Abstract:
An improved apparatus (10) for filling and sealing sterile bags (12) in a sterile enclosure (14) is disclosed. A turntable (16) rotatably mounted within the enclosure suspends two or more bags. Port tubes (22) extend from the bags, and the bags are suspended from the port tubes. One of the bags is filled with sterile solution within the enclosure and the port tube is sealed by vibration welding (26). The turntable then rotates and the sequence is repeated on a new bag.
Abstract:
A method for improving recovery after surgery or an invasive procedure is provided, including administering a hemoglobin preparation to a patient before surgery or an invasive procedure.
Abstract:
A method for producing human dendritic cells for therapeutic purposes which allows culture-deriving dendritic cells using no cytokines, or reduced cytokines. The method involves culturing mononuclear cells from blood or bone marrow in a medium containing at least one agent such as a calcium ionophore, e.g. A23187, theophylline, protaglandin E1, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, retinoic acid, or a fatty acid. The culture is maintained for a sufficient time, typically 4 - 14 days, to produce a culture enriched for dendritic cells, as evidenced by at least about 2.5 % of total cells exhibiting dendritic cell processes, or a dendritic cell antigen such as CD80, CD86, or CD1a. Also provided is a method to produce antigen-specific human T-cells by pulsing the dendritic cells obtained by the method of the invention with an antigen such as a viral, tumor, bacterial, or cell surface antigen, and then co-culturing T-cells with the antigen-pulsed dendritic cells. Useful for treatment of viral or bacterial infections, useful as a cancer vaccine, useful to induce tolerance of allo- or xeno-graft.
Abstract:
An implant assembly and methods for loading implant devices which avoids the accidental deposition of transplanted material or other contaminates on the exterior of the device during transportation, storage, and handling are disclosed. The implant assembly of the invention may be used with a large variety of implant devices for implanting a variety of materials such as cells, tissue or other materials into a host. The implant assembly includes an implant device having an elongated port and a first chamber for holding material for implantation and a container with a second chamber for holding the implant device. The container functions to maintain the sterility and protect the physical integrity of the implant device during loading, storage, cryopreservation and transportation and is removed immediately prior to implantation of the device. The container may optionally include liquid media for cellular growth, maintenance, cryostorage, or transportation purposes.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an improved affinity membrane device and method for the effective removal of target molecules in plasma. The affinity membrane device is designed for use in an extracorporeal blood circuit and can be employed concurrently with other therapeutic processes for the purification of blood. The device of the present invention consists of hollow fiber membranes having specified dimensions and transfer properties, ligand immobilized to the pore surface of the hollow fibers, and a housing to encase the hollow fibers and allow appropriate entry and exit of the blood. In a preferred embodiment, specific immobilization chemistries are utilized to attach the ligands to the hollow fibers for optimal function.
Abstract:
A parenteral fluid delivery bag (1) having a line set (40) formed integral with the bag, the line set being peelably releasable from the remainder of the bag so as to assume a deployed position adapted to enter into fluid communication with a patient. In an alternate embodiment, a plurality of bags (200, 222) connected by an integrally formed wye-junction (216) are adapted for delivery to a patient and retrieval of fluid from a patient.
Abstract:
Hemoglobin solutions intended for parenteral administration are stabilized against oxidation of the heme iron to the ferric oxidation state by adding stabilizer compounds to the solutions. The stabilizer compounds are generally alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids and their salts. The particular compounds are selected for their efficacy in defined temperature ranges, and for their ability to retard methemoglobin formation both in solution and in the frozen state.
Abstract:
Cardiac output CO is separately estimated in a local estimator (118) and a trend estimator (120) to provide CO values. A preferably thermal indicator is injected preferably according to a pseudo-random binary sequence signal (x(t)) profile at an upstream position in a blood flow region of a patient's body and is sensed as an indicator (108) output signal (y(t)) at a downstream position. Low-frequency noise is preferably removed from the sensed indicator output signal. The local and trend estimations are based on measured frequency-domain transfer function values between the sensed and input indicator signal in relation to a pre-determined transfer function model, which is preferably a lagged normal model. The trend estimator is preferably a Kalman filter. The local estimator preferably forms its estimate based on non-recursive optimization of a cost function. The local estimator preferably provides initial values to start the trend estimator.
Abstract:
A bileaflet mechanical cardiovascular valve having a generally annular valve body (12) and two occluder leaflets (14) mounted within the valve body (12) such that the occluder leaflets (14) will move back and forth between an open configuration wherein blood is permitted to flow through the annular valve body (12) and a closed configuration wherein blood is prevented from flowing in at least one direction through the annular valve body (12). Slots (20) formed in opposite ends of the occluder leaflets (14) are mounted upon raised mounting members (18) formed on the inner surface of the annular valve body (12) to facilitate the opening and closing movement of the occluder leaflets (14).