Abstract: A luer connection device in which a male luer connector includes an outer sleeve that is slideable up a tapered wall so that compression between the outer sleeve and the tapered wall increases as the outer sleeve moves forwardly. An outwardly extending flange is carried by the body of the male luer connector for cooperation with the outer sleeve, to enable the outer sleeve to be unscrewed from a female luer connector without relative rotation of both the main portion of the male luer connector and the outer sleeve.

Abstract: The monitor and fluid circuit assembly is used with a blood processing apparatus which is adapted for separating platelets from whole blood. The assembly is easily and simply attached to the apparatus and includes a holder, a plurality of flexible tubings held in and extending through the holder, monitor devices fixed within the holder and series coupled to various ones of the tubings and at least one tubing having a transparent wall section which is positioned adjacent an optical sensor of the apparatus. Several tubings extend in loops from the holder and are adapted for being received over and forming part of peristaltic pumps of the apparatus so that fluid can be pumped through the tubings. Other portions of some of the tubings extending from the holder are held in an umbilicus which is received through a rotatable holder in a centrifuge device of the apparatus.

Abstract: An improved disposable liquid container adapted for infant nursing is provided for maintaining nursing liquid in a sterile or aseptic condition until dispensed therefrom. Rigid penetrating means carried by a semirigid support member penetrate a compartment closing diaphragm to allow nursing liquid to flow from the compartment to a communicating, attached nipple. The semirigid support member is integral with the liquid compartment and substantially preserves its shape as the fluid is dispensed therefrom. Flexible walls of the container are allowed to collapse together as the fluid is dispensed to prevent excessive ingestion of air by a nursing infant. The attached nipple is maintained in a clean, uncontaminated, sterile, or aseptic condition until use by means of separable sealing tabs or a discardable cover.

Abstract: A continuous flow centrifugal processing system for separating whole blood into fractional components includes a centrifugal separator unit having a molded bowl-shaped outer shell dimensioned to fit within a rotatably-driven casing on an associated centrifuge apparatus. A bowl-shaped inner shell disposed within the outer shell forms therewith a thin separation channel radially spaced from the axis of rotation wherein fractions are separated from the whole blood under the influence of centrifugal force. A rotating seal carried on the processing chamber between ports in the chamber and the non-rotating portions of the system. The outer shell includes a relatively thin side wall portion which is inwardly biased toward a side wall portion on the inner shell when seated in the casing. A plurality of projections on the side walls limit inward deformation of the outer shell to maintain a very close concentric spacing between the shell members to facilitate rapid separation of blood flowing through the chamber.

Abstract: A improved port and closure assembly is provided. The closure is overmolded to the port. The closure hermetically seals the port and provides a tamper evident closure. The closure cooperates with the port to provide a band that circumscribes the port after the closure is removed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating the transverse seals in a form, fill and seal packaging machine is provided. The apparatus includes a heating member that heats a portion of the web of film to create the transverse seals, and a cooling member that cools the heated portion of the web of film and the heating member. The heating member includes a hot bar, a heater for heating the hot bar, and a biasing member that disengages the hot bar from the heater before the hot bar contacts the web of film.

Abstract: A wide-mouthed flexible, collapsible, sterile bag made of sheeting of poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate) containing from 5 to 35 weight percent of vinyl acetate units. The bag is made to be used for storing solid, living tissue portions at cryogenic temperatures. The wide mouth of such a container may be heat sealed prior to storage. Such containers, while flexible and collapsible, exhibit effective strength and durability at such cryogenic temperatures.

Abstract: A pressure pump for fluids having a pressure member 12, 12a of generally circular periphery, means 14, 14a for moving the pressure member in an orbital motion about an axis of rotation, and a sleeve member 16, 16a made of a pair of hinged jaws 22, 22a positionable about the pressure member and spaced for receiving and retaining flexible tubing 18, 18a in an annular space between the pressure member and the sleeve member with the tubing surrounding the pressure member for pumping of fluids through the tubing. In accordance with this invention the jaws define end surfaces which abut together in the closed position having slots 34, 34a defined through the end surfaces communicating between the annular space and the outside to receive lengths of the flexible tubing occupying the annular space and extending into and out of the annular space through the slots.

Abstract: A disposable, ready-to-use container such as a nursing container is provided which includes infant formula or other substance to be stored and a nipple or other, dispensing member which is segregated from the environment until use by means of an enclosure chamber. The enclosure chamber is formed by extending the container sheets or wall around the nipple. The enclosure chamber includes a manually breakable line of securement to access the enclosure chamber and the nipple.

Abstract: A heater-scale having a curved supporting member upon which a bag of fluid to be heated can be placed, has a distributed two-dimensional heating element affixed to a lower surface thereof. The curved member is supported by a load cell for generating an electrical signal proportional to the weight of the bag on the heater member, a thermistor is in contact with the fluid whose temperature is to be maintained, a thermistor is affixed to the heater member, and a control system senses the weight and temperature of the bag of fluid as well as the temperature of the heater member for the purpose of nonlinearly adjusting the electrical current supplied to the heater element as fluid is removed from or variable temperature fluid is added to the bag so as to maintain the bag at a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A self-checking timer usable with a host system includes a clock and a plurality of interconnected counters. During a power-up phase the timer generates a system reset signal and counts the counters in a predetermined sequence. A flip-flop is set and reset during the power-up phase and inhibits generation of the system reset signal. During a normal operating phase, the timer generates a test signal that must be responded to by the host system to continuously inhibit generation of the system reset signal.

Abstract: An artifical nipple is disclosed which is interactive with an infant to provide a stimulus/response operation. The nipple portion has a generally cylindrically shaped, but undulated deformable outer wall closed at one end and a resilient elongated member disposed interior of the outer wall, depending from the closed end. The elongated member is spaced from the interior of the outer wall to define an annular chamber such that an infant will meet two levels of resistance to lateral compression of the nipple and a plurality of dispensing apertures provided communicating with said annular chamber, so that fluid flows through certain of said apertures in a manner responsive to infant suckling action.A nursing container utilizes the artificial nipple and a flexible fluid container is sealed to the nipple portion along a tapered shoulder.

Abstract: A blood oxygenating device having an oxygenating chamber and a heat exchanger chamber. The oxygenating chamber consists of a bubbler chamber and a mixing chamber. Oxygen is introduced into the bubbler chamber through a porous diffusion means situated near the inlet of the bubbler chamber. Bubbles pass from the bubbler chamber into a mixing chamber which is provided with a plurality of secondary flow-producing deflectors to promote secondary flow of blood bubbles passing therethrough. The secondary flow results in a highly efficient oxygen-carbon dioxide transfer. The blood bubbles are then passed through a heat exchange chamber and a defoaming means prior to exiting the oxygenating device.

Abstract: A sheet with inlet and outlet ports forms a housing, with a flow tube disposed between the ports. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of arms affixed at one end to the housing are adjustably spaced by a threaded tapered nut which mates with the other end of the arms. The flow tube passes between the arms and is constricted by the arms as the nut is advanced. The thread pitch, the degree of taper, and the point where the tube crosses the arms all determine the rate of constriction. In a further preferred embodiment the tube passes through a transverse indentation in the arms and is bonded thereto. In another preferred embodiment the housing is adapted to removably mount on an automatic flow sensing and adjusting module, which engages the tapered nut to adjust the flow rate through the tube.

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: A hollow fiber separation device is made having a blow molded housing and at least one laterally extending side port which defines a seamless outer end portion having an annular outwardly extending seamless shoulder portion. Additionally, the side port may have first and second annular encircling channels, the first channel being proportioned to receive retention members from a mating connector that sealingly locks with the side port. The second annular channel is provided to stiffen the side port, which may be made of substantially semiflexible plastic.

Abstract: A port and closure for a container is provided. The closure includes an interface layer for bonding the closure to the port. The bond strength of the interface layer to the closure is less than the bond strength of the interface layer to the port. The closure being removed from the port by delaminating the interface layer from the port.

Abstract: Layered thermoplastic articles (36) and a method for forming layered thermoplastic articles are provided. The method involves forming a layered, thermoplastic parison, followed by blow molding the parison in a mold cavity (10, 12) to form a desired configuration of hollow article (36). The blow molded articles (36) can be of any configuration achievable with known blow molding technology. Every section of the article (36) can be layered, or the article (36) can have selectively intermittent layered sections. The containers typically are used for storing and dispensing liquids and are of one-piece construction. In accordance with this invention, the thermoplastic materials (24, 26) are of a type which are incompatible.