Abstract: [PROBLEMS] Relating to a bioassay method with the use of cultured cells and cell culture for a therapeutic purpose in the case of determining the efficacy of a drug or the like or examining the toxicity thereof, it is intended to provide a method of culturing cells under regulation in the extension direction and a cell culture plate. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A cell culture plate having a plural number of side walls (1) and a plural number of space structures (3) for providing cultured cells which are formed by the side walls (1), wherein the side walls (1) are provided with openings (2) so that the space structures (3) are linked together. By using this cell culture plate, a method of culturing cells under regulation in the extension direction can be provided.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a cell culture chamber in a shape suitable for cell culture. It is also intended to provide a cell culture chamber which is inexpensive and facilitates observation. A cell culture chamber (100) includes a cover (10), a chamber body (20) and a plate-shaped base (30). The cover (10) covers an opening (21) of the chamber body (20). The chamber body (20) contains a culture such as cells. The plate base (30) covers a through hole (24) formed at the bottom (23) of the chamber body (20). Moreover, the plate base (30) has fine pits and projections formed thereon for culturing the culture.

Abstract: [Problems]Relating to a bioassay method with the use of cultured cells and cell culture for a therapeutic purpose in the case of determining the efficacy of a drug or the like or examining the toxicity thereof, it is intended to provide a method of culturing cells under regulation in the extension direction and a cell culture plate. [Means for Solving Problems]A cell culture plate having a plural number of side walls (1) and a plural number of space structures (3) for providing cultured cells which are formed by the side walls (1), wherein the side walls (1) are provided with openings (2) so that the space structures (3) are linked together. By using this cell culture plate, a method of culturing cells under regulation in the extension direction can be provided.

Abstract: A balloon catheter and its pilot balloon system visually indicate the state of the inflation of a balloon placed in a human body. The small pilot balloon is conveniently manufactured by blow molding utilizing substantially the same material and has substantially the same structure as the main balloon. The pilot balloon is useful for a catheter with balloon or a tube with cuff where the balloon or the cuff is made of a very resilient material. The preferred material is a blend of composition having certain properties comprising styrenic thermoplastic elastomer and polyolefin.

Abstract: A balloon catheter and its pilot balloon system visually indicate the state of the inflation of a balloon placed in a human body. The small pilot balloon is conveniently manufactured by blow molding utilizing substantially the same material and has substantially the same structure as the main balloon. The pilot balloon is useful for a catheter with balloon or a tube with cuff where the balloon or the cuff is made of a very resilient material. The preferred material is a blend of composition having certain properties comprising styrenic thermoplastic elastomer and polyolefin.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube comprising a tube obtained by subjecting a resin composition comprising a styrenic elastomer and a polyolefin to extrusion-molding, wherein the tube has a storage modulus (MD) of 5.0×107 to 8.0×108 dyne/cm2 in the extrusion direction of at 25° C., and has a ratio of the storage modulus (MD) in the extrusion direction to a storage modulus (TD) in the circumferential direction (MD/TD) of not more than 1.3 at 25° C. The endotracheal tube can be suitably used for an orally inserted endotracheal tube, a nasally inserted endotracheal tube, and a tube for tracheostomy to be inserted into the trachea from a tracheostoma. A cuff having a storage modulus of not more than 5.0×108 dyne/cm at 25° C., obtained by subjecting a resin composition comprising a styrenic elastomer and a polyolefin to blow-molding, wherein the resin composition has a melt tension of not less than 1 g at 230° C. The cuff can be used in the endotracheal tube.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for plasma separation which is designed so that during the process of separating blood into plasma and corpuscular components by means of plasma separation membranes, if the rate of plasma permeation through the membranes is decreased so that the trans-membrane pressure differential exceeds a predetermined value, the number of revolutions of a plasma pump is adjusted downward to permit restoration of a trans-membrane pressure differential lower than the predetermined value. The rate of plasma discharge is gradually decreased according to the varying permeability of the membranes to plasma, whereby a most effective performance of the membranes can be assured. The apparatus and method can be employed in practicing various blood treatment methods wherein blood is separated into plasma and corpuscular fractions to remove the plasma containing pathogenic factors or to remove the pathogenic factors from the plasma.

Abstract: Separation apparatus capable of separating plasma into high molecular weight substances and low molecular weight substances containing albumin, regardless of whether plasma is obtained by separation of corpuscular components in a continuous centrifugal separator or in a batch-type centrifugal separator. The apparatus comprises a filtration membrane module, a plasma feeding circuit connecting the centrifugal separator with the filtration membrane module, a plasma return circuit for returning to a patient purified plasma freed of high molecular weight substances, a supplemental fluid circuit for supplying additional fluid to the plasma return circuit, and a condensed plasma discharge circuit for disposal of high molecular weight substances. The apparatus is controlled independently of the centrifugal separator.

Abstract: An apparatus for easily drawing blood from arm or leg, which is provided with an inflatable air bag to be wound around the arm or leg and to intermittently squeeze a part of the arm or leg in a fixed length. Control over inflation and contraction of the air bag by means of an electronic circuit permits free and precise change of a length of time for inflating or contracting the air bag as well as pressure in the air bag. An apparatus according to this invention for drawing blood from swollen vein extending within a part between the air bag and the tip of arm of leg can increase a quantity of blood to be drawn. Therefore, this apparatus is generally used together with an extracorporporeal blood circulation and treating apparatus.

Abstract: A method for treating blood uses a tubular body fluid passageway member at least part of which is made of a flexible material, an outer tubular member which is made of a nonflexible material and contains said tubular body fluid passageway member hermetically enclosed therein, a pressure detecting member for monitoring the pressure of the flowing body fluid by means of a fluid filled in the hermetically closed space between the outside surface of said tubular body fluid passageway member and said outer tubular member without substantial contact of the body fluid with air, and a body fluid filtering member comprising a filter. The method is especially useful for non-anticoagulant hemodialysis.

Abstract: Body cavity fluids, such as ascitic fluid and pleural fluid, are concentrated and filtered to remove bacteria and cancer cells, and the filtered concentrate is returned to the patient intravenously. The concentration and filtration are performed batch-wise, with the concentration being done before the filtration. The apparatus for concentrating and filtering includes a first container for holding the body fluid, a second container for holding the final filtered concentrate, a filter, a concentrator, a pump and two branched tubes connected to the filter and the concentrator which tubes can be selectively closed for concentrating and filtering the body fluid. The fluid outlet of the first container is designed to help prevent precipitated fibrin from passing out of the container and blocking the concentrator or filter membranes.