Abstract: A method for recovering blood from a blood-laden surgical sponge for autologous reinfusion, the method comprising the steps of: conveying negative pressure to a housing with the blood-laden surgical sponge; applying a predetermined force to draw the blood from the surgical sponge; and collecting the recovered blood.

Abstract: An oxygenator includes a housing; a hollow fiber membrane layer that is stored in the housing and has multiple integrated hollow fiber membranes with a gas exchange function; a gas inlet portion and a gas outlet portion that are provided on the upstream and downstream of gas passages in lumens of the hollow fiber membranes, respectively; and a blood inlet portion and a blood outlet portion that are provided on the upstream and downstream of blood passages outsides of the hollow fiber membranes, respectively. The hollow fiber membranes in the hollow fiber membrane layer are fixed relative to each other at one end portion and the other end portion thereof. Conditions 30??60 and OD?4.5×? are met where ? [?m] is an average separation distance between the adjacent hollow fiber membranes at a fixed portion of the hollow fiber membrane layer and OD [?m] is the outer diameter of the hollow fiber membrane.

Abstract: A filter member used in an oxygenator is constructed to provide improved contact with a hollow fiber membrane bundle and to capture bubbles contained in blood. The filter member possesses elasticity at least in the circumferential direction to allow the inner circumference of the filter member to be increased from a natural non-expanded state prior to placement on the hollow fiber membrane bundle to an expanded state in which the inner circumference of the filter member is increased when placed on the hollow fiber membrane bundle. The filter member is constructed to satisfy the condition 0.5?L2/L1<1, wherein L1 represents the outer circumference of the hollow fiber membrane bundle and L2 represents the inner circumference of the filter member in the natural non-expanded state.

Abstract: A non-bladder invasive urethral catheter system with a urethral balloon element for relieving urinary incontinence. The catheter system is more convenient and less intrusive compared to bladder catheters and permits the catheter to remain in the urethra during urination. The catheter system blocks urine flow and leakage in the urethra by means of the urethral balloon element while inserted within the urethra. Two or more different urethral catheters are utilized that are differentiated by the positioning of a urethral balloon element on the elongated body of the urethral catheter. Through the placement of the urethral balloon element in different positions in the urethra with the different catheters, the trauma produced by a urethral balloon element to a particular area of the urethra is reduced or eliminated, allowing long term use of a catheter in the urethra.

Abstract: Apparatus (10, 200) for the provision of TNP therapy to a wound is described, the apparatus (10, 200) including: a waste canister (22, 204) into which fluid is aspirated from a wound by aspiration pump means (44, 248) and a fluid flow path (420, 422) for at least a part of said aspirated fluid on an outlet side of said aspiration pump means (44) wherein said fluid flow path (420, 422) on the outlet side comprises a silencing system (400) having a plurality of silencing elements (402, 404, 406) therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for priming an extracorporeal blood circuit, in which the patient end of an arterial line (79) is connected to a first discharge port (61), and the patient end of a venous line (87) is connected to a second discharge port (62). The two discharge ports are connected to a used dialysate line which connects a dialyzer (33) to a drain. The arterial and venous lines are filled with a priming fluid, while the air contained in the arterial and venous lines is evacuated partly through the first discharge port and partly through the second discharge port. Two check valves (65, 66) prevent flow from the used dialysate line towards the two discharge ports. The invention reduces the risk of errors on the part of an operator readying the priming configuration, as well as the risk of contamination of the extracorporeal circuit during the priming phase.

Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a socket unit for connecting a plug unit of a device for supplying medical fluids, in which the medical apparatus is in particular an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus, for example an extracorporeal dialysis apparatus or an apparatus for peritoneal dialysis, or an apparatus for filling the device for supplying medical fluids. The socket unit comprises connection pieces for the connection of connectors of a plug unit, so that a flow connection can be produced for supplying or discharging a fluid. The connection pieces are surrounded by connection parts thereby forming rinsing chambers, in which the rinsing chambers are closed by closure pieces, said closure pieces being part of a closure body which is disposed rotatably on the socket unit.

Abstract: An adaptor for coupling with a medical container having a collar closed by a septum including: a tubular body closed at a distal end with a transversal wall from which extends a hollow spike, and at a proximal end by a pierceable elastomeric piece including a cavity having a plurality of circumferentially distributed chambers, each chamber being connected to the hollow spike by a radial channel, the tubular body further receiving an intermediate piece including a plurality of through holes aligned on the chambers, a selecting member having a closure wall provided with one opening, capable of rotating so that the opening is successively aligned with each of the through holes, and a gripping member for securing the adaptor to the medical container. Also, an assembly including the adaptor and a medical container.

Abstract: A device and method for oxygenating blood is disclosed herein. The device includes a plurality of passive mixing elements that causes a fluid to mix as it flows through the device. The passive mixing elements continually expose new red blood cells to the portion of the flow channel where oxygenation can occur. Accordingly, in some implementations, the device and method uses less blood to prime the device and allows for the oxygenation of blood with a substantial shorter flow channel when compared to conventional oxygenation methods and devices.

Abstract: An intragastric anchor implant device with an elongate member having proximal and distal ends with atraumatic features disposed thereon is described herein. The atraumatic features inhibit damage to the tissues of the stomach and the gastrointestinal tract and help anchor the device. The elongate member may be substantially rigid to resist bending and engage a tissue of the stomach or gastrointestinal tract to prevent passage therethrough and may include one or more bends to conform to the shape of the tract. The anchor implant device may be coupled with a therapeutic device, such as an intestinal bypass sleeve with a sliding seal, such as an expandable structure, that secures the sleeve to direct a flow of food particles from the stomach therethrough, for use in treating various disorders, including obesity and diabetes. Methods of deploying the anchor implant devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transdermally absorbable preparation, in which an adhesive agent produced by crosslinking at least one copolymer is contained in an adhesive layer and the aging period in the production of the adhesive layer can be shortened. The transdermally absorbable preparation comprises a support and an adhesive layer arranged on the support and containing an adhesive agent and a medicinal component. The transdermally absorbable preparation is characterized in that the adhesive agent comprises a resin mixture comprising 100 parts by mass of a specific acrylic copolymer (A) and 0.1 to 30 parts by mass of a specific acrylic copolymer (B) or 0.05 to 2 part(s) by mass of a polyamine compound, and the adhesive layer additionally contains an organic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hemostatic porous sponge comprising a matrix of a fibrous biomaterial and particles of a fluid absorbing, particulate material adhered to said matrix material, a method of producing these sponges and their use for wound healing.

Abstract: In some aspects, a vial spiking device includes a base, a spike extending from the base, and a side wall extending from the base and substantially surrounding the spike. The base and the side wall partially define a recess to receive a portion of a vial. Resilient fingers extend inwardly from the side wall into the recess. The fingers are spaced circumferentially around the side wall and are configured so that as the vial is inserted into the recess, the fingers deflect toward the side wall and allow the portion of the vial to move beyond the fingers. The fingers rebound into the recess after the portion of the vial has moved beyond the fingers. The side wall forces the portion of the vial away from the base and into contact with the fingers after the fingers have rebounded into the recess.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of generating flow in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt systems by vibrating the shunt, tubing or shunt valve dome, or applying cyclical pressure to the various parts of the shunt system. A method of generating flow and method of using the apparatus in shunt patency assessment, for example, hydraulic resistance assessment, is also disclosed. The apparatus allows, in conjunction with a thermal dilution method or radionuclide method, a quick CSF shunt patency assessment based upon CSF shunt resistance and not upon CSF flow or intracranial pressure (ICP) separately. This provides a more objective measure of shunt obstruction compared to other methods. Furthermore, the apparatus can be used to enhance flow in shunts, identify partial occlusion before symptoms occur, differentiate between patent, partially-occluded and occluded shunts. The apparatus can be used to generate flow in shunts if there is a need to lower ICP or move drugs administered via an injection chamber or a shunt dome.

Abstract: Blood or other fluids can be caused to interact with a gas by providing a plurality of fluid flow channels that are surrounded by nanotubes, each of the channels having an inflow end and an outflow end, wherein each of the channels is wide enough for the blood to flow through, and wherein the nanotubes are spaced close enough to each other to retain the fluid within the channels when the blood is flowing through the channels. The fluid is then passed through the through the channels while a gas is passed through the spaces between the nanotubes outside the fluid flow channels. This permits the gas to interact with the fluid in the channels.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to a perfusion system that is easy to set-up, use and monitor during a bypass procedure. In some embodiments, the disclosure pertains to a perfusion system in which at least some of the disposable components used with the perfusion system are configured to be able to communicate set-up and/or operational parameters to the perfusion system in order to unlock further functionality within the perfusion system.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention generally relates to the separation of blood within a device to form plasma or serum. In some embodiments, the present invention generally relates to the removal of fluids, such as blood, contained within a device. For example, a device may be applied to the skin of a subject to receive blood from the subject and pass the blood through a separation membrane, which separates the blood into plasma and a portion concentrated in blood cells. As another example, blood or plasma may be allowed to clot within the device and serum (the unclotted portion of the blood) may be withdrawn from the device. The device may contain, in some cases, a vacuum source such as a pre-packaged vacuum to facilitate receiving of blood and/or passage of the blood through the separation membrane to produce plasma or serum.

Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a socket unit for connection to a plug unit belonging to a device for supplying medical fluids for a blood treatment apparatus, the medical apparatus being in particular an extra-corporeal blood treatment apparatus such for example as an extra-corporeal dialysis apparatus or an apparatus for peritoneal dialysis, or an apparatus for filling the device for supplying medical fluids. A device for supplying medical fluids for a blood treatment apparatus, which has a plug unit for connection to a socket unit of a medical apparatus, is also described. The socket unit and the plug unit are characterised in that a safe and secure fluid-tight connection can easily be made with the two units between the device for supplying medical fluids and, on the one hand, the blood treatment apparatus or, on the other hand, the apparatus for filling the device for supplying medical fluids.

Abstract: An implantable valve system and method of using same, including a housing with a resilient membrane defining a reservoir in fluid communication with at least two ports, and at least a first set of opposing sealing features disposed on upper and lower surfaces within the housing. The membrane is capable of being depressed by a human finger to bring the sealing features together to substantially restrict fluid from passing through at least one of one of the ports, and is capable of being depressed additionally by a rolling motion of the finger to drive fluid through the other of the ports.

Abstract: A medical functional device includes at least one first fluid system for receiving at least one medical fluid, at least one first conveying device for conveying the medical fluid, at least one second fluid system for receiving at least one operating fluid, and at least one second conveying device for operating the at least first conveying device, in which the first conveying device is arranged such as to be actuated by means of the operating fluid. A treatment apparatus and a method are also described.