Abstract: A centrifugal processing system for cultured cellular suspensions comprises a reservoir for pooling a desired volume of the cellular suspension from a plurality of individual containers in which the cellular suspension have been cultured. A centrifugation chamber is provided operative in response to centrifugal force for separating the cellular suspension into a cellular component and a supernatant. Fluid is conveyed from the reservoir into the centrifugation chamber at a high flow rate exceeding 1 liter per minute. The cellular component and supernatant are collected from the centrifugation chamber.

Abstract: An automatic cycler for performing Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD) and Intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis (IPD) is provided. The apparatus of the present invention is a safe and convenient cycler apparatus for performing peritoneal dialysis in either home or clinical environment. The apparatus provides a stable base by storing dialysate at a relatively low position. Tubing administration set length is reduced to a minimum by the use of individual, separated valves and by the elimination of redundant, duplicate tube sections. Administration set complexity is reduced by the use of a conventional design dialysate container for heating and weighing of an infusing dialysate dosage. The apparatus allows for gravity feed to a patient with an optional capability of adjusting the pressure head for the gravity feed.

Abstract: A supplementary degassing system is disclosed herein for use with a bedside console of the type employed in a central delivery system in the event additional degassing is necessary. The system may also be incorporated in a dialysis machine as the main degassing system.The system includes a chamber for receiving a liquid to be degassed. The chamber includes: a liquid inlet; a gas outlet through which gas is withdrawn; a degassed liquid outlet from which degassed liquid is drawn; and a recirculation inlet for receiving at least recirculated liquid. A recirculation loop is also provided for recirculating and treating liquid from the chamber. The loop includes a variable-restriction assembly for regulating pressures and enhancing degassing. The variable-restriction assembly includes a variable restriction comprising an orifice and valve for adjustably controlling liquid flow through the orifice.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a deairing system for use in a bedside-console-type dialysis machine.The system includes a selectively adjustable flow controller, a deairing tank, and a suction pump for drawing dialysis solution from the flow controller through the deairing tank and to the pump. The pump is also connected to the deairing tank for applying a negative pressure and for removing gas from the dialysis solution.The tank is provided with a baffle-and-ball-type check valve arrangement for preventing flow of dialysis solution through the gas line. A recirculation loop is provided in conjunction with the pump and includes an air separation tank downstream of the pump and a negative pressure valve which connects the upstream side of the pump and recirculation tank. The air separation tank cooperates with the pump to assure efficient operation of the pump by minimizing the air drawn through the recirculation loop and to the pump from the separation tank.