Abstract: The use of xylite for use as a cooling means, wherein xylite is in a crystalline form having crystals only at a grain size from 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm.

Abstract: In apparatus for receiving and reinfusing a patient's own blood, a rigid container encloses a readily deformable inner container, blood being drawn into the readily deformable container by suction and being displaced therefrom by pressure applied between the outer container and the inner container, for pressure reinfusion. Alternatively, the apparatus has a concertina-like container which is held in its expanded condition by a support structure during the blood-intake suction phase, the blood being displaced from the container back into the patient by compression of the container. In another alternative form, the container is a concertina-like container with a high degree of resiliency adapted to expand it into an expanded condition, the container drawing blood from the patient by being compressed before being connected to the patient and then sucking the blood into the container by expansion under the effect of the resiliency.

Abstract: In a method and means (cooling pack) for cooling injured parts or areas of a human or animal body, xylite (C.sub.5 H.sub.12 O.sub.5) is used as the cold means. The xylite is dissolved in crystalline form in an aqueous or non-aqueous fluid and brought into direct or indirect contact with the part or area of the body to be cooled. The xylite may preferably be accommodated in a flexible container to which the solvent fluid can be supplied directly or from a container joined thereto.

Abstract: A blood filter for removing dead blood corpuscles, conglomerations of blood corpuscles and foreign components from the blood comprises dense wadding formed from a plastics monofilament or a bundle of long plastics threads.