Abstract: A fluid valve with a valve body and core, the core being retained in the valve body by resilient fingers which extend from the body and snap past a lip on the valve core on insertion of the core into the body.

Abstract: A blood oxygenator with an oxygen filter in the oxygen inlet chamber, featuring in a particular aspect elevating the filter above the diffuser plug of the oxygenator.

Abstract: A fluid valve with a core received in the bore of a valve body, the bore being positioned in a separate inner body spaced radially inward from and connected by support means to the main valve body so as to hasten cooling of the bore during manufacturing and thereby improve sealing of the core by reducing dimensional variations in the bore.

Abstract: Monitoring the level of both opaque and clear liquids in a reservoir without contacting the liquids by providing first and second reservoir wall portions that define a region through which a light beam is passed from a light source to a light sensor so that opaque liquid extinguishes the light beam and so that the wall portions cooperate with the clear liquid to refract the light beam away from the sensor. A monitoring line segment, defined as the portion of a hypothetically unrefracted and unreflected light beam between the first and second reservoir wall portions, is a small fraction of the largest interior linear dimension of the reservoir in a plane containing the monitoring line segment and a line normal to the first reservoir wall portion.

Abstract: A mount for a fluid flow transfer apparatus for facilitating degassing of the apparatus comprises a pair of trunnions for cooperating with a pair of stub shafts on opposite sides of the fluid flow transfer apparatus, to permit rotation of the apparatus, and a selectively disengageable latch spaced radially from the axis of rotation of the trunnions and shafts, to secure the apparatus against rotation once the apparatus is placed in either an operational position or an inverted degassing position.

Abstract: A cap for a tubular fitting featuring a tubular body adapted to fit loosely over the exterior of a tubular fluid fitting and an interior surface inside the tubular body for bearing against a mating exterior surface on the fitting, the tubular body being retained either in a loose breathing position over the tubular fitting or in a sealing position with the mating interior and exterior surfaces tightly engaged. Releasable retaining means are provided to retain the body in either the breathing or sealing position and twisting means are provided to move the cap from one position to the other.

Abstract: A fluid flow transfer apparatus is constructed by placing a pleated membrane within a central chamber in a housing, injecting liquid potting material into the central chamber, positioning the housing while the potting is still flowable such that the membrane tips to be anchored to the housing are horizontal at the bottom of the membrane body and the inner housing surface adjacent to those membrane tips is horizontal, allowing the liquid potting to flow between that surface and those lower membrane tips and settle uniformly therebetween, and curing the potting material to anchor those tips to the housing.

Abstract: A fluid flow transfer apparatus comprising a pleated membrane and a housing having a pair of generally U-shaped interfitting casings. One of the casings fits within the other to define a central fluid chamber in which the membrane is positioned and a pair of outer sealing compartments. The two outermost flaps of the membrane extend into the respective sealing compartments, where they are sealed to the housing.

Abstract: A bubble trap comprising a closed container for holding liquid, an inlet extending through the container bottom upward within the container to an inlet opening spaced below the container top, the container having a larger cross-sectional area exclusive of the inlet than the inlet itself, an outlet extending through the container top downward within the container to an outlet opening, the outlet opening being lower in the container than the inlet opening whereby liquid flowing upward through the inlet opening into the container must subsequently flow downward to reach the outlet opening, and means for admitting or removing gas from the container.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for measuring the ultrafiltration rate in an artificial kidney. The system comprises a flow rate meter connected with the outlet of the dialyzer, means for placing the flow control system in bypass so that the dialysate flow is diverted around the dialyzer, and means for maintaining the static pressure of dialysate in the dialyzer during bypass at a value equal to the average of the dynamic pressure prior to bypass. The flow rate indicated by the meter during the bypass interval is equal to the rate of ultrafiltrate flow through the dialyzing medium. Preferably, the pressure in the dialyzer during bypass is maintained by a negative pressure regulating means which responds to the average value of dialysate pressure in the dialyzer during both the run and bypass operations.

Abstract: A dialysate flow control system is disclosed for an artificial kidney machine. The flow control system produces dialysate flow at negative pressure through the dialyzer and comprises a flow controller and first pump upstream of the dialyzer and a second pump downstream of the dialyzer. The negative pressure between the flow regulator and the first pump is utilized for deaeration and an air accumulator is disposed downstream of the first pump and provided with an air discharge path into the dialysate flow path downstream of the dialyzer. A negative pressure regulator automatically regulates the dialysate pressure in the dialyzer at a manually adjustable value and comprises regulator means responsive to the average value of negative pressure in the dialyzer to provide suction relief to the second pump as needed to maintain the selected pressure value.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention there is provided an extracorporeal blood circulation system including a drip chamber having a blood inlet in its top and a blood outlet in its bottom, such chamber during operation containing blood in its bottom portion and air in its top portion, an air passage communicating with the top of the chamber, an air pump communicating with the atmosphere and with the passage for pumping air through the passage from the chamber into the atmosphere and from the atmosphere into the chamber, and means for selectively actuating the pump to either pump air into or out of the chamber.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention there is provided an extracorporeal blood circulation system for circulating a patient's blood from and then back to the patient through tubing at least a portion of which is flexible, and a roller-type blood pump for coaction with the flexible tubing to cause movement of the blood through the system, the pump having means for conveniently and automatically positioning the flexible tubing in its operative position within the pump.