Abstract: A container for therapeutic use is formed of a main body, which is made of a flexible resin and provided with a bag portion. The bag portion is formed in a flat shape at at least a part thereof where mutually-opposing walls of the bag portion are peelably welded together at inner surfaces thereof to form a welded region. A hole is formed as an attachment hole through at least one of the mutually-opposing walls in the welded region. A holder with a medicament placed therein, said medicament being prone to a change in property or color upon absorption of moisture, is hermetically attached to the at least one wall over the attachment hole to seal the medicament in the holder. A moisture-barrier member with a desiccant placed therein is arranged on a side opposite to the holder so that the other wall of the bag portion is hermetically covered by the moisture-barrier member at a position at least corresponding to the attachment hole.

Abstract: A method for measurement of mass and energy transfer parameters (clearance and dialysance) in hemodialysis. A sensor is provided in the dialysate flow path downstream of the dialyzer and means are provided to add concentrate upstream of the dialyzer. A pre-determined amount of a substance whose dialysance is to be measured is added upstream of the dialyzer. The amount of substance not dialyzed in the dialyzer is measured downstream of the dialyzer by said sensor by integrating the concentration over time. Dialysance is calculated from the amount added upstream, the amount measured downstream and the dialysate flow. In case the substance is part of the dialysate the base concentration is subtracted during integration. The addition of the concentrate upstream of the dialyzer can be done manually or, alternatively by the mixing pump of the dialysis machine. Instead of an increase of the concentration with a concentrate dilution with water can be used as well.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing system is disclosed which includes a variety of novel components and which may be operated in accordance with a variety of novel methodologies. For instance, the system includes a graphical operator interface which directs the operator through various aspects of the apheresis procedure. Moreover, the system also includes a variety of features relating to loading a blood processing vessel into a blood processing channel and removing the same after completion of the procedure. Furthermore, the system also includes a variety of features relating to utilizing a blood priming of at least portions of the apheresis system in preparation for the procedure. In addition, the system includes a variety of features enhancing the performance of the apheresis system, including the interrelationship between the blood processing vessel and the blood processing vessel and the utilization of high packing factors for the procedure.

Abstract: A device for limiting the flow of a fluid from a first region of a patient's body to a second region includes a primary passage for directing fluid from an inlet of the device to an outlet in response to the fluid flow rate being less than a predetermined level and a secondary passage for directing fluid from the inlet to the outlet in response to the flow rate being greater than or equal to the predetermined level. The secondary passage can be characterized as a tortuous flow path and presents a higher resistance to fluid flow than the primary passage. A detector is operative to close the primary passage in response to the flow rate reaching the predetermined level in order to force the fluid to pass through the secondary passage. With this arrangement, when the fluid flow rate reaches a level characteristic of overdrainage, the fluid is forced through the secondary passage in order to effectively reduce the fluid flow rate and prevent overdrainage.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting and treating cerebral blood vessel collapse (54) during intracranial hypertension or vasospasm by affecting cerebral venous outflow pressure (61). Venous collapse is diagnosed by lowering jugular venous bulb pressure (61) and detecting significant, progressively increasing gradient between it and ICP (60). Rising jugular venous pressure initially the collapse is terminated and then ICP starts to increase. Increasing jugular venous pressure opens collapsed vascular segments by increasing intravascular pressure. There is no increase in ICP if jugular venous pressure is maintained below value that affects ICP. During life-threatening vascular collapse caused by a plateau wave or vasospasm venous outflow pressure is temporarily increased to a level necessary to terminate collapse regardless of ICP. This is accomplished by venous occlusion catheter placed into dominant jugular vein.

Abstract: A multi-lumen catheter and method for providing antegrade perfusion to an ischemic region of the myocardium of a patient induced by a coronary or vascular deficiency, including a restriction or obstruction in the vessel such as an athesclerotic lesion or stenosis, embolism, thrombosis, vessel spasm, aneurysm, or the like. The distal tip of the catheter is introduced by a conventional percutaneous transluminal procedure via the femoral or brachial artery and advanced through the vascular system to a position closely proximate to the ischemic region. A volume of oxygenated blood is withdrawn into a lumen of the catheter from a position remote to the deficiency, circulated through a pump assembly and filter, and expelled from the distal tip of the catheter to increase the supply of oxygenated blood reaching the ischemic region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a syringe and a powered injector for use therewith in which the syringe is attachable to a powered drive member of an injector over a range of relative axial positions of the syringe plunger and the drive member. The syringe comprises a plunger, and a plunger extension connected thereto and extending rearward from the plunger, such that the syringe may be operated manually or by a powered injector. In one embodiment, the plunger extension comprises a plurality of plunger attachment members located over a range of axial positions on the plunger extension. Each of the plurality of plunger attachment members is adapted to form a releasable attachment with at least one cooperating injector attachment member on the powered drive member.

Abstract: A fluid vessel which include a drug storing chamber, a capping member for hermetically sealing the mouth portion of the drug storing chamber, and a solvent chamber joined to the bottom of the drug storing chamber, wherein the drug storing chamber is provided with a communication hole at the bottom thereof for communicating with the solvent chamber and includes a protruding piece which hermetically seals the communication hole, protrudes into the drug storing chamber, and is movable so as to open the communication hole, while the capping member has an engaging portion to be engaged with the tip of the protruding piece whereby the protruding piece is moved to open the communication hole by rotation of the capping member. This vessel serves to simplify the manufacturing process and reduces the number of components, is readily disposed of, facilitates mixing the drug with the solvent, and is easy to store and handle in hospitals and other facilities.

Abstract: Methods for increasing hematopoietic cells, including platelets and erythrocytes, in patients receiving bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplants are disclosed. The methods comprise administering to a donor an amount of thrombopoietin sufficient to stimulate proliferation of cells of the myeloid lineage, collecting cells from the donor, and administering the collected cells to a recipient patient. The recipient patient may be treated with additional thrombopoietin. The methods are useful within allogeneic and autologous transplantation procedures.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method compresses a cylindrical blank into a tampon which is dimensionally stable and which is provided with a domed insertion end. A cylindrical blank is radially compressed and then introduced into a cylindrical axial compression chamber. The blank is then subjected to an extreme axial overcompression. The closed insertion end of the compression chamber has a bore formed therethrough. The bore is generally coaxial and is adapted to accept a reciprocating ejection ram having a ram surface facing into the chamber. When the ram is seated in the first position, the ram surface and the insertion end wall of the compression chamber together form a smooth doming surface. The bore periphery is of a smaller diameter than the chamber and hence radially spaced from the side walls of the chamber, and the ram has sufficient clearance to move through the chamber and eject the tampon without interference from the walls of the chamber.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for medical applications is disclosed. The heat exchanger is characterized in that it is configured to provide a high heat transfer efficiency while minimizing the possibility of formation gaseous emboli and maximizing the ability to entrap and remove any such emboli which form or are introduced into the device. The heat exchanger is particularly well-suited for use in connection with cardioplegia apparatus.

Abstract: A method and a system for correction a patient's biological fluid containing various low-, medium- and high-molecular toxins. The biological fluid substantially continuously flows through an extracorporeal flow line interconnected between an outlet and an inlet means attached to first and second locations, respectively, on a patient's body. A substantially small amount of the biological fluid containing various xenobiotics occupies the flow line at any given time as compared to a whole amount of the biological fluid contained in the patient's body. The biological fluid containing the various toxins is mixed with a predetermined amount of magneto-conductive particles capable of adsorbing the various toxins. An obtained mixture of the biological fluid with the particles passes through a magnetic field effect region and substantially all of the magneto-conductive particles are retained therein. Particle-free biological fluid is then returned into the patient's body through the inlet means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a cardioplegia mixture is provided which allows an increased level of control over the flow rate, dilution ration and concentration of cardioplegia inducing components in cardioplegia mixture during cardiovascular surgery. The method for preparing the cardioplegia mixture includes the steps of combining first and second crystalloid solutions of different concentrations to establish a total volume flow rate of combined solutions. The flow rate of the first crystalloid solution is self adjusted to equal the established total volume flow rate minus the established volume flow rate of the second crystalloid solution. The apparatus for preparing a cardioplegia mixture includes first and second crystalloid solutions containing a cardioplegia inducing component at different concentrations, and means for flowing and combining the solutions and establishing a total volume flow rate of the combined solution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring and measuring the filter blood volume by dilution techniques in real time, wherein the filter may be in use or off line during the measurements. The system includes a method and apparatus for measuring or monitoring the volume of a blood side of a filter by employing one of a bolus in the blood side upstream of the filter; a change of the filtration rate in the filter; and a bolus on the dialysate side, wherein the filter blood volume is calculated from the obtained data.