Abstract: A method for reducing foam in a blood substance comprising contacting at least a portion of the blood substance with a contact-generating substrate which comprises an antifoaming agent, wherein the antifoaming agent comprises a triglyceride of one or more saturated or unsaturated C.sub.14 -C.sub.24 fatty acids or a mixture of triglycerides having one or more saturated or unsaturated C.sub.14 -C.sub.24 fatty acids, wherein the triglyceride or mixture of triglycerides has a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of from 5 to 10.

Abstract: A container for blood having a generally rigid support which, in combination with a filter element such as a screen, defines a blood inlet chamber of substantially constant size and geometric shape. An expandable reservoir portion is associated with the support and, preferably, has a bellows-like configuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a blood filter comprising a housing having a top portion, a base portion and a sidewall portion and a blood inlet. A filter element is disposed within the housing and divides the housing into an inlet chamber in flow communication with the blood inlet and an outlet chamber. The filter element comprises a portion of non-woven filter material and a portion of screen filter material and both the non-woven filter material portion and the screen filter material portion are in contact with the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber. The housing also comprises a blood outlet in flow communication with the outlet chamber.

Abstract: A blood oxygenator having a substantially cylindrical structure provided with an inner wall or core and an outer wall that define an oxygenation chamber. The oxygenation chamber contains a hollow fiber bundle comprised of hollow microporous semi-permeable fibers which are meant to be affected externally by the blood that flows in the oxygenation chamber. The oxygenation chamber is provided with inlet and outlet paths for connection to the outside. The hollow fibers are embedded, at their ends, in rings of polyurethane resin known as potting and are connected to gas inlet and outlet chambers respectively for the intake of oxygen and for the discharge of the carbon dioxide. The structure includes ribs that extend from the inner wall of the structure and are divided into multiple sets that run longitudinally along the entire length of the core generally parallel with the axis of the core.

Abstract: A device for the pulsed pumping of liquids, particularly blood, has a body in which are formed a pumping chamber in which a pulsed flow is imparted to the liquid, an inlet duct upstream of the pumping chamber and communicating therewith, and a delivery duct downstream of the pumping chamber and communicating therewith. Two valve members constituted by lip valves are provided for regulating the one-way flow of fluid in the body from the inlet duct to the pumping chamber and from the latter to the delivery duct. Low levels of hemolysis can be achieved, if the device is pumping blood. Moreover, the device has a low production cost and is quiet. The pumping device may be incorporated into a cardiopulmonary bypass device which includes a venous reservoir, a heat exchanger and an oxygenator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cardiotomy reservoir for containing blood comprising a housing having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a continuous sidewall portion, the top portion and bottom portion connected to the sidewall portion to form an enclosed reservoir. The housing has a blood inlet, a blood outlet, and an air outlet. The housing also has a trap at the bottom portion of the housing, and the blood outlet is connected to a tube that draws from the trap at the bottom portion of the housing. The housing has a filter interposed between the trap and the inside of the main portion of the housing.

Abstract: In a centrifugal pump for liquids, in particular for blood in extracorporeal circulation, comprising a containment body for an impeller having the shape of a disk and comprising magnets inside it and having, on both faces, blades adapted for making contact with the liquid; the containment body has at least one liquid inflow connection, which is connected to ducts for conveying the liquid proximate to the center of the impeller on both sides thereof, and at least one liquid outflow connection; the containment body is shaped so that it can be removably inserted in a seat defined in a fixed base within which there is at least one magnet arranged so as to face the seat and being connected to means adapted for rotating it so as to rotationally entrain the impeller.

Abstract: A blood container comprises a generally cylindrically shaped outer housing (11) having an upper portion, a lower portion and a bottom portion which declines downwardly to an outlet 3. A generally cylindrically shaped filter 2 is enclosed concentrically within the upper portion of outer housing for receiving blood at the top thereof and discharging filtered blood at the wall and base of the filter. A generally cylindrically shaped inner housing (4) extending from the base of the filter to the bottom portion of the outer housing. The container particularly includes means (5, 9, 9a, 9b, 11) for directing and restricting the flow of blood from the base of the filter for a gradual and smooth descent to the outlet which avoids the creation of bubbles and avoids any blood cell damage.

Abstract: The invention discloses a device for closing the inlet of a containment well of a blood centrifugation cell in the body of a centrifugation machine. A plate is supported at one end of the inlet of the containment well and is rotatable about the horizontal axis. The plate has a pair of parallel pins extending perpendicularly from the surface. A pair of half-lids are each pivotably supported at one end thereof by one of the pins, and have matable inner edges. The closing device includes apparatus for locking the half-lids into a closure position, whereby the half-lids are rotated downwardly against the inlet with the half-lids pivoted together, thereby closing the inlet of the containment well.

Abstract: A blood centrifugation cell has an outer container, a volume displacement inner body having a central passage, and an inlet conduit extending through the central passage to the bottom of the container. A seal is provided at the lower end of the body sealing the space between the inner conduit and the central passage. The seal permits red blood cells to be sucked from the container at any time during centrifugation without waiting for the cell to become completely filled.

Abstract: A continuous blood centrifugation cell includes a bell shaped outer container rotatable about a central axis, a coaxial inner volume displacement body which has a central longitudinal passage, and a circularly shaped partition which has a central aperture and which is coaxially enclosed between the body and the bottom of the container. A stationary housing is connected to and encloses the upper end of the container and has a coaxial inner conduit, a coaxial intermediate conduit, and a coaxial outer conduit. The housing has a stationary passage near the upper end of the container and is in communication with the lower end of the outer conduit for the removal of the lighter fraction blood components from the container. The intermediate conduit extends downwardly into the central passage of the body and has the lower end thereof closely spaced from the partition for the inlet of blood into the container.

Abstract: A chuck device comprises clamp elements having, at one end, an underlying tooth and a conical surface conjugated with the surface of a centrifugation cell. The clamp elements are uniformly distributed on the circumference of a plate including a surface upon which the bottom of the cell rests. The clamp elements are pivoted on the plate so as to be rotatable in radial planes, and can be locked in the closed position.

Abstract: The technical field dealt with is that of fluid conveyance, and the invention relates to a device for selectively sampling fluid from two sections of a line which ensures great operating practicality and minimal dimensions. The solution consists of a device comprising a selecting element with a cavity associable with a syringe and comprising an appendix suitable for rotating in a seat of a fixed element to which converge three conduits, the two end conduits being connectable with the two parts of the line and the central conduit being connectable with a drain, said selecting element having two passages, each of which is suitable for establishing a communication between one of the end conduits and the central conduit, and a third intermediate passage suitable for establishing a communication selectively between the two end conduits and said cavity.

Abstract: The device comprises a single needle circuit having lines for admitting whole blood drawn from a patient to a continuously rotating rotor, re-introducing red cells and collecting plasma, the lines being respectively connected to the three outlets of a coupling static block rigidly attached to the rotor, two photocell-lightsource assemblies being further provided for automatically cyclically switching over the blood pick up and red cells introduction steps in the device steady state condition of operation.

Abstract: The device comprises a rotor formed with a circumferential groove including a widening with an apertured bottom whereat two monitoring stroboscopes are arranged, the groove being provided for engaging with the red cell and plasma exit end of a disposable bag, the other end whereof is so designed and arranged as to receive whole blood.

Abstract: The device comprises plural oxygenation modules, each of which has at least one member for diffusing oxygen through the blood, and one shutter for shutting off such fluids. The modules communicate with a chamber wherethrough the pipes of a heat exchanger extend, and with a collecting chamber through a layer of an antifoaming material.