Abstract: A method of detecting the detachment of the venous needle from a patient during an extracorporeal blood treatment in a dialysis machine having an extracorporeal blood circuit provided with an arterial branch and a venous branch. The arterial pressure (Pa) is measured in the arterial branch and the venous pressure (Pv) is measured in the venous branch, and the determination is made of whether or not decreases of the arterial pressures (Pa) and venous pressures (Pv) are occurring during the dialysis treatment in normal conditions.

Abstract: Improved integrity test, priming sequence and bag height detection tests, apparatuses and methods for a medical fluid delivery system are provided. The integrity test includes a plurality of air pressure decay tests, using positive and negative pressure. The priming sequence includes pumping fluid through a portion of a patient line to be primed to overcome air in the line and other potential obstacles. The head height test measures a pressure build-up or drop-off within a pump chamber of a membrane pump. The measured pressure corresponds to a head height between a fluid supply and the pump or between the pump and a fluid drain. A determination is made whether the corresponding head height is acceptable.

Abstract: The perivascular leak repair system, and method of using the same, of the present invention provides a sealant reservoir with a repair catheter operably attached; a flow control device disposed between the sealant reservoir and the repair catheter, and the flow control device responsive to a flow control signal; a heart phase detector generating a diastole phase signal; an injection switch generating a injection signal; and a flow controller responsive to the diastole phase signal and the injection signal, and generating the flow control signal. A method of sealing a perivascular leak comprises identifying the perivascular leak; inserting a repair catheter to the perivascular leak; injecting sealant at the perivascular leak; and removing the repair catheter. The sealant can be injected when the heart is in diastole to sweep the sealant into the perivascular leak.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for pumping and oxygenating blood are provided that include a gas removal system. An integrated blood processing unit is provided in which a gas removal/blood filter, pump and blood oxygenation element are mounted within a common housing. The gas removal system includes a sensor mounted on the housing to sense the presence of gas, and a valve is operably coupled to the sensor to evacuate gas from the system when the sensor detects an accumulation of gas.

Abstract: A blood flow reversal valve useful in hemodialysis having rotational detent features enabling audible and tactile feedback to a clinician and alignment features such as visible indicators associated with the blood lines on either side of the valve to confirm normal or reverse flow.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a photolytic cell, and to a photolytic artificial lung incorporating such a cell. The photolytic artificial lung converts water to oxygen for blood absorption, regulates pH, the removes carbon dioxide, and co-produces electrical power. The photolytic artificial lung includes a photolytic cell where all of the chemical reactions occur. Additionally, the present invention relates to photolytically sensitive materials for oxygen generation. These materials are useful for gas-free artificial lung and/or pulmonary capillary fabrication. The photolytic cell disclosed herein can also be used to direct chemical reactions in organs other than the lung.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a fluid transfer device, for example, for medical fluids. The device includes a housing, two piercing elements mounted in the housing, and a slide arranged between the piercing elements. The slide may be displaced with respect to the piercing elements such that, in a first position, a flow connection is established between the two piercing elements, and, in a second position, a flow connection is established between one of the piercing elements and a lateral opening of the housing. In the area of the lateral opening, the housing may have a connector for insertion of a syringe cone of a syringe. When the syringe cone is inserted into the connector, the front end of the syringe cone may move the slide from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An improvement for a programmable valve system of the type which is implanted in a medical patient and used to divert cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from an intraventricular space of the patient to a terminus such as the patient peritoneal cavity. Such system includes means for establishing a flow path for the CSF to the terminus, which flow path includes a normally closed valve and means for adjusting the opening pressure of the valve in order to regulate the quantity of CSF diverted. The improvement enables an operator to be apprised of the actual opening pressure setting of the valve. A sensor is implantable at the patient and responds to the actual opening pressure setting, by generating an NIR telemetry signal indicative of the actual setting. This signal is transcutaneously transmitted through the skin of the patient to an external point. The telemetry signal is processed to produce observer intelligible data indicating the opening pressure setting of the valve.

Abstract: Venous reservoirs are interposed between the patient and the arterial pump and serve to remove air bubbles and provide compliance that accommodates variations in the volume of blood circulating in the extracorporeal circuit during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The invention is a reservoir that incorporates automated means to remove air bubbles from the venous line prior to the blood entering the arterial blood pump. In another form, the reservoir includes means that handles foam prior to the blood entering the blood pump. In yet another form, the invention is means that improve air removal in a soft shell venous reservoir. These features are applicable to CPB circuits using gravity drainage or vacuum assisted venous drainage.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a photolytic artificial lung. The photolytic artificial lung converts water to oxygen for blood absorption, regulates pH, the removes carbon dioxide, and co-produces electrical power is disclosed. The photolytic artificial lung includes a photolytic cell where all of the chemical reactions occur. The photolytic cell disclosed herein can also be used to direct chemical reactions in organs other than the lung. Also disclosed herein is a gas sorption device for removing carbon dioxide from the system by chemical sorption.

Abstract: A system and method for autologous normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) are disclosed. The system can include a vacuum canister, which is sized to accept donor bags of a predetermined capacity. The vacuum canister is connected to a vacuum source which applies a suction to the donor bag within the canister. The system can include a canister having a self-generated vacuum, which includes compressible sidewalls that are spring-loaded to provide negative pressure needed to collect blood from a patient without the use of a gravity-induced siphon gradient. Also disclosed are ANH systems and kits that rely on a gravity-induced siphon gradient for blood collection.

Abstract: A device (A) can be used to create a new channel to conduct fluid from a fluid-conducting catheter to a blood vessel without contact between the device or the catheter and the blood flow in the blood vessel. The device includes an outer and an inner tube-like part; in use, the tube-like parts are joined with essentially parallel axes, The outer tube-like part has a lengthwise slit along part of its length to let part of the blood vessel enter and, with the inner tube-like part, to form the new channel. The inner tube-like part is in part to be connected to the catheter. The device may be used to connect a CSF conducting catheter to the deep neck vein of a human. Also, an applicator device and a support instrument used to facilitate a surgical procedure of applying the device are described.

Abstract: A device for establishing an isolated perfusion including a pump arrangement, a venous catheter, and an arterial catheter, for establishing an artificial circulation in a target area of a human or animal body, which artificial circulation is isolated from the systemic circulation. The device has first means for feeding an analysis gas into the artificial circulation, and second means for monitoring whether a blood exchange takes place between the artificial circulation and the systemic circulation.

Abstract: This is directed to methods and devices suited for maintaining an opening in a wall of a body organ for an extended period. More particularly devices and methods are directed maintaining patency of channels that alter gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of, for instance, an individual having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Abstract: A completely integrated cardiopulmonary bypass system includes a common casing provided with a reservoir, a venous air trap, oxygenator, heat-exchanger and a pump. This totally integrated system provides for volume sequestration and for bypassing the reservoir without use of a shunt. The system also provides for open or closed circuit operation, thereby permitting the volume sequestration. The closed circuit operation has a venous air trap for air removal, thus retaining the safety features of both open reservoir and closed-venous air trap systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing coronary perfusion and cardiac reoxygenation that enables accurate control of oxygen levels in blood used for the coronary circulation. Deoxygenated blood and oxygenated blood are collected and oxygen levels are measured by sensors. The deoxygenated and oxygenated blood is then mixed and the mixed blood is measured by another sensor. The sensors provide data used to provide real-time oxygen level measurement and adjustment for blood supplied for coronary circulation.

Abstract: A re-forming device in particular for mixing substances in the medical field, includes a hollow needle pointed at its two tips and fixed on a support defining two coaxial sleeves enclosing each end of the needle and designed to receive, one, the plug opening of a vial, the other, the hub of an injection tube of a flexible bag, so as to communicate, by perforating the plug and hub, the vial and the flexible bag via the needle. The sleeve, on the side of the flexible bag, is dimensioned and designed to be engaged on the hub in a first stable position wherein the device is secured to the bag without the needle being in contact with the hub and the sleeve is mounted sliding on the hub so as to pass, through simple depression of the device on the hub, from the first position into a second position, corresponding to the perforation of the hub by the needle.

Abstract: A surgical implant device for treating glaucoma includes an elongate duct structure formed from a material comprising polyisobutylene and a glassy segment. The material of the elongate duct structure preferably has a general block structure with a central elastomeric polyolefinic block and thermoplastic end blocks (e.g., a triblock polymer backbone comprising polystyrene-polyisobutylene-polystyrene). The elongate duct structure provides a fluid passageway for diverting aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye. Preferably, the elongate duct structure defines a lumen channel having an inside diameter between 0.05 mm and 0.3 mm. The material of the elongate duct structure is biocompatible and biostable. Moreover, the material will not encapsulate in the eye and thus provides an unobstructed flowpath that diverts aqueous humor from the anterior chamber. Different embodiments of the implant device divert the aqueous humor to different parts of the eye (e.g.

Abstract: A vial for dispensing a liquid into a syringe is described which comprises a body section for holding the liquid, the body section having a top and a bottom; a port having a removable seal, where the port is adapted for a syringe connection and where the port is interconnected with the body section at a point near the top of the body section by a passageway which for at least a portion of its length extends above the level of the liquid in the body section when the vial is inverted, thereby preventing leakage of the liquid from the body section when the seal of the port is removed. A method of making the vial is also described.

Abstract: A locking assembly is provided to simply and effectively prevent any unintentional adjustment of the adjustable valve mechanism in a fluid flow control device, without compromising the function of the device. The locking assembly generally includes at least one gripping arm for frictionally engaging at least a portion of the adjustable valve mechanism, and an actuating mechanism for controlling the deployment and release of the gripping arm. The locking assembly prevents unintentional adjustments that can adversely affect the pressure settings of the fluid flow control device. In particular, the locking assembly prevents unintentional adjustment, such as may be caused by the presence of a strong external magnetic field. The locking assembly can be easily disengaged, such as through the application or removal of an external mechanical force, to allow a clinician to adjust the pressure settings of the fluid flow control device as necessary.