Abstract: A reagent preparing device for preparing a reagent to be supplied to a measurement section for measuring a specimen; the reagent preparing device comprising: a reagent preparing section for preparing a reagent including a first liquid and a second liquid, different from the first liquid; a reagent storage container, connected to the measurement section, for storing the reagent prepared by the reagent preparing section; and a controller configured for determining whether or not the reagent stored in the reagent storage container is suppliable to the measurement section based on reagent expiration date information related to an expiration date of the reagent stored in the reagent storage container, is disclosed. A reagent preparing method and a specimen processing system are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for separation and concentration of particles from liquid and fluid samples. In some embodiments, the separation/concentration is achieved by sequential centrifugation steps. In particular, one aspect of the invention relates to a separation/concentration device which comprises at least a first chamber (101) and a second chamber (103) connected by a first valve (111), whereby operation of the first valve controls the material transfer from the first chamber to the second chamber. In some embodiments, valve operation can be manually, semi-manually or automatically. Other aspects of the invention relate to single- or multi-chambered separation/concentrator devices, and methods and systems for use. Other aspects of the invention relate to devices for operation of the valves, e.g., semi-manual actuation devices, and automatic inertial activation devices and mechanical actuation devices present in purpose-built centrifuges.

Abstract: A biological indicator access apparatus and method thereof is provided. The apparatus includes a cage positioned at least partially within an interior compartment of a medical sterilization container, wherein the cage has an interior portion sized to house at least one biological indicator. At least one access element is removably coupled to the cage and permitting access to the interior portion, wherein the at least one access element is located exterior to the medical sterilization container. A filter material at least partially forms the interior portion of the cage, wherein the filter material allows a sterilization substance to traverse from within the interior compartment of the medical sterilization container to the interior portion and prevents non-sterile substances from traversing from the interior portion to the interior compartment of the medical sterilization container.

Abstract: A CD-based device for separating plasma from whole blood includes a substrate, a sedimentation chamber disposed in the substrate, and a collection chamber disposed in the substrate and in fluidic communication with the sedimentation chamber through a siphon channel. The sedimentation chamber includes a plurality of finger-like structures disposed along a radially outward edge of the sedimentation chamber, and protruding radially inward relative to the axis of rotation of the substrate. A method for separating plasma from whole blood using the CD-based device includes introducing a blood sample into the sedimentation chamber, rotating the substrate about an axis of rotation at a first rotational speed to separate the plasma from blood cells, and rotating the substrate about the axis of rotation at a second rotational speed, which is lower than the first rotational speed, to move the plasma from the sedimentation chamber into the collection chamber.

Abstract: A method of sterilization, decontamination and/or sanitation of an enclosed environment, the method comprising the steps of measuring the temperature of an enclosed environment to be treated; calculating the relative humidity required to provide a desired partial pressure at the measured temperature, the actual desired partial pressure required being based on a predetermined optimum partial pressure at a base temperature corresponding to an optimum operating temperature for that environment; introducing a predetermined quantity of water to the environment to provide the calculated relative humidity for the measured temperature; discharging ozone into the humidified environment; maintaining the ozone level at a concentration that will achieve the required degree of decontamination, sterilization and/or sanitation of the humid environment; and reducing the ozone level to an acceptable safe exposure level.

Abstract: A disposable blood separation set and a centrifugal blood processing system comprising a blood processing chamber adapted to be mounted on a rotor of a centrifuge; a frustro-conical cell separation chamber in fluid communication with the processing chamber, the cell separation chamber having an inlet, a primary outlet and a side tap outlet adjacent the inlet. A valve that is responsive to centrifugal force (a “gravity” valve) selects between the outlet and the side tap outlet. The gravity valve is mounted on the rotor. When the rotor spins at high speed, the gravity valve may open the primary outlet and close the side tap outlet. When the rotor spins at a lower speed, the gravity valve may open the side tap outlet and close the primary outlet.

Abstract: Centrifuges are useful to, among other things, remove red blood cells from whole blood and retain platelets and other factors in a reduced volume of plasma. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) and or platelet poor plasma (PPP) can be obtained rapidly and is ready for immediate injection into the host. Embodiments may include valves, operated manually or automatically, to open ports that discharge the excess red blood cells and the excess plasma into separate receivers while retaining the platelets and other factors in the centrifuge chamber. High speeds used allow simple and small embodiments to be used at the patient's side during surgical procedures. The embodiments can also be used for the separation of liquids or slurries in other fields such as, for example, the separation of pigments or lubricants.

Abstract: The preservation liquid addition system of the present invention enables a chemical liquid to be added to a blood cell component both easily and in a short period of time. The preservation liquid addition system is able to be placed on a centrifugal separator. The preservation liquid addition system has a blood bag, a preservation liquid bag, a mixed liquid bag, a first flow path and a static mixer. A blood component in the blood bag and a preservation liquid in the preservation liquid bag are sent to the static mixer through the first flow path, and a mixed liquid mixed by the static mixer is sent to the mixed liquid bag by centrifugal force of the centrifugal separator.

Abstract: The centrifugation vessel includes an outer wall containing an interior space. A dam defines a barrier which divides the interior space into at least two regions including a catch basin defining a higher gee region and a reservoir defining a lower gee region. These regions are joined together over the dam. The dam includes a face which is preferably tapered to enable optimization of speed of separation of a sample placed within the vessel. The vessel is usable in a biological sample processing method by having the higher gee region of the vessel configured to have an elongate form and the volume optimized for collection of a higher density fraction of the sample. Supply and withdrawal tubes extend into the regions for reliable extraction and separate collection of differing density fractions after separation by centrifugation.

Abstract: The centrifugation vessel includes an outer wall containing an interior space. A dam defines a barrier which divides the interior space into at least two regions including a catch basin defining a higher gee region and a reservoir defining a lower gee region. These regions are joined together over the dam. The dam includes a face which is preferably tapered to enable optimization of speed of separation of a sample placed within the vessel. The vessel is usable in a biological sample processing method by having the higher gee region of the vessel configured to have an elongate form and the volume optimized for collection of a higher density fraction of the sample. Supply and withdrawal tubes extend into the regions for reliable extraction and separate collection of differing density fractions after separation by centrifugation.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing an article by sequentially exposing the article to hydrogen peroxide and ozone is disclosed. The article is exposed under vacuum first to an evaporated aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide and subsequently to an ozone containing gas. The exposure is carried out without reducing the water vapor content of the sterilization atmosphere, the water vapor content being derived from the aqueous solvent of the hydrogen peroxide solution and from the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. The complete sterilization process is carried out while the chamber remains sealed and without removal of any component of the sterilization atmosphere. For this purpose, the chamber is initially evacuated to a first vacuum pressure sufficient to cause evaporation of the aqueous hydrogen peroxide at the temperature of the chamber atmosphere. The chamber is then sealed for the remainder of the sterilization process and during all sterilant injection cycles.

Abstract: The centrifugation vessel includes an outer wall containing an interior space. A dam defines a barrier which divides the interior space into at least two regions including a catch basin defining a higher gee region and a reservoir defining a lower gee region. These regions are joined together over the dam. The dam includes a face which is preferably tapered to enable optimization of speed of separation of a sample placed within the vessel. The vessel is usable in a biological sample processing method by having the higher gee region of the vessel configured to have an elongate form and the volume optimized for collection of a higher density fraction of the sample. Supply and withdrawal tubes extend into the regions for reliable extraction and separate collection of differing density fractions after separation by centrifugation. A medium density fluid is used within the vessel to further isolate constituents of differing densities.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of extracorporeal blood processing methods and apparatus which are particularly useful in blood component collection, and more specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for centrifugally separating buffy coat that reduce the surface available for separated buffy coat components to sediment on by varying the radius of the product collection bag.

Abstract: A rotor is provided for use in a centrifuge system configured to spin the rotor for separating complex fluids. The rotor includes a housing configured to be secured by the centrifuge system and several chambers formed in the housing. Each chamber includes a first chamber portion having a port formed therein and a second chamber portion in fluid communication with the port of the first chamber portion. The second chamber portion may be disposed generally below the port of the first chamber portion. Other rotor designs and methods for separating complex fluids are further disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the sterilization of ballast water on ships by means of UV radiation, with a pump line by means of which ballast water can be taken up and discharged, wherein the pump line is passed through by a number of UV-transparent sheath pipes arranged one behind another in the direction of the pump line and in which UV radiators are arranged for the emission of UV radiation into the pump line and sheath pipes arranged one behind another in the circumferential direction of the pump line are offset by an angle ? in relation to one another.

Abstract: An ozone converter that includes an outer housing having an inlet and an outlet is disclosed. In this embodiment the ozone converter includes a core disposed within the outer housing and a bypass cylinder disposed between the inlet and the outlet and that passes through the core such that air within the bypass cylinder does not contact the core. The ozone converter of this embodiment also includes a blocking sleeve that surrounds a portion of the bypass cylinder and that is moveable from a first position to a second position. When the bypass sleeve is in the first position air that enters in the inlet is directed by the blocking sleeve into the bypass cylinder and when it is in the second position air that enters the inlet is allowed to enter an outer passage between the bypass cylinder and the outer housing.

Abstract: The present invention is for extremely pure solutions of chlorine dioxide, methods for making such solutions and to compositions and methods for storing, shipping and using such solutions. Generally, the chlorine dioxide solutions of the invention are aqueous solutions containing about 2500 ppm or less of total impurities. The chlorine dioxide solution can be prepare by passing dilute highly pure chlorine gas through a bed of substantially solid sodium chlorite and contacting the resulting chlorine dioxide gas with a liquid.

Abstract: The present invention is for extremely pure solutions of chlorine dioxide, methods for making such solutions and to compositions and methods for storing, shipping and using such solutions. Generally, the chlorine dioxide solutions of the invention are aqueous solutions containing about 2500 ppm or less of total impurities. The chlorine dioxide solution can be prepare by passing dilute highly pure chlorine gas through a bed of substantially solid sodium chlorite and contacting the resulting chlorine dioxide gas with a liquid.

Abstract: The present invention is for extremely pure solutions of chlorine dioxide, methods for making such solutions and to compositions and methods for storing, shipping and using such solutions. Generally, the chlorine dioxide solutions of the invention are aqueous solutions containing about 2500 ppm or less of total impurities. The chlorine dioxide solution can be prepare by passing dilute highly pure chlorine gas through a bed of substantially solid sodium chlorite and contacting the resulting chlorine dioxide gas with a liquid.

Abstract: The present invention is for extremely pure solutions of chlorine dioxide, methods for making such solutions and to compositions and methods for storing, shipping and using such solutions. Generally, the chlorine dioxide solutions of the invention are aqueous solutions containing about 2500 ppm or less of total impurities. The chlorine dioxide solution can be prepare by passing dilute highly pure chlorine gas through a bed of substantially solid sodium chlorite and contacting the resulting chlorine dioxide gas with a liquid.