Abstract: In one embodiment, a mixing device includes a sleeve that forms an inner space configured to receive a sample container, a housing associated with the sleeve, a mixing element contained within the housing that is configured to mix liquid contained within the sample container, and an activation element configured to activate the mixing element when the activation element is triggered.

Abstract: A vessel includes: a pocket capable of assuming a folded state and an expanded state, processing element including an active inner portion; protection element including a side wall, a lower portion and an upper portion defining an inner space, the lower portion being attached to the upper portion of the pocket, the active inner portion being provided in the inner space when the pocket is in the folded state, the peripheral portion of the inner space about the processing element defining a protection chamber; at least one insertion and/or draining opening. The active inner portion is provided inside the pocket adjacent to the lower end portion thereof, the processing element and the protection element are independent in terms of their movements, and the height of the protection chamber is variable and automatically adapts itself based on respectively, the flat-folded, unfolded and expanded states or any intermediate state of the pocket.

Abstract: A blood chamber for an extracorporeal blood circuit comprises a blood inlet port (2), a blood containment chamber (3), a first conduit (8) which connects the blood inlet port (2) with the blood containment chamber (3) and which has an end tract (8a) that terminates in the blood containment chamber (3) with a horizontal inlet component. The first conduit (8) comprises a pre-terminal tract (8b) which precedes the end tract (8a) and which has at least a second horizontal component which is directed in an opposite direction to the horizontal inlet component. The blood chamber is used in an arterial line of a dialysis set for guaranteeing a regular and gentle blood flow.

Abstract: A pseudo-plastic or thixotropic carrier having anti-malodorous components dissolved or suspended therein is sprayed on the internal surfaces of an ostomy bag or pouch. The viscoelastic properties of the carrier allow the composition to be conveniently dispensed from a spray bottle into the ostomy bag and retained on the inner walls thereof without being displaced therefrom by incoming waste during use of the ostomy bag. This allows the composition to continue to deodorize the ostomy bag headspace even after waste material begins to fill the bag.

Abstract: An improved dry heat method and apparatus for thawing frozen biological fluids utilizing electrically heated plates and oscillatory motion to enhance heat transfer by mixing as the fluid thaws. Bags of frozen fluid to be thawed are lightly squeezed between two heating plates, one of which is gently oscillated to facilitate mixing of the thawing fluid, increasing heat transfer and reducing time required for thawing. Direct contact of the heating plates against the bag surfaces increases heat transfer by eliminating insulative effects of another bag wall and a water boundary layer, compared to water bath units. Flat (or curved to conform to bag) heat pipes are preferred as heating plates compared to plain aluminum sheet. Flat heat pipes have the property of an isothermal heating surface, thus maximizing heat transfer to the coldest areas, preventing hot spots, and simplifying heating plate temperature control.

Abstract: An improved dry heat method and apparatus for thawing frozen biological fluids utilizing electrically heated plates and oscillatory motion to enhance heat transfer by mixing as the fluid thaws. Bags of frozen fluid to be thawed are lightly squeezed between two heating plates, one of which is gently oscillated to facilitate mixing of the thawing fluid, increasing heat transfer and reducing time required for thawing. Direct contact of the heating plates against the bag surfaces increases heat transfer by eliminating insulative effects of another bag wall and a water boundary layer, compared to water bath units. Flat (or curved to conform to bag) heat pipes are preferred as heating plates compared to plain aluminum sheet. Flat heat pipes have the property of an isothermal heating surface, thus maximizing heat transfer to the coldest areas, preventing hot spots, and simplifying heating plate temperature control.

Abstract: A bag arrangement for intermixing two, separately stored substances. The bag arrangement includes a bag having a jacket defining an inner chamber for accommodating a first substance and a piercing device having a chamber in which the jacket is received. A single piercing member is provided on one side of the jacket and a hollow abutment is located opposite the piercing member on an opposite side of the jacket and forms a receptacle for accommodating a second substance. Upon actuation of the piercing device, the piercing member pierces the opposite sides of the jacket providing for intermixing of the first and second substances.

Abstract: The invention concerns a bag for packaging a liquid biological substance, such as animal semen, which is formed by two plastic walls (10, 11) assembled so as to define a pouch (P) for receiving said substance and, communicating with said pouch, an emptying conduit (3) whereof the end part (30) is, when the bag is closed, scaled by said assembled walls. Said bag is characterised in that it comprises, force-fitted in said conduit (3), a cannula (4) whereof the two ends are open, its first end (41) being adapted to communicate with said pouch (P), while its second end (40) located proximate to the end part (30) of the conduit (3) has a truncated or more less truncated contraction, and said conduit (3) communicates, over a fraction of its length, with at least a zone (5) located not far from the end part (30), wherein the two walls (10, 11) are not joined.

Abstract: In an ampoule for a medicament the space accommodating the medicament is defined by an ampoule wall (1) a pierceable seal (5) closing one end of the ampoule and a piston (7) closing the other end of the ampoule. A metal containing fixation element (8) is secured to one of the parts defining the medicament accommodating space. A mixing element (9, 10) also containing a metal and having a density larger than 1,0 g/cm.sup.3 is movable in medicament accommodating space. At least one of the elements, the fixation element (8) and the mixing element (9, 10), can be attracted by a magnet, and at least one of these elements is a magnetic element, the magnetic strength being so that the mixing element (9, 10) can during normal handling of the ampoule be fixed relative to this ampoule by the magnetic attraction between the fixation element (8) and the mixing element (9, 10) but may be released from its fixed position by manual operation.

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: A container for a liquid medicament suspension, e.g. an insulin crystal suspension, has a tube with a sealing piston, a cap, and a mixing element which moves along the tube to assist mixing the suspension. The element is guided by the inner surface of the tube and has restricted lateral movement but is free to move axially, for example, by tilting or end to end inversion of the container. Flow passages such as apertures and peripheral recesses are provided in the mixing element which can serve to promote turbulent flow.The containers are particularly suited for use as multi-dose cartridges for pen-like injection devices or for portable infusion devices which have piston-operating mechanisms to cooperate with the container piston.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly for use in a pen-type medicament injector includes a cartridge for holding a medicament suspension with an open end and an opposite capped end configured to receive a needle therethrough to permit the exit of the medicament suspension, and includes a plunger sized to be received and to seal the open end and to be telescopically movable therein, and the plunger defining a top surface and including at least one monolithic mixing vane formed therefrom and extending from the top surface and inwardly of the cartridge when the plunger is sealingly engaged with the open end.

Abstract: Processes for the preparation of stock solutions for use in medical treatments such as dialysis including the steps of providing a flexible bag containing powder components of the stock solution, supplying water to the flexible bag to provide the stock solution, and dissolving the powder in the water within the flexible bag by stirring the powder by application of a magnetic field to a magnetic stirrer disposed within the bag.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical mixing container for storing a liquid having at least two factions which tend to separate during storage. A cartridge housing having an inner volume is closed at one end by a septum arrangement and at another end by a slidable sealing member. The cartridge housing is installed within a cartridge cover having an outwardly extending pitched land. An outer sleeve having a matching pitched groove formed on the inner surface thereof is received about the cartridge cover. The cover is rotationally mounted to a base member. By translating the outer sleeve away from the base member, the cartridge cover and cartridge housing are rotated to provide turbulent mixing action for any liquid within the cartridge housing. In an alternate embodiment, the cartridge cover is omitted and the pitched land is provided directly on the outer surface of the cartridge housing.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical mixing container for storing a liquid having at least two factions which tend to separate during storage. A housing has an inner volume and is closed at one end by a septum arrangement and at another end by a slidable sealing member. A magnetizable mixing member is located within the housing and contacts the liquid faction of the pharmaceutical contained within the housing. An external magnet produces a magnetic field which extends within the inner volume and interacts with the mixing element. By manually translating the magnet along the axis of the housing, the mixing member is forcibly moved through the liquid causing turbulent waves which provide thorough admixing for the pharmaceutical constituents. By controlling the pace of movement of the magnet, thorough admixing is provided without causing mechanical damage to delicate constituents, such as crystalline factions found in NPH type insulin.

Abstract: A method and device for thawing pouches of frozen transfusion material including a membrane which provides a barrier within an interior of the device with the membrane receiving the pouches of frozen material therewithin. The interior of the device includes a sump having thawing fluid stored therein and maintained at a constant target temperature which is to be achieved by the frozen transfusion material to be thawed. The pouch of material to be thawed, after placement within the membrane, is exposed (through the membrane) to hydrostatic forces associated with the fluid in the sump collapsing the membrane on the pouch while pulsating jets impinge indirectly upon the pouch through the membrane. In this way, as the contents within the pouch thaw, circulation of the fluid within the pouch occurs for more rapid realization of the target temperature for the fluid within the pouch.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical mixing container for storing a liquid having at least two factions which tend to separate during storage. A housing has an inner volume and is closed at one end by a septum arrangement. An extendable mixing element is slidably and sealingly positioned within the inner volume, the mixing element including a base member having a longitudinally extending through bore, a flexible bellows element secured to the base member and an actuating rod slidingly received within the through bore and coupled to the central portion of the bellows element. The bellows element is an axially symmetric member having convoluted concentric wall portions, and the actuating rod is coupled to the central region of the bellows element. By manipulating the actuating rod in opposite directions, the bellow is alternately extended and retracted to create general gentle agitation for any liquid and miscible component contained within the housing.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical mixing container for storing a liquid having at least two factions which tend to separate during storage. A housing has an inner volume and is closed at one end by a septum arrangement and at another end by a slidable sealing member. A vaned mixing member having a magnetic element is loosely rotatably mounted within the housing in a first recess formed in the inner volume facing portion of the sealing member and contacts the liquid faction of the pharmaceutical contained within the housing. An external magnet produces a magnetic field which extends within the inner volume and interacts with the mixing element. By rotating the magnet about the axis of the housing, the mixing member is rotated by the magnetic coupling causing turbulent waves within the liquid which provide thorough admixing for the pharmaceutical constituents. The external magnet is carried by a drive stem which engages with the sealing member and can be used to expel the mixed pharmaceutical after the septum is pierced.

Abstract: An improved diluent container having a small elongated wand (made of plastic or similar material), designed to secure a drug vial cap in place and simultaneously obstruct an I.V. port in a diluent bag similar to an ADD-VANTAGE flexible diluent container. The device is actuated by grasping a gripper ball portion located approximately midway down the wand shaped plug from outside the I.V. bag and removing the vial cap end from the discharge opening between the vial, holding medicament, and the flexible diluent container. Once the vial capped end is removed, the medicament enters the diluent and is mixed by shaking or squeezing the flexible diluent container while maintaining the other end of the wand in the I.V. port. The device has a length which is designed so that the end of the wand shaped plug cannot be removed from the I.V. port of the flexible diluent container until the end blocking the drug vial has been removed from that opening. This thereby prevents the inadvertent administration of I.V.

Abstract: A device comprising a generally cylindrical plastics container sealed at its ends and having an area intermediate said ends defined by one or more temporary seals, thereby dividing the container into two compartments and an intermediate area between the compartments, is provided. The compartment of the container adjacent to one end thereof contains a first material and the compartment of the container adjacent to the other end thereof contains a second material in which the first material is to be dispersed or dissolved prior to use. The intermediate area contains neither the first nor the second material and the temporary seal or seals is or are arranged so that it or they can be broken by finger pressure to permit communication between the outer compartments, thereby permitting mixing of the first and the second materials.

Abstract: A cradle for use in blood donating processes comprises surface (2) which is intended to support a blood-collecting bag and to be rocked reciprocatingly on an axle (4) which extends perpendicularly to the surface, by means of a crank (5, 7). The cradle is provided with a weight measuring device (8) which functions to measure the quantity of blood that has flowed into the bag, and is also fitted with a clamping device (11) which functions to clamp-on or squeeze the hose such as to prevent blood from flowing therein and which is operable electromagnetically. The cradle is further provided with a control circuit (21) which is constructed to control at least the clamping device (11).

Abstract: The instant invention relates to an apparatus for floating animal cells in a double-bag container, where an outer bag containing culture media and a volume of air houses an inner bag of a semipermeable film containing cells suspended in a culture media. The semipermeable film has pores of sufficient size so as to prohibit cells within the inner bag from passing therethrough but allowing culture liquid and air to pass through it. To optimize the exchange of nutrients between the interiors of the two bags, a protective mesh surrounds the inner bag and the double-bag container is fastened to an agitator which provides either a rotating or shaking motion.

Abstract: A direct drive blood defibrination unit and a method of using the unit are presented. The blood defibrination unit includes a vacuum bottle having input, vacuum, dispensing and drive ports therein. Contained within the bottle is a rotatable stir bar which is connected to a drive shaft which passes through the drive port of the vacuum bottle and is connected to a motor. A bacteria and vacuum seal surrounds the drive shaft adjacent the drive port in order to maintain the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the vacuum bottle without bacterial contamination. In operation, the input port of the vacuum bottle is connected to a source of blood to be defibrinated, and the vacuum port is connected to a source of vacuum. The stir bar is rotated during a blood collection time period, and is allowed to continue to rotate for a defibrination time period during which the input and vacuum ports are disconnected. After defibrination, the defibrinated blood is dispensed from the dispensing port.

Abstract: An improved drop dispenser comprised of a container having a threaded cap and a drop nozzle/impeller assembly positioned inside said container. The cap has a receiving orifice which receives and engages the end of drop nozzles so that when the cap is removed by unscrewing, the nozzle/impeller assembly is rotated to stir the contents of the container.

Abstract: A medicament container, such as an injection ampule, for multiple administration of medicament suspensions the containers is filled with medicament so as to be free of gas bubbles, and includes at least one inert mixing element of suitable size whose density is different from that of the suspension. The mixing element acts to homogenize the medicament suspension as the container is shaken.

Abstract: A reactor system especially suited for removal of chemical species from the bloodstream or other biological solutions containing suspended material. The reactor contains species such as enzymes, antibodies, receptors, anti-toxins, and a variety of drugs or inorganic compounds immobilized on particulate supports and/or solid phase adsorbents which react with specific materials under the appropriate conditions.The reactor chamber is cylindrical and may optionally include a second cylinder internal to, and concentric with, the first cylinder, where the annular space between the pair of concentric cylinders forms the fluid path. The reactor chamber is oscillated through an arc of between approximately 50 and 90 degrees along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the flow of fluid through the reactor.

Abstract: To deliver a controlled dosage of an insoluble material into a living body, the material is provided in measured amounts in vials, and a system is provided for flushing the entire content of insoluble materials from the vial into the body. Insoluble radioactive material, such as glass microspheres incorporating radioactive isotopes, are packaged in a plurality of vials, preferably with different amounts of material. An accurate dosage of radioactivity can be delivered by administering the entire contents of one or more vial(s) according to the sum of radioactivity in selected vials as determined by the initial measurement of radioactivity and by the natural half-life of the isotope.

Abstract: A device for sampling blood and measuring erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The device comprises a tube with one end closed, a blood sampling portion on an opened end of the tube and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate measuring portion extending from the blood sampling portion. A stopper is located on the open end of said tube, and may be pierced with a blood drawing needle. Finally a partition member is located within said tube and extends substantially over the entire length of said tube. Blood is directly sampled into the device and the device mixes the sampled blood with a solution of an anticoagulant with a high efficiency in the device. Accordingly, measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be performed quickly and easily.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in obtaining and processing for analysis blood scalp samples during fetal monitoring. A hollow tube having a blood collection assembly at one end is provided. The blood collection assembly comprises a capillary tube, capped at one end, coated with heparin on the inside, a metal flea inside the tube and held positioned by a magnet outside the tube and means for positioning the magnet until mixing of the blood and heparin is desired.