Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring fluid flow in dialysis systems include a tube holder for mounting the tube at a predetermined location on a dialysis monitor, a transmitter for transmitting a signal such as ultraviolet light through that location, a receiver for receiving the signal after it has passed through that location, and a sensor for sensing whether the tube is mounted at that location and whether the fluid is contained within the tube in response to the signal received by the receiver.

Abstract: Catheters are disclosed which are adapted for insertion into the heart and which include at least one inlet opening at the front end thereof, at least one outlet opening at the other end thereof, and at least one intermediate opening therebetween, and which include a cylindrical sleeve for opening and closing the intermediate opening so that it can be selectively opened and closed thereby. These catheters are employed most particularly for the withdrawal of blood from both the inferior vena cava and from the right auricle and/or from the superior vena cava of the heart.

Abstract: A system for preparing a fluid intended for a medical procedure substantially at the time of use by mixing of at least one concentrate in powder form with water. The system includes a reservoir for a source of water, at least one vessel containing a concentrate in powder form and a concentrate fluid circuit for withdrawing a small quantity of water from the reservoir and passing same through the vessel containing the concentrate in powder form in order to dissolve the concentrate to produce a concentrate fluid, and for then conducting the concentrate fluid to a primary fluid circuit communicating with the reservoir so that the produced concentrate fluid is mixed with the rest of the water withdrawn from the reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, the vessel comprises a self-contained cartridge containing a quantity of concentrate in powder form therein which is suitable for one treatment procedure.

Abstract: Apparatus for the supply of concentrate for use in medical treatment processes is disclosed, including a concentrate filter including a membrane, an inlet conduit for supplying concentrate to the inlet side of the concentrate filter during normal use and for supplying cleaning fluid to the inlet side of the concentrate filter during cleaning, an outlet conduit for withdrawing the filtered concentrate or a portion of the cleaning fluid from the outlet side of the concentrate filter, and a cleaning fluid withdrawal conduit connected to the inlet side of the concentrate filter and including a valve so that it can be closed during normal use of the concentrate filter and opened during cleaning of the concentrate filter in order to flush a portion of the cleaning fluid through the concentrate filter. Methods for supplying concentrate to be used for medical treatment purposes are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for controlling the flow of a fluid past a membrane in a dialyzer. The apparatus disclosed includes a fluid conduit for conducting the fluid both towards and away from the dialyzer, a flow constrictor for creating a pressure drop in the fluid conduit either upstream or downstream of the dialyzer, a pump for pumping the fluid through that conduit, and a pressure detector for measuring a pressure corresponding to that pressure drop so as to control the flow therein. The method disclosed includes flowing the fluid through an upstream fluid conduit to the dialyzer and through a downstream fluid conduit away from the dialyzer, producing a relatively constant flow in both the upstream and downstream fluid conduits, creating a pressure drop in one of the fluid conduits, pumping the fluid through that conduit, and measuring the pressure corresponding to that pressure drop so that the flow of the fluid in that conduit can be controlled thereby.

Abstract: A cardiopulmonary system is disclosed which is intended for oxygenation of a patient's blood during heart surgery in which the patient's own lungs are used for such oxygenation. The cardiopulmonary system includes use of a blood reservoir which includes at least two chambers, one for venous blood collected from the patient's heart or a major vein and one for arterial blood, and include filters for filtering both the venous and arterial blood as they enter the respective chambers.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling and sterilizing the flow of fluids through a medical treatment device such as a dialyzer including a fluid flow inlet for feeding the fluid to the medical treatment device, a heater for controlling the supply of heat to the fluid in the fluid flow inlet, a fluid flow outlet for withdrawing contaminated fluid from the dialyzer, a recirculation duct for recirculating at least a portion of the heated fluid from a point in the fluid flow inlet to an upstream point in the fluid flow inlet in which the heated fluid can again pass through the heater, and valves for selectively directing at least a portion of the fluid to the recirculation duct for sterilization purposes.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating a liquid, such as whole blood, into fractions having different densities includes a separation chamber and a transfer device, such as a continuous piece of flexible tubing, for supplying the liquid to the separation chamber and discharging the liquid fractions therefrom. The separation chamber and the transfer device are conjointly rotated about a first axis which passes through a stationary end of the transfer device, while being simultaneously and conjointly rotated about a second axis which is coincident with a medial longitudinal axis of the rotating end of the transfer device so as to prevent the transfer device from twisting as a result of its rotation about the first axis.

Abstract: A process for the treating of and/or removal of substances from a liquid, especially whole blood, via a semipermeable microporous membrane (13, 14, 15) through adsorption and/or biological reaction by means of a biologically active material. Said whole blood is exposed to pressure variations at the membrane surface in a way such that a penetrating fraction of said whole blood is flowing in an alternating flow path through the membrane walls for contacting said biologically active material.Said biologically active material is asymmetrically immobilized in and on the surface of the side of said membrane that faces away from said whole blood. Alternatively, said biologically active material may be bound to an unsoluble matrix behind said membrane.Said membrane is for example provided within a casing (7, 8, 9) comprising inlet (10) and outlet (11) for said whole blood.

Abstract: Heating apparatus for heating of a fluid. The heating apparatus comprises a conduit having a fluid passage therethrough for conduction of a fluid to be heated, a heating device, such as for example electrical heating plates, in heat transfer contact with a portion of the conduit for heating the fluid being conducted therethrough, and a temperature sensing device positioned in engagement with the conduit at a predetermined location along the conduit external to the conduit for sensing the temperature of the fluid to be conducted therepast. A contact member is arranged to engage the flexible conduit at the predetermined location for compressing the flexible conduit to constrict the cross sectional area of the flow passage thereat when the flow rate of the fluid is below a predetermined flow rate. Preferably, the contact member is spring biased towards the flow passage constricting position, and is movable away from such position when the flow rate exceeds a predetermined flow rate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for diluting a concentrated solution to be analyzed which includes a Y-coupling for combining a diluent and the concentrated solution to form a mixture. The mixture is then divided into first and second parts, such as by a pumping arrangement, with the second part of the mixture being proportional in quantity to the quantity of concentrated solution. The first part of the mixture is then supplied to an analytical device for analyzing the mixture. A chamber including a movable wall element is provided which divides the chamber into two subchambers. The first part of the mixture is supplied to the subchamber on one side of the movable wall element, which causes the movable wall element to force a proportional quantity of diluent out of the subchamber on the other side of the movable wall element. The dispensed diluent is then conveyed to mix with the concentrated solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for temperature measurements, comprising a temperature-sensitive sensor whose electrical properties, e.g. resistance, vary with the temperature, e.g. a thermistor, and which via two contacts is connected to two electric conductors arranged on a support, which electric conductors in turn can be connected to a reading unit for the reading of the actual values of current, voltage or the like corresponding to the temperature.In a preferred embodiment the said electric conductors are in the form of two metal layers on both sides of a support made of plastics. The one metal layer is interrupted by a gap which is arranged to be bridged by the sensor, one contact of which is connected to each conductor.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for the removal of waste metabolites from metabolite-containing solutions are disclosed. The disclosed processes include alternatively adsorbing and desorbing the metabolites on a pair of adsorbent-containing columns, each column being maintained at a reduced temperature during adsorption and at an elevated temperature during desorption, with the columns being flushed subsequent to desorption and prior to their re-use for adsorption thereon.

Abstract: Conduits (3a, 3b, 3c) are joined with a one-piece tubular connecting piece (1) by inserting support members (5a, 5b, 5c) through a sealable opening (6) in the connecting piece to support the conduit ends while said ends are secured to the connecting piece to communicate with openings (4a, 4b, 4c) in the connecting piece. After securing the conduit ends to the connecting piece, the support members are withdrawn through the sealable opening and that opening is then sealed. The support members can also act as electrodes for welding the conduit ends to the connecting piece, especially when the conduit ends and connecting piece are formed of thermoplastics. The method has particular, but not exclusive, application to smoothly connecting tubes for conveying blood.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for temperature measurements, comprising a temperature-sensitive sensor whose electrical properties, e.g. resistance, vary with the temperature, e.g. a thermistor, and which via two contacts is connected to two electric conductors arranged on a support, which electric conductors in turn can be connected to a reading unit for the reading of the actual values of current, voltage or the like corresponding to the temperature.In a preferred embodiment the said electric conductors are in the form of two metal layers on both sides of a support made of plastics. The one metal layer is interrupted by a gap which is arranged to be bridged by the sensor, one contact of which is connected to each conductor.

Abstract: Electrical stimulators are disclosed particularly for vaginal placement, comprising an element which is elongated along an axis corresponding with a direction in which the stimulator is intended to be placed, and, including a transverse cross-section having elongated axis in one direction perpendicular to its other axis, and a plurality of electrodes located on one side of a longitudinal cross section of the elongated element corresponding with that elongated axis, thus stabilizing its rotation upon its vaginal placement with the electrodes facing in a predetermined direction. The electrodes are adapted to control the urethral, urocystic and/or rectal functions through electrical pulses provided from a pulse generator, and the elongated element is preferably formed of rubber, plastics or the like, and is inflatable.

Abstract: A dialysis system is disclosed for treatment of a first fluid with dialysis fluid, the dialysis fluid being a mixture of water and dialysis concentrate. The system comprises a dialyzer, a source of water, a source of dialysis concentrate, first and second fluid conducting means communicating with the sources of water and dialysis concentrate, pump means associated with the first and second fluid conducting means, and third fluid conducting means for conducting fluid from the pump means to the dialyzer. The pump means serves to draw water and dialysis concentrate through the first and second fluid conducting means respectively, and to mix the water and dialysis concentrate so that a mixture of water and dialysis concentrate is conducted through the third fluid conducting means.

Abstract: Apparatus for the transfer of substances between two fluids with the simultaneous tempering of at least one of the fluids. The apparatus includes at least one heat permeable membrane having first and second opposing surfaces for the transfer of heat therethrough. First and second fluid conducting means are provided for conducting a first and second fluid, respectively. Transfer means are provided for transferring substances between the first and second fluids. The second fluid conducting means conducts the second fluid along the first surface of the heat permeable membrane and third fluid conducting means are providing for conducting a third fluid along the second surface of the heat permeable membrane for tempering the second fluid. According to the preferred embodiment, the transfer means may comprise either means for directly mixing the first fluid into the second fluid or may comprise a semipermeable membrane for diffusing substances therethrough between the first and second fluids.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for measuring the content of a compound in a liquid medium, and which is particularly useful for measuring the concentration of a low molecular weight compound in a complex medium in which there is provided a dialyzer in contact with the complex fluid medium and through which dialysis fluid is conducted to receive by diffusion a portion of the low molecular weight compound to produce a dialysate. The dialysate with the low molecular weight commpound to be examined is first conducted through a venting device for removal of gaseous particles therefrom before conduction through a reaction chamber containing enzymes for promoting the conversion of the low molecular weight compound in the dialysate into a converted reaction product.

Abstract: Assembly is disclosed for connecting a duct to a hole in a flat sheet including a wall for receiving one surface of the flat sheet, a nozzle adapted to be sealingly connected to a duct, the nozzle protruding through and beyond the wall such that the flat sheet is arranged with said one surface in engagement with the wall and the nozzle, and a sealing collar engaged with the other surface of the flat sheet, said collar being adapted to cooperate with the wall to seal the flat sheet therebetween.