Abstract: A container for housing body fluids, preferably blood in its component form. The container comprises a body defined by flexible walls having an interior for housing the body fluid. Additionally, a means for allowing selective fluid flow allows the blood components to be expressed from one chamber of the container into another to separate and separately house the blood components. The present invention also provides a method for separating blood into its components and individually storing same.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods and apparatus for irradiating a product with light of a specific wavelength to activate the photoactive agent that is contained therein. To this end, in an embodiment, a device is provided that comprises a source of radiation including a plurality of light emitting diodes. Each light emitting diode includes a body portion through which radiation is transmitted. The body of the diode is surrounded by a fluid. In this regard, a first housing is provided that includes an interior that contains the light emitting diodes and a fluid. The housing includes a transparent window for allowing radiation generated by the light emitting diodes to flow through the window and irradiate a product that is in juxtaposition to the window.

Abstract: A biodegradable corrosion inhibitor, scale inhibitor and dispersant is provided. The inhibitor comprises one or more polymers from a family of poly(amino acid) polymers that include hydroxamic acid-containing sidechains. Methods of reducing corrosion and scale build-up and a method of dispersing solid particulates in a solution or slurry are provided by adding a polymer of the present invention to a solution or slurry.

Abstract: A connector assembly and disinfectant system is provided for any system requiring a connection, such as during a peritoneal dialysis procedure. The connector assembly includes a transfer set connector and a disposable connector. The transfer set connector and disposable connector each include a member that join to create a fluid path. The disposable connector contains a housing that includes a ring partially saturated with disinfectant for bathing the transfer set member near the opening of the fluid path when a connection is made. The ring forms an opening through which the transfer set member passes. At disconnection, the transfer set member passes through a section of the ring having wiping properties to wipe the member dry.

Abstract: An improved system and method for providing sterile connections. To this end, a device is provided comprising a body, a chamber defined, at least in part, by a portion of the body, the chamber including an interior having a solid sterilizing agent that can sublimate at ambient conditions, and a member that defines., in part, the chamber and is so constructed and arranged to allow the solid sterilizing agent to release in a rate controlled manner through the member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-PVC, non-DEHP material that can be used for medical grade tubing. Additionally, the present invention provides medical grade tubing made from such a material.

Abstract: A leukodepletion filter is provided including glass fiber filter pads and non-woven polyester fiber filter pads sealed within a filter housing. The filter is designed such that a fluid, such as whole blood, packed red blood cells, platelets or plasma, is conducted through the glass fiber filter pads before the non-woven polyester fiber filter pads. A method is further provided for leukodepleting a body fluid by filtering the body fluid through glass fiber filter pads and also filtering the body fluid through non-woven polyester fiber filter pads. After filtering, the body fluid is collected.

Abstract: A bone marrow collection kit is provided comprising a collection container for receiving a bone marrow containing fluid having a body that defines an interior and an inlet opening and an outlet opening and including a prefilter that extends from the outlet opening into the interior of the collection container so that fluid must flow through the prefilter to exit the collection container through the outlet opening. A first inline filter member is coupled to the outlet opening of the collection container, the first inline filter member having a flexible plastic body that defines an interior, and an inlet opening and an outlet opening and the interior including a filter so constructed and arranged that fluid that enters the inlet opening must flow through the filter to exit the first inline filter member through the outlet opening.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided for packaging components required for conducting a dialysis procedure. To this end, a rigid container is designed such that other necessary components required for conducting a dialysis procedure may be contained therein prior to use. The rigid container is designed with a lid having a port in the lid such that a drainage line may be connected to the port and the rigid container may be used as a drainage container. The rigid container is constructed from a rigid material such that rigid containers may be stacked during transport and storage of the same. The rigid container may also be re-used for subsequent dialysis procedures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dialysis solution that contains amino acids for treating and/or preventing malnutrition in a peritoneal dialysis patient. The amino acid composition is optimized to minimize metabolic acidosis while normalizing amino acid plasma profiles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a leukocyte rich sample from a mixed population of blood cells. The method comprises the steps of: separating an amount of blood into layers that include a buffy coat layer having a mixed population of blood cells including plasma and red blood cells; providing a chamber having an opening for receiving a fluid; causing the buffy coat layer to enter the chamber; centrifuging the chamber to separate the buffy coat layer into at least a plasma containing layer, a leukocyte containing layer, and a red blood cell containing layer; and separating the leukocyte containing layer from the other layers in the chamber.

Abstract: The invention provides a flexible plastic formulation capable of being RF sealed, extruded, cast or blow-molded, gas, steam and radiation sterilized. The plastic formulation of the invention comprises: a) from about 40 to about 90 percent by weight of a polyolefin polypropylene based material; b) from about 3 to about 25 percent by weight of a functionialized block copolymer, the functionalized block copolymer consisting essentially of a central block copolymer molecule including generally equal proportions of ethylene and butylene units, and terminal blocks of polystyrene; and c) from about 3 to about 20 percent by weight a nylon. The plastic formulations of the invention are useful in the manufacture of blood bags, tubing and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dialysis solution that contains amino acids for treating and/or preventing malnutrition in a peritoneal dialysis patient. The amino acid composition is optimized to minimize metabolic acidosis while normalizing amino acid plasma profiles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for testing a blood unit for viral contamination without rendering the blood unit unusable for therapeutic applications. The method comprises the steps of: removing and collecting from a blood unit a majority of the leukocytes present therein; and using the collected leukocytes to test the blood unit for viral contamination. The present invention also provides a method for validating viral inactivation processes.

Abstract: A tubing has members located on the inside surface of a tubing. The flow through the tubing is completely occluded when the tubing is clamped due to the members filling channels around the clamped site. Reduced clamping pressure is required to fully occlude the flow through the tubing. The tubing undergoes less deformation upon clamping and returns to its pre-clamped form upon recovery.

Abstract: Novel blood cell fractionation means utilizes conventional filters coated with high molecular weight polyethylene oxide derivatives crosslinked to prevent leaching from filter surfaces. These fractionation means have a special efficacy in binding white blood cells from whole blood while simultaneously allowing red cells and platelets to pass in the effluent phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved peritoneal dialysis method and system. The system comprises a single catheter that is placed in the patient, a source of dialysate, and a diatyzer in fluid communication with the source of dialysate and the catheter. The system includes a single fluid pump in fluid communication with the source of dialysate and the catheter. The single pump is capable of pumping the dialysate into and out of the patient and back to the source of dialysate. The method includes the steps of placing a single catheter in a peritoneum of the patient, providing a source of dialysate, coupling the source of dialysate in fluid communication with the catheter on a single fluid circuit, pumping the dialysate from the source of dialysate into and out of the peritoneum using a single pump in the single fluid circuit.

Abstract: A method is provided for creating a plastic component constructed, at least in part, from polychlorotrifluoroethylene, having improved properties. The method creates a component from a composition that has polychlorotrifluoroethylene, heats the component to a temperature that is greater than the melting point of the composition, and rapidly quenches the component in a cold medium.

Abstract: A ring element (10) attaches to a length of tubing (12) to prevent contamination at a site (24) through which a portion of the length of tubing (12) extends. A resilient material having a first end (14) and a second end (16) is provided capable of mating to form a hollow, cylindrical shell (10). An electrically conductive material is provided on a surface of the resilient material. In a preferred embodiment, the conductive material includes silver. The ring element (10) may be placed on a tube (12) to prevent contamination at a site (24) through which a tube (12) is secured. The ring element (10) is connected to the tube (12) at the site (24) of injection of the tube (12) wherein the ring element (10) is capable of removal without removal of the tube (12) from the site (24). The ring element (10) is particularly adaptable for a transfer set connectable to a peritoneal cavity and insertable at a site (24) for, for example, peritoneal dialysis.

Abstract: An improved peritoneal dialysis solution and methods of administering same to a patient are provided. Pursuant to the present invention, the sodium concentration in the solution is decreased thus causing sodium to be transported from the circulation to the peritoneal cavity. This provides for an improved ultrafiltration profile for the same initial osmolality when compared to standard solutions. Also, the same ultrafiltration profile as standard solutions can be achieved with lower initial osmolalities.