Abstract: A blood volume control method has been developed including: monitoring a condition of a patient (such as hematocrit (Hct)), wherein the condition is indicative of blood volume in the patient; automatically determining that the condition indicates a low blood volume in the patient; automatically infusing an infusion solution into the patient in response to the determination of a low blood volume, and automatically adjusting the infusion to maintain the monitored condition at a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling blood withdrawal and infusion flow rate with the use of a pressure controller. The pressure controller uses pressure targets based upon occlusion limits that are calculated as a function of flow. The controller has the ability to switch from controlling withdrawal pressure to controlling infusion pressure based upon the detection of an occlusion. The controller distinguishes between partial and total occlusions of the withdrawal vein providing blood access. Depending on the nature of occlusion, the controller limits or temporarily reverses blood flow and, thus, prevents withdrawal vessel collapse or reverses blood flow to quickly infuse blood into the vessel without participation from operator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling blood withdrawal and infusion flow rate with the use of a pressure controller. The pressure controller uses pressure targets based upon occlusion limits that are calculated as a function of flow. The controller has the ability to switch from controlling withdrawal pressure to controlling infusion pressure based upon the detection of an occlusion. The controller distinguishes between partial and total occlusions of the withdrawal vein providing blood access. Depending on the nature of occlusion, the controller limits or temporarily reverses blood flow and, thus, prevents withdrawal vessel collapse or reverses blood flow to quickly infuse blood into the vessel without participation from operator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling blood withdrawal and infusion flow rate with the use of a pressure controller. The pressure controller uses pressure targets based upon occlusion limits that are calculated as a function of flow. The controller has the ability to switch from controlling withdrawal pressure to controlling infusion pressure based upon the detection of an occlusion. The controller distinguishes between partial and total occlusions of the withdrawal vein providing blood access. Depending on the nature of occlusion, the controller limits or temporarily reverses blood flow and, thus, prevents withdrawal vessel collapse or reverses blood flow to quickly infuse blood into the vessel without participation from operator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling blood withdrawal and infusion flow rate with the use of a pressure controller. The pressure controller uses pressure targets based upon occlusion limits that are calculated as a function of flow. The controller has the ability to switch from controlling withdrawal pressure to controlling infusion pressure based upon the detection of an occlusion. The controller distinguishes between partial and total occlusions of the withdrawal vein providing blood access. Depending on the nature of occlusion, the controller limits or temporarily reverses blood flow and, thus, prevents withdrawal vessel collapse or reverses blood flow to quickly infuse blood into the vessel without participation from operator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling blood withdrawal and infusion flow rate with the use of a pressure controller. The pressure controller uses pressure targets based upon occlusion limits that are calculated as a function of flow. The controller has the ability to switch from controlling withdrawal pressure to controlling infusion pressure based upon the detection of an occlusion. The controller distinguishes between partial and total occlusions of the withdrawal vein providing blood access. Depending on the nature of occlusion, the controller limits or temporarily reverses blood flow and, thus, prevents withdrawal vessel collapse or reverses blood flow to quickly infuse blood into the vessel without participation from operator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling blood flow through an extracorporeal blood circuit having a controller comprising the steps of: withdrawing the blood from a withdrawal blood vessel in a patient into the extracorporeal circuit, treating the blood in the circuit and infusing the treated blood into the patient; detecting an occlusion which at least partially blocks the withdrawal or infusion of the blood; reducing the blood flow rate and the rate of filtration in response to the occlusion, and further prompting the patient to move his arm in an effort to alleviate the occlusion.

Abstract: A weight scale including: a measuring electronic circuit including a filter; a load cell attachable to a support housing and generating a load signal processed by the filter of the electronic circuit; a spring coupled to the load cell to apply a force to the load cell, wherein the load signal is indicative of the force, and a scale beam connected to the spring and to the support housing, wherein a weight to be measured is attached to the scale beam and the force applied by the spring is indicative of the weight, and wherein natural frequencies of the weight and spring is higher than a cut-off frequency of the filter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling blood withdrawal and infusion flow rate with the use of a pressure controller. The pressure controller uses pressure targets based upon occlusion limits that are calculated as a function of flow. The controller has the ability to switch from controlling withdrawal pressure to controlling infusion pressure based upon the detection of an occlusion. The controller distinguishes between partial and total occlusions of the withdrawal vein providing blood access. Depending on the nature of occlusion, the controller limits or temporarily reverses blood flow and, thus, prevents withdrawal vessel collapse or reverses blood flow to quickly infuse blood into the vessel without participation from operator.

Abstract: A weight scale for a extracorporeal pump controller including: a load cell mounted to a support housing; a spring coupled to the load cell to apply a force to the load cell; a scale beam connected to the spring and at a proximal end connected to the support housing, and an overload protection bore having an aperture through which extends said beam and said aperture having at least one edge in a path of said beam, wherein said edge terminates said path and the beam has maximum rated load position in the path before the edge.

Abstract: A weight scale for a extracorporeal pump controller including: a load cell mounted to a support housing; a spring coupled to the load cell to apply a force to the load cell; a scale beam connected to the spring and at a proximal end connected to the support housing, and an overload protection bore having an aperture through which extends said beam and said aperture having at least one edge in a path of said beam, wherein said edge terminates said path and the beam has maximum rated load position in the path before the edge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling blood flow through an extracorporeal blood circuit having a controller comprising the steps of: withdrawing the blood from a withdrawal blood vessel in a patient into the extracorporeal circuit, treating the blood in the circuit and infusing the treated blood into the patient; detecting an occlusion which at least partially blocks the withdrawal or infusion of the blood; reducing the blood flow rate and the rate of filtration in response to the occlusion, and further prompting the patient to move his arm in an effort to alleviate the occlusion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling blood withdrawal and infusion flow rate with the use of a pressure controller. The pressure controller uses pressure targets based upon occlusion limits that are calculated as a function of flow. The controller has the ability to switch from controlling withdrawal pressure to controlling infusion pressure based upon the detection of an occlusion. The controller distinguishes between partial and total occlusions of the withdrawal vein providing blood access. Depending on the nature of occlusion, the controller limits or temporarily reverses blood flow and, thus, prevents withdrawal vessel collapse or reverses blood flow to quickly infuse blood into the vessel without participation from operator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling blood flow through an extracorporeal blood circuit having a controller comprising the steps of: withdrawing the blood from a withdrawal blood vessel in a patient into the extracorporeal circuit, treating the blood in the circuit and infusing the treated blood into the patient; detecting an occlusion which at least partially blocks the withdrawal or infusion of the blood; reducing the blood flow rate and the rate of filtration in response to the occlusion, and further prompting the patient to move his arm in an effort to alleviate the occlusion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling blood withdrawal and infusion flow rate with the use of a pressure controller. The pressure controller uses pressure targets based upon occlusion limits that are calculated as a function of flow. The controller has the ability to switch from controlling withdrawal pressure to controlling infusion pressure based upon the detection of an occlusion. The controller distinguishes between partial and total occlusions of the withdrawal vein providing blood access. Depending on the nature of occlusion, the controller limits or temporarily reverses blood flow and, thus, prevents withdrawal vessel collapse or reverses blood flow to quickly infuse blood into the vessel without participation from operator.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring an evaporative purge system for malfunctions and leaks. First, a plurality of predetermined entry conditions are checked for satisfaction. If the plurality of predetermined entry conditions have been met, a flow of vapor in the evaporative purge system is determined. The evaporative purge system is then sealed from atmosphere so as to pull a vacuum on the fuel tank. The vacuum is compared to a predetermined vacuum range. If the vacuum is within the predetermined vacuum range, the vacuum is allowed to stabilize to obtain a stabilized vacuum level. A decrease in the stabilized vacuum level is determined after a predetermined amount of time to obtain a vacuum bleed-up. A vacuum bleed-up acceptance threshold is then determined based on the determined flow of vapor and the vacuum bleed-up is then compared to the vacuum bleed-up acceptance threshold.

Abstract: An evaporative purge flow monitoring system is provided for use in a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a fuel tank, and an evaporation canister in communication with the fuel tank and the engine for trapping and subsequently reusing fuel vapor dispelled from the fuel tank. The evaporative purge flow monitoring system includes a vapor management valve interposed between the engine and the evaporation canister. An Electronic Engine Control (EEC) assembly is further provided in communication with the vapor management valve and the engine wherein the EEC assembly is provided with a test logic to determine satisfactory operation of the vapor management valve. The test logic determines whether the vapor management valve is defective based on either the presence of significant fuel vapor as determined by the test logic or a change in an engine performance parameter generated within the EEC assembly without requiring a separate sensor when the vapor management valve is temporarily closed.