Abstract: A bead mill and an associated bead-mill-based machine for testing mechanical fragility of red blood cells, employing a cartridge configured to contain a sample while cells get stressed via bead oscillation and, in the case of the fragility testing machine, also while lysis levels get detected, for presentation of fragility information.

Abstract: A bead mill and an associated bead-mill-based machine for testing mechanical fragility of red blood cells, employing a cartridge configured to contain a sample while cells get stressed via bead oscillation and, in the case of the fragility testing machine, also while lysis levels get detected, for presentation of fragility information.

Abstract: A method using variable bead-oscillation-based stress parameters, including relative bead dimensionality or other structural features as well as stress duration or intensity or overall magnitude, in inducing different shear stresses in biological samples, for testing the effects of different combinations of various defined stress conditions.

Abstract: A bead mill and an associated bead-mill-based machine for testing mechanical fragility of red blood cells, employing a cartridge configured to contain a sample while cells get stressed via bead oscillation and, in the case of the fragility testing machine, also while lysis levels get detected, for presentation of fragility information.

Abstract: A bead mill and an associated bead-mill-based machine for testing mechanical fragility of red blood cells, employing a cartridge configured to contain a sample while cells get stressed via bead oscillation and, in the case of the fragility testing machine, also while lysis levels get detected, for presentation of fragility information.

Abstract: A vehicle seat feature to provide additional legroom for feet or legs of a rear-facing child in a safety carseat installed in a vehicle seat, by utilizing a bounded cavity or the like in the vehicle seat backrest, which is accessible from the front side of the backrest by feet or legs of a rear-facing child. Such a cavity may in some embodiments be deployable and made available by removing or repositioning a barrier object or the like, which when restored may in effect constitute part of an otherwise normally functional backrest.

Abstract: A method using variable bead-oscillation-based stress parameters, including relative bead dimensionality or other structural features as well as stress duration or intensity or overall magnitude, in inducing different shear stresses in biological samples, for testing the effects of different combinations of various defined stress conditions.

Abstract: A bead mill and an associated bead-mill-based machine for testing mechanical fragility of red blood cells, employing a cartridge configured to contain a sample while cells get stressed via bead oscillation and, in the case of the fragility testing machine, also while lysis levels get detected, for presentation of fragility information.

Abstract: A method for using red blood cell deformability testing to improve management of blood product comprising RBC, the method comprising: generating deformability data for red blood cells corresponding to a respective unit of blood product; correlating the deformability data with red blood cell viability or efficacy based on available data; obtaining a representation of quality for the respective unit; and based on the representation of quality assigning a rank and/or timing a transfer.

Abstract: A disposable cartridge for use in red blood cell mechanical fragility profiling, comprising a stressing section with a lysing chamber in which the sample can receive multiple increments of mechanical stress to cause lysis, and a detection section with a transparent region that at least sometimes can have a thickness suitable to take optical readings that can directly or indirectly reflect a fraction/proportion of cells lysed after each increment of the stress, whereby said region can capture at least a representative portion of the sample that received each increment of stress. In some embodiments, the stressing section and the detection section are the same, and/or the transparent region is flexible or otherwise compressible, and/or the stress is ultrasonic. In some embodiments, the sections are separate, and/or the region is rigid or has a fixed thickness, and/or the stress may comprise cell-to-wall interaction and associated fluidic or viscous shear stress induced via concentric/coaxial objects.

Abstract: A test for erythrocyte membrane mechanical fragility, involving subjection of a sample comprising red blood cells to a mechanical stress capable of causing hemolysis, and measurement of the hemolysis present after particular extent(s) of the stress. Measurement of hemolysis can be without component separation, such as by cell-counting (optical or non-optical) or by spectral differentiation between cell-free and intracellular hemoglobin. Such tests can incorporate a disposable single-use component that contains an RBC sample during testing, and for certain embodiments the mechanical stress involved comprises (higher-energy) ultrasonic stress.

Abstract: A storage bag for containing biologic content having a first chamber operable to contain the biologic content, a second chamber separate from the first chamber, and a first fluidic seal system disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The first fluidic seal system is positionable between a first position retaining the biologic content in the first chamber and preventing the biologic content from entering the second chamber and a second position permitting at least a portion of the biologic content to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber.

Abstract: A vehicle seat feature to provide additional legroom for feet or legs of a rear-facing child in a safety carseat installed in a vehicle seat, by utilizing a bounded cavity or the like in the vehicle seat backrest, which is accessible from the front side of the backrest by feet or legs of a rear-facing child. Such a cavity may in some embodiments be deployable and made available by removing or repositioning a barrier object or the like, which when restored may in effect constitute part of an otherwise normally functional backrest.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus for quantifying the quality degradation of individual stored red blood cell (RBC) units, thereby yielding information to improve decisions regarding their respective allocation, patient suitability, and use. The apparatus for quantifying the quality degradation of individual stored (RBC) units comprises: a hemolysis unit; an optical analysis unit; and a computation unit. This apparatus is amenable to clinical implementation as well as indicative of any given unit's relative viability and thus prospective efficacy. This would provide clinicians with actual data on RBC quality when making decisions about which and how many units to use for transfusion of a given patient. Moreover, deploying this testing throughout the supply chain will improve distribution, planning, and inventory control decisions.

Abstract: A method for quantifying the quality degradation of individual stored red blood cell (RBC) units, thereby yielding information to improve decisions regarding their respective allocation, patient suitability, and use. The method comprises: a hemolysis step; an optical analysis step; and a computation step. The method is amenable to clinical implementation as well as indicative of any given unit's relative viability and thus prospective efficacy. This would provide clinicians with actual data on RBC quality when making decisions about which and how many units to use for transfusion of a given patient. Moreover, deploying this testing throughout the supply chain will improve distribution, planning, and inventory control decisions. A vital aspect of this testing method is the accumulation of copious output and other associated data and the mathematical analyses thereof to optimize algorithms by which to characterize each subsequent test output as meaningfully as possible.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for quantifying RBC fragility via stress-induced hemolysis and subsequent optical and computational analysis. While directed toward applications in blood quality control, the technology could have application in diagnosis. The apparatus comprises: a hemolysis unit; an optical analysis unit; and a computation unit. Similarly, the associated process comprises: a hemolysis step; an optical analysis step; and a computation step.

Abstract: A method for assessing the quality degradation of an RBC or whole blood unit, the method comprising: 1) using an ektacytometer to generate erythrocyte deformability data for the RBC or whole blood unit; 2) analyzing the erythrocyte deformability data to assess the quality degradation of the RBC or whole blood unit; 3) providing the erythrocyte deformability data to medical personnel; 4) correlating the erythrocyte deformability data with a clinical outcome of a patient that has used the RBC or whole blood unit; and 5) incorporating the erythrocyte deformability data into subsequent assessments of quality degradation of RBC and whole blood units. This method would provide clinicians with actual data on RBC quality when making decisions about which and how many units to use for transfusion of a given patient. Moreover, deploying the approach throughout the supply chain will improve distribution, planning, and inventory control decisions.

Abstract: A method of using cell counting to determine how much hemolysis occurs when a sample of red blood cells is subjected to stress, for purposes of either assessing stored blood quality and/or obtaining red blood cell fragility profiles. Cell-counting techniques and technologies can be employed to facilitate and enhance fragility measurements of red blood cells. There are many ways such “counting” can be achieved, including by visually counting each cell appearing under a microscope and projecting an estimated concentration based thereupon, or by utilizing a range of automatable technologies of various means. Using sophisticated image analysis algorithms, some such technologies also provide useful information about cell features or properties such as average size, distribution of sizes or volumes, and viability. Using cell counting to analyze post-stress hemolysis also permits conducting fragility assays without requiring centrifugation or other separation.

Abstract: A method for quantifying the quality degradation of individual stored red blood cell (RBC) units, thereby yielding information to improve decisions regarding their respective allocation, patient suitability, and use. The method comprises: a hemolysis step; an optical analysis step; and a computation step. The method is amenable to clinical implementation as well as indicative of any given unit's relative viability and thus prospective efficacy. This would provide clinicians with actual data on RBC quality when making decisions about which and how many units to use for transfusion of a given patient. Moreover, deploying this testing throughout the supply chain will improve distribution, planning, and inventory control decisions. A vital aspect of this testing method is the accumulation of copious output and other associated data and the mathematical analyses thereof to optimize algorithms by which to characterize each subsequent test output as meaningfully as possible.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus for quantifying the quality degradation of individual stored red blood cell (RBC) units, thereby yielding information to improve decisions regarding their respective allocation, patient suitability, and use. The apparatus for quantifying the quality degradation of individual stored (RBC) units comprises: a hemolysis unit; an optical analysis unit; and a computation unit. This apparatus is amenable to clinical implementation as well as indicative of any given unit's relative viability and thus prospective efficacy. This would provide clinicians with actual data on RBC quality when making decisions about which and how many units to use for transfusion of a given patient. Moreover, deploying this testing throughout the supply chain will improve distribution, planning, and inventory control decisions.