Abstract: This invention relates to dialysis systems and methods. In some implementations, a method includes applying vacuum pressure to a device of a dialysis system, and then determining, based on a detected fluid level or measured pressure, whether the device is functioning properly.

Abstract: A system and method for tagging, tracking, locating and identifying people and vehicles transporting people using Perfluorocarbon tracers. An on-going problem faced by military as well as law enforcement personnel is that of friendly fire incidents. To prevent possible friendly-fire incidents, troops would separate the two layers of the uniform patch, thereby releasing a controlled release of the Perfluorocarbon vapors. Other “friendly” troops, equipped with sensors tuned to the specific perfluorocarbon characteristics would thus be able to literally view a plume around the tagged person or object. The system may conversely be used to tag enemies. Formulations of mixed perfluorocarbons may be used to provide coding of emissions.

Abstract: System and method for detecting and measuring chemical perturbations in a sample. The system and method are useful for non-invasive pH monitoring of blood or blood products sealed in storage bags.

Abstract: A blood purification apparatus includes a blood purification instrument for extracorporeally circulating blood of a patient and a concentration detector detecting a concentration of liquid flowing during blood purification. The concentration detector has a light emitter irradiating light onto said liquid, a light receiver receiving light from the light emitter transmitted through said liquid, and a detector detecting the received light intensity received by the light receiver. The concentration detector detects the concentration of the liquid based on the received light intensity and can be calibrated by adjusting an amount of irradiation by the light emitter so that the received light intensity has a predetermined value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that may be used for collecting target cells or tissue and preparing a cell block are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for separating components of a composition according to density. The system includes a torque generating device, a separation device, and a housing. The separation device separates the composition into different components according to density. The housing accommodates the separation device. The housing includes a base having an interface that transfers torque from the torque generating device to the separation device, a cover, and a conduit for introducing the composition into the separation device without opening the cover.

Abstract: Luminescent metal complexes, methods of producing and/or designing same, methods of using same, and associated technology, are disclosed herein. A luminescent metal complex may be useful for a variety of applications, such as staining, detection, and/or identification, for example, of substances, such as poly(amino acids), for example. Further by way of example, a luminescent metal complex may be useful for staining, detecting, and/or identifying poly(amino acids) that are associated with any of various environments, such as a gel or a gel matrix, such as any associated with SDS-PAGE, for example, a surface environment, such as any associated with western blot, for example, and/or the like. Compositions, solutions, and kits comprising a luminescent metal complex are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A composition of enzyme, polymer, and crosslinker forms a network of covalently bound macromolecules. The covalently immobilized enzyme preparation has enzymatic activity, and retains stable activity when dried and stored at ambient conditions. Methods for preparing an immobilized enzyme and methods for using the enzyme are disclosed.

Abstract: A hemodialysis apparatus includes a dialyzer, a quantitative vessel including a displaceable partition wall which partitions the inside of the quantitative vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber, a storage vessel which stores a dialysate, a dialysate exchange circuit which supplies the dialysate to the first chamber, and discharges a waste dialysate in the second chamber to the outside by the consequent displacement of the partition wall to the second chamber side, a dialysate supply circuit which supplies the dialysate in the first chamber to the dialyzer, and discharges the waste dialysate from the dialyzer to the second chamber by the displacement of the partition wall to the first chamber side, and a dialysate storage circuit which supplies the dialysate in the first chamber to the storage vessel by the displacement of the partition wall to the first chamber side.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a concentration of total chlorine in dialysis water are provided. The system comprises a main unit housing an iodide/water sample chamber and a reducing agent chamber. An electrode pair bridges the two chambers and generates tri-iodide proportional to the amount of total chlorine in the dialysis water. The electrode pair detects the amount of tri-iodide generated in proportion to the amount of active chloride in the dialysis water. The system is suitable for use in connection with, or for incorporation into, a water purification system for generating dialysis fluid, and may include a display that alerts the user to stop or prevent a hemodialysis treatment if the total chlorine level exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: A dehydration system has improved membrane performance. The dehydration system includes a dehydrating apparatus 1 comprising, in a dehydrating apparatus body, a water separation membrane module in which a water separation membrane having at least one flow path extending in the up and down direction to cause a liquid 50 to pass through is provided with a liquid inlet at the bottom thereof and a liquid outlet at the top thereof; and a shell 11 defined by the outer surface of the water separation membrane module and the inner wall of the dehydrating apparatus body, wherein water in the liquid permeates the water separation membrane while the liquid rises in the water separation membrane, and moves in the shell, whereby the liquid is dehydrated; a pressure reducing device 13 for reducing the pressure of the shell 11; a pressure device for pressurizing the liquid before the liquid is fed to the water separation membrane module; and a heating device for heating the pressurized liquid.

Abstract: A regeneration system that has a first regeneration module containing a first chosen regenerative substance; a second regeneration module containing the first chosen regenerative substance; and a first mixing chamber. A first outlet stream of a fluid sequentially exits the first mixing chamber, flows through the first regeneration module in fluid communication with the first chosen regenerative substance and returns to the first mixing chamber, and a second outlet stream of the fluid sequentially exits the first mixing chamber and flows through the second regeneration module in fluid communication with the first chosen regenerative substance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biological treatment method of biologically treating the subject water containing phenol, thiocyanate and the like, which improves the quality of treated water, while suppressing a reduction in treatment efficiency. As a means for achieving the aforementioned object, the present invention relates to a biological treatment method including introducing subject water containing a COD component, wherein the COD component is at least one of phenol and thiocyanate, into a biological treatment tank containing sludge containing bacteria capable of decomposing the COD component to thereby biologically treat the COD component with the bacteria, wherein, before the introduction of the subject water into the biological treatment tank, a step of counting the total number of bacteria contained in the sludge is carried out, so that the amount of the COD component loaded on a single bacterium per unit time can be controlled within a predetermined range.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment, comprising a device for detecting a tubing system to be placed in the blood treatment apparatus and a method for detecting a tubing system to be placed in an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus. The tubing system is detected on the basis of the dependency of the flow rate Q, at which the fluid is delivered by at least one pump of the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus in a tubing section of the tubing system, on the speed n at which the at least one pump is operated, and on the inner diameter d of the tube of the tubing section. Because the dependency of the flow rate on the pump speed and the tube cross section is known, a conclusion can be drawn as to whether a particular tubing system has been placed in the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for priming a kit for use in a therapeutic apheresis procedure with previously-collected blood prior to flowing the patient's whole blood into the inlet line of the kit, as part of a procedure in which a selected blood component is separated from a patient's whole blood, and replaced with a previously-collected blood component. The operator enters into the controller of the separation device the hematocrit value of the previously-collected blood. Then, in response to prompts by the controller, the operator enters a target hematocrit value for the previously-collected blood and an identification of the portion of the kit to be primed. The identified portion of the kit is automatically primed with the previously-collected blood. The patient is then connected to the inlet line of the kit in response to a prompt from the controller and the therapeutic procedure is commenced.

Abstract: A nonwoven is described comprising thermoplastic fibers with a fusion temperature Tm(th), bonding fibers 1 with a fusion temperature Tm(1), and bonding fibers 2 with a fusion temperature Tm(2), whereby for Tm(th), Tm(1), and Tm(2) the condition Tm(th)>Tm(1)>Tm(2) applies, and whereby the nonwoven contains the bonding fibers in the form of a solidified melt. Furthermore, a tufted nonwoven of the aforementioned type is described that contains tuft fibers. Finally, articles are described that contain the nonwoven or the tufted nonwoven.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide a blood purifier package which shows a less increase in the amounts of extracts from the materials of its blood purifier, particularly of its selective permeable separation membranes, attributed to the deterioration of the same materials with time after exposure to a radioactive ray or an electron ray, and which is therefore highly reliable in safety in use for hemocatharsis, and to provide a process for manufacturing the same. The present invention relates to a blood purifier package obtained by packing a blood purifier which comprises selectively permeable separation membranes as a main component, and this blood purifier package is characterized in that the blood purifier is packed and sealed together with an oxygen scavenger in a packaging material capable of shutting out an external air and a water vapor, under a condition of a relative humidity of above 40% RH at 25° C.

Abstract: A biocompatible polymer composition suited to forming a dialysis membrane includes a matrix material and at least one xanthone. The composition may be formed into a membrane for inserting into a dialyzer filter whereby free radicals in the fluid are removed by the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for sterilizing a blood purifier, which method is effective to decrease the amounts of extracts from the blood purifier attributed to the deterioration of the selectively permeable separation membranes with time during and after exposure to a radioactive ray or an electron ray, and which method is highly reliable in safety when employed for hemocatharsis therapy. The present invention also provides a blood purifier package. The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing a blood purifier which comprises substantially dried selectively permeable separation membranes as a main component, by way of the exposure of the same blood purifier to a radioactive ray and/or an electron ray, and this method is characterized in that the blood purifier is sealed in a packaging bag, together with an oxygen scavenger and a humectant or together with an oxygen scavenger capable of releasing a moisture, and is then sterilized in such a sealed state by the above exposure.

Abstract: Provided is a platelet-rich plasma separator which can carry out the separation of a platelet-rich plasma with a small number of gamma radiation sterilized instruments and a platelet-rich plasma separation method. The platelet-rich plasma separator comprises a first syringe and a second syringe. The first syringe comprises a first syringe cylinder provided with a first port on which a blood collection needle can be mounted, a first cap detachable from the first port, a first gasket for sealing the first syringe cylinder fluid-tightly, which first gasket is reciprocated within the first syringe cylinder, and a first plunger provided detachably on the first gasket.