Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating blood which utilize suspendable contact-activating particles to initiate blood clotting generally throughout the volume of blood are disclosed herein. The contact-activating particles are deposited in a vessel; and when whole blood is supplied to the vessel, the particles are suspended throughout the volume of the blood and remain so suspended, without mechanical agitation, during at least the initial stages of coagulation. The particles are precipitated from the serum portion of the blood during a subsequent centrifugal separation. Also, a process for making appropriately sized contact-activating particles is disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid collection device includes a blood collection tube having a negative pressure therein and sealed at one end by a stopper pierceable by a needle cannula for drawing a blood specimen into the tube for centrifugal separation into a relatively light phase, plasma or serum, and a relatively heavy phase including the blood cells. A quantity of a gel-like mixture of liquid hydrocarbon-polymer, such as polybutene, and an inorganic powder, such as silica powder, is disposed in the tube. The gel-like mixture has a specific gravity intermediate those of the relatively light and heavy phases of the blood so that during centrifugation, the gel-like mixture moves to a position between the phases to provide a partition barrier between them.

Abstract: A blood sampling device includes an expansible, flexible container which, when unfilled, lies flat with its opposed sides together. The container is connected to a support having a passage for connecting the container with a needle cannula. A manually operable valve is disposed between the passage and the container. A gas vent communicates with the passage and has a hydrophobic filter for allowing air in the needle and passage to escape without entering the collection chamber of the container. The container has an isolation chamber at the proximal end for isolating air or air bubbles that might enter the collection chamber as a result of error in sampling technique. By hand manipulation of the container, such air bubbles can be moved from the collection chamber into the isolation chamber to isolate the air bubbles and prevent further absorption of oxygen from such air bubbles into the blood sample in the collection chamber.

Abstract: An improved pressure regulator for an inflatable cuff on an endotracheal tube or the like includes a housing which contains a valve assembly and a pressure regulating chamber. The housing is adapted to be connected to an inflatable cuff so that the pressure regulating chamber communicates with the cuff through the valve assembly. The valve assembly (1) permits slow increases in air pressure in the cuff to be transferred into the pressure regulating chamber, thereby preventing over-inflation of the cuff, and (2) closes in response to relatively rapid pressure changes in the cuff to prevent collapsing of the cuff when the pressure of the air or other gas delivered through the endotracheal tube (e.g., by a respirator) is relatively high. A spring-biased piston is disposed in the pressure regulating chamber for regulating the pressure in an inflatable cuff to which the regulator housing is connected, and a rolling diaphragm covers the piston.

Abstract: A fluid collection device for receiving a liquid, such as blood, and which is adapted to be centrifuged to separate it into its relatively light and heavy phases. The collection device has a phase partitioning device having a specific gravity intermediate those of the light and heavy phases of the blood so that it automatically moves during centrifugation to substantially the interface of the phases to sealingly partition them from each other. The device has a resilient sealing member which is of conical or "umbrella" configuration, and another member of different specific gravity connected to the sealing member and having stabilizing members for maintaining the sealing member properly oriented in the container. The sealing member partially collapses during centrifugation to allow blood components to pass by the sealing member.

Abstract: A blood collection needle and tube holder having a barrel open at one end for receiving a blood collection tube and having an end wall at the opposite end carrying an axially extending double-ended needle cannula. The barrel has longitudinally extending, resilient, interior walls inclined from the open end inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the barrel whereby tubes of different sizes can be selectively inserted in the holder and guided by the inclined resilient walls. A size range pre-adjustment can be provided to change the angle between the longitudinal axes of the guide arms and the longitudinal axis of the barrel.

Abstract: A plastic tube is provided which has a main lumen, an auxiliary lumen, and an integral connector at one end for connecting the main lumen in fluid communication with another device. The auxiliary lumen extends longitudinally within the side wall of the tube with the integral tube connector free of the auxiliary lumen. The tube can be made by extruding thermoplastic material through a die having a hollow main lumen die pin and a hollow auxiliary lumen die pin adjacent the die outlet orifice. Air under pressure is supplied to both die pins to produce tubing extrudate having main and auxiliary lumens. The pressure of the air supplied to the auxiliary lumen forming pin is reduced at programmed intervals during the extrusion of the tubing so that selected portions are free of an auxiliary lumen or have a lumen of limited size. The tubing can be severed so that it has a selected portion at one end that can serve as an end connector.

Abstract: A disposable venous blood pressure manometer of provided which includes a transparent tray having a longitudinal interior channel with a transparent plastic manometer tube disposed in the channel, a calibrated scale member in the tray behind the tube, and a cover closing the back of the tray and which may be used as a label. The cover and body member provide a container which may contain a plastic extension tube and a three-way valve. The container can be opened by peeling back a bottom end portion of the cover from the body member. The extension tube and valve can then be removed for use in connecting the manometer tube in an infusion and pressure measuring system. The level of liquid in the manometer tube during use and the scale can be seen through the transparent tray for taking pressure readings. The container performs a functional part of the manometer during use.

Abstract: An improved fluid collection tube assembly, particularly adapted for collecting blood or other biological fluid, includes a plastic collection tube having a forward end closed by a rubber diaphragm and an open rear end. A resilient piston member is slidably disposed within the tube in sealing engagement with the interior wall of the tube and is spaced forwardly from the open rear end. Prior to collecting a biological fluid from a patient, ambient air is in the space between the closed forward end of the tube and the piston member. When it is desired to collect a biological fluid from a patient, the piston is drawn rearwardly into the rear end of the tube to create a vacuum in the tube between the rubber diaphragm and the piston member.

Abstract: A package for a sterile article has a pair of sterile panels, a sterile article between the panels, and a bacteria-impervious envelope enclosing the panels and the article. The envelope has a tear-line for manually separating it into two open-ended portions for the purpose of opening the envelope. The panels extend outwardly beyond the tear-line so that after the envelope is opened, the panels and the article remain within one of the envelope portions with the panels extending out of that envelope portion. In this way, the article can be removed from the panels and envelope portion without the article contacting any part of the envelope portion.

Abstract: A syringe package includes a plastic cylindrical container sleeve closed at one end and open at the opposite end for receiving a sterile syringe. The sleeve has an enlarged end portion at the open end connected by a tapered portion to the main body portion of the sleeve. A rigid plastic end closure is positioned over the enlarged end portion of the sleeve and an end portion of the closure is heat-formed around the tapered portion of the sleeve so that the formed end of the cap has a smaller diameter than the enlarged portion of the sleeve. The heat-formed end portion of the closure may be provided with stress relief slots in the end portion.

Abstract: A blood collection device includes a tube for receiving a sample of whole blood for centrifugal separation into the lighter phase, plasma or serum, and the heavier cellular phase. The tube has a needle-pierceable stopper at the opposite end for maintaining a negative pressure in the tube. A blood phase partitioning device is disposed within the tube and includes upper and lower members with the upper member having a greater specific gravity greater than that of the lower member but together having a specific gravity between that of the lighter phase and that of the heavier phase. A sealant is disposed between the members and in contact with each member and has a specific gravity equal to the average of the two members.

Abstract: A thoracic drainage device including a fluid collection chamber for receiving drainage fluid from the pleural cavity of a patient is provided with a strap capable of being used to conveniently support the drainage device in various ways. The upper and lower ends of the drainage device are provided with openings for receiving the strap in each of a plurality of different device supporting conditions. The strap can be adjusted so as to be useable as a shoulder strap, a hand-held strap, a strap for hanging the drainage device from a bed rail or other support, or in other arrangements. The strap can be arranged to provide a relatively short support without having unused portions dangling from the device.

Abstract: A thoracic drainage device including a rigid container having a drainage collection chamber and a liquid seal chamber centered above the collection chamber. A tube adapted for connection with the pleural cavity of a patient is connected to the lid of the device and extends into the liquid seal chamber to a point below the level of an initial amount of liquid provided therein. The liquid seal chamber has a relatively small height relative to its length and width so that it contains a relatively large amount of liquid of shallow depth. The seal chamber has an upper wall with a central opening for the flow of liquid through the opening and into the collection chamber, the upper wall preventing or reducing the flow of liquid out of the liqud seal chamber due to an inadvertent tipping of the device or sloshing during movement from one location to another.

Abstract: A syringe or other container which may be prefilled with a parenteral drug has an end closed by a pierceable seal that is engaged between the end of the syringe barrel and a plastic sealing cap. A coupling member is disposed for sliding movement on the cap. The coupling member has a pointed end for piercing the seal, and a luer coupling portion at the opposite end for connection with a coupling element associated with another device, such as a catheter or needle cannula.

Abstract: A blood collection tube useable with a needle holder for drawing blood from a body vessel. The tube has a rubber stopper with an annular axially extending portion in tight sealing engagement within the bore of the tube for maintaining a negative pressure in the tube. An annular groove in the annular portion of the stopper has a vacuum loss indicating member for providing a visual indication that the tube has or does not have a negative pressure therein. The vacuum loss indicating member may be cobalt chloride responsive to atmospheric moisture, a material including methylene blue that is sensitive to oxygen, or a closed-end manometer which has a quantity of liquid therein in a balanced position when normal negative pressure conditions exist in the tube and which moves within the manometer to visually indicate a loss of pressure when such occurs.

Abstract: A container having a sealed chamber for receiving an ampule containing a parenteral solution. The container device has a luer tapered connector for connection with a luer tapered coupling element of another device, such as a hypodermic syringe barrel tip. Between the connector and the chamber is a filter for filtering the parenteral solution as it is discharged from the ampule. The container device may be formed of a pliable material such that a glass ampule within the chamber can be broken by hand-squeezing the container. The container may also be formed of a pair of relatively rigid threadedly coupled members with a glass ampule between the members and such that the two members can be rotated to move the members together and break the glass ampule. The container device may also be provided with a pair of threadedly coupled upper and lower relatively rigid members having a seal on the interior of the upper member engaged with the open end of the ampule.

Abstract: A blood collection device includes a tube for receiving a sample of whole blood for centrifugal separation into the lighter phase, plasma or serum, and the heavier cellular phase. The tube has a needle-pierceable stopper at one end for maintaining a negative pressure in the tube. A blood phase partitioning device is disposed within the tube and includes an upper cylinder member and a lower piston member slidable in the upper member. The cylindrical member has a plurality of peripheral holes therein and a specific gravity greater than that of the piston member, with the members together having a specific gravity between that of the lighter phase and that of the heavier phase. A sealant is disposed within and in direct contact with the cylindrical member and has a specific gravity substantially equal to that of the two members together.

Abstract: A thoracic drainage device including a container for receiving drainage fluid, and a drainage tube for connecting the pleural cavity of a patient to be drained to the container, the outlet end of the tube being disposed below the level of liquid in the container to provide a liquid seal. The container includes a gas outlet for connection with the atmosphere or to a source of vacuum, and an annular defoaming member in close surrounding relation with the drainage tube and in the flow path of gas flowing from the drainage tube to the gas outlet for minimizing foam.

Abstract: A method of providing a specimen section embedded in a section of paraffin wax includes providing a mold having a cover and upper and lower portions with a body of solidified paraffin wax therein, heating the paraffin wax while in the mold until it becomes molten, removing the cover of the mold, placing a specimen in the liquid paraffin in the lower mold portion, cooling the paraffin until it becomes a hardened body, and removing the lower mold portion to provide a hardened block of paraffin secured to the upper mold portion with a lower end portion extending below the lower end of the upper mold portion and containing the embedded specimen. The upper mold portion with the paraffin block is disposed within a microtome so that one or more slices of the hardened paraffin block may be cut therefrom to provide a slice of the block which includes a section of the embedded specimen.