Abstract: A stable, shippable microbicidal composition including between about 0.2 to 8% hydrogen peroxide, about 0.2 to 11% peracetic plus acetic acid, 0 to about 1.0% sequestrant such as organic phosphonic acid or its salt and water, and surfactant between 0 and about 1% with the ratio of total acid to H.sub.2 O.sub.2 being between about 1.0 and 11.

Abstract: Provided is an anti-microbial composition containing an ester of formic acid, an oxidizer, performic acid and water. Also provided is a premix for making the anti-microbial composition having two parts. One part contains the ester of formic acid and a second part contains the oxidizer. Another method is provided for making the anti-microbial composition in which the ester of formic acid is combined with the oxidizer and water.

Abstract: Provided is an anti-microbial composition containing an ester of formic acid, an oxidizer, performic acid and water. Also provided is a premix for making the anti-microbial composition having two parts. One part contains the ester of formic acid and a second part contains the oxidizer. Another method is provided for making the anti-microbial composition in which the ester of formic acid is combined with the oxidizer and water.

Abstract: A dialysate filter including asymmetric, microporous, hollow fiber membranes incorporating a polyimide. The dialysate filter connects to the dialysis machine immediately before the dialyzer ensuring complete filtration of the dialysate, easy visual inspection, quick installation and removal, and easy disinfection of the filter.

Abstract: Provided is an anti-microbial composition containing an ester of formic acid, an oxidizer, performic acid and water. Also provided is a premix for making the anti-microbial composition having two parts. One part contains the ester of formic acid and a second part contains the oxidizer. Another method is provided for making the anti-microbial composition in which the ester of formic acid is combined with the oxidizer and water. Also provided is a method for sterilizing devices by contacting the surface of the device with the anti-microbial composition containing the ester of formic acid, an oxidizer, performic acid and water.

Abstract: A combination heat exchanger and oxygenator device is provided. The device includes a generally cylindrical housing having first and second compartments with hollow heat exchange tubes and hollow gas exchange tubes disposed therein, a blood inlet, a blood outlet, a heat exchanges medium inlet, a heat exchange medium outlet, an oxygenating fluid inlet and an oxygenating fluid outlet. The housing has a central axis with the second compartment being concentric thereto. The blood flow passage is defined by blood entering the device generally axially through a path extending along the central axis of the housing and flows generally radially through the second, oxygenating compartment.

Abstract: A soft shell reservoir bag is provided as a storage reservoir for blood in a bypass extracorporeal circuit during open heart surgery. The reservoir bag is constructed to allow for the easy venting of air and to prevent the accidental delivery of air to patient. Blood enters the reservoir through the inlet port, passes through the microscreen and exits through the outlet port to a pump which feeds an oxygenator. The shape of the bag and component disposition give the bag its main advantages. The inlet port is positioned above the outlet port which puts a larger volume above the outlet port which promotes mixing and no vortex. Also the shape above the outlet port gives the bag a low hold-up volume and lower resistance to keep the bag open. The shape also promotes low venous resistance.

Abstract: A unique hollow fiber filter cartridge that allows repeated autoclaving without any deleterious breaks in sealing integrity between the potted fiber bundle and the filter module is disclosed. The unique filter cartridge braodly includes a casing that has at least one open end with an inner lip in the casing proximal to the open end; and a porous collar that has first and second peripheral edges, at least one of which is coupled to the casing along the inner ledge.

Abstract: A method of sealingly coupling a hollow fiber bundle having first and seconds ends to a porous collar having first and second peripheral edges, at least one of which is coupled to the inner ledge of a casing for encasing said bundle of hollow fibers is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of sealingly coupling a hollow fiber bundle having first and seconds ends to a porous collar having first and second peripheral edges, at least one of which is coupled to the inner ledge of a casing for encasing said bundle of hollow fibers is disclosed.

Abstract: Stable microbicides comprising hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, acetic acid and purified water substantially free of contaminants, sequestrants or stabilizers and having anticorrosive properties for metals used in surgical and dental instruments is disclosed.

Abstract: An adaptor for coupling rapid exchange-type catheters to a catheter re-sterilizing system. Specifically, the adaptor fluidly couples the guidewire lumen of a rapid exchange-type catheter to a source of sterilant so that the sterilant may be positively directed to and through the guidewire lumen, thereby allowing the catheter to be properly "reprocessed" or sterilized for reuse.

Abstract: A low prime, high heat exchange efficiency oxygenator is provided which includes an oxygenation portion and a heat exchanger portion. Disposed within the heat exchanger portion is a hollow tube heat exchanger wound bundle which includes a plurality of hollow tubes knitted into a mat, the mat wound under tension into a bundle which includes from 16 to 24 layers of the mat. The oxygenator provided permits prime volumes of 180 to 240 mLs.

Abstract: Concentrations of stock hydrogen peroxide-peracetic acid solutions can be monitored resistively. The resistivity cell electrodes have titanium surfaces which resist corrosion better than other electrode materials including platinum electrodes. Such resistivity monitoring is particularly useful to verify the concentrations of sterilant stock solutions used in machinery for cleaning and sterilizing medical and dental equipment such as dialyzer reuse machines. Over the temperature range of interest the resistivity measurement is substantially not affected by changes of temperature in the room temperature range.

Abstract: A stable, shippable microbicide solution, having improved anticorrosive properties comprising a two part system, the first part consists of a mixture of acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, and water. This is referred to for brevity as a peroxide/peracid solution. The second consists of water having dissolved therein a wetting agent which is preferably Victawet.RTM. 35B which is the sodium hydroxide reaction product of an aliphatic alcohol and phosphorous pentoxide. Three other Victawet.RTM. agents have proven operative. Alternatively, Fluorad.TM. FC95, which is a agent of potassium perfluoroalkyl sulfonates may be used. The microbicide may also be a premixed one component system containing the anticorrosive agents of the invention.

Abstract: A system for reprocessing and sterilizing a previously used catheter having at least one lumen is disclosed. The catheter is provided with a housing and enclosed within the housing. Heated sterilant is provided to the housing and the catheter. The lumen is tested during the reprocessing and sterilizing cycle for blockages and integrity. If the catheter is of a type having a balloon tip, the balloon is also tested for integrity by inflating and deflating it a plurality of times. The housing is pressurized to a level above the ambient pressure and maintained at such pressure whereby the sterility of the catheter is maintained for up to one week. Further disclosed is an apparatus for selectively coupling used catheters to a source of sterilant. The apparatus includes a housing having a tray for holding the catheter in place during reprocessing, a door for enclosing and locking the catheter within the housing, and a plurality of valves for coupling the housing to a source of sterilant.

Abstract: An oxidizing sterilant solution comprising percarboxylic acid is disclosed which contains a colorant that is color stable for a useful period in the oxidizing, sanitizing environment.

Abstract: A compact, cylindrical integrated blood heater/oxygenator in which the blood flows transversely to the axial direction of hollow heat exchange and oxygenation fibers. Blood enters a longitudinally extending central chamber of the blood heater/oxygenator, and moves radially through annular hollow heat exchange and oxygenation fiber bundles in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the device and generally transverse to the axial direction of the fibers. The blood proceeds toward the outer wall of the oxygenator where the temperature is adjusted and oxygenated blood is collected and passed out of the oxygenator through an exit port.