Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for harvesting biological material from an umbilical cord. A drain functions to drain the material from the umbilical cord. The apparatus includes a seal member for sealing an open end of an umbilical cord with the drain. A support is provided to support the seal member. An actuator is provided to adjust the engagement of the seal member with the umbilical cord. Moving the actuator relative to the support allows the seal member to twist about the umbilical cord to seal against the umbilical cord to effect drainage of material from the umbilical cord to the drain without leakage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for thawing and heating biological material such as plasma, bone marrow or stem cells. The apparatus includes a housing containing a fluid-filled, sealed bladder for receiving a bag of the biological material. An agitator is provided which is operable to inflate an actuator pillow causing a support plate to compress the fluid-filled bladder, thereby promoting movement of the fluid within the bladder to agitate the biological material. A heater is provided which heats the fluid while contained in the bladder.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided to rapidly thaw and heat frozen bags of biological materials, such as plasma. The apparatus has a hollow bladder having a flexible wall that is placed in contact with the bag. A circulation system draws fluid from a reservoir and fills the bladder with the fluid. The circulation system also drains fluid from the bladder. A heater in the reservoir heats the fluid before the fluid enters the bladder. As heated fluid flows through the bladder, heat is transferred through the bladder wall to the plasma bag to thaw the biological material. The bladder wall expands against the plasma bag as the bladder fills with fluid, and contracts from the plasma bag as the bladder is drained. The expansion and contraction of the bladder wall agitates the plasma bag and biological material to accelerate the thawing process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for harvesting biological material from an umbilical cord. A drain functions to drain the material from the umbilical cord. The apparatus includes a seal member for sealing an open end of an umbilical cord with the drain. A support is provided to support the seal member. An actuator is provided to adjust the engagement of the seal member with the umbilical cord. Moving the actuator relative to the support allows the seal member to twist about the umbilical cord to seal against the umbilical cord to effect drainage of material from the umbilical cord to the drain without leakage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for thawing and heating biological material such as plasma, bone marrow or stem cells. The apparatus includes a housing containing a fluid-filled, sealed bladder for receiving a bag of the biological material. An agitator is provided which is operable to inflate an actuator pillow causing a support plate to compress the fluid-filled bladder, thereby promoting movement of the fluid within the bladder to agitate the biological material. A heater is provided which heats the fluid while contained in the bladder.

Abstract: A heating apparatus is provided for heating a medical product such as a bag of frozen plasma or blood. The apparatus includes a reservoir for holding a supply of heating liquid. At least one heating compartment is provided for holding a bag of frozen plasma or blood. At least one bladder is disposed within the heating compartment for engaging the medical product within the heating compartment and for receiving heating fluid from the reservoir to heat the medical product. A controller is provided for controlling the heating of the medical product. A heater operates under the control of the controller for providing heat to the heating fluid. A pump operates under the control of the controller for pumping the heating fluid from the reservoir to the bladder to effect heat transfer to the medical product in engagement with the bladder. A rocker operates under the control of the controller for agitating or rocking the medical product within the heating compartment to facilitate thawing of the medical product.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided to rapidly thaw and heat frozen bags of biological materials, such as plasma. The apparatus has a hollow bladder having a flexible wall that is placed in contact with the bag. A circulation system draws fluid from a reservoir and fills the bladder with the fluid. The circulation system also drains fluid from the bladder. A heater in the reservoir heats the fluid before the fluid enters the bladder. As heated fluid flows through the bladder, heat is transferred through the bladder wall to the plasma bag to thaw the biological material. The bladder wall expands against the plasma bag as the bladder fills with fluid, and contracts from the plasma bag as the bladder is drained. The expansion and contraction of the bladder wall agitates the plasma bag and biological material to accelerate the thawing process.

Abstract: A film developing apparatus is provided for developing photographic film by an automated batch process. The apparatus provides automated preparation of precise mixtures of the processing liquids at various stages of the batch process. The mixtures are made on-demand and are pre-heated just before use in the batch process. Additionally, the apparatus provides a method to reuse used processing fluids in future processing. In particular, the apparatus makes use of its mixing capability to combine a reserved processing fluid with a fresh processing fluid to create a replenished processing fluid.

Abstract: A technique and apparatus for rapidly thawing a frozen blood plasma unit. The holder maintains a plasma unit pouch submerged in a manner which affords substantial thermal contact between the plasma unit and the fluid bath. The fluid is manipulated to provide a kneading effect on the exterior surface of the bag to enhance thawing efficiency.

Abstract: A technique and apparatus for rapidly thawing a frozen blood plasma unit. The holder maintains a plasma unit pouch submerged in a manner which affords substantial thermal contact between the plasma unit and the fluid bath. The fluid is manipulated to provide a kneading effect on the exterior surface of the bag to enhance thawing efficiency.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a developing machine for batch processing photographic film and paper. The quality of the chemicals used to develop the film and paper are maintained by a system for automatically replenishing used chemical with a concentrate immediately prior to re-use.

Abstract: An automatic film processor for processing roll, sheet or disk film houses the film to be developed, which is disposed in a light tight housing, preheats the chemical solutions to the proper temperature and pumps them, in turn, into the reservoir formed by the base of the removable film drum in which the film is positioned and provides rotary and linear agitation for the film. The machine includes a linear selective valve capable of selecting any one of a plurality of chemical solutions for use in developing of the film and carefully purges the system prior to preheating and supplying the next chemical for use in the developing process.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing internegatives includes a slide holder for positioning the slide from which the internegative is to made, a primary photoflash unit for back-illuminating the slide and projecting the image thereof into a camera, a secondary photoflash unit for directing a contrast correction exposure into the camera via a reflecting plate, and a stored programmed controlled processor for controlling the time duration of the primary exposure, the contrast correction exposure, and the operation of the camera so as to properly exposure the film in the camera. A back-illuminated light screen is provided to allow the operator to evaluate the brightness of the slide so as to control the duration of the primary exposure and the contrast correction to consistently produce properly exposed internegatives. In a second embodiment, a single photoflash unit, in cooperating with a movably mounted neutral density filter, is used to effect both the primary and contrast correcting exposures.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing internegatives includes a slide holder for positioning the slide from which the internegative is to made, a primary photoflash unit for back-illuminating the slide and projecting the image thereof into a camera, a secondary photoflash unit for directing a contrast correction exposure into the camera via a reflecting plate, and a stored programed controlled processor for controlling the time duration of the primary exposure, the contrast correction exposure, and the operation of the camera so as to properly exposure the film in the camera. A back-illuminated light screen is provided to allow the operator to evaluate the brightness of the slide so as to control the duration of the primary exposure and the contrast correction to consistently produce properly exposed internegatives.

Abstract: A technique and apparatus for thawing a frozen blood plasma unit while maintaining the unit in a dry condition includes a water bath and a special holder which supports a thin plastic bag in which the plasma unit is contained. The holder maintains the bag and the plasma unit submerged in a manner which affords substantial thermal contact between the plasma unit and the water bath.

Abstract: This discloses and claims a method and apparatus for combining the drying of photographic disc films in the same chamber with the wet processing of the disc film. This includes magnetic coupling means connected to which is a magnetic sensing device which operates to facilitate automatic recoupling when the magnetic means is decoupled. The combination also includes an absorbent liner in the top of the processing chamber for absorbing excess processing liquid, thereby preventing it from dropping on the disc film during the drying process.

Abstract: An automatic film processor for processing roll, sheet or disk film houses the film to be developed, which is disposed in a light tight housing, preheats the chemical solutions to the proper temperature and pumps them, in turn, into the reservoir formed by the base of the removable film drum in which the film is positioned and provides rotary and linear agitation for the film. The machine includes a linear selective valve capable of selecting any one of a plurailty of chemical solutions for use in developing of the film and carefully purges the system prior to preheating and supplying the next chemical for use in the developing process.