Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the collection of red blood cells whereby whole blood is combined with an anticoagulant, red cells are separated from the whole blood and the separated red cells are combined with a storage solution. The red cells may be stored for an extended period of time.

Abstract: Blood separation systems and methods draw whole blood from a blood donor selected from a population of blood donors. The whole blood of the selected blood donor has a known hematocrit value that varies within the population of blood donors according to morphology of the selected blood donor. The systems and methods operate a pump in the inlet line to convey a volume of whole blood from the donor at a commanded flow rate for processing into plasma constituent and concentrated red blood cells. The systems and methods set the commanded flow rate to vary the volume of whole blood conveyed over time as a function of the known hematocrit value of the selected donor. The systems and methods obtain, after processing the whole blood volume, a targeted volume of concentrated red blood cells, which is substantially constant for the population of blood donors despite variances in known hematocrit values among the donors.

Abstract: A pump module includes a peristaltic pump having a pump rotor, a drive mechanism to rotate the rotor, and a tubing clamp adjacent to and separate from the peristaltic pump. A cover is movable between a closed position on the pump module, enclosing both the pump rotor and the tubing clamp, and an opened position spaced from the pump module, exposing both the pump rotor and the tubing clamp. The cover carries a tubing organizer, which holds tubing. The tubing organizer serves, as the cover moves toward the closed position, to orient the tubing in a desired way with the pump rotor and tubing clamp. The tubing organizer also serves, as the cover moves toward the opened position, to orient the tubing away from the pump module.

Abstract: Blood separation systems and methods utilize a membrane separation device comprising a gap between a microporous membrane and a surface facing the microporous membrane, one of the microporous membrane and the surface being rotatable relative to the other to cause separation of whole blood in the gap into plasma and concentrated red blood cells. The systems and methods include an inlet pump element coupled to the membrane separation device to convey whole blood having a known beginning hematocrit value into the gap for separation. The systems and methods also include a drive element coupled to the membrane separation device to cause rotation of the rotatable one of the microporous membrane and the facing surface. The systems and methods command the inlet pump element and the drive element as a function of the known beginning hematocrit value.

Abstract: Blood separation systems and methods utilize a membrane separation device comprising a gap between a microporous membrane and a surface facing the microporous membrane, one of the microporous membrane and the surface being rotatable relative to the other to cause separation of whole blood in the gap into plasma and concentrated red blood cells. The systems and methods include an inlet pump element coupled to the membrane separation device to convey whole blood having a known beginning hematocrit value into the gap for separation. The systems and methods also include a drive element coupled to the membrane separation device to cause rotation of the rotatable one of the microporous membrane and the facing surface. The systems and methods command the inlet pump element and the drive element as a function of the known beginning hematocrit value.

Abstract: Methods and devices for separating leukocytes from a leukocyte contaminated blood fraction by use of a rotating membrane filter apparatus. The invention includes methods/devices for preparing substantially leukocyte free platelet concentrate for therapeutic use. The devices of the invention include a rotating membrane filter apparatus for leukocyte separation as well as tubing harness/component systems (FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c) useable in connection with automated apheresis instruments.

Abstract: A disposable set for a blood processing device comprises an array of flexible tubing and a frame that holds the flexible tubing array with at least two linear segments of the flexible tubing array presented for alignment with at least two axially aligned peristaltic pump rotors.

Abstract: Methods and devices for separating leukocytes from a leukocyte contaminated blood fraction by use of a rotating membrane filter apparatus. The invention includes methods/devices for preparing substantially leukocyte free platelet concentrate for therapeutic use. The devices of the invention include a rotating membrane filter apparatus for leukocyte separation as well as tubing harness/component systems (FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c) useable in connection with automated apheresis instruments.

Abstract: A safety trocar is provided which includes a spring-loaded shield that shields the cutting tip of the obturator after the obturator penetrates tissue. The distal end of the shield is hemispheric in profile and contains a slot which conforms to the geometry of the cutting tip. The rounded distal end enables the shield to spring forward to shield the cutting tip as soon as the tip perforates the tissue. A valve is located at the proximal end of the trocar tube to seal the end of the tube. The valve is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the trocar tube. The valve is controllable by an external lever which will hold the valve open or permit it to spring shut. An incremental advancement mechanism cooperates with the obturator to permit only incremental advance of the obturator. Instead of using a discrete shield component the shielding function may be provided by spring-loading the trocar tube itself to spring forward and shield the obturator tip after the tip penetrates tissue.

Abstract: A safety trocar is provided which includes a spring-loaded shield that shields the cutting tip of the obturator after the obturator penetrates tissue. The distal end of the shield is hemispheric in profile and contains a slot which conforms to the geometry of the cutting tip. The rounded distal end enables the shield to spring forward to shield the cutting tip as soon as the tip perforates the tissue. A valve is located at the proximal end of the trocar tube to seal the end of the tube. The valve is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the trocar tube. The valve is controllable by an external lever which will hold the valve open or permit it to spring shut. An incremental advancement mechanism cooperates with the obturator to permit only incremental advance of the obturator. Instead of using a discrete shield component the shielding function may be provided by spring-loading the trocar tube itself to spring forward and shield the obturator tip after the tip penetrates tissue.

Abstract: A safety trocar is provided which includes a spring-loaded shield that shields the cutting tip of the obturator after the obturator penetrates tissue. The distal end of the shield is hemispheric in profile and contains a slot which conforms to the geometry of the cutting tip. The rounded distal end enables the shield to spring forward to shield the cutting tip as soon as the tip perforates the tissue. A valve is located at the proximal end of the trocar tube to seal the end of the tube. The valve is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the trocar tube. The valve is controllable by an external lever which will hold the valve open or permit it to spring shut. An incremental advancement mechanism cooperates with the obturator to permit only incremental advance of the obturator. Instead of using a discrete shield component the shielding function may be provided by spring-loading the trocar tube itself to spring forward and shield the obturator tip after the tip penetrates tissue.

Abstract: A safety trocar is provided which includes a spring-loaded shield that shields the cutting tip of the obturator after the obturator penetrates tissue. The distal end of the shield is hemispheric in profile and contains a slot which conforms to the geometry of the cutting tip. The rounded distal end enables the shield to spring forward to shield the cutting tip as soon as the tip perforates the tissue. A valve is located at the proximal end of the trocar tube to seal the end of the tube. The valve is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the trocar tube. The valve is controllable by an external lever which will hold the valve open or permit it to spring shut. An incremental advancement mechanism cooperates with the obturator to permit only incremental advance of the obturator. Instead of using a discrete shield component the shielding function may be provided by spring-loading the trocar tube itself to spring forward and shield the obturator tip after the tip penetrates tissue.

Abstract: A safety trocar is provided which includes a spring-loaded shield that shields the cutting tip of the obturator after the obturator penetrates tissue. The distal end of the shield is hemispheric in profile and contains a slot which conforms to the geometry of the cutting tip. The rounded distal end enables the shield to spring forward to shield the cutting tip as soon as the tip perforates the tissue. A valve is located at the proximal end of the trocar tube to seal the end of the tube. The valve is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the trocar tube. The valve is controllable by an external lever which will hold the valve open or permit it to spring shut. An incremental advancement mechanism cooperates with the obturator to permit only incremental advance of the obturator. Instead of using a discrete shield component the shielding function may be provided by spring-loading the trocar tube itself to spring forward and shield the obturator tip after the tip penetrates tissue.

Abstract: An improved surgical fastener system comprising parallel rows of staples and receivers with the receivers connected to adjacent receivers by a plurality of linkages.

Abstract: An improved surgical ligating instrument has been invented. The improvements comprise crimping means having canted jaws and advancing means having a clip actuator, said actuator having a first and second pawl in alternate relationship.A surgical ligating instrument has also been invented. The instrument comprisesa. a housing having a force activating and translating mechanism; b. loading mechanism having an injector, the terminal end adjacent a single clip; c. an advancing mechanism having a pair of aligned members, the initial end of said members contained in said housing and the terminal end containing jaws; a clip actuator rotatably mounted adjacent the initial end of said jaws; a spring, a pusher at the terminal end of said spring, and a plurality of clips, the rearmost clip adjacent said pusher and the frontmost clip contained by said actuator; and d. a crimping mechanism having a crimp bar.

Abstract: A nonmetallic surgical clip having two separate and noncontiguous parts is decribed. Each part contains an arm, and means for approximating the cooperating surfaces of the two arms. The clip is useful in ligating a blood vessel, e.g. an artery.

Abstract: An improved surgical instrument is described. The instrument comprises a housing. The housing has a handle for activating a force, and a link for translating the force. The instrument also comprises a probe. The probe has jaws or an anvil for holding a single wound closure element, a movable crimp bar for crimping the single closure element in the jaw or anvil, the proximal end of the crimp bar being connected to the distal end of the link, a spring for advancing a plurality of wound closure elements, and an injector for loading a single wound closure element, from the plurality, into the jaws or onto the anvil. The improvement comprises the link indirectly connected to the spring and the injector to integrally effect the crimp bar, spring and injector.The surgical instrument can be a ligating instrument.

Abstract: An improved nonmetallic surgical clip having two separate arms joined together at an apex is disclosed. The improvement comprises a weakened portion and a bend in at least one arm. The bend is at the weakened portion. The amount of the bend is such that at least a part of one arm is in an essentially parallel relationship with at least a part of the other arm.

Abstract: An improved surgical ligating instrument has been invented. The improvements comprise a crimping mechanism having canted jaws and an advancing mechanism having a clip actuator, said actuator having a first and a second pawl in alternate relationship.A surgical ligating instrument has also been invented. The instrument comprisesa. a housing having a force activating and translating mechanism; b. a loading mechanism having an injector, the terminal end adjacent a single clip; c. an advancing mechanism having a pair of aligned members, the initial end of the members contained in the housing and the terminal end containing jaws; a clip actuator rotatably mounted adjacent the initial end of the jaws; a spring, a pusher at the terminal end of the spring, and a plurality of clips, the rearmost clip adjacent the pusher and the frontmost clip contained by the actuator; and d. a crimping mechanism having a crimp bar.