Abstract: A dynamic blood pump includes a rotating core member and rotating ring portion effective to pre-spin blood before the blood enteres helical pumping channels of the pump. The blood is pumped and further rotated as it moves axially along the helical channels toward a centrifugal section of the pump. At the centrifugal pumping section circumferential velocity differentials are also controlled to diminish damage to the blood. Outwardly of the centrifugal pumping section, a forced-vortex pumping section communicates the pumped blood to an exit port.

Abstract: An ultrasound catheter device for transmitting ultrasound into a mammalian body comprising an elongate catheter body having at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. Also extending longitudinally through the lumen are at least two ultrasound transmission members, each of which have a proximal end coupleable to an external ultrasound source and a distal end which terminates near the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A fully exchangeable integrated-wire dilation catheter for performing angioplasty is disclosed having a flexible small diameter guide wire provided with an enlarged diameter distal end portion and a flexible elongated tubular shaft with at least one dual function fluid conducting lumen adapted to receive the guide wire extending therethrough. The distal end of the tubular shaft is connected to the proximal end of an expandable balloon provided with a coaxially aligned distal orifice having means for releasably engaging the enlarged distal end portion of the guide wire in sealing relationship. In a preferred embodiment the sealing means is a flexible sleeve extending from the distal orifice of the expandable balloon and dimensioned to slidingly engage the correspondingly sized enlarged distal end portion of the guide wire. Associated procedures for utilizing the dilation catheter are also disclosed.

Abstract: A probe for use within a catheter is disclosed. The probe transducer portion is constructed of a crystal hollow cylinder with an inside lead attached to the inner surface of the crystal cylinder. One end of the outside lead is positioned close to the outer surface, in a plane tangential to the outer surface, and is coupled to the outer surface of the crystal cylinder by a thin sputtered layer of conductive material. The probe transducer also includes a layer of acoustically absorbing material on the proximal end of the crystal, and layer of acoustically coupling material on the distal end of the crystal cylinder. The transducer element simultaneously generates an axially oriented signal beam at one frequency and a radially oriented signal beam at 2 different frequency. The signal beams are analyzed to calculate the blood flow area and the blood flow velocity, the product of which is the blood flow rate.

Abstract: A drawer-mounted centrifuge provides easy access for loading and unloading disposable processing elements. The centrifuge also includes an umbilicus holder that moves between an operating position and an out-of-the-way position as the drawer opens and closes.

Abstract: A centrifuge provides simplify access to the processing chamber. In one arrangement, the processing chamber separates into a bowl and spool element to receive a disposable processing bag. In another arrangement, the processing chamber pivots between an operating position and an access position to provide improved access. The centrifuge also employs readily accessible holders for releasably retaining tubing that, in use, conveys fluid to and from the chamber. Though greatly accessible, the centrifuge operates without the need of complicated rotating seals and expensive disposable components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inactivating pathogens in a body fluid, such as plasma, red cells, platelets, leukocytes, and bone marrow. The present invention minimizes adverse effects caused by the photosensitive agents while retaining the disinfecting activity of such agents and processes. Pursuant to the present invention, prior to irradiating a body fluid including a photoactive drug, the extracellular fluid, which in the case of blood components includes plasma proteins is at least substantially reduced. Additionally, after the irradiation process, the resultant body fluid is prevented from contacting additional extracellular fluid, e.g., plasma proteins, for a predefined period.

Abstract: A system for measuring fluid flow within a conduit, such as blood flow from the heart, includes a heating element that is driven so as to apply heat to the fluid at an upstream position as a series of periodic heat signals. A temperature sensor located downstream measures a local temperature of the fluid and generates an electrical fluid temperature signal corresponding to the local temperature. This signal is then applied to a dispersive filter, which outputs a pulse-like signal in the presence of each periodic heat signal. Fluid flow is then calculated by a processor as a function of the area under an estimated impulse response curve for the channel in which the fluid flows. Each periodic heat signal is preferably sinusoidal and has an instantaneous frequency that varies substantially continuously between a first frequency and a second frequency over a pre-determined active input signal period.

Abstract: A drug delivery device is provided comprising a cartridge body including an upper portion defining a vial receiving area and terminating in a wall, the cartridge body including a cannula extending from the wall. A vial including a beneficial agent is coupled by a retaining member to the cartridge body in an inactivated position. The retaining member allows the vial to move to an activated position. The retaining member including an outer member and an inner member, the inner member separating from portions of the outer member as the vial moves from the inactivated position to the activated position.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved coextruded medical grade port tubing. The medical grade port tubing provides characteristics that are desirable in the medical industry and therefore can be used as a medical port tubing in, for example, renal therapy or blood donor tubes. To this end, the present invention provides a non-PVC coextruded medical grade port tubing including: an outer layer comprising a blend of polypropylene copolymer and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer; a tie layer; and a core layer including a blend of polyamide and ethylene vinyl acetate.

Abstract: A purified therapeutic grade thrombin is described which is essentially free of lipid envelope viruses, has a specific activity of about 2200 NIH units per milligram of protein to about 3200 NIH units per milligram of protein, is essentially homogeneous and may be produced on a commercial-scale. The thrombin is acceptable from human administration.

Abstract: An improved integral flow-through injectate delivery system comprises fluid flow means having a proximal and a distal end. The proximal end comprises a first port having fluid inlet means for connecting the flow means to a source of fluid injectate and a second port adapted to be connected to a syringe means. The distal end of the fluid flow means is adapted to be connected to a fluid delivery means for delivering the injectate to the patient and the syringe means is adapted to direct injectate fluid from the injectate source through the fluid inlet and the fluid flow means to the fluid delivery means. A first check valve is in fluid-flow communication with the fluid inlet means and the fluid flow means and a second check valve means is in fluid-flow communication with the fluid flow means and the fluid delivery means. A sensing means is disposed within the fluid flow means at its distal end for sensing a characteristic of fluid flowing therethrough, usually temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable hemoglobin based composition having sufficiently low levels of methemoglobin to effectively function as an oxygen carrying solution upon administration to a patient made by the process comprising: a) adding an oxygenated or deoxygenated form of said blood substitute to an oxygen impermeable package, and b) storing said container at from between 5.degree. C. to 45.degree. C. for sufficient time to permit the autoreduction of methemoglobin. The stable hemoglobin based composition includes hemoglobin, modified hemoglobin and/or encapsulated hemoglobin. To effectively function as an oxygen carrying solution upon administration to a patient, the stable hemoglobin based solution cannot have greater than about 50% of said hemoglobin based solution in the methemoglobin form but, preferably no more than about 15%. The invention further relates to a method to store a stable oxygen carrying solution according to the above discussed process.

Abstract: A probe for use within a catheter is disclosed. The probe transducer portion is constructed of a crystal hollow cylinder with an inside lead attached to the inner surface of the crystal cylinder. One end of the outside lead is positioned close to the outer surface, in a plane tangential to the outer surface, and is coupled to the outer surface of the crystal cylinder by a thin sputtered layer of conductive material. The probe transducer also includes a layer of acoustically absorbing material on the proximal end of the crystal, and layer of acoustically coupling material on the distal end of the crystal cylinder. The transducer element simultaneously generates an axially oriented signal beam at one frequency and a radially oriented signal beam at 2 different frequency. The signal beams are analyzed to calculate the blood flow area and the blood flow velocity, the product of which is the blood flow rate.

Abstract: An assembly for holding a substantially flexible annuloplasty ring in a substantially taunt position for suturing about a valve annulus. The assembly includes a portion which is formed with a surface against which the annuloplasty ring is positioned and held in a shape substantially equivalent to at least a portion of the valve annulus. The assembly further includes a mechanism for releasably binding the annuloplasty ring to this surface.

Abstract: A method and system for staging drugs dispensed from a drug dispensing apparatus including an accumulator operative to temporarily accumulate drugs for later dispensing into vials. The accumulator includes one or more staging containers positioned to receive dispensed drugs that fall freely under the influence of gravity, each container having an outlet that is selectively openable so that the drugs retained therein can be delivered to a vial at a later time. Several orders can be staged in parallel if several such staging containers are provided. The drugs are staged in the accumulators for dispensing before vials are positioned so that dispensing of all the drugs for each vial may be performed simultaneously.

Abstract: An automatic means and method for preventing and/or treating hypotension in hemodialysis patients. To this end, a system is provided wherein the patient or healthcare practitioner can cause the hemodialysis machine to automatically deliver sodium to the patient through the dialysate so as to increase blood and extracellular osmolarity, increase blood volume from vascular refilling, and raise blood pressure. This would thereby alleviate any clinical symptoms caused by hypotension during hemodialysis.

Abstract: A system for processing a product with a solvent containing volatile constituents, the system including a pressure chamber for receiving the product, a vacuum pump for evacuating the chamber, a solvent recirculating system for admitting the solvent at a predetermined pressure into the chamber, the solvent recirculating system including a heater for maintaining the temperature of the chamber at the saturation temperature of the solvent, gas liquid separator for separating the gas and liquid components of the solvent discharged from the chamber, a first closed loop system connected to the separator to return the gas constituent to the chamber and a second closed loop system connected to the separator to return the liquid component to the chamber.