Abstract: A surgical drape includes two movable pockets allowing a smaller diameter and therefore saving space on an operating room table. A first smaller pocket extending from the drape is formed near the nose of the drape and includes an exit port for a lumen connected to a device inside the drape. A second larger pocket extending into the drape is formed behind the first pocket and allows a surgeon or technician to control or position the device without entering the interior of the drape or contacting the device.
Abstract: A mass transfer device having a fluid permeable core wound with many stands of a hollow fiber. A bulk fluid enters the interior of the core, passes through the side wall of the core, and along the outer surfaces of the hollow fibers. A baffle positioned in the center of the core so that the bulk fluid passes outwardly upstream of the baffle and inwardly through the core along the downstream of the block.
Abstract: A bi-component microporous hollow fiber membrane structure is provided for in vivo propagation of cells and use in testing of the effect of medical treatments on cells within the structure. The structure has an inner structure fabricated from a first bio-compatible polymer and an outer structure fabricated from a different polymer that has a lower tendency for cell adhesion than the inner structure polymer. In this way, the inner structure can be selected to optimize cell propagation and the outer structure can be fabricated from a polymer which optimizes the removal of the bi-component structure from its implanted location. The inner and outer structures may have a pore size between 10 and 1000 Angstroms and 100 and 2000 Angstroms, respectively, and be formed from polysulfone or polyether sulfone and polyvinyledene difuoride, respectively. The membrane structure can form macrocapsules containing media and living cells for implanting.
Abstract: A bioreactor having an outer shell compartment containing many coaxial pairs of hollow microporous fibers. An annular compartment exists between an outer surface of the inner hollow microporous fiver and the inner surface of the outer hollow microporous fiber. The annular compartment preferably contains blood or plasma. The blood or plasma is, thus, exposed to two microporous hollow fibers which have fluids which can purify or otherwise affect the blood through the walls of two different microporous hollow fibers. An artificial liver or kidney can result when liver or kidney cells are placed in the shell compartment.
Abstract: A process using a hydrophobic membrane separation process for making an enhanced flavor fluid, particularly a low-alcohol brew, having improved flavor is disclosed.