Abstract: A portable assembly for processing red blood cells RBCs including a disposable blood collection set including a blood bag, an anaerobic storage bag and an oxygen and/or oxygen and carbon dioxide depletion device disposed between the blood collection bag and anaerobic storage bag. The portable assembly further provides for a gas circulation device in fluid communication with the oxygen or oxygen and carbon dioxide depletion device, The gas circulation device includes a pressure source that is able circulate flushing gas through the depletion device as RBCs pass from the blood collection bag, through the depletion device and into the anaerobic storage bag.

Abstract: There is provided an etching method for a semiconductor product. The semiconductor product having, on a substrate, an SiO2 layer, and an Si layer with a free surface and directly stacked on the SiO2 layer is prepared. The Si layer is etched. Etching is performed while supplying an etching solution from a side of the free surface using high-concentration fluonitric acid as the etching solution, and etching is continued by switching to fluonitric acid having a concentration lower than that of the fluonitric acid immediately before or after at least part of a surface of the SiO2 layer immediately under the Si layer is exposed.

Abstract: A blood filter device comprising: a housing comprising an outer wall and a first inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet; a membrane which is capable of separating plasma from the blood, wherein the membrane forms an inner chamber; a leukocyte and oxygen and/or carbon dioxide depletion media disposed wherein the inner chamber, the leukocyte and oxygen and/or carbon dioxide depletion media is capable of depleting leukocytes and oxygen and/or carbon dioxide from the blood; an outer chamber disposed between the outer wall and the membrane, wherein the plasma which permeates through the membrane enters the outer chamber and exits the filter device via the first outlet; whereby the blood which has been depleted of oxygen and/or carbon dioxide, leukocytes and plasma exists and filter device via the second outlet.

Abstract: A method for the storage of red blood cells provides for mixing an additive solution with packed red blood cells to create a suspension of red blood cells. The method further provides for reducing the oxygen in the suspension of red blood cells; and storing the suspension of red blood cells under oxygen-depleted storage.

Abstract: There is provided an etching method. A temperature at a plurality of predetermined positions on an upper surface of an Si substrate is measured during the etching processing. The etching processing includes supplying an etching solution to the upper surface of the Si substrate. An exothermic reaction occurs in the etching processing. The upper surface is heated or cooled depending on the measured value.

Abstract: A system for assessing the microvascular fitness of a sample of stored red blood cells. The system has a network device having at least one network unit. The network unit has a single inlet and a single outlet for the sample and a plurality of microchannels. The plurality of microchannels receive the sample from the single inlet and drain the sample into the single outlet. The network unit includes an aspiration pressure means for providing movement of liquid sample through the at least one network unit. The system further includes an analysis unit that receives the network device therein. The analysis unit includes a sensor for capturing measurements related to the sample and a processor capable of comparing the captured measurements to measurements stored in a database of healthy red blood cells to determine the microvascular fitness of the stored red blood cells.

Abstract: An oxygen depletion device. The device has a cartridge; a plurality of hollow fibers extending within the cartridge from an entrance to an exit thereof; an amount of an oxygen scavenger packed within the cartridge and contiguous to and in between the plurality of hollow fibers. The hollow fibers are adapted to receiving and conveying red blood cells. There is another embodiment of an oxygen depletion device and method for removing oxygen from red blood cells.

Abstract: A blood storage system. The system has a collection bag for red blood cells; an oxygen/carbon dioxide depletion device; a storage bag for red blood cells; and tubing connecting the collection bag to the depletion device and the depletion device to the storage bag. The depletion device includes a receptacle of a solid material having an inlet and an outlet adapted to receiving and expelling a flushing gas; a plurality of hollow fibers or gas-permeable films extending within the receptacle from an entrance to an exit thereof. The hollow fibers or gas-permeable films are adapted to receiving and conveying red blood cells.

Abstract: A method of etching capable of rapidly and flatly performing wet etching on a Si substrate using fluonitric acid represented by HF(a)HNO3(b)H2O(c) (where the unit of a, b and c is wt % and a+b+c=100). The etching rate of an SiO2 layer with the highly concentrated fluonitric acid is significantly lowered by the appropriate selection of its composition as compared with the etching rate of the Si substrate, and etch the Si substrate until the SiO2 layer is exposed. In this way, it is possible to rapidly etch the Si substrate and significantly enhance the flatness of the etched surface.

Abstract: An oxygen depletion device. The device has a cartridge; a plurality of hollow fibers extending within the cartridge from an entrance to an exit thereof; an amount of an oxygen scavenger packed within the cartridge and contiguous to and in between the plurality of hollow fibers. The hollow fibers are adapted to receiving and conveying red blood cells. There is another embodiment of an oxygen depletion device and method for removing oxygen from red blood cells.

Abstract: A portable assembly for processing red blood cells RBCs including a disposable blood collection set including a blood bag, an anaerobic storage bag and an oxygen and/or oxygen and carbon dioxide depletion device disposed between the blood collection bag and anaerobic storage bag. The portable assembly further provides for a gas circulation device in fluid communication with the oxygen or oxygen and carbon dioxide depletion device. The gas circulation device includes a pressure source that is able circulate flushing gas through the depletion device as RBCs pass from the blood collection bag, through the depletion device and into the anaerobic storage bag.

Abstract: A blood storage system. The system has a collection bag for red blood cells; an oxygen/carbon dioxide depletion device; a storage bag for red blood cells; and tubing connecting the collection bag to the depletion device and the depletion device to the storage bag. The depletion device includes a receptacle of a solid material having an inlet and an outlet adapted to receiving and expelling a flushing gas; a plurality of hollow fibers or gas-permeable films extending within the receptacle from an entrance to an exit thereof. The hollow fibers or gas-permeable films are adapted to receiving and conveying red blood cells.

Abstract: A blood filter device comprising: a housing comprising an outer wall and a first inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet; a membrane which is capable of separating plasma from the blood, wherein the membrane forms an inner chamber; a leukocyte and oxygen and/or carbon dioxide depletion media disposed wherein the inner chamber, the leukocyte and oxygen and/or carbon dioxide depletion media is capable of depleting leukocytes and oxygen and/or carbon dioxide from the blood; an outer chamber disposed between the outer wall and the membrane, wherein the plasma which permeates through the membrane enters the outer chamber and exits the filter device via the first outlet; whereby the blood which has been depleted of oxygen and/or carbon dioxide, leukocytes and plasma exists and filter device via the second outlet.

Abstract: A system and methodology for the preservation of red blood cells is described in which red blood cells are oxygen or oxygen and carbon dioxide depleted, treated and are stored in an anaerobic environment to optimize preparation for transfusion. More particularly, a system and method for extended storage of red blood cells from collection to transfusion that optimizes red blood cells prior to transfusion is described.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for enhancing the quality and survival of red blood cells during storage by depleting the red blood cells of both carbon dioxide and oxygen and maintaining 2,3-diphosphoglycerate acid levels.

Abstract: A system for reducing the concentration of oxygen in a fluid including red blood cells includes a housing, a plurality of hollow tubes extending within the housing and adapted for flow of the fluid therethrough, wherein each tube includes an inlet and an outlet, and a carrier system that reduces the concentration of oxygen at an exterior surface of the tubes to facilitate transport of oxygen from the fluid flowing through the tubes to an exterior of the tubes.

Abstract: A blood storage system comprising: a collection vessel for red blood cells; an oxygen or oxygen and carbon dioxide depletion device; a storage vessel for red blood cells; tubing connecting the collection vessel to the oxygen or oxygen and carbon dioxide depletion device and the oxygen or oxygen and carbon dioxide depletion device to the storage vessel; and a gamma or X-ray irradiating device is used to irradiate red blood cells stored in the vessel, storing red blood cells under anaerobic conditions.

Abstract: An oxygen depletion device. The device has a cartridge; a plurality of hollow fibers extending within the cartridge from an entrance to an exit thereof; an amount of an oxygen scavenger packed within the cartridge and contiguous to and in between the plurality of hollow fibers. The hollow fibers are adapted to receiving and conveying red blood cells. There is another embodiment of an oxygen depletion device and method for removing oxygen from red blood cells.

Abstract: A method for the storage of red blood cells provides for mixing an additive solution with packed red blood cells to create a suspension of red blood cells. The method further provides for reducing the oxygen in the suspension of red blood cells; and storing the suspension of red blood cells under oxygen-depleted storage.

Abstract: There is provided compositions and methods for the storage of red blood cells. The compositions are additive solutions comprising adenine, dextrose, mannitol, NaH2PO4, and optionally NaCl and/or NH4Cl. Composition are preferably used with oxygen-depletion refrigerated storage of red blood cells and may optionally be employed with nutrient supplements extending the useful shelf life of stored blood.