Abstract: A membrane oxygenator includes an upper nested arrangement of a hard shell venous reservoir, a bowl-like defoamer within the reservoir and a heat exchanger coil vertically supported within the defoamer, and includes a membrane oxygenator unit mounted on the bottom of the upper arrangement. The oxygenator unit includes an inlet chamber with a tangential inlet providing swirling blood flow to dislodge air bubbles and centrifuge air to an upper center region of an inlet chamber where gas is exhausted through a vent. A bottom blood outlet chamber of the blood oxygenator unit has a relatively thin vertical cross-sectional area such that priming flow velocity therein discharges all air from the outlet chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for attaching a fitment to a web of film in a form, fill, and seal packaging machine is provided. The apparatus includes a press for orienting the fitments on one side of a web of film, and a film piercer and sealer. The film piercer and sealer includes a heated face and tip and is designed to contemporaneously pierce and seal of web of film to the fitment.

Abstract: A film laminate for flexible containers capable of containing a product to be maintained and removed under sterile conditions. The film laminate having an outside layer of linear low density polyethylene, a gas barrier layer, a core layer of polyamide, and an inside layer of linear low density polyethylene. The layers being bonded together by a polyurethane adhesive.

Abstract: A mass transfer device (60) includes a hollow fiber bundle (10) comprising a generally cylindrical core (14) having opposed ends, a plurality of layers of hollow fiber (12) that have been wound around the core, and binding means (48a, 48b, 48c) such as double- sided pressure-sensitive tape that have been wound around the layers of hollow fiber in a plurality of longitudinally spaced locations along the core and intermediate the opposite ends of the core for providing longitudinally spaced support means for the hollow fiber bundle. The hollow fiber bundle is enclosed in a housing (62) having an inner wall (80) which defines a generally circular opening for receiving the hollow fiber bundle except that the inner wall adjacent a fluid outlet manifold (74) includes an expansion volume (82) for the hollow fibers that are adjacent that fluid outlet manifold.

Abstract: A flexible tubing occluding device is provided for releasably occluding flexible tubing. The tubing occluding device includes housing that is adapted to receive the tubing and defines a tubing occluding surface against which a transverse section of the tubing is transversely urged and compressed when in an occluded position. A wedge-shaped tongue member is provided for urging the transverse section of the tubing against the tubing occluding surface. The geometry of the tubing occluding surface and the wedge-shaped tongue member cooperate to distribute a relatively low amount of force at the center portion of the occluded tubing and a relatively large force at the distal ends of the occluded tubing, utilizing the mechanical advantage of the wedge-shaped tongue member.

Abstract: The actual resonant frequency of an ultrasonic horn is tracked actively while the horn is operating in a working environment, such as in a clinical analyzer where the horn is partly immersed in a liquid bath in which a series of liquid-filled cuvettes are passed near the horn to dissolve solid tablets in the cuvettes. The horn is driven initially by a signal of fixed amplitude but at a frequency which is varied between set limits about a nominal resonant frequency. Ultrasonic vibration waves of the horn are sensed and fed back for rectification and peak detection over the scan operation. The peak feed back level is held and a second scan is initiated with the drive signal at the same fixed amplitude. When the rectified feedback signal level substantially attains that of the held peak level, a comparison is determined and control logic acts to lock on the frequency at which the comparison was established for a given operating time period.

Abstract: A film laminate for flexible containers capable of containing a product to be maintained and accessed under sterile conditions. The laminate having an outside layer of linear low density polyethylene, a core layer of nylon, an inside layer of linear low density polyethylene and two layers of a polyurethane adhesive for bonding the layers.

Abstract: A multi-volume displacement pipette assembly has a tubular body with a first end for receiving a plunger assembly and a second mounting end for mounting a removable dispensing tip to the tubular body. A first cylindrical chamber extends through the tubular body for holding a first volume of fluid. The first cylindrical chamber opens through the second end of the tubular body. At least one second cylindrical chamber extends through the tubular body for holding a second volume of fluid. The such at least one cylindrical chamber is coaxially aligned with the first chamber and is open through the second end of the tubular body through a fluid pathway extending through the tubular body to the second end. A plunger assembly is coaxially positioned within the tubular body and operatively mounted therein for reciprocal, longitudinal movement.

Abstract: A blood component collection system and method each utilizes centrifugation to first separate whole blood into red blood cells and platelet-rich plasma. Noncentrifugal separation is then utilized to further separate the platelet-rich plasma into platelet concentrate and plasma which is virtually free of platelets. The system and method are applicable for use in association with both batch and continuous flow procedures.

Abstract: A system detecting the presence of successive drops of fluid in a fluid path has a system input for connection to a photoelectric transducer so situated as to have a change in electrical output on the presence of a drop in the fluid drop path. The system includes an arrangement for storing a quantity related to the value of the photoelectric transducer output in the absence of a drop. The quantity stored can then be compared with the present value of the output of the photoelectric transducer, and in the event of a sufficient difference, an output may be provided. In a preferred embodiment, the output signal itself may be used to disconnect the storage system from receiving input information that pertains to the presence rather than the absence of a drop.

Abstract: A system is described for keeping track of the identity of a plurality of individual medical samples when the samples are loaded into multiple holders in which each holder has multiple individual receiving locations. Each sample, holder, and receiving location of each holder has a unique identification number associated therewith. The system includes a recording means for displaying and storing signals. A first reader means is also provided for reading the unique holder identification numbers and generating a signal to be sent to the recording means for storage. A second reader means is also provided for reading the unique sample identification number for generating a second signal to be sent to the recording means for storage. A third reader means is also provided for reading the unique location identification number when the insertion device is introduced into a particular receiving location. The location signal is sent to the recording means for display purposes.

Abstract: Method for providing caloric nutrition via liquid emulsions, to a patient with dysfunctional visceral organ comprising parenterally administering to the patient a lipid emulsion containing from about 10% to 50% by weight of long chain triglycerides and the remaining lipid being medium chain triglycerides.

Abstract: An improved analytical cuvette rotor assembly for use in a centrifugal chemistry analyzer comprising a disc-shaped body having a plurality of radially extending compartments for retaining fluids. Sample fluids and reagent fluids contained in the compartments prior to centrifugation are separated by a novel dam structure extending between upper and lower surfaces of each compartment such that the premature mixing of sample and reagent fluid is significantly retarded. The dam, in cooperation with the compartment walls, further defines a fluid transfer passage that permits fluids to be transferred over the dam under analyzer operating rotational speeds.

Abstract: Described are lipid emulsions of marine oils comprising high concentrations of omega-3-fatty acid esters and low concentrations of free fatty acids for intraveneous administration for the treatment of thrombic disease states. More specifically, a lipid emulsion for parenternal use is provided comprising an emulsifier, water and a marine oil comprising an omega-3-fatty ester in which the concentration of the free fatty acid in the emulsion is below about 5 meq/l.

Abstract: Antimicrobial compositions finding particular utility for coating access systems, lead devices including shunts, cannulae, catheters, catheter adapters, wires and other solid or hollow tubular devices used for a variety of medical purposes is provided. The composition comprises a material selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, mixtures thereof, polyesters, polyurethanes, styrene-block copolymers, natural and synthetic rubbers, polycarbonates, nylon and silicone rubber mixed with an oligodynamic material consisting essentially of compounds of physiological, antimicrobial metals.

Abstract: A solution for stabilizing red blood cells during storage contains, along with nutrients and other stabilizers, a safe and effective concentration of an inhibitor of a step of the glycolysis metabolic pathway which is subsequent to the step which forms 2,3-DPG. The inhibitor may be oxalic acid, sodium oxalate, potassium oxalate, or mixed salts thereof, for example.

Abstract: A body support pad for inhibiting the occurrence of decubitus ulcers. The body support pad includes a generally planar but flexible base member having an upper surface and a lower surface. A plurality of pillars are arrayed across the lower surface and extend outwardly therefrom. The pillars can be arranged in discrete arrays wherein the pillars in each array can have specific pressure dipersing characteristics. The body support pad also includes a plurality of pods extending outwardly from the upper surface of the base member. The pods can be arranged in discrete arrays wherein the pods in each array can have specific pressure dispersing characteristics. The body support pad also includes ventilation apertures for permitting free flow of air in and around the pad.

Abstract: A medical fluid administration set and a drip chamber (10) for use on the administration set are disclosed. The drip chamber (10) may be used with conventionally available drop counters whereby fluid flow can be monitored. The drip chamber (10) is intended for incorporation into a medical fluid administration set. At least a portion of the inside surface of the drip chamber (10) has a matte or satin finish (20) as distinguished from a glossy finish. The matte finish (20) alters the surface characteristics between solution residing in the drip chamber (10) and the drip chamber (10) itself, thereby preventing substantial upward splash back or bounce back of liquid drops impacting the surface of the fluid in the drip chamber (10) which splash back or bounce back can result in erroneous flow rate indications.