Abstract: In a liquid infusion apparatus, an incremental linear encoder is arranged along the feeding shaft direction of the liquid infusion apparatus to directly monitor the movement and position of a carriage part which applies an action to a plunger. A detecting sensor is provided at a starting point of a remaining liquid quantity small region to recognize the absolute position at said region by using feed-back pulses from said encoder. A pressing device for pressing a flange of the plunger to a plunger receiving portion of a slider by holding arms is provided. A pressure sensor is arranged between said plunger receiving portion and the slider to detect a negative pressure applied to the plunger in such a manner that the other operation states of pressure are detected based on a detected value of pressure at which the flange is pressed to the plunger receiving portion.

Abstract: A blood pump used for extra corporeal circulation, and more particularly, as a small turbo blood pump including a casing having an interior region, an aperture formed in an upper portion defining a blood inlet, and an aperture formed in a lower portion defining a blood outlet. An impeller is rotatably mounted within said casing interior region and includes a rotary shaft and at least one vane depending therefrom. The at least one vane has an upper radius adjacent the blood inlet that is less than a lower radius adjacent the blood outlet. The base of the at least one vane forms an exterior angle of less than 90.degree. with the axis of the rotary shaft. A driven magnet is mounted to the at least one vane. The impeller is rotationally driven by a non-contacting driving magnet that is exterior to the casing.

Abstract: Containers for medical use comprising a storage portion formed of a soft polyvinyl chloride resin containing a vinyl chloride resin and diundecyl pthalate (DUP) as a plasticizer wherein the sheet exhibits an oxygen permeability of about 9.0.times.10.sup.-10 to 22.0.times.10.sup.-10 cc.cm/cm2.sec.cmHg/22.degree. C. and a carbon dioxide permeability of about 6.0.times.10.sup.-9 to 19.0.times.10.sup.-9 cc.cm/cm2.sec.cmHg/22.degree. C. The containers are suitable for the storage of blood, especially the cellular components of blood. The invention also provides processes for making such containers as well as methods for storing blood cells using such containers.