Abstract: An extracorporeal blood perfusion system includes a disposable assembly and a control unit having a control interface region. The interface region includes pump assemblies for selective pumping of venous blood, arterial blood, cardioplegia solution, suctioned blood and blood removed from the left ventricle. Valve assemblies control the flow of fluids through the assembly and to/from the patient and sensors monitor various fluid parameters including temperature and pressure within the various fluid circuits. The user interface is a functional screen interface for effecting the operation of the control unit and valve assemblies. The screen interface may be a touch screen having objects that corresponds to the component interface region. The display may be selectively controlled to provide graphic depictions of disposable assembly components with corresponding narrative instructions.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood perfusion system includes a disposable assembly and a control unit having a control interface region. The interface region includes pump assemblies for selective pumping of venous blood, arterial blood, cardioplegia solution, suctioned blood and blood removed from the left ventricle. Valve assemblies control the flow of fluids through the assembly and to/from the patient and sensors monitor various fluid parameters including temperature and pressure within the various fluid circuits. The user interface is a functional screen interface for effecting the operation of the control unit and valve assemblies. The screen interface may be a touch screen having objects that corresponds to the component interface region. The display may be selectively controlled to provide graphic depictions of disposable assembly components with corresponding narrative instructions.

Abstract: A catheter system adapted for navigating, guiding and implanting a catheter or a plurality of catheters in a spatially-defined implantation within the tissue of a patient is provided. The system can include a tissue navigation system and a probe to inform the navigation system to guide emplacement of the catheters within a target tissue. The probe can provide images, such as fiberoptic visual images, or ultrasound images, or can provide radiolocation data, to guide the catheter emplacement. The catheters supply a pressurized liquid including a bioactive agent, such as can be used in the treatment of cancer, for example 123I- or 125I-IUDR. The system and methods provided can be used in the treatment of locally advanced tumors, such as cancers of the brain, head or neck, esophagus, prostate, ovary, liver, pancreas, bladder or rectum.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood perfusion system includes a disposable assembly and a control unit having a control interface region. The interface region includes pump assemblies for selective pumping of venous blood, arterial blood, cardioplegia solution, suctioned blood and blood removed from the left ventricle. Valve assemblies control the flow of fluids through the assembly and to/from the patient and sensors monitor various fluid parameters including temperature and pressure within the various fluid circuits. The user interface is a functional screen interface for effecting the operation of the control unit and valve assemblies. The screen interface may be a touch screen having objects that corresponds to the component interface region. The display may be selectively controlled to provide graphic depictions of disposable assembly components with corresponding narrative instructions.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood perfusion system includes a disposable assembly and a control unit having a control interface region. The interface region includes pump assemblies for selective pumping of venous blood, arterial blood, cardioplegia solution, suctioned blood and blood removed from the left ventricle. Valve assemblies control the flow of fluids through the assembly and to/from the patient and sensors monitor various fluid parameters including temperature and pressure within the various fluid circuits. The user interface is a functional screen interface for effecting the operation of the control unit and valve assemblies. The screen interface may be a touch screen having objects that corresponds to the component interface region. The display may be selectively controlled to provide graphic depictions of disposable assembly components with corresponding narrative instructions.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the local radiotherapy of cancers such as locally invasive, advanced stage solid tumors, and normal tissues penetrated by processes of cancerous tissue, through administration of Auger-electron emitting radionucleoside analogs using high-flow microinfusion techniques (“convection-enhanced delivery”). Direct infusion under pressure, at flow rates in excess of at least about 0.5 microliters/min of the radionucleosides provides for their mass transport through tissue to a much higher degree than could be achieved by passive, unpressurized diffusion.

Abstract: A catheter system adapted for navigating, guiding and implanting a catheter or a plurality of catheters in a spatially-defined implantation within the tissue of a patient is provided. The system can include a tissue navigation system and a probe to inform the navigation system to guide emplacement of the catheters within a target tissue. The probe can provide images, such as fiberoptic visual images, or ultrasound images, or can provide radiolocation data, to guide the catheter emplacement. The catheters supply a pressurized liquid including a bioactive agent, such as can be used in the treatment of cancer, for example 123I- or 125I-IUDR. The system and methods provided can be used in the treatment of locally advanced tumors, such as cancers of the brain, head or neck, esophagus, prostate, ovary, liver, pancreas, bladder or rectum.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood perfusion system includes a disposable assembly and a control unit having a control interface region. The interface region includes pump assemblies for selective pumping of venous blood, arterial blood, cardioplegia solution, suctioned blood and blood removed from the left ventricle. Valve assemblies control the flow of fluids through the assembly and to/from the patient and sensors monitor various fluid parameters including temperature and pressure within the various fluid circuits. The user interface is a functional screen interface for effecting the operation of the control unit and valve assemblies. The screen interface may be a touch screen having objects that corresponds to the component interface region. The display may be selectively controlled to provide graphic depictions of disposable assembly components with corresponding narrative instructions.

Abstract: An improved perfusion control assembly comprising a console and an oxygenator flanked by at least two flanking units, wherein a first flanking unit is a pump assembly and additional flanking units are at least one of additional pump assemblies, a display monitor, a parameter monitoring assembly, or a controller, is described. The improved assembly can have the advantages of a reduced extracorporeal blood volumes in cardiopulmonary and cardioplegia circuits, and improved ergonomics for the perfusionist. In a preferred embodiment, the elongated console of the assembly is divided into a central and at least two peripheral segments connected by hinged joints. The perfusionist may rotate segments to create a cockpit shaped assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a cardioplegia mixture is provided which allows an increased level of control over the flow rate, dilution ration and concentration of cardioplegia inducing components in cardioplegia mixture during cardiovascular surgery. The method for preparing the cardioplegia mixture includes the steps of combining first and second crystalloid solutions of different concentrations to establish a total volume flow rate of combined solutions. The flow rate of the first crystalloid solution is self adjusted to equal the established total volume flow rate minus the established volume flow rate of the second crystalloid solution. The apparatus for preparing a cardioplegia mixture includes first and second crystalloid solutions containing a cardioplegia inducing component at different concentrations, and means for flowing and combining the solutions and establishing a total volume flow rate of the combined solution.

Abstract: A venous reservoir bag subassembly is provided which is adapted to cooperate with a mounting assembly having a bracket frame and a front plate reproducibly relatively movable to enable constant accurate blood volume readout, cooperating means between the subassembly and the mounting assembly to provide against unduly low blood volume, and angled conduit means cooperating with the bag and recesses in the subassembly and assembly to provide further failsafe against passage of the undesirable gas.

Abstract: A venous reservoir bag subassembly which is adapted to cooperate with a mounting assembly having a bracket frame and a front plate reproducibly relatively movable to enable constant accurate blood volume readout, a cooperating mechanism between the subassembly and the mounting assembly to provide against unduly low blood volume, and an angled conduit cooperating with the bag and recesses in the subassembly and assembly to provide further failsafe against passage of the undesirable gas.

Abstract: A venous reservoir bag subassembly is provided which is adapted to cooperate with a mounting assembly having a bracket frame and a front plate reproducibly relatively movable to enable constant accurate blood volume readout, cooperating means between the subassembly and the mounting assembly to provide against unduly low blood volume, and angled conduit means cooperating with the bag and recesses in the subassembly and assembly to provide further failsafe against passage of the undesirable gas.

Abstract: A system for controlling and monitoring the extracorporeal circulation of fluids, which is particularly useful in controlling and monitoring the circulation of blood and cardioplegia solution in surgical procedures. A set of perfusion assemblies are mounted in a transportable console, each perfusion assembly having a separable pump and control module pod. Virtually all the instrumentation for the monitoring and controlling of the pump and the fluid being pumped by that perfusion assembly are present on the pump and control module pod for that perfusion assembly, without the need for any separate control screen. Further, the perfusion assembly uses removable circuit cards and associated instrumentation strips to custom configure the perfusion assembly for each application. The perfusion assembly thereby provides complete information at a glance and complete control of the perfusion assembly by using dedicated controls that are grouped to each perfusion assembly.