Abstract: A breather bag (10) is adapted for use with a breathing circuit (12). The exterior surface (38) of the bag (10) is roughened and substantially non-uniform for ease of gripping by an anesthesist (18). When the gloves (33) of the anesthesist (18) are wet, the gloves (33) tend to cause slippage when attempting to squeeze a bag as known in the prior art. Due to the present invention, the roughened exterior surface (38) greatly reduces this likelihood of slippage. A relatively small exterior portion (40) is substantially smooth as is the interior surface (46).

Abstract: A pledget containing an anticoagulant for use with a blood sample is provided. The pledget includes a filler material, such as dextran, to increase the volume anticoagulant to minimize interference with free ion measurements in the blood.

Abstract: An arterial blood gas syringe is disclosed for obtaining an arterial blood sample. The syringe is characterized by a sealing plug having channels formed in an upper surface thereof for use in removing air as arterial blood is received into the syringe. Each of the channels extends in a generally radial direction and the channels converge near the center of the sealing plug. A filter element is contained in the center of the sealing plug for permitting the passage of air directed thereto using the channels. The filter element permits the passage of the air but prevents passage of the blood.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided to equilibrate a solution contained in a conventional syringe. The syringe is positioned so that the tapered end of the syringe is upward relative to the flanged end of the syringe. An equilibration tube member is inserted into the tapered end of the syringe. Equilibrating gas of a known composition is delivered to an input cavity formed in a heat block. The equilibrating gas is humidified in a humidifying chamber after it exits the input cavity. The humidified, equilibrating gas then passes into an output cavity formed in the heat block. The equilibration tube member receives the gas from the output cavity and carries it downwardly into the syringe where it exits the equilibration tube member into the equilibration solution. The equilibrating gas passes upwardly through the solution to produce an equilibrated sample. Gas passing from the solution is able to exit the syringe through its tapered end.

Abstract: A syringe device for obtaining a gas-free blood sample has a tubular body connected to an hypodermic needle. The tubular body receives a resilient sealing member operatively connected to a plunger rod. The sealing member and plunger rod have a vent formed longitudinally therealong to provide a passageway for the purge of air as an interior chamber of the tubular body is filled with blood. The passageway is covered with an hydrophobic filter allowing the passage of air until such time as blood completely contacts the filter, at which time blood cannot cross the hydrophobic filter. The interior chamber containing the blood sample is then purged of all air.

Abstract: An actuator system is provided which includes a force transfer element and a force receiving element. A viscous material interconnects the force transfer element and the force receiving element. A workpiece, such as a valve member, is connected to the force receiving element. When a controlled force is applied to the force transfer element, the controlled force and resulting movement are rigidly coupled using the viscous material to the force receiving element so that the workpiece can be moved or otherwise operably controlled. When an uncontrolled force is received by the force transfer element, in which the movement of the force transfer element is slow relative to the deformation of the viscous material, there is no coupling of the uncontrolled force and resulting movement to the workpiece. As a result, the actuator system is able to couple rapid movements using the viscous material while relatively slow movements are not coupled.

Abstract: A pledget of biological material of predetermined unit dosage is formed by a lyophilizing process. The lyophilizing process involves establishing a specific batch volume of sterile water, dissolving a preestablished amount of biological material in the batch volume of water, filling at least one container with a portion of the solution of water and dissolved material, and lyophilizing the solution in the container into the pledget. The amount of biological material to be dissolved in the water is established in relation to the volume and number of containers, the desired predetermined unit dosage of each pledget, and the desired number of pledgets to be formed at a time.

Abstract: A tray having a plurality of wells bored or formed therein of predetermined volume for use in a freeze drying process is disclosed. The wells contain a solution of biologicals of predetermined concentration. The tray is thermally configured to maximize freezing efficiency during the lypholization or freeze-drying process. A pledget product is formed by the freeze drying process, the pledget adapted to be used in a single dosage of a predetermined unit value. The pledget can be stored for extended periods of time in a syringe and then be readily utilized in heparinizing an aspirated blood sample.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved plunger subassembly for use in a blood gas syringe barrel characterized by a pushrod having a piston on its front end with a hollow interior defining a fluid collection chamber communicating with both the front and rear ends thereof by passageways blocked by a filter that will pass gases but is impervious to fluids. With the plunger subassembly in its passive state, blood and gas entering the syringe barrel from the front is free to enter the collection chamber by means of slits on the periphery of the piston at its front end. The contaminated blood that has been in contact with the air originally in the syringe barrel is trapped in the fluid collection chamber inside the piston while the gases pass on through the filter and are vented to the atmosphere. Opposed surfaces on the pushrod and piston cooperate to define an air-tight seal effective to prevent the flow of air past the piston when the plunger subassemlby is actuated to retract same.

Abstract: A syringe for drawing gas-free blood samples is disclosed having a sliding assembly operatively connected to an elongated hollow plunger rod, both the sliding assembly and the plunger rod slideably received within the interior of the tubular body, which is connected to an hypodermic needle. The sliding assembly has longitudinal grooves formed along a portion of the length therein which are in fluid communication with inwardly directed smaller cross section radial channels formed in the sliding assembly. The channels are in further fluid communication with a passageway along the longitudinal axis of the sliding assembly and the hollow elongated plunger. Means for preventing the passage of air back into the syringe once the blood level has reached that position are provided. Means for sealing the blood into the syringe are also provided.

Abstract: A syringe device has a hollow tubular body that receives a plunger, having in combination a handle portion rotatable within a sealing member portion, for obtaining gas-free blood samples. After an interior chamber of the syringe body is filled with blood under the influences of an individual's blood pressure, a seal is selectively established to isolate the sample. The syringe body is open at one end to receive the plunger and frictionally receives a hypodermic needle through a cylindrical end element disposed at the other end. A pair of linearatly extending seal interrupters, sliced from the handle portion of the plunger, extend from a position fixed on the handle portion across the sealing member to establish breach points, which in turn allow air communication between the interior chamber and the atmosphere. A pair of grooves disposed longitudinally near the open end of the syringe body retain the seal interrupters and prevent permanent indentations from forming in the sealing member while in storage.

Abstract: A syringe device has a hollow tubular body that receives a resilient sealing member rotatably connected to a hollow plunger. A vacuum pump is connected through a flexible tube to the hollow plunger to thereby withdraw blood using the vacuum created. Once in the syringe body, blood is automatically exposed to an anti-coagulant stored within the syringe body. The anti-coagulant is in flake form and premanufactured from a heparin solution which is allowed to evaporate on a non-stick surface.

Abstract: A syringe is disclosed for taking blood samples which includes a tubular body, a plunger, a sealing member and a needle. The plunger and sealing member in combination are slideably received in the tubular body with the plunger receiving the sealing member for rotational movement about its longitudinal axis. The sealing member has two longitudinally spaced circumferential sealing locations with a cylindrical space between the sealing locations. Two closeable openings through each seal location are established in the sealing member at 180.degree. opposition to each other by a thread extending across each seal. The thread is attached to the plunger so that after blood passes through the seal nearest the needle end of the syringe, the plunger can be rotated to remove the thread from both seal locations thereby sealing the blood sample in the tubular body after all gases have been purged from the tubular body.