Abstract: A method of reducing leukocytes in whole blood by collecting whole blood from a donor, increasing the oxygen level of the whole blood, wherein the whole blood includes RBC component and a remainder component, and filtering the RBC component to reduce the amount of leukocytes.

Abstract: A blood component separating device comprises a centrifuge bowl adapted for rotation about its axis in a centrifuge. The bowl defines an outer circumferential wall plus an inner circumferential wall, spaced from the outer wall, to define a circumferential slot adapted for receiving blood components. Access tubing is adapted for communication with the slot. Preferably, an elongated, flexible, collapsible inner liner is provided in the slot. Individual access tubing also may communicate with an elongated container interior between the ends of the elongated, collapsible container. Furthermore, a portion of the slot may define the shape of an outwardly extending spiral, to provide an increasing gravitational field upon fluids therein as the fluid moves along the slot.

Abstract: A blood component separating device comprises a centrifuge bowl adapted for rotation about its axis in a centrifuge. The bowl defines an outer arcuate wall plus an inner circumferential wall, spaced from the outer wall, to define a arcuate slot adapted for receiving blood components. Access tubing is adapted for communication with the slot. Preferably, an elongated, flexible, collapsible inner liner is provided in the slot. Individual access tubing also may communicate with an elongated container interior between the ends of the elongated, collapsible container. Furthermore, a portion of the slot may define the shape of an outwardly extending spiral, to provide an increasing gravitational field upon fluids therein as the fluid moves along the slot.

Abstract: A blood component separating device comprises a centrifuge bowl adapted for rotation about its axis in a centrifuge. The bowl defines an outer arcuate wall plus an inner circumferential wall, spaced from the outer wall, to define a arcuate slot adapted for receiving blood components. Access tubing is adapted for communication with the slot. Preferably, an elongated, flexible, collapsible inner liner is provided in the slot. Individual access tubing also may communicate with an elongated container interior between the ends of the elongated, collapsible container. Furthermore, a portion of the slot may define the shape of an outwardly extending spiral, to provide an increasing gravitational field upon fluids therein as the fluid moves along the slot.

Abstract: A blood component separating device comprises a centrifuge bowl adapted for rotation about its axis in a centrifuge. The bowl defines an outer arcuate wall plus an inner circumferential wall, spaced from the outer wall, to define a arcuate slot adapted for receiving blood components. Access tubing is adapted for communication with the slot. Preferably, an elongated, flexible, collapsible inner liner is provided in the slot. Individual access tubing also may communicate with an elongated container interior between the ends of the elongated, collapsible container. Furthermore, a portion of the slot may define the shape of an outwardly extending spiral, to provide an increasing gravitational field upon fluids therein as the fluid moves along the slot.

Abstract: A blood component separating device comprises a centrifuge bowl adapted for rotation about its axis in a centrifuge. The bowl defines an outer circumferential wall plus an inner circumferential wall, spaced from the outer wall, to define a circumferential slot adapted for receiving blood components. Access tubing is adapted for communication with the slot. Preferably, an elongated, flexible, collapsible inner liner is provided in the slot. Individual access tubing also may communicate with an elongated container interior between the ends of the elongated, collapsible container. Furthermore, a portion of the slot may define the shape of an outwardly extending spiral, to provide an increasing gravitational field upon fluids therein as the fluid moves along the slot.

Abstract: A system for metering nutrient media to cell culture containers includes a media flow conduit which defines at one end means for substantially aseptic communication with the source of the media. In a preferred embodiment, sterile connectors may be used for essentially sterile conditions. A branch conduit extends from the flow conduit at a location spaced from the ends. The branch conduit communicates with means for receiving a predetermined-volume aliquot of media through the media flow conduit from said one end. The flow conduit also defines a portion downstream from the branch conduit, which communicates with at least one cell culture container, each container being a flexible bag. At least part of the flexible bag is made of a material capable of providing at least 2 times the oxygen diffusion and at least 2 times the carbon dioxide diffusion between the bag interior and exterior, compared with an identically-sized, sealed bag having polyethylene walls 0.013 inch thick.

Abstract: A blood component separating device comprises a centrifuge bowl adapted for rotation about its axis in a centrifuge. The bowl defines an outer arcuate wall plus an inner circumferential wall, spaced from the outer wall, to define a arcuate slot adapted for receiving blood components. Access tubing is adapted for communication with the slot. Preferably, an elongated, flexible, collapsible inner liner is provided in the slot. Individual access tubing also may communicate with an elongated container interior between the ends of the elongated, collapsible container. Furthermore, a portion of the slot may define the shape of an outwardly extending spiral, to provide an increasing gravitational field upon fluids therein as the fluid moves along the slot.

Abstract: A system for metering nutrient media to cell culture containers includes a media flow conduit which defines at one end means for substantially aseptic communication with the source of the media. In a preferred embodiment, sterile connectors may be used for essentially sterile conditions. A branch conduit extends from the flow conduit at a location spaced from the ends. The branch conduit communicates with means for receiving a predetermined-volume aliquot of media through the media flow conduit from said one end. The flow conduit also defines a portion downstream from the branch conduit, which communicates with at least one cell culture container, each container being a flexible bag. At least part of the flexible bag is made of a material capable of providing at least 2 times the oxygen diffusion and at least 2 times the carbon dioxide diffusion between the bag interior and exterior, compared with an identically-sized, sealed bag having polyethylene walls 0.013 inch thick.

Abstract: A centrifugal blood processing system is disclosed having a rotor drive assembly that is rotatably mounted to a stationary base for rotation along a predetermined axis. A rotor assembly, which includes a blood processing chamber, is rotatably mounted with respect to the base for rotation about the axis. A flexible umbilical cable segment is provided for establishing fluid communication with the blood processing chamber. One end of the cable segment is fixed with respect to the base along the axis at one side of the rotor assembly while the other end of the cable segment is attached on the axis in rotationally locked engagement to the rotor assembly. Guide means are provided for causing the umbilical cable to rotate about the axis with the motor drive assembly. Means are provided for rotating the rotor assembly and the rotor drive assembly in the same direction with a speed ratio of 2:1 to prevent the umbilical cable from becoming completely twisted during rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A continuous flow centrifugal processing system for separating whole blood into fractional components includes a centrifugal separator unit having a molded bowl-shaped outer shell dimensioned to fit within a rotatably-driven casing on an associated centrifuge apparatus. A bowl-shaped inner shell disposed within the outer shell forms therewith a thin separation channel radially spaced from the axis of rotation wherein fractions are separated from the whole blood under the influence of centrifugal force. A rotating seal carried on the processing chamber between ports in the chamber and the non-rotating portions of the system. The outer shell includes a relatively thin side wall portion which is inwardly biased toward a side wall portion on the inner shell when seated in the casing. A plurality of projections on the side walls limit inward deformation of the outer shell to maintain a very close concentric spacing between the shell members to facilitate rapid separation of blood flowing through the chamber.

Abstract: A solar energy collecting assembly consisting of a rectangular supporting frame with a plurality of vane structures mounted in parallel relationship therein. Each vane structure consists of a generally Z-shaped bar member of extruded aluminum with an integral conduit at the corner between the lower flange and the web of the bar member. The conduit has extended end portions pivotally engaged through the front and rear supporting frame elements and these end portions are clampingly communicatively connected to respective inlet and outlet liquid manifolds located outwardly adjacent the front and rear frame elements. Each vane structure has a top flange provided with a blackened surface acting as a radiation absorber which generates heat, this heat being conducted to the associated conduit via the adjacent web portion of the bar member.

Abstract: A solar panel assembly consisting of a shallow rectangular housing with a glass top cover, the housing enclosing a plurality of side-by-side metal plate members with depending longitudinal webs connecting the plate members to longitudinal liquid flow tubes, the plate members, webs and flow tubes being integrally formed by extrusion. Respective enlarged transverse header tubes are connected by coupling sleeves to the opposite ends of the flow tubes, the header tubes extending through and being secured in opposite side walls of the housing, so that the metal plate extrusions are supported in the housing. The plate members are interlocked in coplanar relationship by slidable tongue-and-groove connections at their longitudinal edges. Silicon photovoltaic cells are mounted in row-and-column arrays on the plate members.

Abstract: The method for separating whole blood into the components thereof is practiced with and within a separation chamber mounted in a centrifuge device during centrifugation of the chamber, the chamber having inner and outer wall surfaces and first and second side edges. The method comprises the steps of: arranging and configuring the chamber such that it has (a) an inlet on the first side thereof through which whole blood is received, (b) a first upper outlet at the top of the chamber from which plasma with particles therein is withdrawn, (c) a second lower outlet at the bottom corner of the chamber on the second side thereof from which red blood cells are withdrawn, and (d) the inner wall surface positioned in a plane including a tangent to a circle about the axis of rotation and the plane positioned about normal (in a vertical direction) to a radius extending from the axis of rotation of the centrifuge device.

Abstract: The method includes the steps of: placing blood in a transparent tubing; passing intense, coherent light through the tubing and blood; sensing the light passed through the tubing and blood; and, producing a signal related to the amount of transmitted light sensed and indicative of the hematocrit of the blood. The apparatus includes a laser light source for generating the intense, coherent light beam at a wavelength in the red spectrum and an optical photodetector including a silicon diode positioned to receive the transmitted light and an amplifier circuit.

Abstract: A fluid medium is used in a process for polishing all surfaces of plastic components made of a material which is insoluble or inert within that fluid medium unless subjected to a temperature at which the insoluble plastic would deform. The process, which is particularly suitable for polishing the internal surfaces of tubing components for medical equipment, includes applying a vaporized solvent at an elevated pressure to liquify or melt the insoluble plastic component surfaces without deforming the component, followed by solidifying or freezing the surfaces by removing the component from the presence of the vapors.

Abstract: An improved peristaltic pump includes a pivotably mounted pressure plate which, together with the pump roller elements, defines the pump chamber. The pivotal mounting of the pressure plate facilitates accessibility to the pump chamber in order to simplify the pump tube loading and unloading procedures. The mounting system for the pressure plate includes a mechanically-advantaged four-bar linkage arrangement which automatically retains the pressure plate in either its fully open or fully closed position as a result of an over-center type locking construction. The pump also includes a mechanism for adjusting the volume flow rate characteristic of a pump tube. This is particularly adaptable for a dual-tube system wherein a predetermined volume flow rate ratio is to be achieved.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a peristaltic pump for withdrawing whole blood from a patient, a device for centrifuging the blood to separate plasma from the whole blood, a plasma treatment chamber for receiving the plasma, a vehicle positioned within the chamber and having an immuno-adsorbent agent fixed thereon to interact and bond with an immunological reactant carried by the plasma that is passed through the chamber for removing the immunological reactant from the plasma, tubing connected to recombine the substantially immunological reactant free plasma with the remainder of the whole blood and a peristaltic pump for returning the recombined whole blood to the patient. According to the present invention the plasma treatment chamber has a variable volume so that the chamber can be used for treating sequentially different quantities of plasma.

Abstract: A sickle cell therapeutic treatment is provided by means of continuous flow red blood cell carbamylation. In a substantially continuous process, whole blood is removed from a patient and is directed to a red cell separator chamber of a seal-less type centrifuge. The whole blood is centrifuged and the red blood cells to be treated are removed from the red cell separation chamber and are directed to a reaction chamber. An anti-sickle agent, such as cyanate solution, is introduced into the reaction chamber and is mixed with the red blood cells to be treated. The mixed anti-sickle agent and red blood cells are transferred to a wash chamber in the centrifuge where they are washed, by centrifugation, and the washed, treated red blood cells are combined with the plasma that was separated in the red cell separation chamber and the combination is returned to the patient.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a peristaltic pump for withdrawing whole blood from a patient, a device for centrifuging the blood to separate plasma from the whole blood, a plasma treatment chamber for receiving the plasma, a vehicle positioned within the chamber and having an immunoadsorbent agent fixed thereon to interact and bond with an immunological reactant carried by the plasma that is passed through the chamber for removing the immunological reactant from the plasma, tubings connected to recombine the substantially immunological reactant free plasma with the remainder of the whole blood and a peristaltic pump for returning the recombined whole blood to the patient. In one plasma treatment chamber, the vehicle is defined by a spiral coiled membrane which has an immunoadsorbent agent fixed thereon. Each convolution of the spiral is spaced from an adjacent convolution and the coil is positioned within the chamber so that plasma flows through the space between the convolutions of the spiral coiled membrane.