Abstract:
A peritoneal dialysis method includes (i) connecting smaller and larger supply containers to a junction, the smaller and larger supply bags both full of dialysate; (ii) allowing the junction to be connected to a patient's transfer set; allowing the patient to drain through the junction; (iii) allowing the patient to fill from the smaller supply container; and (iv) allowing the patient to refill the smaller supply container from the larger supply container.
Abstract:
A therapy utilizing inhaled anesthetic agents (such as desflurane, sevoflurane, isoflurane, or xenon) for the sedation of patients outside of the immediate perioperative space such as in the medical intensive care unit (MlCU) and the surgical intensive care unit (SlCU). The therapy includes controlled delivery of volatile anesthetic agents to patients undergoing ventilatory support on an ICU ventilator (12) over extended periods of time. A system (10) which provides for the delivery of anesthetic agents includes an anesthetic agent vaporizer element (14), an anesthetic agent reflector (18), and a plug-in cassette (16) which contains both a cartridge (20) housing liquid phase volatile anesthetic agent and an anesthetic (LA) vapor scrubbing medium (S).
Abstract:
A medical fluid or dialysis system includes an auto-connection mechanism that connects connectors from the supply bags to dialysis cassette ports or cassette supply lines. The system provides for multiple, e.g., four, supply bags, which can be connected to a manifold of the auto-connection mechanism. Tip protecting caps that protect the supply line ends and cassette ports or cassette supply line ends are made to be compatible with the auto-connection mechanism. The auto-connection mechanism removes all the caps and connects the supply lines to the cassette. At least one roller occluder is provided that occludes the supply tubing prior to the tip protecting caps being removed. The roller occludes prevent medical dialysis fluid from spilling out of the supply lines between the time that the caps are removed and connection to the cassette is made.
Abstract:
A portable infusion device is provided that includes a cylindrical housing having a housing end, an inflatable cartridge sized to fit within the housing and a piston located within the housing. The cartridge can include a cartridge end having an inlet and an outlet. The cartridge end can be connected to an inflatable portion and be configured to be releasably secured to the housing end when the cartridge is inserted into the housing through the housing end. The piston can include at least one biasing device positioned to apply a constant force to the inflatable portion to expel a medical fluid from the cartridge.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method and a kit for the detection of low abundance RNA species in a biological sample and to a method and a kit for the detection of a mycoplasma contamination in a biological sample.
Abstract:
A Factor VIII (FVIII) composition formulated such that NaCl is not present in the final formulation or is present in trace amounts, which allows for a concomitant reduction in the lyophilization cycle time and increased stability of the lyophilized FVIII.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for performing hemodialysis to remove metabolic waste from the blood of a patient are disclosed. The systems and methods preferably comprise at (east one blood processing apparatus that receives whole blood from a patient. Cellular blood components are removed from the whole blood by hemoftitration, to provide filtered plasma comprising metabolic waste that is substantially reduced of blood cells. The cellular blood components may be returned to the patient. The filtered plasma comprising waste may be removed from the blood processing apparatus through a waste path for further processing in a separate apparatus, or in the same apparatus in a second stage processing procedure to remove metabolic waste components and excess water from the plasma by hemodialysis. At least one of the hemofiltration and hemodialysis processing apparatus comprises a Taylor vortex-enhanced separation apparatus.
Abstract:
Provided herein are methods of efficiently obtaining large numbers of viable, freshly isolated cells from small amounts of adipose tissue, as well as methods of enriching or selecting for target cell populations found therein. In certain embodiments, the method of obtaining a population of cells from adipose tissue comprises incubating the adipose tissue in a solution comprising an enzyme at a concentration which is at least 200 U/ml solution and not more than about 319 U/ml solution. In some embodiments, the method is devoid of any steps which expand the population of cells obtained. In certain aspects, the method further comprises positive or negative selection steps for obtaining an enriched population of target cells from adipose tissue. Related methods of preparing a pharmaceutical composition comprising cells for administration to a patient and methods of treating a disease or medical condition in a patient are further provided herein.
Abstract:
A connection of a patient's vascular system to an extra corporeal blood treatment machine is monitored to ensure the patient's safety during a procedure. The procedure may be hemodialysis, apheresis, plasmapheresis, a coronary by-pass operation, or other procedure. To ensure safe electrical connection, a contact (44) and a return (46) are connected via a conductive connection into the extra corporeal blood circuit. A current is then generated between the contact (44) and the return (46) and is monitored ba a non-contact sensor (49) near an access site of the patient. If the current or other quantity related to the current changes significantly, a signal is sent to the machine or a controller to notify a caregiver or a medical professional. The signal may also be sent to immediately stop a blood pump or other component of the machine.
Abstract:
In one embodiment an automated peritoneal dialysis ("APD") machine (104) includes: at least one pump; a logic implementer storing a plurality of therapy prescriptions by which to operate the at least one pump, each therapy prescription pre-approved for a particular patient; and an input device (160) operating with the logic implementer to allow the patient to select one of the therapy prescriptions for a particular therapy. In another embodiment, the input device operating with the logic implementer allows a doctor/clinician to select or approve one of the therapy prescriptions to be run on the APD machine. In a further embodiment, the logic implementer is programmed to select or suggest one of the therapy prescriptions to be run on the is APD machine.