Abstract: A shunt device for shunting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a CSF containing space to a sinus system cavity comprises a tubular inlet element, a flow restricting part, and a tubular outlet element having an outlet end with an outlet opening for insertion in the sinus system cavity, and a one-way valve preventing flow in a direction from the outlet opening to the inlet opening. The shunt device further comprises a distancer, said distancer being provided at the outlet end of the tubular outlet element.

Abstract: A method for filling containers with fresh blood components, comprising the following steps of: a) providing a piece of equipment (1) defining a transit channel (3) having at least a first gap (3a) associated with a bag (5) or the like containing a fresh blood component, at least a second gap (3b) connected to a plurality of containers (6) to be filled, and at least a third gap (3c) connected to pumping means (12); b) isolating the first gap (3a) from the second gap (3b) and placing the latter in communication with the third gap (3c); c) suctioning the air contained in the containers (6) to be filled by means of the pumping means (12) so as to define a vacuum inside them; d) placing the first gap (3a) in communication with the second gap (3b), the containers (6) suctioning the contents of the bag (5) by effect of the vacuum defined inside them; and where the channel (3) has at least a fourth gap (3d) associated with an empty syringe (4) or the like, and by the fact that it comprises, after step d), the fol

Abstract: An autotransfusion system for separating fluid constituents includes a centrifuge housing and a rotatable driving member mounted within the centrifuge housing. The rotatable driving member is configured to receive therein and rotationally engage any one of a plurality of centrifuge bowls with different heights. In some embodiments, the centrifuge bowl is integrated with a fluid line organizer to provide for easy and efficient organization of a plurality of different fluid lines incorporated into the autotransfusion system. In some embodiments, the centrifuge bowl and fluid line organizer are easily and efficiently coupled to the centrifuge housing for autotransfusion processing.

Abstract: A crown, for a medical vial opening, has a top portion and a skirt surrounding the top portion. The skirt terminates at a lower edge defined in a first horizontal plane. An opener assembly is mounted to a portion of the top. A first scoring line extends from the portion of the top to which the opener assembly is mounted to the lower edge of the skirt in a continuous radial direction, and a second scoring line provides an upper radial segment extending from the opener assembly to the skirt along a radial axis, and a lower annular segment that extends circumferentially along the skirt in an annular direction and extending from a terminus of the upper radial segment. The lower annular segment is defined in a second horizontal plane equidistant to the first horizontal plane associated with the lower edge of the skirt.

Abstract: A light shield is arranged in a light shielding position with respect to a sensor or a blood leakage detector installed in a medical apparatus and monitoring for changes of transmittance in a translucent fluid carried in a tubing connected to the medical apparatus. The light shield has a non-transparent configuration and is configured to prevent environmental light from being incident on a relevant detection active sensor area. Further, a disposable kit for a medical apparatus which is arranged to be mounted to the medical apparatus and to carry pre-installed disposables to be used during a medical treatment comprises a hard-shell subassembly arranged to be positioned in a region of the medical apparatus in the vicinity of a detection active sensor area of a sensor which is sensitive to light and installed in the medical apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for gastric bypass is disclosed. The apparatus for gastric bypass includes a primary passage having an input and an output. The apparatus also includes a bypass conduit, coupled to the primary passage, having an input and an output, wherein the passage input is interspersed with the conduit input. The apparatus further has a primary regulator coupled to the primary passage and adjustable to control a primary flow profile from the input to the output of the primary passage. The apparatus also has a bypass regulator coupled to the bypass conduit and adjustable to control a bypass flow profile from the input to the output of the bypass conduit.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting and neutralizing blood clots during dialysis (e.g., hemodialysis) is provided. A fiber-optic sensor is provided in a hemodialysis machine to detect vibration of blood cells, and the hemodialysis machine can be configured to prevent blood clotting by sounding an alarm, agitating the blood cells, infusing saline, raising temperature and/or infusing heparin.

Abstract: A blood flow regulator for creating a shunt in the heart, comprising; a proximal element having a general disc-shape, defined by a braid of one or more wires extending about a central aperture of the proximal element; a distal element having a general disc-shape, defined by a braid of one or more wires extending about a central aperture of the distal element; and a third element defining a neck section intermediate the proximal and distal elements and forming a cavity having a diameter no greater than a diameter of each of the distal and proximal elements, wherein said distal element comprises at least one loop of a wire extending radially outwardly from a center of the distal element and returning towards said center of said distal element.

Abstract: An artificial lung including a housing having a circular outer wall being enclosed by a first surface and a second surface to define an interior volume, a blood inlet port to permit inlet flow of blood to the housing, a blood outlet port to permit outlet flow of the blood from the housing, a gas inlet port to permit inlet flow of a gas to the housing, a gas outlet port to permit outlet flow of the gas from the housing, and a plurality of baffles concentrically disposed within the housing. The baffles are positioned to define a flow path between the blood inlet port and the blood outlet port. Each of the baffles includes a gate opening to permit flow of the blood along the flow path. A fiber bundle is disposed between the baffles within the flow create mixing and improve gas exchange efficiency.

Abstract: A novel caloric bypass device that is inserted through the oral cavity and into the digestive tract of a human is disclosed. The device is deliverable as either a unitary or modular structure that preferentially directs a significant volume of the high calorie fluidic components of the chyme through the digestive tract, preventing exposure to the absorptive tissues of the digestive tract and, in some forms, stimulates negative feedback to the patient when simple sugars and carbohydrates are consumed. Also disclosed is a novel method of reducing or restricting caloric intake using this device to prevent or minimize contact with the absorptive tissues of the digestive tract.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal device and method for retrieving the device are disclosed. The device may include a stent including a plurality of strands forming first and second ends, the strands configured to move between a retrieval configuration, with substantially parallel strands, and a deployed configuration, wherein the strands form proximal and distal portions having first and second diameters larger than the pyloric sphincter. The device may include a connector assembly including proximal, middle, and distal connectors. The middle connector may be coupled to the proximal and distal connectors when the strands are in the deployed configuration. The strands may be attached to the proximal and distal connectors and the first and second ends. The device may include a release mechanism configured to decouple the proximal connector from the middle connector. Decoupling of the proximal and middle connectors may allow the strands to move from the deployed to retrieval configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus may be used after a surgical procedure to protect against leaks and to separate healing tissue from foreign materials such as nutritional contents. In some cases the apparatus may be easily delivered to a surgical site before, during or after a surgical procedure such as gastric bypass surgery, but this is only an example. The apparatus may include expandable anchors at either end and a collapsible central portion extending between the two expandable anchors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device A for monitoring a vessel opening for an extracorporeal blood treatment device B with an extracorporeal blood circulation (I), which has an arterial blood line (20) with an arterial cannula (19) and a venous blood line (21) with a venous cannula (22). Moreover, the invention relates to an arrangement with a device A for monitoring a vessel opening and an extracorporeal blood treatment device B, and a method for monitoring a vessel opening during an extracorporeal blood treatment. The monitoring device A comprises a sensor (1) for detecting at least one physical variable, which is characteristic for the state of the vessel opening, and an evaluation apparatus (7), connected to the sensor (1) by way of a connection cable (6), for producing signals characteristic for the state of the vessel opening. The evaluation apparatus (7) has a data transmission unit (38) for establishing a wireless connection between the evaluation apparatus (7) and the blood treatment device B.

Abstract: Shunt devices and a method for continuously decompressing elevated intraocular pressure in eyes affected by glaucoma by diverting excess aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye into Schlemm's canal where post-operative patency can be maintained with an indwelling shunt device which surgically connects the canal with the anterior chamber. The shunt devices provide uni- or bi-directional flow of aqueous humor into Schlemm's canal.

Abstract: An improved method for separating whole blood into components and collecting a desired blood component. The method allows a desired blood component to be subjected to centrifugal forces within a separator for prolonged periods of time, yielding a cleaner cut and higher yield of the desired blood component. Whole blood is drawn from a source and pumped into a separator, the undesired blood components are removed from the separator at rates so as to build up the desired blood component in the separator. The desired blood component is only removed after a predetermined amount of the desired blood component has built up in the separator. It is preferred that the desired blood component be buffy coat and that the method be used to perform photopheresis treatments. In another aspect, the invention is a method of performing a full photopheresis treatment to treat diseases in a reduced time, preferably less than about 70 minutes, and more preferably less than about 45 minutes.

Abstract: A control system controlling blood gas values in blood processed by an oxygenator, wherein the oxygenator generates arterial blood by exposing venous blood to oxygen from an oxygenation gas supply, comprises a monitoring arrangement to determine a level of the blood gas values in the arterial blood and a controller that is responsive to the monitoring arrangement and configured to control parameters of the oxygenation gas supply to the oxygenator. This allows the blood gas values to be adjusted toward a pre-determined level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of adapting of a second threshold window of at least a second measured variable depending on the change of a first threshold window of a first measured variable, wherein the adaptation is performed by the use of a control unit having been provided and/or configured therefor. The present invention further relates to a control device, a medical treatment apparatus, a medical monitoring apparatus, a digital storage means, a computer program product and a computer program.

Abstract: A novel medical device for treating obesity is disclosed. The device is inserted through the oral cavity and into the digestive tract of a human. The device is a passive catheter-style structure that preferentially directs a significant volume of the high calorie fluidic components of the chyme through the digestive tract, preventing exposure to the absorptive tissues of the digestive tract and, in some forms, stimulates negative feedback to the patient when simple sugars and carbohydrates are consumed. The device may be installed or removed though the use of standard endoscopy, or may be offered in the form of an ingestible device. The device may be inflatable or preformed for use within the digestive tract. Also disclosed is a novel method of using the medical device to control obesity.

Abstract: A vial shield (1) has a shield main body (10) and a valve element (20). The shield main body (10) includes an annular top plate (11) that is to be laid on top of an upper surface of a stopper (86) that seals a mouth (83) of the vial bottle (80), a plurality of legs (15) extending downward from the top plate (11), and a plurality of claws (16) provided in the plurality of legs (15), the claws being engageable with the mouth (83) of the vial bottle (80). The valve element (20) blocks an opening at the center (12) of the top plate (11). A cut (22) passing through the valve element (20) in a vertical direction is formed in the valve element (20).

Abstract: A catheter system can include a tubular body, and at least one of a targeting system coupled to the tubular body, an expandable member, or a fluid injection port. A method of identifying a bifurcation can include inserting a catheter system into a first vessel, positioning the catheter system at a first location, expanding an expandable member to occlude the first vessel, delivering contrast material so the contrast material pooling proximate to the expandable member, and reviewing a shape of the contrast material in the first vessel under fluoroscopy.