Abstract: The present invention provides a system for enriching a flowing liquid with a dissolved gas inside a conduit. The system comprises two or more capillaries, each capillary delivering a stream of a gas-enriched liquid to the flowing liquid. The first ends of the capillaries are positioned to form an intersecting angle with respect to the effluent streams such that these streams of gas-enriched liquid collide with each other upon exit from the first ends of the capillaries, effecting localized convective mixing within the larger liquid conduit before these gas-enriched streams are able to come into close contact with the boundary surfaces of the conduit, whereby the gas-enriched liquid mixes with the flowing liquid to form a gas-enriched flowing liquid. In the preferred embodiment, no observable bubbles are formed in the gas-enriched flowing liquid. Methods of making and using such system are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for enriching a flowing liquid with a dissolved gas inside a conduit. The system comprises two or more capillaries, each capillary delivering a stream of a gas-enriched liquid to the flowing liquid. The first ends of the capillaries are positioned to form an intersecting angle with respect to the effluent streams such that these streams of gas-enriched liquid collide with each other upon exit from the first ends of the capillaries, effecting localized convective mixing within the larger liquid conduit before these gas-enriched streams are able to come into close contact with the boundary surfaces of the conduit, whereby the gas-enriched liquid mixes with the flowing liquid to form a gas-enriched flowing liquid. In the preferred embodiment, no observable bubbles are formed in the gas-enriched flowing liquid. Methods of making and using such system are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for enriching a flowing liquid with a dissolved gas inside a conduit. The system comprises two or more capillaries, each capillary delivering a stream of a gas-enriched liquid to the flowing liquid. The first ends of the capillaries are positioned to form an intersecting angle with respect to the effluent streams such that these streams of gas-enriched liquid collide with each other upon exit from the first ends of the capillaries, effecting localized convective mixing within the larger liquid conduit before these gas-enriched streams are able to come into close contact with the boundary surfaces of the conduit, whereby the gas-enriched liquid mixes with the flowing liquid to form a gas-enriched flowing liquid. In the preferred embodiment, no observable bubbles are formed in the gas-enriched flowing liquid. Methods of making and using such system are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for enriching a flowing liquid with a dissolved gas inside a conduit. The system comprises two or more capillaries, each capillary delivering a stream of a gas-enriched liquid to the flowing liquid. The first ends of the capillaries are positioned to form an intersecting angle with respect to the effluent streams such that these streams of gas-enriched liquid collide with each other upon exit from the first ends of the capillaries, effecting localized convective mixing within the larger liquid conduit before these gas-enriched streams are able to come into close contact with the boundary surfaces of the conduit, whereby the gas-enriched liquid mixes with the flowing liquid to form a gas-enriched flowing liquid. In the preferred embodiment, no observable bubbles are formed in the gas-enriched flowing liquid. Methods of making and using such system are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for enriching a flowing liquid with a dissolved gas inside a conduit. The system comprises two or more capillaries, each capillary delivering a stream of a gas-enriched liquid to the flowing liquid. The first ends of the capillaries are positioned to form an intersecting angle with respect to the effluent streams such that these streams of gas-enriched liquid collide with each other upon exit from the first ends of the capillaries, effecting localized convective mixing within the larger liquid conduit before these gas-enriched streams are able to come into close contact with the boundary surfaces of the conduit, whereby the gas-enriched liquid mixes with the flowing liquid to form a gas-enriched flowing liquid. In the preferred embodiment, no observable bubbles are formed in the gas-enriched flowing liquid. Methods of making and using such system are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for enriching a flowing liquid with a dissolved gas inside a conduit. The system comprises two or more capillaries, each capillary delivering a stream of a gas-enriched liquid to the flowing liquid. The first ends of the capillaries are positioned to form an intersecting angle with respect to the effluent streams such that these streams of gas-enriched liquid collide with each other upon exit from the first ends of the capillaries, effecting localized convective mixing within the larger liquid conduit before these gas-enriched streams are able to come into close contact with the boundary surfaces of the conduit, whereby the gas-enriched liquid mixes with the flowing liquid to form a gas-enriched flowing liquid. In the preferred embodiment, no observable bubbles are formed in the gas-enriched flowing liquid. Methods of making and using such system are also provided.

Abstract: This invention discloses a modular system having a base module, a mid-section control module, and a display module for preparing and administering a gas-enriched bodily fluid via an extracorporeal circuit. Gas-enrichment is achieved by a gas-enriching device which can be in the form of a disposable cartridge. The gas-enrichment device has an information recording element disposed thereon. During operation, the gas-enrichment device is placed in an enclosure within the control module. An electronic controller manages the various aspects of the system such as the production of gas-enriched fluid, flow rates, bubble detection, and automatic operation and shut down. The controller is capable of setting a fluid flow rate in the circuit according to a programming based on the information encoded in the information recording element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for enriching a flowing liquid with a dissolved gas inside a conduit. The system comprises two or more capillaries, each capillary delivering a stream of a gas-enriched liquid to the flowing liquid. The first ends of the capillaries are positioned to form an intersecting angle with respect to the effluent streams such that these streams of gas-enriched liquid collide with each other upon exit from the first ends of the capillaries, effecting localized convective mixing within the larger liquid conduit before these gas-enriched streams are able to come into close contact with the boundary surfaces of the conduit, whereby the gas-enriched liquid mixes with the flowing liquid to form a gas-enriched flowing liquid. In the preferred embodiment, no observable bubbles are formed in the gas-enriched flowing liquid. Methods of making and using such system are also provided.

Abstract: This invention discloses a modular system having a base module, a mid-section control module, and a display module for preparing and administering a gas-enriched bodily fluid via an extracorporeal circuit. Gas-enrichment is achieved by a gas-enriching device which can be in the form of a disposable cartridge. The gas-enrichment device has an information recording element disposed thereon. During operation, the gas-enrichment device is placed in an enclosure within the control module. An electronic controller manages the various aspects of the system such as the production of gas-enriched fluid, flow rates, bubble detection, and automatic operation and shut down. The controller is capable of setting a fluid flow rate in the circuit according to a programming based on the information encoded in the information recording element.

Abstract: This invention discloses a modular system having a base module, a mid-section control module, and a display module for preparing and administering a gas-enriched bodily fluid. Gas-enrichment is achieved by a gas-enriching device which can be in the form of a disposable cartridge. During operation, the gas-enrichment device is placed in an enclosure within the control module. An electronic controller manages the various aspects of the system such as the production of gas-enriched fluid, flow rates, bubble detection, and automatic operation and shut down. The system includes a combination bubble detector/flow meter that uses a single ultrasonic probe for detecting bubbles and measuring fluid flow rate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a FC emulsion. The method comprises mixing an FC immiscible hydrophilic liquid and a solid emulsifying agent by agitation at a temperature elevated above the phase transition temperature of the emulsifying agent and below the boiling temperature of the FC immiscible hydrophilic liquid, and adding FC to the mixture of step (a) and agitating at the elevated temperature to disperse droplets of FC in the FC immiscible hydrophilic liquid to form the FC emulsion. The invention also provides another method of making an FC emulsion, which does not require a solid emulsifying agent.

Abstract: A stable FC emulsion is described. The FC emulsion of the present invention comprises a continuous FC immiscible hydrophilic liquid phase and a dispersed phase comprising FC suspended as droplets within the continuous phase. The emulsion further comprises an emulsifying agent and a stabilizing agent. The stabilizing agent of the present invention reduces the ability of the FC droplets to move within the continuous phase. The present invention also provides a method of making a FC emulsion. The method comprises mixing an FC immiscible hydrophilic liquid and a solid emulsifying agent by agitation at a temperature elevated above the phase transition temperature of the emulsifying agent and below the boiling temperature of the FC immiscible hydrophilic liquid, and adding FC to the mixture of step (a) and agitating at the elevated temperature to disperse droplets of FC in the FC immiscible hydrophilic liquid to form the FC emulsion.

Abstract: A packaged gas-solubilized product is described. The gas-solubilized product contains a first gas with a first pressure. The product is placed into a flexible inner container made of a gas-impermeable material. The inner container is hermetically disposed inside an outer container. A space formed between the inner and the outer containers is charged with a second gas with an initial charging pressure. The initial charging pressure is higher than the pressure of the first gas contained in the product. Additionally, a product dispenser in a fluid connection with the product contained in the internal container is included. The present invention also provides a method of packaging a gas-solubilized product to prevent a change in the concentration of the gas dissolved in the product during its storage and dispensing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for blood oxygenation are provided. The apparatus includes a chamber having a first inlet to receive a fluid, e.g., physiologic saline; a second inlet to receive a gas, e.g., oxygen, from a gas supply; and an outlet coupled to a capillary assembly. An atomizer nozzle coupled to the first inlet creates within the chamber fine droplets of fluid into which the gas diffuses to create a gas-supersaturated fluid, which is removed via the outlet. The removed gas-supersaturated fluid mixes with blood within a liquid-to-liquid oxygenation assembly to form oxygenated blood for delivery to a patient. Alternately, the blood may be provided by a pump to a high pressure hollow fiber or other type membrane oxygenator within which oxygen diffuses across the membrane(s) and into the blood to form oxygenated blood, again for delivery to a patient or other site.

Abstract: A bubble detector utilizes an ultrasonic transducer to sample bubbles as they pass the transducer. The envelope of the return signal is analyzed to determine the volume of each sampled bubble. If the total volume of bubbles sampled within a certain period of time exceeds a desired maximum volume, the bubble detector may initiate a system shut down. A bubble detector can be evaluated or calibrated by introducing bubbles into a conduit, detecting the bubbles introduced into the conduit using visual inspection or a bubble detector of known resolution and comparing the results with the examination of a bubble detector under evaluation.

Abstract: A system utilizes an oxygenation device to generate a gas-enriched physiologic fluid and to combine it with a bodily fluid to create a gas-enriched bodily fluid. The oxygenation device may take the form of a disposable cartridge, which is placed within an enclosure. An electronic controller manages various aspects of the system, such as the production of gas-enriched fluids, flow rates, bubble detection, and automatic operation and shut down.

Abstract: A method for forming a gas-enriched fluid is provided. The method includes a step of providing a mixing chamber having a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. A first fluid is delivered into the mixing chamber via the first inlet and flows vertically. A second fluid having a liquid phase supersaturated with a gas is delivered to the mixing chamber via the second inlet to mix with the first fluid and from the gas-enriched fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for blood oxygenation are provided. The apparatus advantageously comprises a liquid-to-liquid oxygenation assembly. The liquid-to-liquid oxygenation assembly includes a pressurizable chamber having inlets for a first gas-supersaturated fluid and a second fluid, such as blood. The inlets are advantageously positioned on the mixing chamber in such a way that the first fluid and the second fluid enter the mixing chamber normally to each other to promote mixing and liquid-to-liquid gas transfer. The mixed fluid exits the chamber via an outlet for delivery to a patient.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for blood oxygenation are provided. The apparatus includes a chamber having a first inlet to receive a gas-supersaturating fluid, e.g., physiologic saline; a second inlet to receive a gas, e.g., oxygen, from a gas supply; and an outlet coupled to a capillary assembly. An atomizer nozzle coupled to the first inlet creates within the chamber fine droplets of fluid into which the gas diffuses to create the gas-supersaturated fluid, which is removed via the outlet. The removed gas-supersaturated fluid mixes with blood within a liquid-to-liquid oxygenation assembly to form oxygenated blood for delivery to a patient. Alternately, the blood may be provided by the pump to a high pressure hollow fiber or other type membrane oxygenator within which oxygen diffuses across the membranes(s) and into the blood to form oxygenated blood, again for delivery to a patient or other site.

Abstract: A bubble detector utilizes an ultrasonic transducer to sample bubbles as they pass the transducer. The envelope of the return signal is analyzed to determine the volume of each sampled bubble. If the total volume of bubbles sampled within a certain period of time exceeds a desired maximum volume, the bubble detector may initiate a system shut down. A bubble detector can be evaluated or calibrated by introducing bubbles into a conduit, detecting the bubbles introduced into the conduit using visual inspection or a bubble detector of known resolution and comparing the results with the examination of a bubble detector under evaluation.