Abstract: The efficiency of a blood plasmapheresis filter is purposefully reduced at low input blood flow rates so as to prevent possibly excessive hematocrit which may make it difficult or impossible to handle the resulting blood cell concentrate (e.g., for infusion purposes) and/or which may cause accompanying red cell damage. Where filter efficiency is a function of rpm of a spinning element, such controlled reduction may be achieved by simply controlling spinner rpm as a function (e.g., linear over at least some range) of the input blood flow rate.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a web of material is provided that automatically changes the roll of material from an exhausted roll to a new full roll of material. The apparatus includes a plurality of spindles for supporting a plurality of rolls of material, the spindles being coupled to a rotatable carousel, a locking member for selectively preventing the rotation of the carousel is provided as well as a mechanism for selectively rotating the carousel. The apparatus also includes a member for splicing an end of a first roll of material to an end of a second roll of material.

Abstract: A device for positioning fitments in a perforated film. The device according to the invention includes a transporting member that brings the fitments into the vicinity of a perforated film, preferably below the latter, a member for positioning the fitments perpendicular to the perforations in the film, and an engaging member for pushing the ports through the perforations of the film so that at the exit of the device the film is equipped with fitments.

Abstract: A body fluid drainage device that includes a wedge-shaped reservoir evacuator which has a first sidewall and a second sidewall integrally formed and joined along a coextending common edge. A third collapsible bellows-shaped sidewall extends between the nonjoined edges and is sealed to the nonjoined edges of the first sidewall and second sidewall to enclose and form a fluid tight reservoir between the first, second and third sidewalls. An inlet port and outlet port are provided in fluid communication with the reservoir. A one-way valve is provided in the inlet port for permitting fluid flow into the reservoir but preventing fluid flow out of the inlet port. A spring element is provided for storing energy to force the first sidewall away from the second sidewall following compression of the first sidewall towards the second sidewall such that as the first sidewall moves away from the second sidewall a partial vacuum is created within the reservoir for drawing fluid into the reservoir.

Abstract: An infusion system includes fluid-delivery components for delivering a fluid from a separate source of the fluid into a patient, transducer components for producing a signal related to the pressure of the fluid in the fluid-delivery components, and identification components responsive to the signal for identifying pressure artifacts characteristic of patient activity. Gravity-fed infusion may be employed as well as infusion with a flow control device, and identification may be accomplished with a microprocessor for examining the waveform of the signal and identifying pressure artifacts characteristic of patient activity amidst pressure changes caused by fluid-delivery components so that site checking can be conducted during quiet periods, i.e., times of little patient acitivity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a large volume flexible container capable of containing a fluid to be maintained under sterile conditions. The container comprises an inner liner constructed from a polyolefin that defines an interior of the container and an outer liner constructed from a three-layer laminate. The laminate includes an inner layer constructed from a polyolefin that will, upon the application of sufficient energy, bond to the polyolefin of the inner liner, a middle layer constructed from a barrier material, and an outer layer; the inner liner and outer liner being sealed together along edges of the container. At least one tube member, for accessing the container, extends from a face of the container, and includes an end that is secured to the container, a length of flexible tubing for defining a channel through which fluid can flow, and a connector at a second end. A structure for housing the container is also provided.

Abstract: A pivot pin bearing/seal especially adapted for supporting the rotor of a disposable filtration cartridge of a continuous-flow plasmapheresis blood separation system includes a lubricious plastic pivot pin injection molded with a recess at its end. The recess is surrounded by a sharp circular inside edge. A stainless steel eyelet, deep drawn from successive dies, is loosely inserted into the pin recess, a radial outer surface defined at the junction between the eyelet shank and the eyelet flange contacting the pin sharp edge. The eyelet rotates relative to the pin, the circular line path of rotational contact being defined by the smooth curved surface under the flange of the eyelet and the sharp inside edge surrounding the pin recess which quickly burnishes to a good rotational seal.

Abstract: During an initial priming procedure, the blood draw/return needle(s) fluid flow system is primed with a nonblood fluid (e.g. a saline solution) having known fluid viscosity. The pressure drop occurring across the needle orifice(s) is determined at a knonw flow rate for this predetermined fluid of known viscosity. During subsequent blood constitutent processing operations, the pressure drop across the needle orifice is measured for a second known flow rate of blood constituents. From these measured relative values of pressure and flow rates, the blood viscosity value can be calculated and used to estimate (e.g. via a table look-up or analytical calculation procedure) a hematocrit value of the blood constitutents as a function of the measured blood viscosity value.

Abstract: A parameter measuring apparatus includes a constant signal circuit incorporating a sensor having a known response to a given parameter for outputting a signal representing the parameter. The constant signal circuit further includes circuitry defining upper and lower limits of the parameter range. The parameter signal is provided to a sampling device such as current-to-frequency converter for providing an analog-to-pulse converted signal to a microprocessor. The apparatus further includes a switching arrangement coupled to and controlled by the microprocessor for switching into circuit the sensor or the circuitry defining the upper or lower parameter limits. The switching arrangement also eliminates internal switch resistance in the circuit for improved measurement accuracy.

Abstract: A thin film or layer of white blood cells, such as the contaminating white cells in a platelet concentrate, is irradiated with ultraviolet radiation predominately of a wavelength of 280 to 320 nanometers, and preferably at an intensity of 4 to 20 milliwatts per square cm. to provide a total energy exposure of typically 800 to 20,000 millijoules per square cm. of ultraviolet radiation. The white blood cells so produced substantially lose their capability to set off an immune reaction in an alloimmunized patient. The white blood cells may preferably be placed into such film in a flat, flexible bag made of poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) plastic, with the flat, flexible bag being stretched in a direction normal to the path of ultraviolet radiation. Novel irradiating devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: An adherent cell culture flask is provided. The flask includes a body constructed from a first side wall and a second side wall, each side wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The first and second side walls are sealed together to define a chamber. The first side wall is constructed from flexible film and includes on its interior surface a charged surface for facilitating the attachment of cells thereto. The second side wall is constructed from flexible film and includes a non-smooth interior surface for preventing the first side wall interior surface from sticking to the second side wall interior surface.

Abstract: A centrifugal processing system for cultured cellular suspensions comprises a reservoir for pooling a desired volume of the cellular suspension from a plurality of individual containers in which the cellular suspension have been cultured. A centrifugation chamber is provided operative in response to centrifugal force for separating the cellular suspension into a cellular component and a supernatant. Fluid is conveyed from the reservoir into the centrifugation chamber at a high flow rate exceeding 1 liter per minute. The cellular component and supernatant are collected from the centrifugation chamber.

Abstract: A system for metering nutrient media to cell culture containers includes a media flow conduit which defines at one end means for substantially aseptic communication with the source of the media. In a preferred embodiment, sterile connectors may be used for essentially sterile conditions. A branch conduit extends from the flow conduit at a location spaced from the ends. The branch conduit communicates with means for receiving a predetermined-volume aliquot of media through the media flow conduit from said one end. The flow conduit also defines a portion downstream from the branch conduit, which communicates with at least one cell culture container, each container being a flexible bag. At least part of the flexible bag is made of a material capable of providing at least 2 times the oxygen diffusion and at least 2 times the carbon dioxide diffusion between the bag interior and exterior, compared with an identically-sized, sealed bag having polyethylene walls 0.013 inch thick.

Abstract: A cartridge for introducing a beneficial agent into a medical fluid conduit is disclosed. The cartridge includes a pierceable stopper having a hollow, open ended protrusion extending into the cartridge chamber and having the beneficial agent retained therein by a liquid pervious barrier. The hollow, open ended protrusion creates a directed flow path within the cartridge.

Abstract: A blood component separating device comprises a centrifuge bowl adapted for rotation about its axis in a centrifuge. The bowl defines an outer arcuate wall plus an inner circumferential wall, spaced from the outer wall, to define a arcuate slot adapted for receiving blood components. Access tubing is adapted for communication with the slot. Preferably, an elongated, flexible, collapsible inner liner is provided in the slot. Individual access tubing also may communicate with an elongated container interior between the ends of the elongated, collapsible container. Furthermore, a portion of the slot may define the shape of an outwardly extending spiral, to provide an increasing gravitational field upon fluids therein as the fluid moves along the slot.

Abstract: An external introducer for a ventricular catheter that is part of a hydrocephalus shunt system. The introducer includes a stylet assembly that mates with a cannula assembly. The cannula assembly comprises a cannula having a bent tip and an opening on the sidewall of the cannula, and a cannula hub into which a catheter is clipped. The stylet assembly includes a flexible stylet attached to a stylet hub. When the stylet hub is locked to the cannula hub, the stylet protrudes slightly from the end of the cannula at an angle. The introducer holds the catheter approximately straight for insertion into the ventricle of the brain.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning contaminants from shed blood to enable reinfusion of a cell concentrate in the patient employs successive rotary membrane filtering stages in which Taylor vortices are generated. Shed blood led into the first rotary membrane stage is filtered to a hematocrit in the range of 50-60 with some of the waste matter being removed. The intermediate cell concentrate is passed to the second filter stage where further waste matter is initially extracted. At any intermediate region, however, a major amount of wash solution is fed into the concentrate and effectively mixed by the Taylor vortices. In the remaining length of the second filter stage waste matter is entrained in wash solution and both waste and wash solution are filtered out to provide a cell concentrate from which the great majority of contaminants have been removed.

Abstract: A set for the isolation of cryoprecipitate includes a hollow vessel with a closed first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, and a nipple extending from and closing the second end, said nipple enclosing a volume of approximately 2 to 5 percent of the volume of the hollow vessel. In one embodiment, the vessel is formed of a semi-rigid material and the first end is closed by a cap containing a micro-porous filter for venting the vessel. In another or further embodiment, the nipple has a tapered tip portion which may be sliced off to permit extrusion of the isolated cryoprecipitate by squeezing the vessel. In a different further embodiment, the nipple has a twist-lockable connector, for attachment to a syringe or to an applicator tip. In yet another embodiment a piston mounts on the cap within the vessel for directly extruding separated cryoprecipitate from the nipple.

Abstract: A set for the isolation of cryoprecipitate includes a hollow vessel with first and second ends and a tapered body extending to a narrow sump closing the second end, said sump enclosing a volume of approximately 2 to 5 percent of the volume of the hollow vessel. A port enters the vessel in the tapered body above the sump. In one embodiment, the vessel is formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material and the first end is closed by a cap containing a micro-porous filter for venting the vessel. In another or further embodiment, the sump has a tapered tip portion which may be sliced off to permit extrusion of the isolated cryoprecipitate by squeezing the vessel. In a different embodiment, the vessel contains an inner filter column, or bag with a filter matrix, accessible via an access port. Cellular material placed in the column is frozen, thawed and centrifuged to separate out antigen-free platelet growth factor with the cryoprecipitate.

Abstract: Methods and systems for collection of blood components, such as plasma, from donors are provided. One method includes the steps of collecting a unit of whole blood froma donor; forcing the collected blood unit through a plasma separator; accumulating the plasma in a container; and returning concentrated cells to the donor. One system includes a disposable blood collection set and a reusable fixture into which the collection set can be mounted. The fixture is operated by a self-contained energy source, requiring no exterior electrical connection or other external source of energy.