Abstract: A surgical navigation method utilizing a computer system. The method includes the steps of: (a) fixing a camera relative to a surgical site on a patient such that the camera does not move relative to the surgical site; (b) restraining the body portion of the patient which includes the surgical site relative to an operating table supporting the patient, such that the body portion does not move relative to the operating table; and (c) detecting with the camera the position of a medical instrument having a tracker array.

Abstract: Blood treatment systems and methods are provided for combining a blood separation system and an adsorption device. The blood separation system is configured to separate a blood component from blood, while the adsorption device is configured to receive at least a portion of the separated blood component and process it. The blood separation system includes a fluid flow element and a controller. The fluid flow element is configured for flowing the separated blood component into the adsorption device. The controller controls the fluid flow element based at least in part on one or more processing parameters. The processing parameters include a maximum flow rate of the separated blood component flowed into the adsorption device, a maximum pressure of the separated blood component flowed into the adsorption device, and/or the volume of fluid in a location of the system.

Abstract: Blood treatment systems and methods are provided for combining a blood separation system and an adsorption device. The blood separation system is configured to separate a blood component from blood, while the adsorption device is configured to receive at least a portion of the separated blood component and process it. The blood separation system includes a fluid flow element and a controller. The fluid flow element is configured for flowing the separated blood component into the adsorption device. The controller controls the fluid flow element based at least in part on one or more processing parameters. The processing parameters include a maximum flow rate of the separated blood component flowed into the adsorption device, a maximum pressure of the separated blood component flowed into the adsorption device, and/or the volume of fluid in a location of the system.

Abstract: Blood treatment systems and methods are provided for combining a blood separation system and an adsorption device. The blood separation system is configured to separate a blood component from blood, while the adsorption device is configured to receive at least a portion of the separated blood component and process it. The blood separation system includes a fluid flow element and a controller. The fluid flow element is configured for flowing the separated blood component into the adsorption device. The controller controls the fluid flow element based at least in part on one or more processing parameters. The processing parameters include a maximum flow rate of the separated blood component flowed into the adsorption device, a maximum pressure of the separated blood component flowed into the adsorption device, and/or the volume of fluid in a location of the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing a therapeutic red blood cell exchange procedure are disclosed. In one aspect, a system includes a first flow path for flowing whole blood from a patient. A separator communicates with the first flow path for separating at least red blood cells from plasma. Second and third flow paths communicate with the separator for respectively flowing the separated plasma and red blood cells from the separator. A flow controller is associated with the flow paths to control fluid communication between the flow paths. The controller is configured to perform the procedure to achieve a target fraction of patient cells remaining, target hematocrit, and a target patient fluid volume change at the completion of the procedure based on data input by the operator.

Abstract: Centrifugation systems and methods are provided for separating blood into its constituent parts. Inner and outer walls of a centrifuge each include a projection which extends toward the other wall. A separation chamber is received in the centrifuge between the walls, with the chamber including an inlet port for flowing blood into the chamber, a plasma outlet port for flowing plasma out of the chamber, and a red cell outlet port for flowing red blood cells out of the chamber. With the chamber received in the centrifuge between the walls, the first projection extends into the path of separated blood components flowing toward the plasma outlet port and prevents cellular blood components from flowing into the plasma outlet port. The second projection extends into the path of separated blood components flowing toward the red cell outlet port and prevents plasma from flowing into the red cell outlet port.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving the flow rate of plasma being removed from a blood separation chamber during a blood separation procedure. The system includes a blood separation chamber in which plasma is separated from cellular blood components and an outlet line for removing the separated plasma from the blood separation chamber. A primary optical sensor assembly is associated with the blood separation chamber to directly monitor the interior of the blood separation chamber. A secondary optical sensor assembly is associated with the outlet line to monitor the separated plasma in the outlet line, with each optical sensor assembly checking for the presence of cellular components in the separated plasma. If the primary optical sensor assembly detects such a condition while the secondary optical sensor assembly does not, then a controller may take steps to resolve the conflict and continue the procedure.

Abstract: A system and method for forecasting tax effects of financial transactions is provided. The system and method include a series of web pages. The web pages allow a user to 1) determine their federal and state tax rates, 2) describe the asset they wish to sell. Additional web pages then display the tax consequences of the sale of the asset along with the details of the calculations used to evaluate those consequences. Still more web pages can be used to describe an asset to buy. In this case, the displayed consequences are expanded to compare the benefit of holding the current asset against the benefit of acquiring the new asset.

Abstract: Centrifugation systems and methods are provided for separating blood into its constituent parts. Inner and outer walls of a centrifuge each include a projection which extends toward the other wall. A separation chamber is received in the centrifuge between the walls, with the chamber including an inlet port for flowing blood into the chamber, a plasma outlet port for flowing plasma out of the chamber, and a red cell outlet port for flowing red blood cells out of the chamber. With the chamber received in the centrifuge between the walls, the first projection extends into the path of separated blood components flowing toward the plasma outlet port and prevents cellular blood components from flowing into the plasma outlet port. The second projection extends into the path of separated blood components flowing toward the red cell outlet port and prevents plasma from flowing into the red cell outlet port.

Abstract: Centrifugation systems and methods are provided for separating blood into its constituent parts. Inner and outer walls of a centrifuge each include a projection which extends toward the other wall. A separation chamber is received in the centrifuge between the walls, with the chamber including an inlet port for flowing blood into the chamber, a plasma outlet port for flowing plasma out of the chamber, and a red cell outlet port for flowing red blood cells out of the chamber. With the chamber received in the centrifuge between the walls, the first projection extends into the path of separated blood components flowing toward the plasma outlet port and prevents cellular blood components from flowing into the plasma outlet port. The second projection extends into the path of separated blood components flowing toward the red cell outlet port and prevents plasma from flowing into the red cell outlet port.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing a therapeutic red blood cell exchange procedure are disclosed. In one aspect, a system includes a first flow path for flowing whole blood from a patient. A separator communicates with the first flow path for separating at least red blood cells from plasma. Second and third flow paths communicate with the separator for respectively flowing the separated plasma and red blood cells from the separator. A flow controller is associated with the flow paths to control fluid communication between the flow paths. The controller is configured to perform the procedure to achieve a target fraction of patient cells remaining, target hematocrit, and a target patient fluid volume change at the completion of the procedure based on data input by the operator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing a therapeutic red blood cell exchange procedure are disclosed. In one aspect, a system includes a first flow path for flowing whole blood from a patient. A separator communicates with the first flow path for separating at least red blood cells from plasma. Second and third flow paths communicate with the separator for respectively flowing the separated plasma and red blood cells from the separator. A flow controller is associated with the flow paths to control fluid communication between the flow paths. The controller is configured to perform the procedure to achieve a target fraction of patient cells remaining, target hematocrit, and a target patient fluid volume change at the completion of the procedure based on data input by the operator.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving the flow rate of plasma being removed from a blood separation chamber during a blood separation procedure. The system includes a blood separation chamber in which plasma is separated from cellular blood components and an outlet line for removing the separated plasma from the blood separation chamber. A primary optical sensor assembly is associated with the blood separation chamber to directly monitor the interior of the blood separation chamber. A secondary optical sensor assembly is associated with the outlet line to monitor the separated plasma in the outlet line, with each optical sensor assembly checking for the presence of cellular components in the separated plasma. If the primary optical sensor assembly detects such a condition while the secondary optical sensor assembly does not, then a controller may take steps to resolve the conflict and continue the procedure.

Abstract: Blood separation systems and methods are provided for controlling the interface between separated blood components. The system includes a blood separation chamber configured to separate blood into first and second blood components and an outlet line for removing at least a portion of the first blood component from the blood separation chamber. A primary optical sensor assembly is associated with the blood separation chamber to directly monitor the interior of the blood separation chamber. A secondary optical sensor assembly is associated with the outlet line to monitor the first blood component in the outlet line. The system also includes a controller programmed to select between the primary optical sensor assembly and the secondary optical sensor assembly for monitoring contamination of the first blood component. The system is particularly advantageous for preventing contamination of separated plasma which is lipemic or hemolytic.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for priming a kit for use in a therapeutic apheresis procedure with previously-collected blood prior to flowing the patient's whole blood into the inlet line of the kit, as part of a procedure in which a selected blood component is separated from a patient's whole blood, and replaced with a previously-collected blood component. The operator enters into the controller of the separation device the hematocrit value of the previously-collected blood. Then, in response to prompts by the controller, the operator enters a target hematocrit value for the previously-collected blood and an identification of the portion of the kit to be primed. The identified portion of the kit is automatically primed with the previously-collected blood. The patient is then connected to the inlet line of the kit in response to a prompt from the controller and the therapeutic procedure is commenced.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer readable media are provided for disposable component authentication with respect to a biological fluid processing device instrument. An example instrument authentication system includes a computer facilitating configuration and operation of the biological fluid processing instrument using a disposable component. A first interface is provided by the computer and is used by a service technician to configure the biological fluid processing instrument for a number of disposable components and to provide a service technician with a validation code. A key generator is to accept the validation code from the service technician and generate an authentication key in response to the entered validation code. A second interface is provided by the computer, the second interface prompting the service technician to enter an authentication key, wherein the authentication key authorizes use of a certain number of disposable components for the biological fluid processing instrument.

Abstract: Blood treatment systems and methods are provided for combining a blood separation system and an adsorption device. The blood separation system is configured to separate a blood component from blood, while the adsorption device is configured to receive at least a portion of the separated blood component and process it. The blood separation system includes a fluid flow element and a controller. The fluid flow element is configured for flowing the separated blood component into the adsorption device. The controller controls the fluid flow element based at least in part on one or more processing parameters. The processing parameters include a maximum flow rate of the separated blood component flowed into the adsorption device, a maximum pressure of the separated blood component flowed into the adsorption device, and/or the volume of fluid in a location of the system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media are provided for product options calculation with respect to an apheresis instrument. An example product options calculator system for an apheresis instrument includes a preset information module including preset information regarding blood component products and configuration information. The system also includes a donor specific input module receiving donor specific information about a blood donor from a user. The system further includes a blood product options calculator calculating available blood component collection procedure options and associated settings within the constraints of the preset information and the donor specific information from which a user can choose to configure the apheresis instrument. Additionally, the system includes a display for displaying available component collection options to the user with respect to the apheresis instrument. The system also includes an interface accepting user input.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for priming a kit for use in a therapeutic apheresis procedure with previously-collected blood prior to flowing the patient's whole blood into the inlet line of the kit, as part of a procedure in which a selected blood component is separated from a patient's whole blood, and replaced with a previously-collected blood component. The operator enters into the controller of the separation device the hematocrit value of the previously-collected blood. Then, in response to prompts by the controller, the operator enters a target hematocrit value for the previously-collected blood and an identification of the portion of the kit to be primed. The identified portion of the kit is automatically primed with the previously-collected blood. The patient is then connected to the inlet line of the kit in response to a prompt from the controller and the therapeutic procedure is commenced.

Abstract: Centrifugation systems and methods are provided for separating blood into its constituent parts. Inner and outer walls of a centrifuge each include a projection which extends toward the other wall. A separation chamber is received in the centrifuge between the walls, with the chamber including an inlet port for flowing blood into the chamber, a plasma outlet port for flowing plasma out of the chamber, and a red cell outlet port for flowing red blood cells out of the chamber. With the chamber received in the centrifuge between the walls, the first projection extends into the path of separated blood components flowing toward the plasma outlet port and prevents cellular blood components from flowing into the plasma outlet port. The second projection extends into the path of separated blood components flowing toward the red cell outlet port and prevents plasma from flowing into the red cell outlet port.