Abstract: A valve rotator comprising a body having a generally annular peripheral surface at one end of the body and a central cavity opening at such end. The annular peripheral surface substantially surrounds the central cavity and has an interlocking surface region configured to interlock with a rotor of a rotatable valve. The body had a generally annular shoulder adjacent such one end which generally faces such end of the body. The annular peripheral surface extends toward that end of the body from the annular shoulder.

Abstract: The invention is a flow-through bioreactor for the retention and culture of cells in perfused media. The bioreactor is a generally rectangular vessel with inlet and outlet ports in the lid allowing for media flow along the longitudinal axis of the vessel. The inner surface of the bottom wall of the bioreactor has a plurality of generally rectangular grooves having a length, a depth, and a width. The grooves are positioned in the bottom wall such that their length is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, allowing media flow across the width of the grooves. Cells settle into the grooves, where they proliferate and differentiate, without entering the bulk flow of media through the vessel, thus avoiding loss of cells due to media flow. The preferred grooves have a width to depth ratio of about 1:1 or 2:1. The preferred width of the grooves is about 50 .mu.m to about 5,000 .mu.m, and the preferred depth is about 50 .mu.m to about 5,000 .mu.m.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a complex of an antigen component and the corresponding antibody component in a pharmacologically acceptable carrier. The apparatus comprises a housing chamber for containing paramagnetic particles and a platform against which the housing chamber is releasably retained. The platform contains one or more magnets located adjacent to the housing chamber when the housing chamber is positioned on the platform. The platform is secured to a support which allows the platform, and thus the housing chamber, to be rotated between a vertical and a horizontal position.

Abstract: A guidewire extension system is disclosed for connecting an extension wire to a guidewire having a tubular outer body, a guidewire retention element, an extension wire retention element, a guidewire and an extension wire. The guidewire retention element and the extension wire retention element are fixed within the outer body and are preferably helically wound wires which form a right-handed groove and a left-handed groove. The guidewire and the extension wire each have tapered ends and a reduced diameter extension core each having a helically wound wire formed to adhere to the extension core. The guidewire is connected to the extension wire by inserting the extension core of the guidewire into the outer tube and inserting the helically wound wire into the right-handed groove and by inserting the extension core of the extension wire into the outer tube and inserting the helically wound wire into the left-handed groove.