Abstract: A system for preparing a fluid intended for a medical procedure substantially at the time of use by mixing of at least one concentrate in powder form with water. The system includes a reservoir for a source of water, at least one vessel containing a concentrate in powder form and a concentrate fluid circuit for withdrawing a small quantity of water from the reservoir and passing same through the vessel containing the concentrate in powder form in order to dissolve the concentrate to produce a concentrate fluid, and for then conducting the concentrate fluid to a primary fluid circuit communicating with the reservoir so that the produced concentrate fluid is mixed with the rest of the water withdrawn from the reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, the vessel comprises a self-contained cartridge containing a quantity of concentrate in powder form therein which is suitable for one treatment procedure.

Abstract: An improvement in a drip chamber for use with a tube set adapted for the extracorporeal treatment of blood and similar perishable liquids, e.g. in conjunction with dialysis, wherein the drip chamber having a lid which includes an inlet, a duct connected thereto, an outlet, a drip forming means and a sampling port structurally arranged to enable sampling of the liquid before it drips from the drip forming means. When the tube set is used as a venous branch between a dialyser and a patient, many diverse functions intended to be performed in conjunction with the venous branch can be performed in or on the drip chamber.

Abstract: Electrical stimulators are disclosed particularly for vaginal placement, comprising an element which is elongated along an axis corresponding with a direction in which the stimulator is intended to be placed, and, including a transverse cross-section having elongated axis in one direction perpendicular to its other axis, and a plurality of electrodes located on one side of a longitudinal cross section of the elongated element corresponding with that elongated axis, thus stabilizing its rotation upon its vaginal placement with the electrodes facing in a predetermined direction. The electrodes are adapted to control the urethral, urocystic and/or rectal functions through electrical pulses provided from a pulse generator, and the elongated element is preferably formed of rubber, plastics or the like, and is inflatable.

Abstract: Assembly is disclosed for connecting a duct to a hole in a flat sheet including a wall for receiving one surface of the flat sheet, a nozzle adapted to be sealingly connected to a duct, the nozzle protruding through and beyond the wall such that the flat sheet is arranged with said one surface in engagement with the wall and the nozzle, and a sealing collar engaged with the other surface of the flat sheet, said collar being adapted to cooperate with the wall to seal the flat sheet therebetween.

Abstract: Assembly is disclosed for clamping and sealing the end of a flattened tube. The assembly includes a groove for receiving an end of a flattened tube, and a clamping member including a beaded portion for clamping and sealing the end of a flattened tube when the clamping member is in a clamping position within the groove and the end of the flattened tube is properly disposed in said groove. The groove has a first groove surface and a second surface disposed at an oblique angle relative to said first surface, the second surface including a clamping portion, and the clamping member including a locking portion adapted to mate with said clamping portion of the second surface of the groove when the clamping member is in the clamping position within the groove, whereby the beaded portion is held in its sealing position relative to the end of the flattened tube disposed within the groove.

Abstract: A diffusion apparatus is disclosed including an outer casing and an inner core within the outer casing providing an annular space therebetween so that a tubular semi-permeable membrane having a first end and a second end and spacing material can be helically wound around the inner core within the annular space. The apparatus includes first fluid directing means communicating with a first fluid within the interior of the tubular semi-permeable membrane at a first end thereof, second fluid directing means communicating with a second fluid within the annular space for contacting the outer surface of the tubular semi-permeable membrane with the second fluid, wherein the first fluid directing means includes channel means integral with the inner core, and third fluid directing means communicating with the first fluid within the interior of the tubular semi-permeable membrane at the second end thereof.

Abstract: A supporting net is disclosed including an outer layer of first strands, said first strands being spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other; an intermediate supporting layer of second strands; and an inner layer of third strands, said third strands being spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other, said third strands being substantially parallel to said first strands and being in a spaced relationship to said first strands such that upon clamping a membrane between said supporting net and a second supporting net of the same construction the first strands of the outer layer of said second supporting net penetrate into the spaces between the third strands of the inner layer of the said supporting net so as to clamp the membrane against the intermediate supporting layers of both of the supporting nets.