Abstract: A device generates a gas-enriched physiologic fluid and combines it with a bodily fluid to create a gas-enriched bodily fluid. The device may take the form of a disposable cartridge. The cartridge may include a fluid supply chamber for delivering physiologic fluid under pressure to an atomizer. The atomizer delivers fluid droplets into a gas-pressurized atomization chamber to enrich the physiologic fluid with the gas. The gas-enriched physiologic fluid is delivered to a mixing chamber in the cartridge where the gas-enriched physiologic fluid is mixed with a bodily fluid, such as blood, to create a gas-enriched bodily fluid.

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: Catheters for performing therapeutic and diagnostic procedures within a body, including human or animal body cavities or lumens, and methods for use. One or more distancing member of the catheter can be used to position a sensor or a therapeutic device a minimum distance from a wall of a lumen or cavity. The catheter can include means for actively or passively controlling or modulating its position within the lumen or cavity during a procedure. Methods for using the catheter include nonocclusive deployment in the human gastrointestinal tract for phototherapy procedures, delivering electromagnetic radiation substantially homogeneously or in a desired pattern to the interior of a lumen.

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: Physically flexible radiation-emitting probes and associated illumination methods and systems for delivering radiation or light to the interior of a lumen or cavity. Light-emitting devices are immersed in a flowing liquid coolant within a probe to provide high light output power, and convoluted electrical power buss structures provide physical flexibility of a probe about a longitudinal axis. The probes can be configured for delivering light to the interior of any lumen including for performing therapeutic medical procedures at locations in body lumens including the interior of the human gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: Physically flexible radiation-emitting probes and associated illumination methods and systems for delivering radiation or light to the interior of a lumen or cavity. Light-emitting devices are immersed in a flowing liquid coolant within a probe to provide high light output power, and convoluted electrical power buss structures provide physical flexibility of a probe about a longitudinal axis. The probes can be configured for delivering light to the interior of any lumen including for performing therapeutic medical procedures at locations in body lumens including the interior of the human gastrointestinal tract.

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 system and method for increasing gas concentration in blood which has use as a generalized extracorporeal system and method to treat hypoxemic blood from a patient by mixing the blood with an oxygen supersaturated solution to generate hyperoxemic blood to be infused back to the patient. The extracorporeal system comprises an extracorporeal tubing through which blood from the patient is circulated, a blood pump for withdrawing blood from and delivering blood to the patient, at least one channel for delivering oxygen-supersaturated fluid and a mixing region for introducing supersaturated fluid without bubble formation. By infusing the oxygen-supersaturated fluid into the hypoxemic or normoxemic blood from the patient, hyperoxemic blood is thereby produced. The hyperoxemic blood is then returned to a central vein, right heart or artery of the patient with the blood pump at approximately the same volume delivery rate as blood volume withdrawal rate.

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 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 device generates a gas-enriched physiologic fluid and combines it with a bodily fluid to create a gas-enriched bodily fluid. The device may take the form of a disposable cartridge. The cartridge may include a fluid supply chamber for delivering physiologic fluid under pressure to an atomizer. The atomizer delivers fluid droplets into a gas-pressurized atomization chamber to enrich the physiologic fluid with the gas. The gas-enriched physiologic fluid is delivered to a mixing chamber in the cartridge where the gas-enriched physiologic fluid is mixed with a bodily fluid, such as blood, to create a gas-enriched bodily fluid.

Abstract: A gas-enriched fluid is provided by the combination of a first fluid, such as a patient's blood, with a second gas-supersaturated fluid, such as an oxygen supersaturated fluid. In this example, a catheter assembly includes a portion that receives the patient's blood from a pump and that receives the oxygen supersaturated fluid from an appropriate fluid source. The oxygen supersaturated fluid is advantageously combined with the blood in an area of laminar flow, and then this gas-enriched fluid is delivered to the patient through an appropriate lumen coupled to the portion of the catheter assembly.

Abstract: A device generates a gas-enriched physiologic fluid and combines it with a bodily fluid to create a gas-enriched bodily fluid. The device may take the form of a disposable cartridge. The cartridge may include a fluid supply chamber for delivering physiologic fluid under pressure to an atomizer. The atomizer delivers fluid droplets into a gas-pressurized atomization chamber to enrich the physiologic fluid with the gas. The gas-enriched physiologic fluid is delivered to a mixing chamber in the cartridge where the gas-enriched physiologic fluid is mixed with a bodily fluid, such as blood, to create a gas-enriched bodily fluid.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing gas concentration in blood which has use as a generalized extracorporeal system and method to treat hypoxemic blood from a patient by mixing the blood with an oxygen supersaturated solution to generate hyperoxemic blood to be infused back to the patient. The extracorporeal system comprises an extracorporeal tubing through which blood from the patient is circulated, a blood pump for withdrawing blood from and delivering blood to the patient, at least one channel for delivering oxygen-supersaturated fluid and a mixing region for introducing supersaturated fluid without bubble formation. By infusing the oxygen-supersaturated fluid into the hypoxemic or normoxemic blood from the patient, hyperoxemic blood is thereby produced. The hyperoxemic blood is then returned to a central vein, right heart or artery of the patient with the blood pump at approximately the same volume delivery rate as blood volume withdrawal rate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for blood oxygenation is provided, advantageously comprising an extracorporeal circuit for the preparation and delivery of hyperoxic or hyperbaric blood. In one embodiment, an apparatus for gas-supersaturating fluids, e.g., physiologic saline, includes a chamber having a first inlet to receive the fluid; a second inlet to receive a gas, e.g., oxygen, from a gas supply that maintains pressure within the chamber at a predetermined level, advantageously about 600 p.s.i.; and an outlet advantageously coupled to a capillary assembly. An atomizer nozzle coupled to the first inlet advantageously creates within the chamber fine droplets of fluid into which gas diffuses to create the gas-supersaturated fluid, which collects within the chamber below the atomizer nozzle for removal via the outlet.

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: The present invention is a device for insertion into a human or animal body, in a preferred embodiment a perfusion guidewire capable of delivering perfusion fluids to a vascular site while at the same time exhibiting handling characteristics associated with existing non-perfusion guidewires. Preferred embodiments include a perfusion guidewire which closely matches the dimensions and physical characteristics of standard guidewires. Preferred embodiments also permit high pressure perfusion of oxygen-supersaturated solutions, and include a diffuser segment which divides the flow and reduces fluid velocity, thereby providing an atraumatic, non-cavitating, bubble-free delivery to the patient. The invention also encompasses the attachment of a core wire within a tubular housing to provide superior characteristics to such guidewires, balloon catheters and similar devices.

Abstract: A gas-enriched fluid is provided by the combination of a first fluid, such as a patient's blood, with a second gas-supersaturated fluid, such as an oxygen supersaturated fluid. In this example, a catheter assembly includes a portion that receives the patient's blood from a pump and that receives the oxygen supersaturated fluid from an appropriate fluid source. The oxygen supersaturated fluid is advantageously combined with the blood in an area of laminar flow, and then this gas-enriched fluid is delivered to the patient through an appropriate lumen coupled to the portion of the catheter assembly.

Abstract: A device generates a gas-enriched physiologic fluid and combines it with a bodily fluid to create a gas-enriched bodily fluid. The device may take the form of a disposable cartridge. The cartridge may include a fluid supply chamber for delivering physiologic fluid under pressure to an atomizer. The atomizer delivers fluid droplets into a gas-pressurized atomization chamber to enrich the physiologic fluid with the gas. The gas-enriched physiologic fluid is delivered to a mixing chamber in the cartridge where the gas-enriched physiologic fluid is mixed with a bodily fluid, such as blood, to create a gas-enriched bodily fluid.

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.