Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing saline slush for surgical applications. A mixture comprising water and salt within a receptacle is attached to an assembly for making surgical slush while imposing complex rotational motion upon the receptacle. The complex rotational motion including rotating the platform with the attached receptacle around a first axis that runs through the platform while rotating the platform around an orbital axis different from the first axis to impose a complex motion upon the fluid within the receptacle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing saline slush for surgical applications. Producing surgical saline slush in a slush bottle that is a rigid or semi-rigid, high integrity, sturdy container that resists punctures and leaks to better maintain a sterile barrier and does not rely on having an external object placed in the fluid to mix the slush. Slush is agitated within the slush bottle. Slush bottle features are discussed which agitate and condition slush for use in medical procedures. The slush bottle may be rotated using a pair of rollers. A slush station may have one or more compartments for the production of slush and a basin shell for maintaining slush as slush in a basin. Specialized techniques for a vertical slush bottle are discussed.

Abstract: Creation of surgical slush having desirable mechanical properties by chilling a closed slush container with liquid saline and an air gap. The closed slush container having interior surfaces that are smooth and hydrophobic to resist adherence of ice crystals. Moving the closed slush container so the contents move in a complex set of motions rather than constant rotation around a longitudinal centerline of the slush container as the liquid saline is converted into surgical slush with a mixture of liquid saline and ice crystals. Interior surfaces of the closed slush container move into and out of an air gap to help shed any ice crystals forming on the interior surfaces. In some instances, as the orientation of the closed slush container relative to gravity changes over time, different interior surfaces shed the ice crystals. An optional method for delivering surgical slush to the sterile field is included. The full range of the disclosure exceeds the scope of this brief abstract.

Abstract: Creation of surgical slush having desirable mechanical properties by chilling a closed slush container with liquid saline and an air gap. The closed slush container having interior surfaces that are smooth and hydrophobic to resist adherence of ice crystals. Moving the closed slush container so the contents move in a complex set of motions rather than constant rotation around a longitudinal centerline of the slush container as the liquid saline is converted into surgical slush with a mixture of liquid saline and ice crystals. Interior surfaces of the closed slush container move into and out of an air gap to help shed any ice crystals forming on the interior surfaces. In some instances, as the orientation of the closed slush container relative to gravity changes over time, different interior surfaces shed the ice crystals. An optional method for delivering surgical slush to the sterile field is included. The full range of the disclosure exceeds the scope of this brief abstract.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatic thin-layer cell sample slide preparation without requiring human intervention are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a cell sample is measured to derive a cell sample measurement. An estimation of total cellularity of the cell sample is determined based upon the cell sample measurement. A differential volume of diluent is dispensed to the cell sample based upon the estimation of total cellularity of the cell sample to form a cell suspension. In one embodiment, a differential volume of the cell suspension and a differential volume of cell adherent may be combined based upon the estimation of total cellularity of the cell sample to form a cell mixture. A differential volume of the cell suspension or cell mixture (if an adherent is mixed with the cell suspension) is dispensed onto a surface of a sample slide.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatic thin-layer cell sample slide preparation without requiring human intervention are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a cell sample is measured to derive a cell sample measurement. An estimation of total cellularity of the cell sample is determined based upon the cell sample measurement. A differential volume of diluent is dispensed to the cell sample based upon the estimation of total cellularity of the cell sample to form a cell suspension. In one embodiment, a differential volume of the cell suspension and a differential volume of cell adherent may be combined based upon the estimation of total cellularity of the cell sample to form a cell mixture. A differential volume of the cell suspension or cell mixture (if an adherent is mixed with the cell suspension) is dispensed onto a surface of a sample slide.