Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a left ventricle valve for use in a left ventricle drain line. The left ventricle valve includes a unidirectional check valve having duckbill valve portion and a flange portion to movably cover vacuum vent openings. The vacuum vent openings are parallel to the flow passage of the left ventricle valve. The valve also has a pressure relief opening. The invention further contemplates the valve in an extracorporeal circuit for draining the left ventricle of a heart.

Abstract: A plunger assembly for obstructing the flow of fluid through a flexible tube is provided. The assembly comprises a plunger sleeve member having a first open end and a compression mechanism for selectively contacting and compressing the flexible tube. The compression mechanism has a contacting portion for contacting the flexible tube and an extending portion with the extending portion being slidably receivable within the plunger sleeve member through the first open end of the plunger sleeve member. A spring mechanism is mounted about the extending portion of the compression mechanism and between the contacting portion of the compression mechanism and the first open end of the plunger sleeve member for providing selective movement to the compression mechanism relative to the plunger sleeve member.

Abstract: An improved autologous blood salvage system is provided in which blood is removed from a patient and may be processed in a manner wherein an anticoagulant solution is for cycled for reuse. Further, the system may be employed for contemporaneous blood filtering and red blood separation. In one embodiment, anticoagulated blood is contemporaneously filtered and defoamed within a rotating processing bowl, while red blood cells are separated, washed and collected within the bowl and an anticoagulant solution is cycled from the bowl for re-use. During a red blood cell removal mode, the flow of anticoagulated blood into the bowl may be suspended/terminated and the bowl pressurized to remove the red blood cells. The improved system provides for the recovery of a high quality red blood cell product, with reduced processing time requirements/user training, and reduced disposable componentry and related costs.

Abstract: The surface free energy of a polymer blend where a base polymer contains an additive having a different surface free energy than that of the base polymer can be controlled over a wide range of additive surface concentrations by appropriate choice of the mold surface free energy during fabrication. A high surface concentration of additive relative to a low bulk concentration can be achieved, leading to improved biocompatibility without loss of optical clarity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a cardioplegia mixture is provided which allows an increased level of control over the flow rate, dilution ration and concentration of cardioplegia inducing components in cardioplegia mixture during cardiovascular surgery. The method for preparing the cardioplegia mixture includes the steps of combining first and second crystalloid solutions of different concentrations to establish a total volume flow rate of combined solutions. The flow rate of the first crystalloid solution is self adjusted to equal the established total volume flow rate minus the established volume flow rate of the second crystalloid solution. The apparatus for preparing a cardioplegia mixture includes first and second crystalloid solutions containing a cardioplegia inducing component at different concentrations, and means for flowing and combining the solutions and establishing a total volume flow rate of the combined solution.