Abstract: A centrifugal separator system is provided for extracting lighter matter from a liquid suspension. The separator includes a housing having an axis, an inlet port, a lighter matter outlet port and a heavier matter outlet port spaced from the inlet port. A rotatable interior double shell rotor is disposed within the housing. The rotor includes outer and inner shells and defines a centrifugation gap therebetween. The rotor is spaced from the housing by a flow gap. The outer shell includes means providing communication between the centrifugation gap, the inlet port and the heavier outlet port. Means are provided in the double shell rotor for conducting lighter matter from the centrifugation gap to the lighter matter outlet port.

Abstract: A cell culture media container is provided. The container comprises a body constructed from flexible film and defining a containment area for containing the cell culture media, the body including a front face and a back face, the front and back face being sealed to each other along at least three sides thereof. The container includes a fill port for filling the containment area with cell culture media, the port being sealed to a face of the body and being so constructed and arranged that it extends from the face normal thereto. The container is constructed from a high barrier, optically clear, radiation sterilizable film.

Abstract: An infusor (10) is disclosed for dispensing a liquid under pressure at a predetermined flow rate. The infusor (10) includes a housing (12) containing an elastomeric bladder (16) for receiving the liquid under pressure. The liquid is delivered from the bladder to a patient through tubing (36). A non-adjustable, preselected flow regulator (38) includes a capillary bore (48). The flow regulator (38) is disposed at the distal end of the tubing (36), such that the tubing may be primed quickly, in a time period virtually unaffected by the flow regulator (38). Distal placement of the flow regulator (38) results in a more constant temperature, and thus a more constant flow rate, of fluid flowing through the flow regulator.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system has a container with an integrally attached sample cell. A selected fluid can be accumulated in the container. The sample cell can be filled with part of the fluid in the container and then isolated from the container by heat or dielectric sealing. The fluid in the sample cell can be brought into contact with selected test reagents. The test reagents can provide a visual indicia of the presence of selected characteristics in the fluid.

Abstract: A coupling device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container is provided. The device includes a first sleeve member including at a first end thereof, a member for connecting and securing the first sleeve member to a first container. A second sleeve member is provided and is so constructed and arranged that it receives a portion of the first sleeve, and is operatively adapted for axial sliding engagement thereon, including at one axial end thereof a member for releasably engaging and securing the second sleeve member to a second container. Piercing members located within an area defined by the first and second sleeves are provided for providing fluid flow from the first container to the second container. The coupling device includes a resilient seal for sealing an end of the second sleeve member, located in said second sleeve member at said end adapted to be connected to said second container.

Abstract: A surgical procedure tray for supporting disposable medical devices in a surgical procedure pack. The tray and components are wrapped with a sterile wrap. The tray includes a substantially flat bottom portion and a border surrounding the periphery of the bottom portion. The border has a series of bends and includes an upwardly extending lip of a predetermined thickness. The distal end of the lip narrows to connect to a thinner rounded elbow which joins a downwardly slanting ledge. The distal end of the ledge is connected to a tip which is connected to a bead. The thinner outer portions and numerous bends of the border flex so that damage to the sterile wrap covering the tray is reduced.

Abstract: An adaptive filter concentrate flow control system and method includes a filter system, a pumping system driving feed fluid, concentrate and filtrate flowing through the filter system and a flow control system controlling the pumping system to maintain optimum filtrate flow rates along a control curve in a transmembrane pressure--feed fluid rate--filtrate flow rate three dimensional space. Actual sensed operating point data is used to locate the control curve so as to assure an optimized filtrate flow rate at which reversible blocking of the membrane has begun to occur without irreversible plugging. The system is advantageously employed to control and maximize the flow of plasma in a plasmapheresis system.

Abstract: A housing is provided for insertion in an intravenous delivery system including a fluid source and a fluid conduit. The housing is adapted for receiving a beneficial agent to be mixed with fluid flowing through the fluid conduit. The beneficial agent is reconstituted within the housing, eliminating the need for manual reconstitution. The housing may comprise a separate receptacle and cartridge in which the receptacle is manufactured "in-line" in an administration set and the cartridge is adapted for receiving a beneficial agent. In one embodiment of the invention, the cartridge is a standard drug vial.

Abstract: A disposable diagnostic plasma filter dispenser includes a low cost disposable container and a rotor drive for rotationally energizing a rotor within the container. The disposable container is particularly suitable for drawing and dispensing blood samples for clinical analysis and includes a tube shaped outer wall having a frangible dispenser outlet cover, a close fitting inner tube supporting a filter membrane and a unitary rotor disposed for axel free rotation and axial translation within the inner tube in response to energization from the rotor driver. The rotor produces vortex enhanced filtration while maintaining a flow of filter fluid through the filtration gap and creating a transmembrane pressure.

Abstract: A thin film of white blood cells is irradiated with ultraviolet radiation predominately of a wavelength of 280 to 320 nanometers, and preferably at an intensity of 4 to 15 milliwatts per square cm. At such a radiation intensity it is not necessary to agitate the thin film of white blood cells to accomplish the purposes of this invention. The white blood cells so processed 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.

Abstract: A cartridge 444, 644, 744 is adapted for mounting upon a receptacle 442, 642 in a parenterial fluid administration set 420 for delivering a drug or other beneficial agent to a patient. The cartridge 444, 644, 744 includes a beneficial agent-containing chamber 606 slidable from a first, pre-use position to a second, post-use position. The cartridge includes a hollow tube 496 in which the chamber 606 is at least partially mounted. At least one cannula 500 is mounted to the hollow tube and extends opposite the chamber. A protective cover or cap 530 maintains a chamber protective position that prevents inadvertent movement of the chamber that would accidentally engage the cartridge chamber with a flow path member, such as the cannula. The cover is removed in order to engage the chamber.

Abstract: A method of wetting a plasmapheresis filter with anticoagulant in a plasmapheresis system having a venepuncture needle, a plasma separation device connected in series by a fluid conduit, including operating the system such that an initial limited volume charge of anticoagulant is introduced into the conduit (for wetting the filter of the separation device) in advance of whole blood flowing from the donor towards to the separation device (and pushing the anticoagulant charge ahead of the whole blood into the separation device).

Abstract: A tubing or harness set is provided having first and second portions sequentially applicable to a microprocessor-controlled hemapheresis instrument for generating platelet concentrate. The first portion includes a reservoir having dual compartments and a separator. The instrument and the first portion of the harness set alternately collect whole blood from the donor and reinfuse packed cells into the donor while simultaneously continuously separating whole blood into packed cells and platelet-rich plasma. Upon collection of a predetermined quantity of platelet-rich plasma, the donor is disconnected form the phlebotomy needle of the harness, the first harness portion is removed from the instrument and the second harness portion is applied to the instrument. The second harness portion includes a separator for receiving platelet-rich plasma from the collection container of the first harness portion and separating such plasma into platelet concentrate and platelet-depleted plasma.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system has a container with an integrally attached sample cell. A selected fluid can be accumulated in the container. The sample cell can be filled with part of the fluid in the container and then isolated from the container by heat or dielectric sealing. The fluid in the sample cell can be brought into contact with selected test reagents. The test reagents can provide a visual indicia of the presence of selected characteristics in the fluid.

Abstract: A system for generating substantially constant fluid pressure is provided for forcing fluid from a variable volume container. The system includes a roller that rotates in response to a constant applied torque to force fluid from the flexible container under a substantially constant pressure. Two spaced apart parallel rollers can exert force on both sides of the container.

Abstract: A system and method of separation of therapeutic components from blood. The system includes a dual member centrifuge and a disposable single use fluid transfer set. The set includes an elongated flexible separation chamber having an input port, a separated component output port and a residual fluid output port. The input port and the separated component output ports are located at opposite ends of the elongated separation chamber. The centrifuge includes a receiving chamber with a selectively formed annular slot therein. The separation chamber is positioned in the annularly shaped slot and rotated at a predetermined rotational velocity. Fluids such as whole blood flows through the separation chamber and are separated into various therapeutic components such as platelet rich plasma and residual concentrated red blood cells. Platelet rich plasma can be drawn off as the separated therapeutic component. An alternate two part transfer set provides for highly efficient platelet pheresis.

Abstract: A needle-pierceable cartridge for drug delivery comprises a housing containing a drug-containing bag having wallls of hydrophilic material capable of diffusing water across the walls, whereby osmosis can take place. The bag walls also define macroscopic holes, so that water on the outside of the bag diffuses by osmosis into the bag, and osmotic pressure forces water containing dissolved drug out of the bag through the macroscopic holes for removal and use.

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 fluid delivery system has a container with an integrally attached sample cell. A selected fluid can be accumulated in the container. The sample cell can be filled with part of the fluid in the container and then isolated from the container by heat or dielectric sealing. The fluid in the sample cell can be brought into contact with selected test reagents. The test reagents can provide a visual indicia of the presence of selected characteristics in the fluid.