Abstract: An apparatus for controlled flow of medical fluid materials for use as an adapter in place of a septum in an outlet of a medical fluid container, has a body with a hollow interior, a first open end adapted for fluid tight fit with the outlet of the medical fluid container, and a second open end adapted for fit with a medical accessory. A fluid flow control means is disposed with the body for controlling the flow of medical fluid materials through the hollow interior between the medical fluid container and the medical accessory. The fluid flow control means comprises a valve member, a valve seat, and biasing means operating on the valve member to bias the valve member against the valve seat for fluid tight fit.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlled flow of fluid materials for use with medical accessories has a first housing with a body, a first open end, a second open end, and a hollow interior. The second end fits with a first medical accessory for flow of fluid materials from the first medical accessory. A fluid flow control means is disposed within the housing for controlling the flow of fluid materials through the hollow interior from the first medical accessory. The apparatus also has a second housing with an open end, a first open end, a hollow interior, and a second open end having an axial bore coaxial with the hollow interior of the first housing. The second end of the second housing fits with the first open end of the first housing. The first open end of the second housing fits with a second medical accessory, whereby the second medical accessory receives fluid materials from the first medical accessory by way of the hollow interior of the body.

Abstract: An apparatus for conditioning mammalian blood for subsequent use in a medical procedure includes a cabinet having a secure environment and a door providing the only access to the environment. An input system transports a blood charge from a source to the cabinet and a flask is removably contained in the secure environment and coupled to the charge input system to receive the charge. Stressors are coupled to the cabinet and positioned for operation to create a conditioned charge in the flask. An output system is coupled to the flask and includes a receiver for the conditioned charge. The apparatus includes an automated control system operable upon closing the door to lock the door and to then condition the charge, and to then cause the charge to move from the flask to the receiver.

Abstract: An improved method for treating or preventing a pathological condition in a mammalian subject in which modified mammalian blood is administered to the subject. The method comprises administering to the subject from two to four aliquots of modified mammalian blood, with the administration of any pair of consecutive treatments either being on consecutive days or being separated by a rest period of l to 21 days. The treatment is useful for treating or preventing a wide range of pathological conditions in which modified mammalian blood is effective, including preconditioning a mammalian subject to better withstand the adverse effects of ischemic stress, atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: Synthetic and semisynthetic bodies having a three-dimensional structure, sized and shaped to resemble apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies, and having phosphatidyl serine (PS) molecules on the surface thereof, are administered to a patient, to alleviate a variety of disorders such as T-cell mediated disorders (autoimmune conditions). The bodies are believed to trigger an apoptosis-like mechanism in the patient.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for the collection, treatment and delivery of an autologous blood sample, comprising a first syringe having a first body portion. A first sample transfer portion has a first syringe inlet for drawing an untreated blood sample from a patient and a first syringe outlet for dispensing the untreated blood sample. A blood sample treatment chamber having a chamber inlet, the first syringe outlet being operable to establish a dedicated first fluid coupling with the chamber inlet to dispense the untreated blood sample to the blood sample treatment chamber. The blood sample treatment chamber having a chamber outlet for dispensing a treated blood sample following treatment. The second syringe has a second body portion and a second sample transfer portion, the second sample transfer portion having a passage with a first access location which is operable to form a dedicated second fluid coupling with the chamber outlet.

Abstract: A medical treatment process and system, in which a patient fluid is subjected to extracorporeal handling and treatment prior to administration to the patient, is provided. The system includes two or more treatment units which successively handle the fluid, and a token associated with the patient. The token includes a patient identification and, as the treatment proceeds, more information is added to the token as the fluid moves around the system until the token contains a record of the treatment conducted on the sample, the times of various treatments, and a verification that treatment has been conducted in accordance with pre-determined criteria. The token, provided it contains information verifying the identity of the patient and treatment according to specification, allows administration of the treated fluid to the patient and provides an audit record of the treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus for condition of an organic fluid for subsequent us in a medical procedure includes a cabinet having a secure environment and a door providing the only access to the environment. An input system is provided for transporting an organic fluid charge from a source to the cabinet and a container is removably contained in the secure environment and coupled to the charge input system to receive the charge. Stressors are coupled to the cabinet and positioned for operation to create a conditioned charge in the container. An output system is coupled to the container and includes a receiver for the conditioned charge. The receiver, which may be a syringe, includes a sensor to detect when gas bubbles have been eliminated from the receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus for conditioning mammalian blood for subsequent use in a medical procedure includes a cabinet having a secure environment and a door providing the only access to the environment. An input system transports a blood charge from a source to the cabinet and a flask is removably contained in the secure environment and coupled to the charge input system to receive the charge. Stressors are coupled to the cabinet and positioned for operation to create a conditioned charge in the flask. An output system is coupled to the flask and includes a receiver for the conditioned charge. The apparatus includes an automated control system operable upon closing the door to lock the door and to then condition the charge, and to then cause the charge to move from the flask to the receiver.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating a mammalian subject suffering from an autoimmune or alloimmune disease by administering to the subject a drug treatment which results in at least partial remission of one or more symptoms of the autoimmune or alloimmune disease, and administering to the subject autologous mammalian blood which has been modified extracorporeally by exposure to at least one stressor selected from an oxidative environment, an electromagnetic emission and a temperature above or below body temperature. The modified mammalian blood is administered to the subject in an amount which is sufficient to maintain the remission of the symptoms of the autoimmune or alloimmune disease.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for conditioning mammalian blood for subsequent use in a medical procedure. The apparatus includes a cabinet having a secure environment and a door providing the only access to the environment. An input system is provided for transporting a blood charge from a source to the cabinet and a flask is removably contained in the secure environment and coupled to the charge input system to receive the charge. Stressors are coupled to the cabinet and positioned for operation to create a conditioned charge in the flask. An output system is coupled to the flask and includes a receiver for the conditioned charge. The apparatus includes an automated control system operable upon closing the door to lock the door and to then condition the charge, and to then cause the charge to move from the flask to the receiver.

Abstract: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in a patient is treated by administering to the patient oxidatively stressed CLL cells. The CLL cells are oxidatively stressed extracorporeally, e.g. by subjection to oxygen/ozone mixtures, and preferably are simultaneously subjected to other stressors such as UV light. Preferably also, the CLL cells are autologous, and are contained in an aliquot of the patient's blood at the time of subjection to stressing.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for conditioning organic fluid for subsequent use in a medical procedure. The apparatus includes a cabinet having a secure environment and a door providing the only access to the environment. An input system is provided for transporting a organic fluid charge from a source to the cabinet and a container is removably contained in the secure environment and coupled to the charge input system to receive the charge. Stressors are coupled to the cabinet and positioned for operation to create a conditioned charge in the container An output system is coupled to the container and includes a receiver for the conditioned charge. The apparatus also includes a needle hub wherein a first end of the needle may be inserted intramuscularly while a second end of the needle projects beyond the patient's tissue and the second end being shielded.

Abstract: Vasospastic disorders are treated by administering to the patient an aliquot of autologous blood which has been subjected simultaneously to heat, ultraviolet irradiation and oxidative environment so as to render the blood aliquot capable of generating in the patient's blood stream after administration a population of stimulated leukocytes having upregulated expression of CD25 cell surface markers, along with an enhancement of endothelial function in the patient.

Abstract: A method of treating or preventing atherosclerosis in a mammalian subject comprises: (a) extracting the aliquot of blood from the subject; (b) treating the aliquot of blood ex vivo with at least one stressor selected from the group consisting of an oxidizing agent, ultraviolet radiation and elevated temperature; and (c) administering the aliquot of blood treated in step (b) to the subject. Preferably, the aliquot has a volume of from about 0.01 ml to about 400 ml and is treated simultaneously by ozone gas and ultraviolet radiation at a temperature of from 37-55° C.

Abstract: A method of treating congestive heart failure (CHF) in a human patient comprises treating an aliquot of the patient's blood ex vivo with at least one stressor selected from the group consisting of a temperature above or below body temperature, an electromagnetic emission and an oxidative environment, followed by administering the aliquot of treated blood to the patient. The treatment can be used on its own or as an adjunctive therapy in combination with conventional CHF treatments.

Abstract: An autoimmune vaccine is provided for administration to human patients to alleviate the symptoms of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The vaccine comprises an aliquot of the patient's blood, containing, inter alia, leukocytes having upregulated expression of various cell surface markers and lymphocytes containing decreased amounts of certain stress proteins. It is produced by subjecting the blood aliquot extracorporeally to certain stressors, namely oxidizing agents, UV radiation and elevated temperature.

Abstract: Symptoms of stress such as elevated blood pressure in mammals are treated, and mammalian bodies are preconditioned to manifest reduced adverse reactions to subsequently encountered stresses, by injecting into the mammalian patient a small quantity of the patient's own blood which has been previously extracted and subjected extracorporeally to at least one stressor, such as ultraviolet radiation, an oxidative environment, ozone-oxygen and mild heating, especially infra-red radiation causing mild heating. Particularly beneficial combinations of stressors are simultaneous applications of UV radiation and an ozone-oxygen gas mixture bubbled through the blood sample to provide the oxidative environment, or simultaneous application of UV radiation, ozone-oxygen gas mixtures and mild heating. One specific use of the invention is in preconditioning against ischemic-reperfusion injury e.g. prior to surgery.