Abstract: An annular seal for sealing an opening in a pump housing surrounding a piston rod includes a primary sealing portion with an inner surface adjacent to the piston rod and an outer surface adjacent to the pump housing. An initial sealing portion features an inner wall and an outer wall so that an annular space is defined therebetween. A top wall extends between the inner and outer walls. A coil spring is positioned within the annular space of the initial sealing portion and urges the inner wall into engagement with the piston rod and the outer wall into engagement with the pump housing.

Abstract: An annular seal for sealing an opening in a pump housing surrounding a piston rod includes a primary sealing portion with an inner surface adjacent to the piston rod and an outer surface adjacent to the pump housing. An initial sealing portion features an inner wall and an outer wall so that an annular space is defined therebetween. A top wall extends between the inner and outer walls. A coil spring is positioned within the annular space of the initial sealing portion and urges the inner wall into engagement with the piston rod and the outer wall into engagement with the pump housing.

Abstract: A system for dispensing a cryogenic fluid includes a bulk tank configured to contain a supply of a cryogenic liquid, a first sump and a first liquid feed valve configured to direct liquid from the bulk tank to the first sump when in an open condition and to prevent transfer of liquid from the bulk tank to the first sump when in a closed condition. A first positive displacement pump is positioned within the first sump and configured to pump and be submerged in cryogenic liquid when the first sump contains cryogenic liquid above a predetermined liquid level within the first sump. A delivery line is in fluid communication with an outlet of the first positive displacement pump and is configured to direct cryogenic fluid from the first positive displacement pump to a use device when the first positive displacement pump is activated.

Abstract: A system for dispensing a cryogenic fluid includes a bulk storage tank configured to contain a supply of the cryogenic fluid. A heat exchanger coil is positioned in the headspace of at least one intermediate fluid tank, which contains an intermediate fluid, and is configured to receive and warm a cryogenic fluid from the bulk storage tank via heat exchange with intermediate fluid vapor in the headspace. A buffer tank receives fluid from the heat exchanger coil. A chiller coil is positioned within the intermediate fluid tank and is submerged within intermediate fluid liquid contained within the at least one intermediate fluid tank. The chiller coil receives fluid from the buffer tank and cools it via heat exchange with intermediate fluid liquid within which the chiller coil is submerged for dispensing.

Abstract: A system for dispensing a cryogenic fluid includes a bulk storage tank configured to contain a supply of the cryogenic fluid. A heat exchanger coil is positioned in the headspace of at least one intermediate fluid tank, which contains an intermediate fluid, and is configured to receive and warm a cryogenic fluid from the bulk storage tank via heat exchange with intermediate fluid vapor in the headspace. A buffer tank receives fluid from the heat exchanger coil. A chiller coil is positioned within the intermediate fluid tank and is submerged within intermediate fluid liquid contained within the at least one intermediate fluid tank. The chiller coil receives fluid from the buffer tank and cools it via heat exchange with intermediate fluid liquid within which the chiller coil is submerged for dispensing.

Abstract: A storable gas inflation/evacuation system and sealing system. The systems are removably connectible to a proximal portion of a guidewire assembly which has an occlusive balloon at a distal portion. The invention includes provision for indicating the presence of oxygen which is undesirable. The storable aspect concerns a sealable container isolating systems components from ambient atmosphere and an oxygen-sensitive material located within the sealable container. The oxygen-sensitive material is initially inactive but activated by exposure to radiation so as to visually change in response to post-radiation oxygen exposure.

Abstract: A pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system having a plurality of components collectively acting as a drive unit, including a double-acting air cylinder, a reciprocating assembly including a positionable four-way valve, a high pressure pump, an effluent pump, a compressed air tank, and other closely related components. The double-acting air cylinder is reciprocatingly driven by the complement of the drive unit components to provide high pressure saline for use in the thrombectomy catheter and to exhaust effluent from the system. A plurality of preconnected components are connected to the drive unit including a thrombectomy catheter, a saline supply bag, an effluent collection bag, connection tubes, and other closely related components.

Abstract: A method and system for use in the course of extracorporeal blood flow, e.g., cardiopulmonary bypass, dialysis, and angioplasty procedures, in order to reduce or minimize inflammation, excessive bleeding, and other undesirable side effects. The system can include one or more automated blood parameter sensor modules and one or more blood parameter regulating modules. The system is particularly well suited to monitor and/or regulate blood parameters that include blood analytes (e.g., biomolecules, drugs or metabolites) as well as blood functions (e.g., clotting time, fibrinolytic activity, immune response). The system is particularly well suited for use in the management of clotting (e.g., heparin/protamine) and bleeding (e.g., aprotinin).

Abstract: A thrombectomy catheter deployment system which greatly simplifies setup procedures and operation of a thrombectomy catheter includes a stand alone drive unit and a disposable pump/catheter assembly which is manually placed into a carriage assembly in the drive unit. The pump/catheter assembly has a plurality of preconnected components including tubular structure and a thrombectomy catheter connected thereto and is transported into or out of the interior of the drive unit for automatic high pressure pump piston head engagement or disengagement with a reciprocating linear actuator and for automatic engagement or disengagement of an effluent waste tube with a roller pump. A barcode reader senses specific operational data pertaining to an individual pump and provides an interface for operation of the reciprocating linear actuator. A bubble trap incorporated for effective debubbling of saline solution is closely coupled to an insert molded pump having an improved valve arrangement.

Abstract: A gas inflation/evacuation system incorporating a multiple element valved guidewire assembly having an occlusive device for use in thrombectomy or other vascular procedures includes a multiple element valved guidewire assembly having an occlusive balloon removably and sealingly connectible to an included manifold assembly where a guidewire tube defines a lumen for inflation or deflation of the occlusive balloon. A first syringe for evacuating the lumen and a second syringe for introducing a biocompatible gas into the lumen to inflate the occlusive balloon that is in fluid communication with the lumen a plurality of times are included. A sealing valve arrangement selectively seals the proximal portion of the guidewire tube to control inflated or deflated states of the occlusive balloon.

Abstract: An occlusive guidewire system having an ergonomic handheld control mechanism and torqueable kink-resistant guidewire having a distally located inflatable balloon. The present invention provides convenient structure and overall mechanism for operation of a torqueable kink-resistant guidewire, including evacuation and inflation control of an occlusive balloon, and sealing and severing of a crimpable inflation tube which is in communication with an occlusive balloon. The torqueable kink-resistant guidewire includes a centrally located shaft which imparts robustness to the torqueable kink-resistant guidewire. An inflation lumen aligns within the torqueable kink-resistant guidewire for inflation of the balloon.

Abstract: A cross stream thrombectomy catheter with a flexible and expandable cage preferably formed of nitinol for removal of hardened and aged thrombotic material stubbornly attached to the interior of a blood vessel. The cage, which can be mesh or of straight or spiral filament design, is located close to inflow and outflow orifices at the distal portion of a catheter tube and is deployed and extended at a thrombus site for intimate contact therewith and for action of a positionable assembly and subsequent rotation and lineal actuation to abrade, grate, scrape, or otherwise loosen and dislodge difficult to remove thrombus which can interact with cross stream flows to exhaust free and loosened thrombotic particulate through the catheter tube. An alternative embodiment discloses a mechanism involving a threaded tube in rotatable engagement with an internally threaded sleeve to incrementally control the deployment and expansion of the flexible and expandable cages.

Abstract: An enhanced cross stream mechanical thrombectomy catheter with backloading manifold having a distal end with outflow and inflow orifices at one side for producing concentrated cross stream jet flow for selective and concentrated thrombus ablation during thrombectomy procedures. The invention provides for suitable distancing of high powered ablation or suction forces from the near walls of the vasculature. Cross stream flow emanating from the one side of the distal end of the catheter resultantly urges the distal end of the catheter and thus the opposing non-orificed side of the distal end of the catheter toward and against the vascular wall to inhibit contact of the inflow orifice with the vascular wall. Features of the invention include a geometrically configured insert to facilitate the backloading or exchange of guidewires.

Abstract: A gas inflation/evacuation system incorporating a reservoir and removably attached sealing system for a guidewire assembly having an occlusive device and method. A gas inflation/evacuation system is removably connectible to a proximal portion of a guidewire assembly where a sealing system interfaces and cooperatively interacts between the gas inflation/evacuation system and the proximal portion of the guidewire assembly to provide for repeated inflation and deflation of an occlusive balloon to provide a hubless guidewire assembly over which ablation and other type catheters can be loaded.

Abstract: A guidewire assembly including a repeatably inflatable occlusive balloon on a guidewire ensheathed in a close wound spiral coil. The guidewire assembly is used as part of a guidewire occlusion system.

Abstract: A protective system or apparatus for use in vascular procedures includes a tubular guidewire, a control cable slidable within the tubular guidewire, and a sheathless filter. The control cable is attached to a distal end of the sheathless filter and the tubular guidewire is attached to a proximal end of the sheathless filter. Selective displacement of the control cable radially expands the sheathless filter to create a proximal exterior convex primary filter surface that is positionable downstream from a site of a vascular procedure. The sheathless filter also presents a distal interior concave secondary filter surface. Preferably, the sheathless filter is constructed of a braided wire framework in the form of a tube over which woven polymer fibers or strands are applied to create a filter mesh having a softer filter surface.

Abstract: A gas inflation/evacuation system and sealing system for use with occlusive devices in vascular procedures. The gas inflation/evacuation system is removably connectable via the sealing system to a proximal portion of a guidewire assembly having a guidewire that defines a lumen and includes a first syringe system for evacuating the lumen and a second syringe system for introducing a biocompatible gas into the lumen to inflate an occlusive balloon that is in fluid communication with the lumen a plurality of times. The sealing system selectively seals the proximal portion of the guidewire and includes a crimping mechanism and a compression sealing mechanism having a resilient seal for sealing around the proximal portion of the guidewire when it is passed therethrough.