Abstract: A syringe having an elastic sleeve which defines a fluid chamber, and a plunger positioned within the elastic sleeve. The outer diameter of the plunger is greater than the inner diameter of the elastic sleeve such that the plunger elastically deforms the sleeve during use. A syringe pump system is also provided.

Abstract: A seal for use in a cannula or tube, such as a surgical trocar cannula, is adapted to form a pressure barrier seal between two spaces and is adapted to accommodate a wide range of instrument diameters and objects passed therethrough. The present invention is directed to a generally cylindrical seal plug made of flexible foam materials and having a central orifice extending through along a central axis. In the preferred embodiments, the foam material is preferably a flexible foam material such as polyurethane foam.

Abstract: A method for determining a volume of red cells in a blood sample. The method includes the steps of flowing along a conduit a predetermined volume of the sample, introducing an agglutinating reagent and a predetermined volume of a dye into the conduit to mix with the sample and agglutinate the red cells, the dye being of known concentration on the introduction thereof, decanting the agglutinated red cells from the conduit, and colorimetrically measuring the concentration of the dye in the conduit, the agglutinating reagent being characterized by a relatively high positive electrical charge and the dye being water soluble and characterized by not penetrating said cells and not forming a precipitate with the agglutinating reagent or with the soluble components of the sample and not lysing the cells or altering the volume of the cells.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method of separating a particulate portion as defined herein from a mixture including a liquid portion, including introducing the mixture into a stream of wash solution flowing along an open bore of a conduit, the wash solution having immiscible fluid segments therein, and subsequent to a separating step, collecting at least one of the aforesaid portions. Combined with these steps is the step of permeating over a period of time the internal surface of the aforementioned conduit with at least the aforementioned liquid portion. This retards the flow of the liquid portion which progressively lags behind the particulate portion until the two portions are separated by the segmented wash solution. Either or both portions may be collected, and when collected, the particulates are in washed condition.