Abstract: An extracorporeal blood perfusion system includes a disposable assembly and a control unit having a control interface region. The interface region includes pump assemblies for selective pumping of venous blood, arterial blood, cardioplegia solution, suctioned blood and blood removed from the left ventricle. Valve assemblies control the flow of fluids through the assembly and to/from the patient and sensors monitor various fluid parameters including temperature and pressure within the various fluid circuits. The user interface is a functional screen interface for effecting the operation of the control unit and valve assemblies. The screen interface may be a touch screen having objects that corresponds to the component interface region. The display may be selectively controlled to provide graphic depictions of disposable assembly components with corresponding narrative instructions.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood perfusion system includes a disposable assembly and a control unit having a control interface region. The interface region includes pump assemblies for selective pumping of venous blood, arterial blood, cardioplegia solution, suctioned blood and blood removed from the left ventricle. Valve assemblies control the flow of fluids through the assembly and to/from the patient and sensors monitor various fluid parameters including temperature and pressure within the various fluid circuits. The user interface is a functional screen interface for effecting the operation of the control unit and valve assemblies. The screen interface may be a touch screen having objects that corresponds to the component interface region. The display may be selectively controlled to provide graphic depictions of disposable assembly components with corresponding narrative instructions.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood perfusion system includes a disposable assembly and a control unit having a control interface region. The interface region includes pump assemblies for selective pumping of venous blood, arterial blood, cardioplegia solution, suctioned blood and blood removed from the left ventricle. Valve assemblies control the flow of fluids through the assembly and to/from the patient and sensors monitor various fluid parameters including temperature and pressure within the various fluid circuits. The user interface is a functional screen interface for effecting the operation of the control unit and valve assemblies. The screen interface may be a touch screen having objects that corresponds to the component interface region. The display may be selectively controlled to provide graphic depictions of disposable assembly components with corresponding narrative instructions.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood perfusion system includes a disposable assembly and a control unit having a control interface region. The interface region includes pump assemblies for selective pumping of venous blood, arterial blood, cardioplegia solution, suctioned blood and blood removed from the left ventricle. Valve assemblies control the flow of fluids through the assembly and to/from the patient and sensors monitor various fluid parameters including temperature and pressure within the various fluid circuits. The user interface is a functional screen interface for effecting the operation of the control unit and valve assemblies. The screen interface may be a touch screen having objects that corresponds to the component interface region. The display may be selectively controlled to provide graphic depictions of disposable assembly components with corresponding narrative instructions.

Abstract: A disposable cartridge for use in extracorporeal blood perfusions systems that have a control unit for controlling the flow of fluids. The cartridge has a housing defining a plurality of internal passageways that connect to a cardiopulmonary circuit, a cardioplegia circuit and a suction circuit. The cartridge may be fitted with one or more of a bubble trap, a filter, and a valve.

Abstract: A disposable cartridge for use in extracorporeal blood perfusions systems that have a control unit for controlling the flow of fluids. The cartridge has a housing defining a plurality of internal passageways that connect to a cardiopulmonary circuit, a cardioplegia circuit and a suction circuit. The cartridge may be fitted with one or more of a bubble trap, a filter, and a valve.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood perfusion system includes a disposable assembly and a control unit having a control interface region. The interface region includes pump assemblies for selective pumping of venous blood, arterial blood, cardioplegia solution, suctioned blood and blood removed from the left ventricle. Valve assemblies control the flow of fluids through the assembly and to/from the patient and sensors monitor various fluid parameters including temperature and pressure within the various fluid circuits. The user interface is a functional screen interface for effecting the operation of the control unit and valve assemblies. The screen interface may be a touch screen having objects that corresponds to the component interface region. The display may be selectively controlled to provide graphic depictions of disposable assembly components with corresponding narrative instructions.

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: An apparatus for minimizing trauma to a medical fluid while transporting the medical fluid from a surgical wound by reducing the air to fluid interface during transport. The apparatus includes a suction wand for collecting medical fluid and tubing for transporting the medical fluid to a reservoir. The reservoir repeatedly accumulates the medical fluid and discharges it in a bolus when a predetermined volume is achieved. The reservoir comprises a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a gas outlet. A siphon is disposed inside the reservoir for removing the bolus of medical fluid once the predetermined fluid volume is accumulated. The siphon includes a first end for suctioning the medical fluid and a second end exiting the reservoir through the fluid outlet, thereby defining an external siphon length. A pump is attached to the second siphon end to provide suction to the system.

Abstract: An method and apparatus for determining a degree of occlusion in the tubing loop disposed in the raceway of a peristaltic pump. An electrical circuit is formed in tubing loop by filling the loop with an electrically conductive fluid, such as blood, and electrically connecting the inlet portion to the outlet portion of the tubing loop. An excitation coil, which encircles a portion of the tubing loop, induces an alternating current in the tubing fluid. A sensing coil, also encircling a portion of the tubing loop, senses the induced current. The degree if occlusion in the tubing loop is correlated to the magnitude of the sensed current. The degree of occlusion may be adjusted, in response to the determined occlusion, while the pump is in operation using an occlusion adjuster.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for more accurate administration of a composition being infused into a body fluid having formed elements. The improved accuracy is due to a correction factor that corrects for the relative impermeability of the formed elements to the infused composition. In one embodiment, the infusion system is a cardioplegia system in which a controller receives information pertaining to the hematocrit and initial blood potassium concentration and adjusts blood flow rate and crystalloid (KCl) solution flow rate so as to obtain the desired resulting potassium concentration in the cardioplegia. The invention further includes an infusion system that comprises a controller which uses an equation that relates the correction factor to an index of formed elements in the body fluid, such as the hematocrit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing accidental manual rotor reversal in a peristaltic pump is provided. A peristaltic pump may be provided with a hand crank or the like to drive a rotor assembly of the pump manually in the event of failure of the electric motor drive of the pump. An indicator may provide information to the pump operator to inform the operator of the direction in which the pump was rotating when last driven by the electric motor. Further an alarm device may alert the operator when the operator is attempting to rotate the pump in the direction opposite the direction in which the pump was rotating when last driven by the electric motor or the direction last selected by the operator before loss of power.