Abstract: A catheter system for treating pulmonary emboli has a multi-lumen primary catheter for accessing the vascular system. The primary catheter has a balloon on the distal end for occluding the venous tree, preferably distal to the renal veins. A semipermeable membrane is attached to the primary catheter intermediate the balloon and the proximal end of the primary catheter. Oxygen is supplied to the membrane through the primary catheter to enrich the blood in the venous tree flowing to the heart. Other lumen in the primary catheter guide other catheters through the heart to the pulmonary arteries to inject lysing agents, contrast media, medicaments and to remove blood clots and other catheters may extend through the vena cava to other parts of the venous tree to supply the same agents and to remove blood clots there.

Abstract: An optical illumination and monitoring subsystem controls the operation of a flow cytometer having a carrier fluid that flows along a channel coupled to a droplet generator, which controls a point at which droplets break off from the carrier fluid, and a droplet sorter that is operative to cause selected droplets to be sorted along one or more droplet travel paths. The subsystem is operative to illuminate a respective droplet monitoring location along each of one or more droplet travel paths with a respective beam of light, such as that sourced from a common laser. In response to backscatter reflection from a droplet passing through the respective beam of light at a respective droplet monitoring location, the amplitude of the beam of light is increased. Then the droplet is monitored for the presence of a particle therein exhibiting detectable fluorescence as a result of the increase in the amplitude of the respective beam of light.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermoplastic, container for storage of solids, viscous or semi-viscous fluids that permit stacking one upon another for easy shipment and/or display. The container utilizes projections and recesses to engage similarly constructed containers for vertical stacking. Additionally, the container includes vertical ribs for enhanced strength. The removable caps used to seal the container include through holes to permit a rigid member to be passed through the length of the openings to apply the necessary torque to loosen the cap. The containers may be variably sized and can be reused.

Abstract: A droplet travel path monitoring mechanism for a flow cytometer is operative to adjust the droplet break-off point back to an initially calibrated spatial location, in the event of the departure from calibrated timing of gaps in the unsorted fluid droplet stream that have been created by the deflection of charged droplets. In addition, the flow cytometer is operative to monitor prescribed characteristics of deflected droplet streams, and to controllably adjust drop-sorting deflection parameters, so as to maintain the deflected travel path of sorted droplets coincident with the opening into a sorted droplet collection container, thereby maximizing collection of all sorted droplets.