Abstract: Blood from a patient is treated extracorporeally by any selected one of a plurality of predetermined treatments. Each of the treatments involves the flow of blood from the patient into a primary chamber of a filtration unit, past a semipermeable membrane located in the filtration unit which separates the primary chamber from a secondary chamber of the filtration unit, out the filtration unit and back to the patient. A replacement fluid is selectively and controllably added to the blood, as required for the selected treatment. A secondary fluid is controllably and selectively introduced into the secondary chamber of the filtration unit for controllably collecting material passing across the semipermeable membrane from the blood or for supplying material to pass across the semipermeable membrane into the blood as required for the selected treatment. Materials are removed from the secondary chamber and collected in accordance with the selected treatment.

Abstract: A method is provided for qualitatively detecting in vitro the presence or absence of selected circulating antibody types using a diagnostic kit comprising reconstituted, after lyophilization or evaporative drying, red blood cell samples or other cell or cell-like material which have antigens which are recognized and bound by the selected antibody-type to be screened. Diagnostic kits containing the lyophilized blood samples according to the present invention have improved shelf life, and may comprise lyophilized samples packaged in a variety of forms convenient for manual single-test uses or automated multiple-test uses.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing system is disclosed which includes a disposable for an apheresis system. The disposable can include a blood processing vessel and a contoured support. The blood processing vessel includes sidewalls to define the vessel and a blood inlet port and a blood component outlet port. The support is provided proximate to the blood component outlet port and exteriorly relative to the fluid-containing volume of the blood processing vessel. The support may be contoured to direct the desired blood component types(s) toward the blood component outlet port and is in an overlapping relation with the exterior surface of the blood processing vessel. The support and part of an adjacent channel wall collectively define a generally funnel-shaped collect well that collects blood components flowing thereby.

Abstract: The biocompatibility of polymeric and metallic articles used in contact with blood can be substantially improved by coating the articles as described. The coating materials are triblock copolymers of the polylactone-polysiloxane-polylactone type. Optimum biocompatibility is provided by a coating of optimum surface concentration. Porous membranes can be coated as described, providing improved biocompatibility of blood oxygenators, hemodialyzers and the like.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing system is disclosed which includes a variety of novel components and which may be operated in accordance with a variety of novel methodologies. For instance, the system includes a graphical operator interface which directs the operator through various aspects of the apheresis procedure. Moreover, the system also includes a variety of features relating to loading a blood processing vessel into a blood processing channel and removing the same after completion of the procedure. Furthermore, the system also includes a variety of features relating to utilizing a blood priming of at least portions of the apheresis system in preparation for the procedure. In addition, the system includes a variety of features enhancing the performance of the apheresis system, including the interrelationship between the blood processing vessel and the blood processing vessel and the utilization of high packing factors for the procedure.

Abstract: An exchanger includes an outer casing having an inlet port and an outlet port for a first fluid, and an inlet port and an outlet port for a second fluid, and a bundle of hollow fibers located within the outer casing and being in flow communication with the inlet and outlet port for the second fluid. A central core is located in the outer casing and the bundle of fibers is arranged around the central core. The central core includes an inlet manifold connected to the first fluid inlet port, and an outlet manifold connected to the first fluid outlet port.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided to monitor a generally transparent blood tube at a location that is downstream from a blood separator in order to detect the presence of red blood cells in a tube that is intended to carry a different blood component, for example platelets. A red light source and a green light source are located in relation to the tube so that red light emission and green light emission are directed toward the tube and toward the flowing blood component(s) that is carried within the tube. The red light source produces a red reflection intensity from red blood cells whose magnitude increases as a function of an increase in the concentration of red blood cells. The green light source produces a green reflection intensity from the red blood cells whose magnitude decreases as a function of an increase in the concentration of the red blood cells.

Abstract: A fluid chamber and method are disclosed for filtering or separating particles. The fluid chamber includes a wall extending between an inlet and outlet to form a fluid chamber interior. The interior converges from a position of maximum cross-sectional area toward the inlet. A groove or a step may be formed on an inner surface of the fluid chamber wall to improve particle separation within the fluid chamber.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing system is disclosed which includes a variety of novel components and which may be operated in accordance with a variety of novel methodologies. For instance, the system includes a graphical operator interface which directs the operator through various aspects of the apheresis procedure. Moreover, the system also includes a variety of features relating to loading a blood processing vessel into a blood processing channel and removing the same after completion of the procedure. Furthermore, the system also includes a variety of features relating to utilizing a blood priming of at least portions of the apheresis system in preparation for the procedure. In addition, the system includes a variety of features enhancing the performance of the apheresis system, including the interrelationship between the blood processing vessel and the blood processing vessel and the utilization of high packing factors for the procedure.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing system is disclosed which includes a variety of novel components and which may be operated in accordance with a variety of novel methodologies. For instance, the system includes a graphical operator interface which directs the operator through various aspects of the apheresis procedure. Moreover, the system also includes a variety of features relating to loading a blood processing vessel into a blood processing channel and removing the same after completion of the procedure. Furthermore, the system also includes a variety of features relating to utilizing a blood priming of at least portions of the apheresis system in preparation for the procedure. In addition, the system includes a variety of features enhancing the performance of the apheresis system, including the interrelationship between the blood processing vessel and the blood processing vessel and the utilization of high packing factors for the procedure.

Abstract: A venous reservoir bag subassembly is provided which is adapted to cooperate with a mounting assembly having a bracket frame and a front plate reproducibly relatively movable to enable constant accurate blood volume readout, cooperating means between the subassembly and the mounting assembly to provide against unduly low blood volume, and angled conduit means cooperating with the bag and recesses in the subassembly and assembly to provide further failsafe against passage of the undesirable gas.

Abstract: A blood component collection system with optimization capabilities. In one embodiment, process parameters are derived from an input/configured predetermined blood component yield and which is based upon the maximization of at least one process parameter. Thereafter, the blood component collection procedure is performed with these derived process control parameters. In another embodiment, process parameters are derived from an input total procedure time from a maximized value for at least one of the other process control parameters so as to maximize blood component yield in this fixed time. Thereafter, the blood component collection procedure is performed with these derived parameters.

Abstract: A centrifuge apparatus is used for collecting white blood cells, primarily mononuclear cells, from whole blood stratified into layers. A thin mononuclear (MNC) layer is formed at the interface of red blood cells and plasma. A barrier is positioned in the separation vessel of the centrifuge at a location to intercept the thin layer. An MNC collect port is positioned in front of the barrier to collect the thin layer. MNC fluid is allowed to pool behind the barrier to surround the collect port before collection is started. Collection ceases when the pool is removed and allowed to build again. By operating the collect in an intermittent fashion, improvements in purity and collect volume are achieved. The intermittent collection procedure can be useful for harvesting granulocytes and, in general, any sparse stratified component of a centrifuged solution where the sparse component is layered between more dense and less dense strata.

Abstract: A centrifuge apparatus is used for collecting white blood cells (WBC), primarily mononuclear cells, from whole blood stratified into layers. A thin mononuclear (MNC) layer is formed at the interface of red blood cells and plasma. A barrier is positioned in the separation vessel of the centrifuge at a location to intercept the thin layer. MNC fluid is allowed to pool behind the barrier before collection is started. To collect the MNC pool, the stratified red blood cell layer is raised from below the interface level by slowing or reversing flow in the RBC exit line thereby causing the MNC pool to spill over the barrier into a well in which a collect line is positioned. Collection ceases when a desired percentage of the pool is removed and the normal position of the interface is re-established; thereafter the pool builds again. By raising the MNC pool from below, improvements in purity and collect volume are achieved.

Abstract: The biocompatibility of polymeric and metallic articles used in contact with blood can be substantially improved by coating the articles as described. The coating materials are triblock copolymers of the polylactone-polysiloxane-polylactone type. Optimum biocompatibility is provided by a coating of optimum surface concentration. Porous membranes can be coated as described, providing improved biocompatibility of blood oxygenators, hemodialyzers and the like.

Abstract: An extracorpeal blood processing system is disclosed which includes a variety of novel components and which may be operated in accordance with a variety of novel methodologies. For instance, the system includes a graphical operator interface which directs the operator through various aspects of the apheresis procedure. Moreover, the system also includes a variety of features relating to loading a blood processing vessel into a blood processing channel and removing the same after completion of the procedure. Furthermore, the system also includes a variety of features relating to utilizing a blood priming of at least portions of the apheresis system in preparation for the procedure. In addition, the system includes a variety of features enhancing the performance of the apheresis system, including the interrelationship between the blood processing vessel and the blood processing vessel and the utilization of high packing factors for the procedure.

Abstract: A combination pressure pod and access site apparatus is suitable for use in a medical tubing set. The combination pressure pod and access site comprises a pressure sensing chamber and a measured fluid chamber separated by a pressure transmissive diaphragm. An access site having a needle or needle-less septum is in fluid communication with the measured fluid chamber and permits and withdrawing fluids from, the measured fluid chamber through the access site. One or more of the combination pressure sites and access sites may be provided in a simplified blood tubing set for an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus, such as a hemodialysis apparatus.

Abstract: A venous reservoir bag subassembly which is adapted to cooperate with a mounting assembly having a bracket frame and a front plate reproducibly relatively movable to enable constant accurate blood volume readout, a cooperating mechanism between the subassembly and the mounting assembly to provide against unduly low blood volume, and an angled conduit cooperating with the bag and recesses in the subassembly and assembly to provide further failsafe against passage of the undesirable gas.

Abstract: A method and device for sampling biological fluids during collection without opening the functionally closed collection system, thereby compromising the sterility of the collected fluid. A sample bag connected to a fluid line or collection reservoir is filled coincident with fluid collection, then hermetically sealed and physically separated from the collection system using a radio frequency tubing sealer. A vacuum tube collection device is attached to the sample bag to minimize exposure to the fluid during sample handling and processing.

Abstract: A method of disinfecting a blood tubing set on a dialysis machine after the blood tubing set has been used in a dialysis treatment. One end of the blood tubing set is connected to a disinfection port on the dialysis machine and an opposite end of the blood tubing set is connected to a waste drain. The dialysis machine provides a supply of a disinfectant solution to the disinfection port. A blood pump on the dialysis machine pumps the disinfectant solution from the disinfection port to the waste drain through the blood tubing set to expel contaminants from the blood tubing set. The blood tubing set is preferably connected to a dialyzer which is disinfected when the disinfectant solution is pumped through the blood tubing set. A supply of cleaning solution or water may be pumped through the blood tubing set and dialyzer to expel the disinfectant solution. A supply of air may be pumped through the blood tubing set and dialyzer to expel substantially all fluid from the blood tubing set and dialyzer.