Gish Biomedical, Inc.

George W White

Jack W Brown

Kenneth M Galt

Brian Strauss

Tichakorn Chaikumnerd

Lisa A Tam

Magdi F Habib

Jeffrey P Du Montelle

Brian M Raze

A system and method for delivery of cardioplegic solution to the heart of a patient incorporates novel venturi flow cells individually adapted for insertion in the blood and crystalloid solution lines together with transducers for measuring a pressure drop across each venturi flow cell and transmitting it to a microprocessor to calculate flow rate for display on a monitor. The novel self-venting and self-priming transducers and venturi flow cells are incorporated in a disposable cassette. The transducers in the disposable cassette are removably snap connected to a hand set or plug housing which communicates with the computer or microprocessor and monitor. A novel variable ratio valve permits infinitely variable ratios of blood and crystalloid solution.

Cardioplegia monitoring system, flow cell cassette, variable ratio

A blood oxygenator having a housing with an outer walled portion and a top portion and bottom portion. Blood is introduced through the bottom portion of the housing to be oxygenated by a fiber bundle having blood and oxygen flow. A blood outlet manifold in the upper portion of the housing is connected to a blood outlet on one end having a conical passage. The blood outlet manifold includes a reservoir with an increasing volume toward the conical passage and is sloped upwardly to enhance gaseous microemboli disentrainment. The wall of the housing decreases in dimension upwardly toward the blood outlet manifold, while the introduction of blood to the fibers is in a lesser ratio to the area adjacent the outlet manifold.

Blood oxygenator

A blood filter for use in filtering blood having side walls, a top, and a bottom joined to the side walls defining an axis with a filtration element surrounding at least a portion of the axis is disclosed. A delivery conduit delivers blood to the interior of the filter at an angle extending upwardly away from a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of the filter to form a vortex which is offset from the filter axis for release of entrapped air through an overlying top vent offset from the central axis, and an exit conduit connected to the interior of the filter element allows blood to flow from the filter element to an exit opening.

Arterial blood filter with upwardly inclining delivery inlet conduit

An antegrade/retrograde cardioplegia valve, system and method are provided. The valve includes conduits for entry of blood and cardioplegic solution, for pressure sensing, and for delivery of blood and cardioplegic solution to the aortic root by means of an aortic root cannula for antegrade infusion or to the coronary sinus by means of a coronary sinus cannula for retrograde infusion. Within the valve a cylindrical sliding member slides axially within an inner cylindrical chamber for selection of retrograde or antegrade infusion. An independent conduit communicates with the coronary sinus cannula for continuous coronary sinus pressure monitoring. A method and system incorporating the valve are also provided.

Antegrade/retrograde cardioplegia method and system

The following disclosure comprises a medical autotransfusion and blood drainage reservoir for withdrawing blood from the site of an operation under vacuum. A walled reservoir is connected to the operation site and a vacuum is drawn therein to draw fluids from the operation site. Vacuum is provided by a piston pump connected to check valves. The check valves allow for movement of the piston pump in one direction to discharge air therefrom, and in the other direction to withdraw air from the reservoir. Alternatively a spring driven bellows can be used to draw a vacuum with attendant check valves. The inlet of blood flow is through a filter. Blood is then capable of flowing outwardly to be reinfused by autotransfusion or reinfusion at a later time. Vacuum indication means and bleed off valves are included for maintenance of a proper vacuum.

Orthopedic autotransfusion system

A plastic coupler for a catheter assembly including a distal member for attachment to a catheter tube and having a female luer lock connector for separable interconnection with a male connector of a proximal member having a self-sealing material disposed within a through passage for injection and a outer protective cap containing a sponge saturated with an antiseptic to bathe the self-sealing material and interconnection with an antiseptic, and a method for maintaining a coupler for a catheter assembly in aseptic condition.

Growing community of inventors

Lake Forest, CA, United States of America

George W White