Abstract: An improved connector member is provided for providing sealed and preferably sterile connection between a pair of conduits which each terminate in a hollow, transparent housing where some of the wall portion of each housing comprises an opaque wall portion sealed to the remainder of the housing. The opaque wall portions of each housing are positioned in facing contact with each other and are held in sealed, retentive relationship so that exposure to radiant energy causes them to fuse and open an aperture therethrough. In accordance with this invention, improved retention means are provided to permit the respective housings to be moved together in a path which is generally parallel to the opaque walls into sliding retaining relation. Also, the conduit communicating with the housings may be internally sealed, being openable from the exterior.

Abstract: Various polymers are added to peritoneal dialysis solutions to provide preferred alternatives to dextrose. The added polymers serve as the osmotic agents in the peritoneal dialysis solutions and provide adequate ultrafiltration.

Abstract: A liquid administration device comprises a flexible, collapsible bag for the liquid, an outlet tube communicating with the bag and a rigid housing enclosing the bag with the outlet tube projecting outwardly therefrom. Flexible, compressed cellular material is positioned within the housing, exerting pressure due to its compression on the bag which tends to urge the bag towards its collapsed position. Thus the liquid in the bag can be expelled through the outlet tube, with the flow governed by a valve, in a manner independent of gravity.

Abstract: A flexible, flat-collapsible bag containing parenteral solution may be adapted for aseptically receiving and mixing the contents of another container, with the flat-collapsible bag preferably initially containing, prior to receiving said contents, a liquid for parenteral administration in a volume of 30 to 70 percent of the holding capacity of said flat-collapsible bag. The bag defines at least a pair of access ports, one of the ports being sealingly connected to flexible, crimpable, thermoplastic tubing of a length of at least 11/2 inches, and a sealed connector member carried on the outer end of the flexible thermoplastic tubing, in which the seal connector member defines a sleeve including a sealing diaphragm in the bore thereof, with the sleeve constituting an extension of the flexible thermoplastic tubing. Accordingly, a piercing spike may sealingly enter the sleeve to rupture the diaphragm.

Abstract: An enteral feeding container having a relatively enlarged port and closure which is resistant to popping open upon dropping. The enteral container may have a tapered portion for improved accuracy of administration.

Abstract: The skin surface of a patient may be irradiated with the microwaves of a frequency of 250 to 353 MHz (i.e., a wavelength of about 85 to 120 cm.). A conductive metal housing having an open bottom and closed walls on all other sides overlies the skin surface. The interior of the housing carries a pair of opposed slabs of material having a dielectric constant of more than 4 and defining a space therebetween. The microwaves are radiated from a microwave antenna projecting into said space through a wall in the housing, with the antenna being generally parallel to the open bottom. The slabs are of sufficient thickness to provide generally uniform electric and magnetic field intensities throughout the space. During operation, air is blown into the space through an aperture in a wall of the housing to cool the skin with the air passing out of the open bottom.

Abstract: Mussels and related bottom dwelling creatures may be eliminated from an underwater bed by applying to the zone of at least the bottom 2 feet of water above the bed water-soluble sulfite salt such as sodium metabisulfite to substantially deplete dissolved oxygen in the zone. Thereafter, hydrogen sulfide may be directly added to the zone, being stabilized by the absence of oxygen therein the enhance the mussel kill. Thereafter, as fresh water is added to the zone, the hydrogen sulfide and residual sulfites are oxidized to relatively harmless sulfates.

Abstract: An elongated, tubular casing contains a bundle of hollow fibers with closure members at both ends thereof. Each closure member comprises a cup-shaped member connected in sealing relation at its rim to the ends of the tubular casing. Each cup-shaped member also defines an extended cylindrical portion positioned remotely from the rim having an inner diameter less than the relatively enlarged, inner diameter portion, and the tubular casing carries a hollow, elongated member or potting boat during manufacture containing a curable liquid sealant, as a means for inserting the sealant into the ends of the tubular casing by centrifugation.

Abstract: A plastic composition which may be molded into a connector which is capable of simultaneously sealing to both polyvinyl chloride plastics and polyolefin plastics. The plastic composition comprises from 50 to 75 percent by weight of an essentially polyolefin material which is sealingly compatible with the polyolefin plastic to which the composition is intended to be sealed, and from 25 to 50 percent by weight of a flexible block copolymer of covalently bonded polybutylene terephthalate units and poly(1,4-butylene) oxide units.

Abstract: Blood may be stored in vitro for a period of days at a reduced temperature in the container which also includes a sufficient quantity of an emulsion of anti-hemolytic agent to cause a reduction in the hemolysis of the stored blood, when compared with blood under similar storage conditions to the absence of the emulsion. Preferably, the emulsion includes a fatty ester containing at least two ester linkages each comprising a fatty hydrocarbon group, emulsified with sufficient hemo-compatible surfactant to stabilize the emulsion.

Abstract: A connector member for a fluid flow path is provided which comprises a transparent housing enclosing an opaque barrier membrane or wall portion blocking flow through the flow path. The barrier membrane is adapted to be openable by exposure to radiant energy from the exterior through the transparent housing. In accordance with this invention, the barrier membrane is made of a predominantly crystalline plastic material, and, accordingly, exhibits a relatively sharp melting point for improved opening characteristics upon exposure to the radiant energy.

Abstract: An immunologic method has been devised enabling diagnosis of patients with cystic fibrosis, as well as asymptomatic carriers of the cystic fibrosis gene. Mono-specific antibody to Cystic Fibrosis Protein (CFP) is inserted into a first position on an electrophoresis plate. A body fluid from the subject to be tested is placed into a second position on the plate. An electrical potential is imposed across the positions with the anode being adjacent to the section containing the serum and the cathode being adjacent to the section containing the antibody. The presence of Cystic Fibrosis Protein is indicated by one or more precipitation zones forming where the body fluid proteins meet the antibody due to movement induced by an applied electrical potential. The relative position of the precipitation zone between the first and second positions, or the area of the precipitation zone, indicates a concentration of the Cystic Fibrosis Protein.

Abstract: A molded collapsible solution container which defines a body portion having an integral neck portion and a relatively stiff shoulder portion and sealed at the opposite end, with gusset portions defined in the body portion adjacent the shoulder portion at opposite sides thereof. The shoulder portion extends outwardly from the neck portion and also extends axially rearwardly away from the neck portion in tapered manner. Sections of the shoulder portion adjacent the gusset portions normally extend in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container, being connected to the remainder of the shoulder portion by an angular crease line and being flexible to permit axially forward bending of the sections about the crease line as the container collapses by draining. Also, the tail seal at the opposite end may define a convex, arcuate seal for improved strength.

Abstract: An apparatus for suspending a drainage bag from a patient's bed or other structure, so fluid can be drained from the patient into the bag. The apparatus includes a hanger to which the bag can be attached and a hook for securing the hanger with the attached bag to the bed rail. The hanger has a bag support spar, L-shaped arms depending therefrom, a clip on the free end of one of the arms, and a connector on the free end of the other arm, so that insertion of one of the arms into a slotted portion of the bag and then insertion of the connector into the clip secures the bag onto the hanger. The hook has an arm attachable to a tab on the hanger and other arms for securing the hook to the bed rail. The arms are constructed so that the hanger and hook can cooperate to suspend the bag in a vertical plane with respect to the ground. In one embodiment of the apparatus, the arm of the hook attachable to the hanger is semicircular.

Abstract: A plastic bucket having a lip which defines means for engaging a bucket lid in sealing relation. The interior wall of the bucket defines an annular, inwardly projecting ridge spaced from the lip. The ridge extends around the inner circumference of the bucket, and defines an annular, inwardly pointed apex, to provide increased hoop strength to the bucket adjacent to its mouth and to provide an internal brush wiping member within the bucket.

Abstract: A molded collapsible solution container defines a chamber-defining body portion wall having an integral neck portion and a shoulder portion at one end thereof. The container defines a pair of opposed gusset portions adjacent the shoulder portion at opposite ends of the shoulder portion, with the shoulder portion defining opposed shoulder edges extending between the gusset portions. A pair of opposed lines of flexing weakness are defined in the collapsible solution container and exhibit an arcuate cross section which extends inwardly of the container. The opposed lines of flexing weakness are positioned on each side of the container in generally parallel relation to the opposed shoulder edges with the opposed lines of flexing weakness being longitudinally spaced from the shoulder edges by a distance which is proportioned to cause the opposed lines of flexing weakness to abut one another as the container collapses inwardly about the opposed shoulder edges.

Abstract: An openable seal member for a container includes a tube extending across the sealed area of the container for flow communication between the interior and exterior thereof. A flexible plastic pocket member seals and encloses the outer end of the tube. Tear means are provided for opening the pocket member, comprising a circumferential line of tearing weakness positioned about the pocket member in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of the tube. In accordance with this invention, a flexible generally conical portion is positioned between the outer end of the tube and the tear means, with the conical portion diverging outwardly and constituting an inner portion of the pocket member, to define upon opening of the seal member, an enlarged, protective area surrounding the outer end of the bore of the tube.

Abstract: A humidifier for gases, for example for medical administration, may be adapted for insertion into a well of a heater for warming liquid in the humidifier. A seamless metal can defines a cylindrical wall and a closed bottom end, containing wick means for absorbing water and presenting it in dispersed form to gases flowing through the can. Transparent probe means extend into the can and serve as a liquid level control for preferably automatically controlling the liquid level in the can to be maintained in the lower one third of the can.

Abstract: The invention relates to the plating of conductive components by electrolytic deposition.An electroplating device in accordance with the invention comprises at least one electrolytic cell containing a tubular anode and having inlet and outlet connections for a bath of electrolyte flowing longitudinally through the anode. A removable component-holder of the device comprising means for gripping a component for plating, which component holder is electrically connected to a cathode-supply plate and is adapted to be mounted on the cell to close it and suspend the component along the axis of the anode.The device can be used inter alia for plating with hard chromium.

Abstract: A unitary molded injection site comprising a central, needle-receiving portion and a skirt portion may be assembled onto a support tube by temporarily convoluting the skirt portion about the central portion to expose its inner surface; bringing the end of the support tube adjacent to the inner surface; and bringing the skirt portion back toward its original, unstressed configuration, to surround the end portion of the tube in telescoping relation. An advantage of this is that the injection site is positioned on the support tube in relatively unstressed condition. Furthermore, the skirt portion may define on its inner surface a plurality of sealing rings adapted to sealingly bear against the support tube.