The University of Texas System

Kevin Aroom

Charles S Cox, Jr

Brijesh S Gill

Tushar Sharma

Pamela Wenzel

Charles Cox

Charles S Cox

Charles Cox Jr

Jr Cox Charles S

Jr Cox Charles

An apparatus for determining the capacity of a blood sample to clot, the apparatus having a body with a cavity thereon to receive the blood sample, a displacement member movably received on the body and movable from a first position to a second position, a spring element for imparting a retaining force against movement of the displacement member from the first position, and a discrete indicator for generating a signal when the displacement member is moved to the second position. The coagulation and contraction of the blood sample as it clots adheres to and moves the displacement member from the first position towards the second position against the retaining force of the spring element. The indicator may include a mechanical switch, an exothermic chemical switch, a chemiluminescent chemical switch, a segmented optical pathway, an electrical switch, a field effect transistor switch or a Hall effect magnetic switch.

Blood coagulometer with discrete indicator and method

An apparatus and method for measuring clotting capacity of a patient's blood comprises a probe having a wetted portion, a well to receive a blood sample to contact the wetted portion, a spring element intermediate the wetted portion and a probe support, and a sensor to determine the displacement of the wetted portion resulting from a displacing force imparted to the wetted portion by a clotting blood sample in the well. Embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention may include a variable capacitance displacement sensor, an eddy current variance sensor, a microelectromechanical sensor and an optical instrument. Embodiments of the apparatus may include a current source. The present invention enables reliable detection of mitochondrial dysfunction and sepsis in a blood sample. Embodiments of the apparatus of the invention may be portable. A probe used in such embodiments may be disposable.

Blood coagulometer and method

Devices and methods for extraction and processing of(Wharton's Jelly) from an umbilical cord.

Devices and methods for umbilical cord processing

Devices and methods for extraction and processing of substantiagelatineafuniculi umbilicalis (Wharton's Jelly) from an umbilical cord.

A bioreactor system for conditioning of pluripotent cells or cell media is provided. In further aspects, conditioned pluripotent cells and methods for making such cells are provided.

Methods and apparatus for conditioning cell populations for cell therapies

Devices and methods for extraction and processing of substantia gelatinea funiculi umbilicalis (Wharton's Jelly) from an umbilical cord. Isolated pluripotent cell compositions and methods of using the same are also provided.

An embodiment of a submersible warming garment comprises a closed fluid loop including a warming conduit disposed in thermal communication with a chamber containing a catalyst and a cooling conduit disposed within a wearable garment. A pump moves the fluid through the warming conduit, where heat is gained, to the cooling conduit, where heat is surrendered to a human wearing the garment, and back to the pump. An actuated valve on a container of fuel and an actuated valve on a container of oxygen are controlled using a controller to provide a combustible mixture into the chamber where the mixture reacts in the presence of a catalytic member to generate heat and combustion by-products. The combustion by-products, including carbon dioxide and water, are one of adsorbed and absorbed by a carbon dioxide scrubber and a reusable water storage medium. A fan moves the by-products into the scrubber and water storage medium.

Submersible warming device

An apparatus for determining blood clotting capacity comprises an actuator to cyclically move a member within a sample of blood received in a well in a tray and one of a deflection sensor and a position sensor to determine the position of the wetted member upon being acted upon by the actuator. The theoretical position of the wetted member, as determined using a known actuator force and wetted member physical data, is compared to the sensed deflection or position of the wetted member, and the resistance to movement of the wetted member caused by the blood is determined and correlated to a clotting capacity.

The invention is directed to a multi-disk centrifugal pump suitable for pumping fluids, including biocompatible fluids, such as blood. The design of the pump components is optimized to reduce or eliminate the probability of clotting and hemolysis when pumping blood, and to be energy efficient and resistant to physical shock for portable applications.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Kevin Aroom