Abstract: The method of molding flexible, collapsible containers comprises extruding a tubular parison of material to be molded and sealing the outer, free end of the parison; ballooning the parison with relatively low pneumatic pressure; closing the mold about the ballooned parison to cause the edges of the parison to protrude out of the mold chamber; and sealing said parison to form said container, including the step of forming seal lines positioned laterally inwardly from the lateral edges of the parison. A novel container design is also covered.

Abstract: Improvements in infusion controlling apparatus used in limiting the flow rate of an intravenous solution to a patient. The improvements provide coarse and fine orientations of a casette through which the solution passes relative to a controller which valves the casette's inlet and outlet to provide measured volumes of fluid. The coarse alignment device includes spaced apart metal sections which grasp onto the casette and move it towards the controller's valving members. As the casette reaches the valving members, protuberances on the controller fit into indentations on the casette, as the fine adjustment. The indentations into which the protuberances fit form part of the casette's base section of plastic notwithstanding the location of a cover slip between these two items. The valving members couple to a rocker arm which pivots about a point located at its middle and has magnetic poles at its ends.

Abstract: A pet feeding apparatus is provided which comprises a box enclosing a feeding space, and openable and closable door means to provide access thereto. The door is spring biased in the open position, while a latch member is adapted to retain the door means in the closed position. Timer means may be set to release the latch member to permit the door means to open at a preset time. The box is attached to an enlarged, flat platform of a length and width larger than the box so that a pet, eating food from the feeding space, normally stands on the platform, and thus cannot accidentally tip or move it while feeding. Also, sound generating means such as a bell may be actuated by the opening door to attract the pet. A novel timer-actuated electrical circuit system may be used to disengage the latch member to open the door.

Abstract: Valve means in a flexible tube, for example, tubing for connecting blood bags, are provided, which comprises a tubular portion having a closed end, and an elongated, generally rigid member, carried on the exterior of the closed end and positioned within the flexible tube. Frangible means are provided to permit the opening of the closed end by manual manipulation of the elongated member from outside of the flexible tube. The elongated, rigid member is adapted to fit in sealing relationship within the tubular portion after opening of the closed end, to permit resealing of the valve. The elongated, generally rigid member carries longitudinal vanes to provide flow channels along its length.

Abstract: A casette employing a stretchable elastomeric membrane used with an intravenous infusion controller to limit the field flow to a patient. The casette includes two sections of rigid plastic fused together with the membrane between them. The membrane and one section of the plastic form the channel through which the intravenous solution passes. The other section of plastic limits the expansion of the membrane to a predetermined size in order to provide the casette with a chamber of known volume. A valving configuration in the inlet and outlet to the chamber controls the fluid flowing through the casette and, thus, to the patient. Each valve includes a section of the elastomeric membrane in proximity to a configured portion of the piece of plastic forming the channel with the membrane. To close the valve, the controller extends a shaped elongated member through the other section of plastic to stretch the membrane and force it into contact with the configured plastic.

Abstract: In a convoluted-membrane type diffusion device for blood, such as a blood oxygenator, in which the membrane is supported by a stiff, folded, integral backing having port means for fluid flow therethrough. The backing is provided with laterally positioned tabs on each edge thereof, the tabs being folded inwardly against inner portions of the backing and sealed thereto. This provides double thickness edge portions of the backing to provide spacing and a gasket seal at opposed edges of the stack of convoluted membrane layers. The backing may be coated with thermoplastic material, which may be used as an adhesive to hold the tabs in folded double thickness relation with the rest of the backing.

Abstract: A circulating air building temperature control system includes a pumped air circulation conduit for distributing controlled temperature air throughout the building and collecting return air, and a fireplace for burning solid fuel, the air circulation conduit being positioned about the exterior of the fireplace chamber walls and sealed from the fireplace chamber. An outer housing is also provided to define an outer chamber positioned about the air circulation conduit, and connected to air inlets and outlets to limit the upper temperature of the outer housing wall even in the event of a hot fire and no circulation through the air circulation conduit.

Abstract: A parenteral liquid administering device includes an enlarged, liquid-holding burette-type chamber for receiving measured aliquots of liquid from a source. The burette has a bottom flow aperture with a valve controlling flow through the aperture. The valve includes a buoyant float ball and a valve seat positioned about the bottom flow aperture to receive the ball, in the absence of sufficient liquid to float it, in air-tight, sealing relation. Apertured retention means are provided surrounding the ball which are proportioned to permit it to float in spaced relation from the valve seat in the presence of liquid passing through the apertured retention means.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming novel flexible, collapsible containers from a pair of facing sheet sections, and a stiffener bar positioned between the sheet sections, is disclosed. The pair of facing sheet sections are passed along a process path through a sealing die, with a continuous length of the stiffener bar being positioned between the sheet sections and passed along with process path with the sheet sections. The sealing die forms seal lines between the facing sheet sections to define a group of collapsible containers, each carrying the stiffener bar in transverse relation thereto. Then, at least one of the sheet sections and the stiffener bar is cut through at positions adjacent the edges of the collapsible containers, to permit the separation of the formed collapsible containers, carrying separated stiffener bar sections, from each other.

Abstract: A filter for blood and the like including a housing defining an inlet for fluids to be filtered, and an outlet for filtered fluid, plus a stack of filter pads of thermoplastic fibers positioned within the housing. According to one aspect of this invention, the stack of pads is joined together at their periphery by a heat seal to form an integral filter unit, while, typically, the stack is joined to the housing at such periphery by a second seal. In another aspect of this invention, the fluid inlet is positioned adjacent a first pad of the stack and the fluid outlet is adjacent a last pad of the stack, the diameter of the fibers of the last pad being smaller than the diameter of the fibers of the first pad, typically with the fiber diameter of intermediate pads generally decreasing from pad to pad in the direction of the last pad.

Abstract: A method for planting seeds in a pattern comprising longitudinal and transverse rows of seed planting sites, in which the transverse rows cross the longitudinal rows, the improvement comprising: planting the seeds with a seed-to-seed spacing of 1 to 31/2 inches along both the longitudinal and transverse rows, preferably in an approximately square, equidistant pattern. The equidistant spacing, in contrast with row-type spacing where plants are spaced relatively far apart in one direction and close together in the other direction, provides a significant improvement in the growth of the plants, and particularly encourages "stooling" or multiple sprouting of cereal grains and grasses.

Abstract: A plastic container such as a collapsible blood bag or a parenteral solution container may include a flexible sheet member integrally attached to a plastic container and defining lines of tearing weakness for defining and unfolding an elongated sheet member portion, which, in turn, defines a second line of tearing weakness for forming a retaining aperture for receiving a sample tube and the like. Also, the container may have a retention member positioned at each end of the plastic container comprising open, transverse channel means proportioned to receive a length of flexible tubing wound about the ends of said container.

Abstract: A filter for blood and the like including a housing defining an inlet for fluids to be filtered, and an outlet for filtered fluid, plus a stack of filter pads of thermoplastic fibers positioned within the housing. According to one aspect of this invention, the stack of pads is joined together at their periphery by a heat seal to form an integral filter unit, while, typically, the stack is joined to the housing at such periphery by a second seal. In another aspect of this invention, the fluid inlet is positioned adjacent a first pad of the stack and the fluid outlet is adjacent a last pad of the stack, the diameter of the fibers of the last pad being smaller than the diameter of the fibers of the first pad, typically with the fiber diameter of intermediate pads generally decreasing from pad to pad in the direction of the last pad.

Abstract: A connection may be formed between sealed conduits in which each conduit carries an opaque, thermoplastic wall portion preferably having a melting range above essentially 200.degree. C., preferably with the opaque thermoplastic wall portions being carried on the conduit about their periphery by transparent wall portions of the conduit. The opaque wall portions of the conduits are brought together into facing contact, and then exposed to sufficient radiant energy to cause the opaque wall portions to fuse together, and to open an aperture through the fused wall portions. This provides sealed communication between the interiors of the conduits.

Abstract: A balloon-type catheter is disclosed having a catheter shank made of a block copolymer having thermoplastic rubber characteristics with a central block of ethylene-butylene copolymer and terminal blocks of polystyrene. The inflatable balloon member, and preferably the distal Y-member, of the catheter are made of an elastic composition which includes the same or a similar block copolymer, in the presence of polystyrene or equivalent material as a tackifying agent, polypropylene, and an oil-type plasticizer.

Abstract: A flexible, collapsible blood bag which defines an access port at one end thereof. The blood bag contains cellophane film of sufficient area to process blood or plasma placed in the bag, so that reinfusion of the blood to a normal donor, after an appropriate residence time in the bag, causes a transient increase in the neutrophil count of the donor's blood. The cellophane film in the bag is folded in an ordered manner, to define generally parallel flow channels having ends positioned adjacent the access port. A screen member may be positioned between the cellophane film and the access port to prevent blocking thereof by the cellophane film. Also, the cellophane film may define a large plurality of raised surface portions, relative to the normal plane of the film, to facilitate the spacing of adjacent, folded layers of the film from each other. This facilitates the definition of the flow channels for blood distribution throughout the cellophane film.

Abstract: A screw top closure for a container opening defining a helically threaded neck, and a rotatable screw top positioned to permit rotation by the screw top between outward and inward positions on the neck. A sealing partition is positioned across the opening of the neck. In accordance with this invention, an aperture is defined in the sealing partition, the aperture being positioned in off-center relation to the rotational axis of the screw top. A sealing cap member is positioned across the aperture, with a rupturable seal, facing the screw top. A projection is defined on the side of the screw top facing the partition, being positioned to be longitudinally spaced from the sealing cap member when the screw top is in the outward position, and to engage the sealing cap member when the screw top is rotationally advanced to its inward position. Accordingly, the seal between the cap member and the partition may be ruptured in aseptic manner by the projection, to open the aperture.

Abstract: A diffusion system for blood including a membrane diffusion device comprising a plurality of blood flow paths positioned in interleaving diffusion exchange relation, with second fluid flow paths positioned on opposite sides of semi-permeable membrane means. The first and second flow paths each communicate with an inlet and an outlet. Heat exchange means having an inlet and an outlet is connected at the inlet thereof to the outlet of the first flow paths. A rigid reservoir, also having an inlet and an outlet is connected at its inlet to the outlet of the heat exchange means. A blood flow circuit is defined through the membrane diffusion device, heat exchange means, and reservoir. The flow circuit defines an essentially constant width, perpendicular to the directions of blood flow, from its beginning to end, to provide a system having good flow distribution in combination with a low pressure drop.

Abstract: A valve comprising a body including a plug receiving socket and including conduits in communication with the socket, with the body having an outwardly extending flange about the periphery of the socket, and a plug rotatably positioned in the socket whereby the plug can be rotated to register slots with the conduits to selectively control fluid flow through the conduits, the plug including a flange portion about the flange of the body wherein the flange on the body includes an upper bearing surface and a lower gripping surface, and the flange portion of the plug includes an upper gripping surface corresponding to the lower gripping surface of the flange on the body, whereby insertion of the plug in the socket causes the upper bearing surface to flex outwardly the flange portion of the body and the upper gripping surface constantly urges the lower gripping surface toward a sealing relationship with the plug in the socket.

Abstract: An improved valving system is provided in a dialysis system in which the dialysis solution flow path through the dialyzer may be sealed off adjacent the inlet and outlet of the dialyzer, with the pumped dialysis solution being shunted so that the pump and heater do not need to be turned off. As ultrafiltration takes place over a predetermined period of time, it can be directly measured by monitoring the liquid level of a reservoir connected to the sealed portion of the dialysis solution flow path. The dialysis unit itself is held in a bracket which defines the valving system by means of a longitudinally movable and clampable retention member for bearing against the top of and holding the dialyzer member.