Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the washing step in a blood centrifugation cell in which washing solution is introduced into the blood centrifugation cell and the cell contains compacted red cells and supernatant at the beginning of the washing step. The apparatus can comprise various sensors and a computer. The sensors sense and transmit to the computer three inputs. The first input is indicative of the total volume of blood that enters the cell during the filling step and the total amount of washing solution that enters the cell during the washing step. The second input is indicative of the hematocrit value of the blood introduced during the filling step. The third input is indicative of the geometric characteristics of the cell. Based on the inputs, the computer executes an algorithm that produces a first output that is the concentration of the supernatant in the supernatant-washing solution mixture.

Abstract: A device for treating blood in an extracorporeal circuit comprising a venous blood reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, a heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, an oxygenation apparatus having an inlet and an outlet, and an arterial blood filter having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the venous blood reservoir, heat exchanger, pump, oxygenation apparatus, and arterial blood filter are integrated into a single monolithic assembly.

Abstract: A device for treating blood in an extracorporeal circuit comprising a venous blood reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, and a hemoconcentrator having a first inlet connector for the blood to be treated, a second outlet connector for the outflow of concentrated blood, and a third outlet connector for the outflow of the ultrafiltered liquid, wherein the hemoconcentrator is disposed within the venous blood reservoir and the hemoconcentrator and the venous blood reservoir are integrated into a single monolithic assembly, and wherein the hemoconcentrator comprises an enclosure containing structure suitable to concentrate blood.

Abstract: A unit for pumping fluid, particularly blood, is provided with an enclosure that has two half-shells and an elastic membrane fixed perimetrically to the enclosure in order to divide its space into two parts. One of the half-shells is provided with valves that are located at the opening of two connecting ducts for the intake and delivery of the fluid, and the other half-shell is connected to a line of working fluid that is alternately pressurized and depressurized. The first valve is a disk-shaped sheet made of elastic material. The first valve is in a central position with a support that is fixed to the opening of the first duct for connection to the outside and is suitable to rest at its peripheral region on the support. A second valve is a sheet of elastic material located at the peripheral region of the disk at the opening of the second duct for connection to the outside which lies at the peripheral region of the opening of the first duct.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted venous blood reservoir has a controller that can sense pressure within a sealed blood chamber. The controller regulates the amount of vacuum within the chamber to control the level of blood in the venous reservoir. A safety valve is included to prevent blood from entering the vacuum line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the washing step in a blood centrifugation cell in which washing solution is introduced into the blood centrifugation cell and the cell contains compacted red cells and supernatant at the beginning of the washing step. The apparatus comprises a computer that executes an algorithm that produces a first output that is the concentration of the supernatant in the supernatant-washing solution mixture.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the automatic control of a blood centrifuge, including a controller that processes four input values and two output parameters. The four input values include the hematocrit value of the input blood, the volume of the red cells present in the centrifuge, the filling level of the centrifuge, and, selectively, the hematocrit value for collected blood at the end of the filling step and the time required for the filling step. The two output parameters include the flow rate of the blood into the centrifuge and either the time required for the filling step (when the hematocrit value is provided as input) or the predicted hematocrit value (when the time for the filling step is provided as input).

Abstract: A pulsating pumping unit for a fluid, particularly blood, includes means suitable to draw the fluid from an intake connector in order to send it to a outlet connector. The means are contained in an enclosure provided with valves connected to the inlet and the outlet. The valve connected to the outlet has at least one duct passing through the wall of the enclosure, is open at the end that leads into the portion of space. The pumping unit has a flow control element comprising a band of elastic material fixed to the outer wall of the enclosure at the edges, so as to have a blind portion which faces the exit port of the duct and a portion provided with holes which faces the outer wall.

Abstract: A device for oxygenating blood in an extracorporeal circuit includes a first structure suitable to delimit a portion of space-containing capillaries made of microporous membrane. The capillaries convey oxygen and are wet externally by blood flowing through a portion of space between an intake connector, which is connected to a venous line of the extracorporeal circuit, and a delivery connector. The device includes a second structure monolithically connected and contiguous to the first structure. The second structure is suitable to contain blood filtration means that divide the portion of space delimited thereby into a blood distribution chamber, provided with an air vent and connected to the delivery connector of the first structure, and a blood collection chamber provided with a delivery connector connected to the arterial line of the extracorporeal circuit.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the automatic control of a blood centrifuge, including a controller that processes four input values and two output parameters. The four input values include the hematocrit value of the input blood, the volume of the red cells present in the centrifuge, the filling level of the centrifuge, and, selectively, the hematocrit value for collected blood at the end of the filling step and the time required for the filling step. The two output parameters include the flow rate of the blood into the centrifuge and either the time required for the filling step (when the hematocrit value is provided as input) or the predicted hematocrit value (when the time for the filling step is provided as input).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the automatic control of a blood centrifuge, including a controller that processes four input values and two output parameters. The four input values include the hematocrit value of the input blood, the volume of the red cells present in the centrifuge, the filling level of the centrifuge, and, selectively, the hematocrit value for collected blood at the end of the filling step and the time required for the filling step. The two output parameters include the flow rate of the blood into the centrifuge and either the time required for the filling step (when the hematocrit value is provided as input) or the predicted hematocrit value (when the time for the filling step is provided as input).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the encapsulation of biologically active agents in red blood cells (RBCS) is disclosed. The method is characterized in that lysed and partially lysed RBCs are concentrated prior to the introduction of the biologically active agent. The resultant carrier RBCs are stable for an extended period of time under physiological conditions and can be used for the systemic or targeted delivery of therapeutically effective amounts of one or more biologically active agents to a patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multiple-duct tube for centrifugal separators for blood in particular, suitable for connecting a rotating connector to a stationary connector. The multiple-duct tube comprises, in a monolithic structure, a plurality of ducts which have parallel axes. The outer surface of the tube is defined by blended portions of walls of the peripheral ducts, so as to assume a lobate shape in a transverse cross-section.

Abstract: Single-needle extracorporeal plasmapheresis circuit, has a filter in which plasma is separated from the blood with a membrane subject to transmembrane pressure. Two connections to the filter in the blood circuit include one connection of a line to a single needle. An interposed pump is in that line. The other connection has another line to a blood reservoir. A further line connects the plasma side of the filter membrane to a plasma collection bag. Another pump in the further line is controlled by an automatic control means suitable for maintaining the transmembrane pressure in the filter at a value within an optimum range for the entire duration of the plasmapheresis process.

Abstract: The device for selectively drawing samples of blood from two sections of a line and for injecting drugs into the blood comprises a three-way selection element which operates in a seat provided with three connections; the ways are suitable for selectively connecting two of the connections upon manual actuation on the part of an operator. A connection is suitable for receiving a line connected to an arterial blood drawing section; another connection is connected, by means of a duct, to the base of a trap which is open at the top and is suitable for receiving a line connected to a venous blood drawing section; and the third connection comprises a one-way valve allowing flow away from the connection and is connected by means of a duct to the base of a trap which is open at the top and is shaped so as to allow the insertion of a syringe for drawing samples of blood.

Abstract: In a centrifugal pump for liquids, in particular for blood in extracorporeal circulation, comprising a containment body for an impeller having the shape of a disk and comprising magnets inside it and having, on both faces, blades adapted for making contact with the liquid; the containment body has at least one liquid inflow connection, which is connected to ducts for conveying the liquid proximate to the center of the impeller on both sides thereof, and at least one liquid outflow connection; the containment body is shaped so that it can be removably inserted in a seat defined in a fixed base within which there is at least one magnet arranged so as to face the seat and being connected to means adapted for rotating it so as to rotationally entrain the impeller.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood circuit comprises a generally cylindrically shaped blood reservoir; a generally cylindrically shaped oxygenator arranged coaxially and adjacently below said reservoir; and a generally cylindrically shaped heat exchanger attached coaxially and adjacently below said oxygenator. The reservoir encloses an upper defoamer and multiple filter element adapted to receive cardiotomy blood within the interior of said upper element and to discharge treated blood to said reservoir; and a lower defoamer and filter element adapted to receive arterial blood within the interior of said lower element and to discharge treated blood to said reservoir; and has a lower blood outlet. The oxygenator has an inlet adapted to integrally receive blood directly from the outlet of said heat exchanger and an outlet adapted to return the oxygenated blood to the patient.

Abstract: A blood centrifugation cell has an outer container, a volume displacement inner body having a central passage, and an inlet conduit extending through the central passage to the bottom of the container. A seal is provided at the lower end of the body sealing the space between the inner conduit and the central passage. The seal permits red blood cells to be sucked from the container at any time during centrifugation without waiting for the cell to become completely filled.

Abstract: A continuous blood centrifugation cell includes a bell shaped outer container rotatable about a central axis, a coaxial inner volume displacement body which has a central longitudinal passage, and a circularly shaped partition which has a central aperture and which is coaxially enclosed between the body and the bottom of the container. A stationary housing is connected to and encloses the upper end of the container and has a coaxial inner conduit, a coaxial intermediate conduit, and a coaxial outer conduit. The housing has a stationary passage near the upper end of the container and is in communication with the lower end of the outer conduit for the removal of the lighter fraction blood components from the container. The intermediate conduit extends downwardly into the central passage of the body and has the lower end thereof closely spaced from the partition for the inlet of blood into the container.