Abstract: A pressure sensor comprising a first housing piece defining a lumen therethrough and an opening to said lumen to provide communication between said lumen and a sensing element, said first housing piece having a first surface surrounding said opening, a second housing piece shaped for mating with said first housing piece and providing, with said first housing piece, a region for containing a sensing element in position to communicate with said lumen via said opening, said second housing piece having a second surface that surrounds said region and faces and conforms to the shape of said first surface, said second housing piece including an end of an electrical wire and wire contacts that are electrically connected to said wire, have portions at or near said second surface, and are spaced from each other, a sensing element in said region in communication with said flow path via said opening, said sensing element including sensor contacts aligned with respective wire contacts, and an elastomeric sheet providing a

Abstract: Dialysis unit with vacuum removal therethrough of priming saline and selective circulation therethrough of dialysate and other fluids. The dialyzer unit includes a drain configured to sealingly cooperate with a tubing set having a cap with a central conduit portion and sealing fins for cooperating with the drain, and a venturi in a main effluent passage in fluid communication with the drain.

Abstract: A fluid flow control apparatus including a fluid flow portion configured to receive a flexible fluid container and an actuating portion which provides a variable force to the fluid flow portion thereby causing the fluid flow portion to pressurize the flexible fluid filled container.

Abstract: Apparatus for collecting blood components including a supply line that is connected to a blood line and has a filter on it to permit passage of supply solution (e.g., anticoagulant or saline prime) and blocks passage of bacteria.

Abstract: A pass-through tube for use in conveying intravenous fluid to a patient in a pressurized chamber, the tube including a tubular body having an outer surface shaped and sized to sealably mate with the interior surface of a connector passing through the wall of a pressurized chamber, a first end having a first generally cylindrical surface adapted to sealably engage a similarly shaped surface of a mating first connector and first locking members for locking with mating locking members on the first connector, a second end having a second generally cylindrical surface adapted to sealably engage a similarly shaped surface of a mating second connector and second locking members for locking with mating locking members on the second connector. Also disclosed is a kit including a pass-through tube, a flexible internal tube, and a valve connected to the external end for connection to an intravenous supply line.

Abstract: A method of removing a constituent of a biological fluid including a blood component, said method including flowing the biological fluid past one side of a first semipermeable membrane; flowing solution containing a first precipitation agent past a second side of the membrane so as to cause transfer of the precipitation agent through the membrane to the biological fluid so as to improve precipitation characteristics of the fluid; and precipitating the constituent from the biological fluid. Also disclosed are maintaining a lower pressure in a biological fluid in a dialyzer than in dialysate at all portions of a membrane in the dialyzer and adding a continuously flowing stream of concentrated precipitation agent to a continuously flowing stream of a biological fluid.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump comprising a race having an internal surface for supporting a flexible tube in a tube pumping region, and a rotor rotatably mounted about a rotor axis and carrying rollers that travel in a circular path adjacent to the tube pumping region, the rollers having a large diameter central portion between smaller diameter portions to cause the tube to be self-aligning at the central portion. Also disclosed are a cover mounted on the race for movement in a direction parallel to the rotation axis between a loading position spaced from the race sufficiently to permit insertion of the tube through a tube insertion opening into a tube mounting region and an operational position in which the tube insertion opening is closed; and self-loading a tube into a peristaltic pump via rollers having a small diameter end portion and an adjacent larger diameter portion.

Abstract: Centrifuge drive apparatus including a support including a plurality of resilient mounting members that are spaced around a rotation axis and are intersected by a mounting plane that is perpendicular to the rotation axis, and a centrifuge bowl and drive motor assembly having a combined center of gravity in the vicinity of the mounting plane to reduce vibration.

Abstract: Using a membrane separating device to remove cell-free fluid from a suspension of cells to preconcentrate cells in the suspension prior to processing in a centrifuge.

Abstract: Dialysate preparation apparatus including dialysate and blood flow lines connected to a dialyzer, fluid control mechanisms on the lines to control conditions of fluid in the lines, fluid condition sensors on the lines to sense the conditions of fluid in the lines, a digital control processor receiving signals from the sensors and controlling the mechanism to achieve desired fluid conditions, and the digital monitor processor receiving signals from the sensors and verifying that fluid conditions meet predetermined safety limits.

Abstract: Apparatus for pumping fluid through plural flow lines comprising a pump having an inlet and an outlet for transporting the fluid therethrough, first and second flow lines that are selectively connectable to the pump inlet via a first valve, and third and fourth flow lines that are selectively connectable to the outlet via a second valve, whereby the pump can be used to selectively pump fluid through different flow paths.

Abstract: A self-loading peristaltic pump including a rotor rotatably mounted about a rotor axis, and a race having an internal surface for supporting a flexible tube in a pumping region between the rotor and the race, the surface including points that are at equal radii from the rotor axis in planes that are perpendicular to the rotor axis, the rotor including a roller for intermittently and progressively compressing the flexible tube against the race in the pumping region, the rotor including a radially extending rotor tab located outside of the pumping region for displacing the flexible tube toward the pumping region as the rotor rotates.

Abstract: Dialysate preparation apparatus having a main flow line having one end for connection to a source of water and another end for providing dialysate to a dialyzer, a concentrate flow line having one end connected to a junction on the main flow line and another end with a connector for alternatively connecting the concentrate line to a source of dialysate concentrate or a source of cleaning fluid, a source of dialysate connectable to the connector, a source of cleaning fluid having a cleaning fluid flow line with an end that is connectable to the connector, a flow sensing switch on the cleaning fluid flow line, and a controller connected to receive a signal from the switch to verify that the apparatus is in a cleaning mode when the switch indicates fluid flowing in the flow line. Also disclosed is a controller providing an initial backflush prior to pumping cleaning fluid into the apparatus in order to provide a water interface between the dialysate and the incoming cleaning fluid.

Abstract: Returning red blood cells to a patient after a centrifuge separation procedure by connecting an inflow line of a separation channel to an outflow line to provide a closed loop and recirculating liquid through it to remove blood cells. Also disclosed is pulling more liquid out of a flexible separation channel than permitted into it in order to reduce the volume of liquid to be used in returning cells to the patient.

Abstract: A liquid conductivity sensor which features simply and inexpensively driving the excitation transformer of a two-transformer/fluid-loop remote conductivity sensor with a square wave excitation signal provided by a digital timer and a flip-flop. Also disclosed is using an electrodeless conductivity sensor to sense conductivity of dialysate.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump cartridge including a continuous flexible tube having two ends and a portion therebetween providing a U-shaped loop for use with a rotor and rollers to provide a peristaltic pump, a cartridge housing having supports for maintaining the portion of the flexible tube in the U-shaped loop external to the housing, the legs of the U-shaped loop leading into the housing, the housing having apertures through which connecting portions of the flexible tube remote from the U-shaped loop have been threaded from the interior to the exterior of the housing.

Abstract: A pass-through tube for use in conveying intravenous fluid to a patient in a pressurized chamber, the tube including a tubular body having an outer surface shaped and sized to sealably mate with the interior surface of a connector passing through the wall of a pressurized chamber, a first end having a first generally cylindrical surface adapted to sealably engage a similarly shaped surface of a mating first connector and first locking members for locking with mating locking members on the first connector, a second end having a second generally cylindrical surface adapted to sealably engage a similarly shaped surface of a mating second connector and second locking members for locking with mating locking members on the second connector. Also disclosed is a kit including a pass-through tube, a flexible internal tube, and a valve connected to the external end for connection to an intravenous supply line.

Abstract: A membrane type blood oxygenating system with the membrane device, blood heater and blood reservoir constructed as an integral unit with the membrane device located lower than the blood reservoir.

Abstract: Dialysate preparation apparatus for mixing dialysate concentrate with water, the apparatus including a main flow line having one end for connection to a source of water and another end for providing dialysate to a dialyzer, a concentrate flow line having one end for connection to a source of dialysate concentrate and another end connected to a junction on the main flow line for adding concentrate to water in the main flow line, a volumetric pump having a fixed discharge volume per stroke on the concentrate line, a concentrate sensor on the main flow line downstream of the junction providing control signals to the pump to pump concentrate to achieve the desired concentration, and a controller including a comparator to compare the stroke rate with a limit indicating desired operating stroke rate range.