Abstract: A cannula is provided for connection with an implanted artificial port through a preformed needle track through the skin of a patient. The port has a flow conduit to connection with the body lumen and the closure member for blocking flow between the port and the body lumen. The closure member is normally closed, but openable by an insertion of a properly sized cannula into the port. The first cannula has a proximal end which is connected to a hub, a proximal portion adjacent to the proximal end, and a distal portion. The distal portion is of insufficient size to open the closure member when inserted into the port, so that the first cannula may be used for flushing the implanted port interior and the needle track with disinfectant solution. The proximal portion is of larger diameter than the distal portion and is proportioned to dilate the needle track to facilitate subsequent advancement of a larger diameter fluid flow cannula through the needle track after withdrawing of the first cannula.

Abstract: A cannula or needle set for fluid flow connection with the vascular system of a patient. In one embodiment, the set comprises a hollow, hypodermic needle having a longitudinal axis and a sharp end for skin penetration and connection with the vascular system. A hollow hub carries the needle at a needle opposite to the sharp end. A fluid flow port is defined in the hub at a position laterally spaced from the axis of the needle. An injection site aperture is defined in the hub at a position centrally intersected by the needle axis, the injection site aperture being closed by a recloseable, needle-penetrable wall.

Abstract: A combined arterial and venous blood tubing set is provided for transport of blood between a patient and a blood processing unit. The set comprises an arterial set component comprising arterial tubing having an arterial patient connector at one end and an arterial unit connector at the other. A venous set component has venous tubing with a venous patient connector at one end and a venous unit connector at the other end. The arterial and venous patient connectors, and the arterial and venous unit connectors, are respectively, substantially, and releasably directly connected to each other. As a result of this, the arterial, and venous set components cooperate to form a loop. Other features of improved sets are also disclosed.

Abstract: A medical needle protector sheath comprises a tubular body for surrounding and shielding a needle with the sheath defining an anchor member integrally attached to the front of the body for manual holding, plus a closure cap for the front end which is integrally attached to the body. Also, a manually removable wing member may be carried about the hub of the needle. A tunnel member typically of the inverted U-cross section provides longitudinal securance to the needle and hub while penetrating the skin of the patient while at the same time permitting axial rotation of the needle.

Abstract: Pressure is sensed in blood flow tubing by placing an aqueous, preferably isotonic, substantially cell-free solution into branch connection tubing that connects in branching relation with the blood flow tubing at one end. The branch connection tubing also connects in use with a pressure transducer unit at its other end. An air volume is maintained, occupying a portion of the branch connection tubing which is adjacent to the other end. One flows positively or negatively pressurized blood through the blood flow tubing, with the result that the pressure of the blood is communicated through the aqueous solution and the air volume in the branch connection tubing to the pressure transducer unit, with the blood being spaced from the air volume. Preferably, substantially all of the branch connection tubing containing the aqueous solution and air volume has an inner diameter of substantially no more than 5 mm.

Abstract: Bags for produce or the like are prepared by advancing a thermoplastic sheet and a mesh sheet, each having an upper edge, along a process line. The plastic sheet has a bottom portion which is folded to define a lower edge of the thermoplastic sheet at a fold line. One seals the folded portion of the solid-wall thermoplastic sheet to a lower edge of the mesh sheet. Transverse slits are then formed in the sheets, and the sheets are heat sealed together near edges of the slits to form separate bags between the slits. The slits extend across both lower edges of the bags, but are preferably spaced from the upper edges. One drops produce between the sheet upper edges into the bags, and the bags are then heat sealed adjacent to the upper edges thereof, and subsequently separated by cutting. A novel heat seal die is also shown.

Abstract: A gaming system is provided which permits the hold value to be determined independently of the distribution of winning outcomes, e.g., to avoid or prevent volatility in the hold value. Preferably each time a wager is placed, a hold value (such as a predetermined and/or fixed percentage) is retained and the remainder is allocated to one or more prize pools. If a pool is too large or too small, or if a pool's rate of growth is too large or too small, the central computer sends a message to all terminals which contribute to the pool, causing the terminals to modify operations so as to bring the pool size or rate of growth to within desired target ranges. Preferably, the current prize amounts corresponding to various potential winning game outcomes are displayed when a game is won, the displayed amount corresponding to the type of win paid. Preferably, a portion of wages is retained as a background amount to at least partially replenish a paid-out prize.

Abstract: A blood processing system (e.g. a dialysis system) is primed by the following steps: (a) in a system having arterial and venous sets 10, 14 connected together without the blood processing unit, passing priming solution through the sets in a flow direction 44 retrograde to the normal blood flow direction while removing air through a port 62; (b) passing priming solution through the sets in the normal blood flow direction 42 to remove substantially all air from the sets; and then (c) connecting the arterial and venous sets to the blood processing unit and flushing the sets and processing unit with priming solution in the normal blood flow direction.

Abstract: A set for conveying blood between a patient and blood treatment apparatus such as a dialyzer. The set comprises a blood flow conduit, a connector for a patient's vascular system, and a connector for the dialyzer. A portion of the conduit comprises an enlarged-diameter, tubular pump segment connected at each pump segment end with a connector. The connectors also are each connected in substantially straight-line relation to other portions of the blood flow conduit. Typically, both connectors also each connect to a branch line in a relation substantially parallel to the connection of the other blood flow conduit portion and the connected tubular pump segment. Thus, the set is more capable of being rolled up and packaged in an automated manner, since it can be free of branching connections which connect at a substantial angle to the overall axis of the set.

Abstract: A rack comprises at least one wire mesh panel comprising a first array of parallel wires and a second array of parallel wires, the wires of the first and second arrays being in transverse, angular relation and being bonded to each other at at least a substantial number of wire crossing points. The panel defines opposed, parallel side edges which are substantially defined by first individual wires of the first array. Third wires are respectively bonded to the panel and positioned parallel to and adjacent to the first individual wires of the first array. The third wires are spaced from the first individual wires by crossing wires of the second array. A plurality of such wire mesh panels may be secured together at their opposed parallel edges by clamp members to provide a modular rack system. Hanger wires may be carried by clamp members, each end of the hanger wires defining a transversely (upwardly) extending wire portion terminating in a hanger hook so that the rack may be hung from a site above the rack.

Abstract: A physical card game or electronically simulated card game is provided in which each of one or more players received cards which define two or more card hands, with at least one card in common. In one embodiment, the initial cards are arranged in a rectangular array with rows, columns and/or diagonals of the array defining the hands. Each hand can be played and/or evaluated using certain aspects of blackjack, poker or other traditional card game play or evaluation. At least some prizes or top winning outcomes for a round of play must include winning outcomes from at least two, and preferably from all, of the hands played by a given player. The relatively low odds of achieving highest-winning combinations on all hands makes it feasible to provide the game with relatively large prizes associated with such low-probability outcomes. In one embodiment, certain subcombinations of a player's cards, such as all initially-dealt cards, are evaluated for instant win combinations.

Abstract: An implantable, spinal, vertebral replacement device comprises a tubular cage for fitting into a space left by a missing vertebral body and for optionally retaining bone graft material. First and second transverse plates are respectively positioned at opposed ends of the tubular cage for supporting the respective cage ends and for pressing a plate face against an adjacent vertebral body in spinal column-supporting relation. The transverse plates are each joined in transverse relation to at least one vertebral attachment plate which, in use, extends generally parallel to the spine. The vertebral attachment plate defines screw holes for screw securance to at least one vertebral body adjacent to the space. Preferably, one or more vertebral attachment plates are connected to the pair of adjacent vertebral bodies that bracket the space left by the missing vertebral body.

Abstract: A tubular set is provided for use with extracorporeal treatment of blood. The set comprises: a flow reversing valve having a patient arterial line and a patient venous line each separately connected to one side of the valve. A unit arterial line and a unit venous line are each separately connected to the other side of the valve. The patient arterial line connects with the unit arterial line in a first position of a valve, and the patient venous line connects with the unit venous line in the same first valve position. The patient arterial line connects with the patient venous line in a second position of a valve, while the patient venous line connects with the unit arterial line in the same second valve position. The flow reversing valve is movable between the first and second positions by relative rotation of part of the valve and adjacent portions of the respective lines.

Abstract: A flow-through blood treatment device such as a hemodialyzer comprises a housing, a blood inlet, a blood outlet, and at least one membrane in the housing defining a blood flow path between the blood inlet and outlet on one side of the membrane, plus a second flow path defined on the other side of the membrane. At least one of the blood inlet and outlet is connected to blood flow tubing, which blood flow tubing carries a connector spaced from the housing for access to the vascular system of a patient. The blood flow tubing also defines at least one connection site along its length permitting repeated, temporary connection and subsequent disconnection with branch conduits, for connection with sources of additive solutions or measuring devices. Typically, the blood flow tubing is free of permanently attached, flexible branch tubings a method of use in disclose.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood set may be primed with physiological solution for use in a blood transporting process such as hemodialysis. The set comprises tubing having a patient connector on an end thereof, and a first branch tube in connection with a source of the solution. The branch tube connects with the set between the ends of the set. The branch tube also connects with further branch tubing, having a second connector which is capable of sealing connection with the patient connector. The method comprises the steps of connecting the patient connector and the second connector to form a closed loop of tubing. One then passes the solution from the source in flow through the first branch tube and further branch tubing to fill them and the set tubing with the solution. One then disconnects the patient connector for subsequent connection with the vascular system of a patient.

Abstract: A cannula or needle set for fluid flow connection with the vascular system of a patient. In one embodiment, the set comprises a hollow, hypodermic needle having a longitudinal axis and a sharp end for skin penetration and connection with the vascular system. A hollow hub carries the needle at a needle opposite to the sharp end. A fluid flow port is defined in the hub at a position laterally spaced from the axis of the needle. An injection site aperture is defined in the hub at a position centrally intersected by the needle axis, the injection site aperture being closed by a recloseable, needle-penetrable wall.

Abstract: A container for irradiation comprises a flexible, flat collapsible wall defining a sealed chamber, the plastic material of said wall being substantially transparent to the irradiation, which is typically ultraviolet radiation. An access port or ports are provided for communicating through the wall to the chamber. A flap is provided, integral with the wall and spaced from the chamber. The flap carries identifying indicia including a typically bar code indicia, so that the wall which defines the chamber may be at least substantially free of opaque indicia. Also, means may be provided for detecting an indicating exposure of the container to such irradiation, such as ultraviolet sensitive tape adhering to the flap. Alignment holes may be provided, typically in the flap, to facilitate the orientation of the container with apparatus for irradiation and apparatus for bar code reading, making use of alignment pins carried by such apparatus.

Abstract: A tissue penetrating cannula comprises a tube having a sharp end formed by a first cut surface defining an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube and forming a generally oval tube edge defining a similar acute angle to the longitudinal axis. A second cut surface is defined along a right hand forward portion of the oval tube edge, and a third cut surface is defined along a left hand forward portion of the oval tube edge. A second and third cut surfaces define between them a forward cutting surface in the tube edge. A fourth cut surface at the point intersects the second and third cut surfaces to cause the cutting surface to be spaced inwardly of the tube outer wall. Fifth and sixth cut surfaces are provided to respectively flatten the tube edge between the first and second surfaces and the first and third surfaces.

Abstract: A combined arterial-venous blood flow set comprises connected lengths of flexible tubing for receiving blood from a patient, for conveying the blood to a blood processing device such as a dialyzer or an LDL filter, and for returning the blood to the patient. An optional first bubble trap chamber is connected in series flow between two of the lengths of tubing at a flow position downstream from the patient and upstream from the blood processing device. A second bubble trap chamber is connected in series flow between two of the lengths of tubing at a flow position downstream from the blood processing device and upstream from the patient. A first portion of the tubing which is in a flow position upstream from the blood processing device extends by the second bubble trap chamber, and is physically, laterally connected to it without direct flow connection. This helps to stabilize the positioning of components of the flow set and to reduce confusion in set-up and priming.

Abstract: A molded squeeze clamp for tubing which comprises a strip of plastic having first and second ends, the strip being bent back on itself so that the ends are adjacent to each other in the manner of a Halkey-Roberts clamp. The first strip end defines a first latch, for engagement and releasable locking with the second end, and the second end defines a second latch for locking with the first latch. The first end also defines a first projection extending towards the second end to reduce or eliminate a gap between the first and second ends when the clamp is in its unstressed, as-molded, open configuration. The second end defines a second projection to facilitate manual opening of the clamp, the second projection extending in substantially longitudinal relation to the axis of tubing carried in the squeeze clamp.