Gish Biomedical, Inc.

Jack W Brown

George W White

Leo James Lichte

Brian Strauss

Kenneth M Galt

Wendell V Ebling

Lisa A Tam

Tichakorn Chaikumnerd

Magdi F Habib

Jeanne S Pierson

Peter N Cassimatis

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.

Antiseptic catheter coupling septum

A combined cardiotomy and venous reservoir with filtration for autotransfusion of cardiotomy blood and venous blood during surgery and for postoperative wound site pleural drainage of shed blood for continued autotransfusion using the same unit. Vacuum regulation in the form of a manometer combined with a water seal are integral with the unit.

Combined cardiotomy/venous/pleural drainage autotransfusion unit with

The disclosure herein sets forth a pleural drainage/autotransfusion unit in combination with a cardiotomy reservoir having a vacuum regulating chamber in connected relationship to the pleural drainage/autotransfusion unit. The vacuum regulating chamber is formed of a portion of said cardiotomy reservoir unit and extends along the axial direction of the reservoir of the autotransfusion unit and can be connected to a source of vacuum. A water seal is interposed between the vacuum regulating chamber and the interior of the reservoir in order to provide for water sealed negative pressure within the reservoir. The function of the cardiotomy reservoir and the pleural drainage/autotransfusion unit can be changed by means of connections that have spring loaded tangs that engage a flange of a barbed inlet port. The connection is sealed by means of a resilient plastic material engaging the barbed inlet ports and can be readily removed therefrom and sealed without the requirement of sealing a tube which has been shrunken over the barbs of the inlet port.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Ana, CA, United States of America

Jack W Brown