Abstract: A connection system including at least a male connecting element and a female connecting element which can be connected to each other, as well as the male connecting element and the female connecting element. The location of contact of the two connecting elements is preferably provided with a disinfecting adhesive so that an aseptic or sterile connection can be established. Therein both connecting elements have predetermined breaking points which in the connected state are arranged one above the other so that only one breaking point within the tube is obtained via which an aseptic fluid guidance through two tubes from one sterile system to another sterile system can be carried out. Thereby a particularly simple and cost-saving connection is created which fulfills the highest sterility requirements. Furthermore, also the use of such a connection system is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the continuous production of hydrolytically broken down starch or hydrolytically broken down substituted starch products such as hydroxyethyl- or hydroxypropyl starch. The invention essentially consists of carrying out most of the hydrolytic breakdown in a pipe-shaped, temperature-controlled reactor having no mixing elements. The remaining breakdown is carried out in one or more reactors fitted with mixing elements (fine hydrolysis). The product obtained can be used both in the food industry and for medical purposes, especially as plasma diluent.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for continuous processing of intra- or postoperative blood loss for autotransfusion. According to the present invention, certain cells of the cell suspension to be processed, mainly the red blood cells, are concentrated by centrifuging in a separation unit and removed from the separation unit without being rinsed or washed in the separation unit. The concentrated cell fraction is diluted with a physiological solution, preferably a Ringer's solution, after being removed from the separation unit.

Abstract: A tube system comprising a blood inlet line with an arterial patient connection and a blood return line with a venous patient connection, where a rinsing liquid inlet line branches off from the blood inlet line downstream from the arterial patient connection, and a rinsing liquid return line branches off from the blood return line upstream from the venous patient connection is filled while maintaining sterility in that rinsing liquid is pumped from a rinsing liquid container through the rinsing liquid inlet line, the blood inlet line, the blood return line and the rinsing liquid return line, establishing a liquid connection between the rinsing liquid inlet line and return line. The venous patient connection is sealed liquid-tight with a venous safety cap, and the arterial patient connection is sealed liquid-tight with an arterial safety cap. The safety caps are removed from the patient connections for connecting the tube system to the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for separating whole blood into blood components. The device has a collecting container for collecting whole blood, a primary container, and one or a plurality of satellite containers downstream from the primary container. The collecting container is connected to the primary container via a branch line containing a leucocyte filter. In addition, a bypass line is provided between the collecting container and the primary container for creating a fluid connection that circumvents the leucocyte filter. The primary container is also connected, via an additive line, to an additive container containing an additive agent for storing a blood component. The method involves collecting the donor's whole blood in the collecting container and conveying it, via the bypass line, into the primary container. The whole blood located in the primary container is then separated by centrifuigation into an erythrocyte layer and a mixed layer of blood plasma and thrombocytes.

Abstract: A sterile connector is provided including a coupler, a protective cap, and a puncturable membrane film. The coupler has a tubular top with an upper edge defining an inwardly facing continuous shoulder, a mounting piece connected to the inwardly facing continuous shoulder adapted to sealably receive a plunge pin, a bottom insertable into a container having wall and sealable to the container wall, and a channel-like passage extending between the top and the bottom. The protective cap is attached to the tubular top of the coupler to seal the top, and has a lower edge connected to the inwardly facing continuous shoulder to define an annular rupture zone. The puncturable membrane film is sealed to the bottom of the coupler to close the channel-like passage. The sterile connector may be combined with a container, attached to the bottom of the coupler, to define an assembly.

Abstract: A tube clamp is disclosed for optional opening and closing of tubes such as infusion tubes, an infusion pump, an infusion tube set and the combination thereof, the tube clamp comprising means for opening or closing the tube clamp which interacts with a part of the infusion pump which is a lever for locking and unlocking a door in the pump, wherein an automatic opening and closing of the tube clamp can be realized without a relative movement of the tube clamp and the tube.

Abstract: A tube system comprising a blood inlet line with an arterial patient connection and a blood return line with a venous patient connection, where a rinsing liquid inlet line branches off from the blood inlet line downstream from the arterial patient connection, and a rinsing liquid return line branches off from the blood return line upstream from the venous patient connection is filled while maintaining sterility in that rinsing liquid is pumped from a rinsing liquid container through the rinsing liquid inlet line, the blood inlet line, the blood return line and the rinsing liquid return line, establishing a liquid connection between the rinsing liquid inlet line and return line. The venous patient connection is sealed liquid-tight with a venous safety cap, and the arterial patient connection is sealed liquid-tight with an arterial safety cap. The safety caps are removed from the patient connections for connecting the tube system to the patient.

Abstract: A sterile connector for containers holding medicinal liquids comprising a base body with a lower part that can be inserted into the container wall and which can be sealed with respect to the container wall and an upper part equipped with a passage for the liquid. At the lower side and/or the upper side of the base body a barrier module is provided that is an injection molded part with a core made of a material that is essentially impermeable to certain gases and an envelope made of a material of which the base body is made.

Abstract: A device is described for measuring changes in parameters in transparent objects, in particular for medical applications. For universal use in various applications, the device includes a light source, an optical line sensor which detects the intensity of the light of the light source passing through the object as a function of location in at least one extension direction of the object, and a computer unit which compares the distribution of the light intensities detected by the optical line sensor as a function of location with at least one predetermined reference distribution. According to another embodiment, the light source supplies approximately parallel light, and the computer unit shapes the first derivation according to location of the distribution of the light intensities detected by the optical line sensor. The device is designed so that the different light sources can be easily replaced or combined.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for continuous processing of intra- or postoperative blood loss for autotransfusion are disclosed. According to the present invention, certain cells of the cell suspension to be processed, mainly the red blood cells, are concentrated by centrifuging in a separation unit and removed from the separation unit without being rinsed or washed in the separation unit. The concentrated cell fraction is diluted with a physiological solution, preferably a Ringer's solution, after being removed from the separation unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dialysis solutions for peritoneal dialysis, containing hydroxyethyl starch as the osmotically-active substance, electrolytes and, optionally, conventional additives, where the hydroxyethyl starch has a molecular weight Mw in the range from 10,000 to 150,000, a substitution MS in the range from 0.10 to 0.40, a substitution DS in the range from 0.09 to 0.35 and a substitution ratio C2/C6≧8. With this peritoneal dialysis solution it is possible, with an outstanding ultrafiltration, to maintain a longer dwell time, for example the dialysis solution can be utilized for a period of 12 hours in the CAPD without replacement. In addition, the inventive dialysis solution is also particularly advantageous for patients with residual kidney function. The resorption of the osmotically active substance is clearly diminished and even after a dwell time of 12 hours it amounts to a maximum of 60-70%.

Abstract: A centrifuge, especially a flow-through centrifuge free of rotating seals, for centrifuging biological fluids has a stand on which a frame (1) is rotatably mounted. A centrifuge chamber (3) is rotatably mounted on the rotating frame (1) to rotate about the axis of the latter. The centrifuge chamber (3) is driven in the same direction of rotation as the frame (1) but at twice the rotational speed. Coupling elements which are engaged by magnetic forces and are designed in the manner of a clutch disk or a gearwheel are used to transmit the torque to the centrifuge chamber or the rotating frame. Force is transmitted in a non-contact and wear-free manner. No lubrication is necessary, which also reduces the buildup of dust and dirt. In addition, there is little generation of noise.

Abstract: A centrifuge chamber of a cell separator having a separation channel with an inlet to introduce the cell suspension and at least one outlet to withdraw a fraction of the cell suspension is described. The cell suspension can be blood. The separation channel is shaped like a spiral extending from the radially outer end of the channel to the radially inner end of the channel, with a progressive slope. The centrifuge chamber allows a uniform, contaminant free separation of the cell suspension into its components.

Abstract: With flow-through centrifuges free of rotating seals, the line leading from the stationary connection to the rotating separation unit for supplying and/or removing the fluid is subjected to relatively great mechanical stresses. The centrifuge according to the present invention has a bearing shell (13) into which is inserted a sliding bushing (9) that is provided on the line to support the line on the rotating frame (1) carrying the separation unit. Bearing shell (13) and sliding bushing (9) have widening sliding surfaces (11, 15) so that the contact surface can be minimized. The line (6) can be produced inexpensively as a disposable article, because it includes only the sliding bushing (9) of the bearing.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transmitter, particularly for an air bubble detector, having a transmitting stage and an ultrasonic crystal. The transmitting stage includes a multivibrator having a time-base circuit with two stable output states. A timing element is interconnected in the feedback loop of the time-base circuit. An ultrasonic crystal is interconnected with the feedback loop of the time-base circuit so that the electrical circuit oscillates at or near a resonance frequency of the ultrasonic crystal. The ultrasonic crystal may be disconnected so that the multivibrator oscillates automatically at its own natural frequency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blood collecting device having a vacuum container and a cover which seals it. A blood filter is provided on the cover. According to the invention, the blood filter has a filter bottom which is designed to be flexible and/or is mounted movably.

Abstract: An agent for dehydrating corneas, in particular eye corneas for organ culture, contains the culture medium and as dehydrating substance hydroxyethylstarch with a mean molecular weight Mw from 070,000 to 200,000, an MS substitution degree from 0.15 to 0.5, a DS substitution degree from 0.15 to 0.5 and a C2-C6 substitution ratio at the anhydroglucose units .ltoreq.8. The dehydrating substance is preferably hydroxyethylstarch with a mean molecular weight Mw 130,000.+-.20,000, an MS substitution degree from 0.38 to 0.45, a DS substitution degree from 0.32 to 0.40 and a C2-C6 substitution ratio at the anhydroglucose units from 8 to 20. The hydroxyethylstarch is used in a concentration from 1 to 20 (weight/vol.) %, preferably from 2 to 15 (weight/vol.) %, and in particular of 7.5% (weight/vol.).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for purifying protein-containing solutions such as blood, blood plasma or cell culture media, where a biocompatible support material made of a plastic material, selected from the group of polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polysulfone and polyether sulfone, is coated with albumin, which is bound by peptide binding. In addition, the invention relates to a method of producing the support material according to this invention and the use of the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new oxygen transfer agents which comprise haemoglobin-hydroxyethylstarch conjugates, and processes for their preparation. The invention furthermore relates to the use of the oxygen transfer agents as a blood substitute, plasma expander, perfusion agent, haemodilution agent and/or cardioplegic solution. The invention relates in particular to oxygen transfer agents which comprise a haemoglobin-hydroxyethylstarch conjugate in which the haemoglobin and the hydroxyethylstarch are linked to one another selectively via amide bonds between free amino groups of the haemoglobin and the reducing end group of the hydroxyethylstarch, which is present in oxidized form.