Abstract: An embodiment includes a valve comprising: a valve channel that couples a valve input to a valve output; a one-way valve included within the channel; a filter; a first pressure relief port, wherein the first pressure relief port is configured to relieve negative pressure when pressure at the valve output is less than pressure at the valve input; a second pressure relief port, wherein the second pressure relief port is configured to relieve positive pressure when pressure at the valve output is greater than pressure at the valve input; wherein the one-way valve includes a monolithic portion that simultaneously seals the channel, the first pressure relief port, and the second pressure relief port; wherein the filter covers the first pressure relief port.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a valve comprising: a valve channel that couples a valve input to a valve output; a one-way valve included within the channel; a filter; a first pressure relief port, wherein the first pressure relief port is configured to relieve negative pressure when pressure at the valve output is less than pressure at the valve input; a second pressure relief port, wherein the second pressure relief port is configured to relieve positive pressure when pressure at the valve output is greater than pressure at the valve input; wherein the one-way valve includes a monolithic portion that simultaneously seals the channel, the first pressure relief port, and the second pressure relief port; wherein the filter covers the first pressure relief port.

Abstract: A gas sensing device (10) (100) and method are provided. The battery-powered wireless gas sensing device (10) (100) has low power consumption components and power-saving functions. The gas sensing device (10) (100) has extended battery life and run times so as not to require battery replacement or recharging prior to expiration of the standard gas sensor calibration cycle.

Abstract: A microplegia console for controlling the delivery of cardioplegia to a patient, comprising an integrated display/touch screen for displaying cardioplegia information and patient information and allowing inputting of parameters via the display/touch screen into the console for computer-controlled perfusion of cardioplegia into the patient. The invention further comprises a method for delivery of cardioplegia to a patient, including defining and selecting a protocol from a displayed list and sequencing a series of the protocols. The invention also comprises a method for cardioplegia delivery to achieve aortic valve closure. Additionally, the invention comprises a method for activating an icon whereby, upon a first selection of the icon, displaying an indicia indicating that the icon has been first selected; and upon a second selection of the icon, activating the icon.

Abstract: A fluid pump for medical applications. The pump includes a flexible cassette containing two pump chambers of differing volume, each chamber having a dedicated piston. The first piston pushes fluid from the first chamber to the second, and the second piston pushes fluid from the second chamber and out of the pump. Three valves are coordinated with the action of the pistons to control fluid flow into and out of the pump chambers by applying and releasing pressure to and from specific points of the flexible cassette. A control system controls the operation of the pistons and valves and directs the pistons to be advanced according to a time-varying velocity profile. The first pump chamber passively fills and then rapidly expels the collected fluid into the second chamber at low pressure. The second chamber, once filled, expels the fluid downstream at high pressure, producing a pulsatile pressure profile.

Abstract: A microplegia console for controlling the delivery of cardioplegia to a patient, comprising an integrated display/touch screen for displaying cardioplegia information and patient information and allowing inputting of parameters via the display/touch screen into the console for computer-controlled perfusion of cardioplegia into the patient. The invention further comprises a method for delivery of cardioplegia to a patient, including defining and selecting a protocol from a displayed list and sequencing a series of the protocols. The invention also comprises a method for cardioplegia delivery to achieve aortic valve closure. Additionally, the invention comprises a method for activating an icon whereby, upon a first selection of the icon, displaying an indicia indicating that the icon has been first selected; and upon a second selection of the icon, activating the icon.

Abstract: A self-adjusting fluid pump that includes a piston pump containing at least one piston with a pressure sensor. The fluid pump including at least one fluid-containing pump chamber within the piston pump, adjacent to said piston, wherein advancing the piston causes fluid flow from the pump chamber to a biological destination, and retracting the piston causes fluid to passively till the pump chamber. A microprocessor, senses piston pressure to calculate the rate of fluid input flow into the pump chamber for each pump cycle. If the output flow rate deviates from the input flow rate by a pre-specified value range, the microprocessor adjusts the piston pump to match the output flow rate with the input flow rate by increasing or decreasing stroke rate (piston velocity), stroke volume, or a combination of both.

Abstract: A system for delivering blood, cardioplegia solution, and other medications or fluids in a pulsatile flow pattern to a patient during cardiopulmonary bypass is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a pumping apparatus having at least one chamber is utilized in which a pumping action is achieved by compressing one of the chambers with a piston mechanism, while allowing the other chamber to fill with fluid via retracting its respective piston. The instantaneous flow rate of either of the chambers is determined by the speed of the piston. In a preferred embodiment, a pulsatile flow of fluid is achieved by cyclically alternating the velocity of the piston between two different speeds. A desired average flow rate and/or delivery pressure and/or constant pulse pressure is maintained by adjusting the alternating velocities at the desired frequency and duty cycle. The calculations necessary to obtain a desired average flow rate are performed by a microprocessor, which also controls the movement of the pistons.

Abstract: This invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding mammalian SNORF33 receptors, purified mammalian SNORF33 receptors, vectors comprising nucleic acid encoding mammalian SNORF33 receptors, cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to mammalian SNORF33 receptors, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding mammalian SNORF33 receptors, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to unique sequences of nucleic acid encoding mammalian SNORF33 receptors, transgenic, nonhuman animals which express DNA encoding normal or mutant mammalian SNORF33 receptors, methods of isolating mammalian SNORF33 receptors, methods of treating an abnormality that is linked to the activity of the mammalian SNORF33 receptors, as well as methods of determining binding of compounds to mammalian SNORF33 receptors, methods of identifying agonists and antagonists of SNORF33 receptors, and agonists and antagonists so identified.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid pump for medical applications. The invention comprises a flexible cassette containing two pump chambers, wherein the first pump chamber is larger than the second pump chamber. The pump includes two pistons, one for each pump chamber. The first piston pushes fluid from the first chamber to the second, and the second piston pushes fluid from the second chamber downstream out of the pump. Three valves are coordinated with the action of the pistons to control fluid flow into and out of the pump chambers by applying and releasing pressure to and from specific points of the flexible cassette. A control system controls the operation of the pistons and valves and directs the pistons to be advanced according to a time-varying velocity profile. The first pump chamber passively fills and then rapidly expels the collected fluid into the second chamber at low pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-adjusting fluid pump that includes a piston pump containing at least one piston with a pressure sensor. The fluid pump also includes at least one fluid-containing pump chamber within the piston pump, adjacent to said piston, wherein advancing the piston causes fluid to flow from the pump chamber to a biological destination, and retracting the piston causes fluid to passively fill the pump chamber. A microprocessor uses data from the piston pressure sensor to calculate the rate of fluid output flow from the pump chamber for each pump cycle and compares the output flow rate to a pre-specified value range. If the output flow rate deviates from the pre-specified value range, the microprocessor adjusts the fluid output flow of the piston pump in order to bring the output flow rate within the pre-specified value range. The adjustment can be made by increasing or decreasing stroke rate (piston velocity), stroke volume, or a combination of both.

Abstract: This invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding mammalian SNORF33 receptors, purified mammalian SNORF33 receptors, vectors comprising nucleic acid encoding mammalian SNORF33 receptors, cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to mammalian SNORF33 receptors, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding mammalian SNORF33 receptors, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to unique sequences of nucleic acid encoding mammalian SNORF33 receptors, transgenic, nonhuman animals which express DNA encoding normal or mutant mammalian SNORF33 receptors, methods of isolating mammalian SNORF33 receptors, methods of treating an abnormality that is linked to the activity of the mammalian SNORF33 receptors, as well as methods of determining binding of compounds to mammalian SNORF33 receptors, methods of identifying agonists and antagonists of SNORF33 receptors, and agonists and antagonists so identified.

Abstract: This invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, purified mammalian NPFF receptors, vectors comprising nucleic acid encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to mammalian NPFF receptors, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to unique sequences of nucleic acid encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, transgenic, nonhuman animals which express DNA encoding normal or mutant mammalian NPFF receptors, methods of isolating mammalian NPFF receptors, methods of treating an abnormality that is linked to the activity of the mammalian NPFF receptors, as well as methods of determining binding of compounds to mammalian NPFF receptors, methods of identifying agonists and antagonists of NPFF receptors, and agonists and antagonists so identified.

Abstract: This invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, purified mammalian NPFF receptors, vectors comprising nucleic acid encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to mammalian NPFF receptors, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to unique sequences of nucleic acid encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, transgenic, nonhuman animals which express DNA encoding normal or mutant mammalian NPFF receptors, methods of isolating mammalian NPFF receptors, methods of treating an abnormality that is linked to the activity of the mammalian NPFF receptors, as well as methods of determining binding of compounds to mammalian NPFF receptors, methods of identifying agonists and antagonists of NPFF receptors, and agonists and antagonists so identified.

Abstract: This invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding chimeric G proteins, vectors comprising nucleic acids encoding chimeric G proteins, cells comprising such vectors, processes of determining agonists and antagonists of mammalian G protein-coupled receptors utilizing chimeric G proteins, processes of determining compounds which bind to mammalian G protein-coupled receptors utilizing chimeric G proteins, processes for making a composition of matter which specifically binds to a mammalian G protein-coupled receptor utilizing chimeric G proteins, processes for preparing a composition which comprises admixing a carrier and a pharmaceutically effective amount of a chemical compound identified by a process of the invention utilizing chimeric G proteins, processes of identifying a ligand for a mammalian G protein-coupled receptor utilizing chimeric G proteins, and processes of screening a plurality of independent clones to identify and isolate a clone encoding a mammalian G protein-coupled receptor utilizing chi

Abstract: This invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, purified mammalian NPFF receptors, vectors comprising nucleic acid encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to mammalian NPFF receptors, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to unique sequences of nucleic acid encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, transgenic, nonhuman animals which express DNA encoding normal or mutant mammalian NPFF receptors, methods of isolating mammalian NPFF receptors, methods of treating an abnormality that is linked to the activity of the mammalian NPFF receptors, as well as methods of determining binding of compounds to mammalian NPFF receptors, methods of identifying agonists and antagonists of NPFF receptors, and agonists and antagonists so identified.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a mammalian galanin receptor, an isolated galanin receptor protein, vectors comprising isolated nucleic acid encoding a mammalian galanin receptor, cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to a mammalian galanin receptor, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding a mammalian galanin receptor, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to unique sequences of nucleic acid encoding a mammalian galanin receptor, nonhuman transgenic animals which express DNA encoding a normal or a mutant mammalian galanin receptor, as well as methods of determining binding of compounds to mammalian galanin receptors.

Abstract: This invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding mammalian SNORF33 receptors, purified mammalian SNORF33 receptors, vectors comprising nucleic acid encoding mammalian SNORF33 receptors, cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to mammalian SNORF33 receptors, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding mammalian SNORF33 receptors, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to unique sequences of nucleic acid encoding mammalian SNORF33 receptors, transgenic, nonhuman animals which express DNA encoding normal or mutant mammalian SNORF33 receptors, methods of isolating mammalian SNORF33 receptors, methods of treating an abnormality that is linked to the activity of the mammalian SNORF33 receptors, as well as methods of determining binding of compounds to mammalian SNORF33 receptors, methods of identifying agonists and antagonists of SNORF33 receptors, and agonists and antagonists so identified.

Abstract: This invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, purified mammalian NPFF receptors, vectors comprising nucleic acid encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to mammalian NPFF receptors, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to unique sequences of nucleic acid encoding mammalian NPFF receptors, transgenic, nonhuman animals which express DNA encoding normal or mutant mammalian NPFF receptors, methods of isolating mammalian NPFF receptors, methods of treating an abnormality that is linked to the activity of the mammalian NPFF receptors, as well as methods of determining binding of compounds to mammalian NPFF receptors, methods of identifying agonists and antagonists of NPFF receptors, and agonists and antagonists so identified.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling fluid flow in an extracorporeal circuit. A valve prevents positive pressure and negative pressure in a vent line by allowing entry of fluid when negative pressure occurs, and allowing exit of fluid from the line when positive pressure occurs. The valve preferably does this without introducing air into the circuit. The innovative valve also reduces homolysis by reducing turbulence in fluids passing through the valve.