Abstract: A continuous vacuum drainage system for wound drainage. A base unit has apparatus responsive to releasable attachment thereto of a drain reservoir for evacuating the reservoir to a subatmospheric pressure in a predetermined range. The drain reservoir is continuously operable before, during and after release from the base unit for uninterrupted suction draining of a wound.

Abstract: A one-piece hydraulic circuit is provided for use with a blood dialyzer for performing functions currently performed with a multiplicity of blood inlet and outlet sets and related items comprising flexible tubing and the like.

Abstract: An irrigation-suction handpiece assembly, for dental and surgical use at an operating site, includes a handle containing longitudinally extending, side-by-side suction and irrigant passageways respectively connectible to a source of subatmospheric pressure (i.e., a vacuum source) and an irrigant fluid source. An irrigant valve is actuable for alternately opening and blocking flow of irrigant from the irrigant source through the irrigant passageway. An air pressure conduit includes a third passageway in the handle and connectible to an air pressure source which is not atmospheric pressure and not influenced by pressure changes in the suction passageway. This air pressure source is either a further subatmospheric pressure source or a compressed gas source. The third passageway has a relief opening in the handle selectively openable or closable by the hand of the operator for effecting a change in the pressure within the third passageway.

Abstract: A fluid control for powering and supplying coolant liquid to gas operated surgical and dental tools and for supplying irrigant to a suction-irrigation handpiece, selectively by remove control from a surgical or dental operating site. A console remote from the operating site has a pressurized gas source. The tool and an operator valve actuable for turning on the tool are located at the operating site, remote from the console. A tool gas supply at the console is actuable for supplying pressurized gas from the source to the remote operator valve and tool. A coolant supply at the console is actuable for delivering coolant liquid to an outlet tip located at the tool. Gas circuitry in the console responds to the drop in gas pressure in the tool gas supply resulting from turning on of the tool and thereby causes the coolant supply to supply liquid to the tip while the tool is running.

Abstract: A device, which may be used in a dialysis system, is disclosed for separating low density material such as gas bubbles from a liquid by swirling the liquid, to cause the bubbles to migrate toward the center of the swirling liquid. A liquid storage chamber having side walls of generally circular cross-section of the longitudinal axis is provided. A port is provided for removing the bubbles or the like, positioned adjacent the longitudinal axis of the chamber. A liqud inlet passes into the chamber in such a position as to pass liquid into the chamber circumferentially about the side walls, to provide swirling of liquid passing into the chamber. In accordance with this invention, outlet means and pump means are provided for removing bubble-free liquid from the chamber at a point spaced from the inlet but adjacent the side wall.