Abstract: A method for extracorporeal blood heating to effect whole body hyperthermia, which utilizes a hemodialyzer with a sorbent suspension in the dialysate, a blood pump and a heat exchanger--in addition to various probes and catheters and heated anterior and posterior blankets for the patient--to effect extracorporeal treatment without adverse effect on blood physiology and without the need for general anesthesia. Blood returning to the body is heated to at least about 46.degree. C. Incorporation of hemodialysis into the blood heating treatment solves at once several problems which plagued prior art hyperthermia techniques: it rectifies any imbalances of sodium, potassium, magnesium, bicarbonate or phosphate, and may remove toxins incident to necrosis of tumors and virally infected cells. Hyperthermia protocols with sorbent--based dialysis of blood thus avoid the various serious side effects which complicated--even to the point of death--the hyperthermia treatments known from the past.

Abstract: A device for eliminating mineral precipitation within a liquid system. A container having inlet and outlet pipes is connectable to external plumbing to receive and pass through the container untreated water or liquid. The inlet pipe is connected within the container to a fitting having a treatment pipe extending therebeneath to the bottom of the container. A metal treatment bar is suspendedly positioned within the treatment pipe, but is spaced internally therefrom to allow the untreated water to contact and pass over the treatment bar eventually emptying into the container. The water exiting the treatment pipe eventually exits the container through the outlet pipe. The treatment bar is fixedly and suspendedly mounted by a rod extending out of the container and secured to a plug sealingly, but removably mounted to the container top wall. The plug is removable along with rod and treatment bar to facilitate cleaning of the bar.

Abstract: A combination load and latch mechanism for fluid flow control apparatus, wherein a latch mounted for pivotal movement may be manually opened to disengage an electromechanical manipulating device to permit loading or unloading a feeding tube, the latch automatically closing and the device re-engaging upon release of the latch. The latch includes a slotted side wall that defines a retaining surface for capturing the tube relative to the manipulating device, and a cam surface upon which the tube acts during loading to cam the latch open. Means are included for sensing movement of the latch prior to any disengagement of the manipulating device.