Abstract: A method of determining the pressure applied to a limb by an inflatable garment by placing a flexible pressurizable cuff between the garment and the limb to receive the compressive garment forces and then determining the pressure in the cuff due to those compressive forces alone. The cuff pressure component due to compression of the garment is determined by extra-polating from a plot of cuff pressure versus bias pressure. The bias pressure is required to obtain an accurate reading of cuff pressure and is eliminated as a component in determining the garment pressure by means of the extrapolation. A preferred transducer for converting cuff pressure to electrical signals employs a manometer tube extending between two plates of a capacitor.

Abstract: This invention is directed to apparatus and a method for monitoring the collection of blood from a donor so as to minimize trauma to the blood so collected. The system closely monitors the rate of collection of blood and regulates the rate of mixing of anticoagulant therewith so as to maintain a substantially constant ratio of anticoagulant to blood throughout the collection process. The system also includes built-in warning devices for indicating when the collection process is not proceeding according to a prescribed pattern.

Abstract: Blood collection apparatus, systems and methods for minimizing the lesion of collection caused by initial high volume ratios of anticoagulant fluid to blood at the beginning of known collection processes in which blood is passed into a collection bag containing the total amount of anticoagulant fluid for the entire amount of blood to be collected. A collection bag system has a bag containing the anticoagulant fluid which is passed to a blood collection bag at a rate determined by the flow rate of the blood into the collection bag to maintain the ratio of anticoagulant to blood at a level to minimize the lesion of collection throughout the collection process. The blood collection bag is suspended by a spring from a blood bag stand and the anticoagulant bag is supported by the stand in a fixed position.