Abstract: The present invention provides a system for automatically reconstituting a drug in-line and delivering the drug to a patient. Pursuant to the present invention, a system is provided that allows fluid entry into a vial, that houses the drug to be reconstituted, with concurrent air elimination. Mixing via different fluid entry levels is provided. Due to the unique fluid flow path of the present invention reconstitution of the drug is ensured. The system, method, and apparatus of the present invention can be utilized with a computer controlled pump. When so utilized, a completely automated procedure can be achieved.

Abstract: A disposable uterine sound device is described for measuring the depth and course of an uterine cavity. The device is formed by coating a copper rod and a portion of an attached nylon handle with polyvinyl chloride. The coating is then printed with a generally nonleachable biocompatable ink to form graduations indicating units of measure of length. The resulting device is a flexible, smooth service device which minimizes trauma to a patient during use.

Abstract: An intravenous metering device is provided which includes an air retention chamber in downstream fluid communication with a source of fluid and in upstream fluid communication with a pumping chamber. A first valve is provided between the air retention chamber and the pumping chamber to control access to the pumping chamber. A second valve is provided to control the exit of fluid from the pumping chamber. The valves include a shared diaphragm portion.

Abstract: The problem of providing a medical face mask 10 that may be quickly, easily, securely and adjustably mounted to the head of a wearer 72 is solved in a medical face mask 10 of the type having a panel 12 for covering the nose and the mouth of a wearer 72 and at least one complimentary pair of spaced apart straps 30 and 32 attached to the panel 12 and extending therefrom by the straps 30 and 32 being joined by a slidable fastener 54 forming a loop 62 comprising the straps 30 and 32 and the top 16 of the panel 12, the slidable fastener 54 holding the straps 30 and 32 in a loop 62 of desired length until the slidable fastener 54 is forcibly slidably adjusted to increase or decrease the size of the loop 62.

Abstract: A system and method of separation of therapeutic components from blood. The system includes a dual member centrifuge and a disposable single use fluid transfer set. The set includes an elongated flexible separation chamber having an input port, a separated component output port and a residual fluid output port. The input port and the separated component output ports are located at opposite ends of the elongated separation chamber. The centrifuge includes a receiving chamber with a selectively formed annular slot therein. The separation chamber is positioned in the annularly shaped slot and rotated at a predetermined rotational velocity. Fluids such as whole blood flows through the separation chamber and are separated into various therapeutic components such as platelet rich plasma and residual concentrated red blood cells. Platelet rich plasma can be drawn off as the separated therapeutic component. An alternate two part transfer set provides for highly efficient platelet pheresis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drive signal for a peristaltic pump motor. A first circuit is provided which generates a first series of pulses at a given frequency. A second circuit is provided which generates a second series of pulses 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 having a frequency between the frequency of the first and second series of pulses. Finally, a circuit is provided which combines the three series of pulses into a drive signal. The drive signal length is determined by the frequency of the first series of pulses. The drive signal further is divided into two sections, an initial pulse stage determined by the frequency of the third series of pulses, and a modulated pulse stage being a series of pulses determined by the frequency of the second series of pulses.

Abstract: A pre-slit injection site includes a housing with a flow path therethrough. A first end of the housing carries a pre-slit septum. A second end of the housing carries a coupling component to adapt the site to standard vials. The coupling component, a vial adapter, includes an adapter spike with openings allowing for the drainage of fluid in the vial through the spike and into the injection site. The vial adapter is provided with a skirt housing unit which protects the adapter spike in manufacturing and use. The skirt housing unit also provides features to lockingly engage the adapter with injection site to standard vials, despite dimensional variations in vial closures. Another embodiment of the coupling component is a spike having a barb feature capable of insertion into a standard vial or port and resisting disengagement.A blunt cannula is usable with the injection site combined with the coupling components.

Abstract: A medication aerosol delivery system is described. The system is unique in that it includes a flexible reservoir for receiving medicated aerosol from a nebulizer when a patient is not inhaling. The aerosol in the reservoir can be later inhaled during the next patient inhalation. The threshold filling pressure (the pressure required for aerosol to enter the reservoir) is less than a threshold opening pressure of a one-way valve that is located between the reservoir and the patient. The medication system described herein has an increased efficiency over other medication systems without a reservoir because it allows medicated aerosol to be collected in a reservoir between patient inhalations.

Abstract: A disposable infuser is provided having a source of pressurized liquid contained in a liquid chamber (14). The liquid chamber (14) includes housing (20) defining an access aperture (83). A one-way duck-bill valve (80) is contained in the access aperture (83). A separate outlet conduit (84) is provided having a blunt cannula (98). When the outlet conduit (86) is attached to the housing (20), the blunt cannula (98) extends into the duck-bill valve (80) sufficiently to open the duck-bill valve (80) to establish fluid communication between the source of pressurized liquid (14) and the outlet conduit (84).

Abstract: A web of film capable of being constructed into a flexible container is provided. The web of film comprises: a first layer of polyester; a second layer of polyvinyl chloride that does not include a DEHP plasticizer or epoxidized oil; a third gas barrier layer; a fourth layer of polyvinyl chloride that does not include a plasticizer; and a fifth layer of polyester. A container made from the film is also provided.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump comprising a housing (19), including a base (21), a resilient tube (27) and a peristaltic pumping fingers (31) carried by the supporting structure. The tube (27) is positionable on the base (21) in a proper position and an improper position. In the proper position, the peristaltic pumping fingers (31) can properly progressively squeeze the tube to pump a fluid through the tube and in an improper position. A door (23) is mounted on the housing (19) for movement between an open position and a closed position. A latch (25) includes a pivotable latch member (51) on the door (23) and a fixed latch member (55) on the housing (19). The pivotable latch member (51) is movable between a latching position in which the door (23) is locked in the closed position and a releasing position in which the door (23) is not locked in the closed position. If the tube (27) is in the improper position, the pivotable latch member (51) is prevented from being placed in the latching position.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel process of producing magnetically responsive polymer particles comprising polymeric core particles coated evenly with a layer of polymer containing magnetically responsive metal oxide. A wide variety of polymeric particles with sizes ranging from 1 to 100 microns can be used a core particles and transformed into magnetically responsive polymer particles. The surface of these magnetically responsive polymer particles can be coated further with another layer of functionalized polymer. These magnetically responsive polymer particles can be used for passive or covalent coupling of biological material such as antigens, antibodies, enzymes of DNA/RNA hybridization and used as solid phase for various types of immunoassays, DNA/RNA hybridization probes assays, affinity purification, cell separation and other medical, diagnostic, and industrial applications.

Abstract: A bottle cap having a cutting means located inside the cap for selectively opening a sealed bottle is described. The cap can be rotated in either direction over the seal to cause the seal to be punctured and to cause a "C"-shaped cut in the seal. In the preferred embodiment, the center of the "C"-shaped cut portion of the seal is dragged away from the center of the mouth of the bottle, and a portion of the linear remains uncut as the cap is rotated to prevent the liner from dropping down into the bottle.

Abstract: A port and closure assembly for a container is provided. The port and closure assembly includes a port having a tubular portion that extends from a base and terminates at an end including an opening. The tubular portion is divided into an upper and lower section by a pierceable membrane. The upper section including an end that terminates at the opening and including a resealing injection site. A closure member for removably surrounding at least a portion of the end of the port including the opening is provided. The closure includes a sleeve that circumscribes at least a portion of an outer surface of the upper section of the tubular portion. The sleeve is so constructed and arranged as to cause portions of the upper section to contact the resealing member during a sterilization step that softens the portions and further causes the portions of the upper section to retain the resealing injection site within the tubular portion after the portions have hardened.

Abstract: A glove and glove form that has an approximately uniform profile that is thinner than conventional forms. The glove form also has a thinner profile adjacent the base of each digit and on the sides of the form adjacent the wrist. The glove has a flat front and back and a side portion connecting the front to the back. The side portion is contoured adjacent the base of the digits and on the sides of the glove adjacent the wrist.

Abstract: An automated, high volume process for detecting, identifying and quantifying physical incompatibility between two or more chemicals in solution includes mixing the chemical solutions in all possible orders and reading the light absorption of each at two wavelengths to differentiate between color reactions and other physical reactions.

Abstract: A centrifugal processing system and method introduces fluid to be processed into a centrifugation chamber, while directing the fluid away from the region of the chamber where the largest centrifugal (or "G") forces exist. The fluid is also conveyed into the force field as a generally uniform stream having reduced turbulence or being essentially free of turbulence. The system and method thereby establish, upon the entry of a high velocity fluid stream into the centrifugal field, non-turbulent and uniform flow conditions conducive to effective separation. The system and method also direct the fluid in a way the maximizes the effective surface area of the centrifugation chamber for separation. Effective separation can thereby be achieved at high inlet flow rates.

Abstract: A paracentesis catheter system for removing fluids from a patient's abdominal cavity and for administering medication into the abdominal cavity. The catheter system includes a solid stylet, a catheter, a hemostasis valve assembly connected to the catheter, and delivery tubing with a needle connecting the catheter assembly to a stopcock. The stopcock has provisions for connections alternately to a syringe or to a vacuum bottle or drainage bag. The hemostasis valve includes an internal glan, which is compressed to shut off fluid flow through the end of the valve assembly after removing the solid stylet. This causes fluid to be diverted through the side arm tubing and stopcock to a fluid collection container.

Abstract: A system and method of separation of therapeutic components from blood. The system includes a dual member centrifuge and a disposable single use fluid transfer set. The set includes an elongated flexible separation chamber having an input port, a separated component output port and a residual fluid output port. The input port and the separated component output ports are located at opposite ends of the elongated separation chamber. The centrifuge includes a receiving chamber with a selectively formed annular slot therein. The separation chamber is positioned in the annularly shaped slot and rotated at a predetermined rotational velocity. Fluids such as whole blood flows through the separation chamber and are separated into various therapeutic components such as platelet rich plasma and residual concentrated red blood cells. Platelet rich plasma can be drawn off as the separated therapeutic component. An alternate two part transfer set provides for highly efficient platelet pheresis.