extensions of the concentric cylinders such that at least one liquid overflow weir (17) is provided at the juncture between the bottom and upper sections. Gas directed into the bottom of the annular space (15) between the concentric cylinders (16, 18) rises therein and, across the porous material, oxygenates liquid in contact therewith or in proximity thereto up to the point where the liquid overflows the weir (17) and the gas then continues up the annular space in the vertical extensions for degassing through the porous material above the liquid level.
Abstract:
A sterile product and a method for sterilizing and assembling such a product are disclosed wherein the product has two or more portions, such as a medical fluid containing portion (12) and a flow control apparatus portion (14), which are mutually incompatible with regard to the method of sterilization. The sterile product is preferably produced by exposing one portion of the product, e.g., the flow control apparatus (14), to a first form of sterilization such as an electron beam, while shielding the other portion of the product, e.g., the medical fluid containing portion (12), from the first form of sterilization. The product may be integral, with the step of sterilizing the first portion occurring while the other product portion remains attached in close association therewith. The present invention has particular application in association with a product having first and second incompatible portions (12 and 14) which are joined by a flow path. In such a product, each product portion and its respective flow path portion may be sterilized in the appropriate manner. The flow path may then be isolated from the respective product portion and the flow paths joined together. Subsequent to joinder, the isolated portion of the flow path may be sterilized, as by electron beam, while any product portion incompatible with such form of sterilization is shielded from the effects of the sterilization.
Abstract:
Calcification resistant bioprosthetic implants are made from tanned biological materials, such as porcine heart valves, bovine pericardium, human dura mater or the like, which has been impregnated with a calcification-mitigating effective amount of a ferric and/or stannic salt, and having been treated with one or more diamines in combination with one or more activating factors. The impregnated biological materials and processes are particularly advantageous for the preparation of bioprosthetic heart valves. These implants have been found to be highly resistant to calcification in vivo.
Abstract:
A stable and highly maneuvrable home care intravenous stand having a long/wide platform base with front base casters (40) and back base wheels (46). The stand has a removable main and a telescoping sub-pole (10-12) to allow for easy storage.