Baxter International Inc.

Baxter Laboratories, Inc.

Quadra Logic Technologies, Inc.

Ludwig Wolf, Jr

William R Bratten

John T Foley

William J Schnell

Jimmy L Miller

Philip H Coelho

Michael T K Ling

Daniel F Bischof

John R Chapman

Allen R Wons

David Bellamy, Jr

David P Fisher

Burton Salkin

Jack Foley

Michael Stonefield

Gary Kunz

David G Dominguez

A method and apparatus for inactivating viruses in a body fluid. A mixture including a therapeutically effective amount of methylene blue and an amount of a body fluid is formed in a container under sterile conditions and then the container is irradiated with a light field of a suitable intensity and wavelength for activating the methylene blue for a time sufficient to inactivate viruses in the mixture. The mixture is maintained in a substantially static state within the container.

Apparatus and method for inactivating viral contaminants in body fluids

A medical grade tubing that includes a layer of ultra low density polyethylene that has been let down, or drawn down, in diameter approximately 10% to about 50% in an extrusion process and an inner layer of an RF responsive material, the tubing allowing for the selective connection of the tubing to another tubing using a sterile welding device.

Medical grade tubing and methods for coupling same

A flexible container comprises first and second flexible sheets of plastic material having peripheral edges, which have been sealed together along a plane to create an interior chamber in the container. At least one of the first and second flexible sheets includes a preformed, stress-relieved region, which is extended outside the plane and overlies at least a portion of the interior chamber.

Heat and pressure-formed flexible containers

A method for treating a body fluid to at least substantially inactivate viral contaminants that may be present therein is provided. The method includes the steps of: providing a body fluid; adding to the body fluid a viral inactivating agent to create a resultant product; and passing the resultant product through a column including material having an affinity for the viral inactivating agent.

Method and apparatus for removing viral contaminants from a body fluid

A flexible, three-dimensional container is made by a prescribed vacuum-molding and heat sealing process. The container possesses a precise, defined geometry before and during use. The container is formed from first and second walls. The first wall has a planar area and a vacuum-molded cavity area drawn out of the plane of the planar area into a predefined three-dimensional geometry. A second wall overlies the first wall to close the cavity area and thereby forms an interior compartment. A thermal seal joins the two walls together. The seal is formed by heating the second wall and the first wall in the planar area, while assuring that the cavity area of the first wall is not subject to heating and possible deformation of its precise vacuum-molded geometry.

Flexible, three-dimensional containers and methods for making them

Assemblies and methods process cord blood in a sterile fashion to avoid exposure to bacterial contamination. A transfer tube couples a cord blood processing container to an other container, which, in use, holds a cryopreservative solution. The transfer tube has an interior diameter that is restricted substantially along its entire length, to meter the introduction of cryopreservation solution into cord blood at a desired rate, thereby avoiding damage or trauma to the cord blood cells.

Systems for processing and storing placenta/umbilical cord blood

A system and method for treating a fluid carrying a contaminant to which a photoactive material has been bound include a treatment device that defines a flow passage with a gap. The system and method operate to establish a flow of fluid from the inlet end of the gap to the outlet end of the gap. The system and method also channel the flow of fluid in the gap in succession through one or more flow paths. The system and method establish at least two discrete sources of radiation in the flow path at spaced apart locations along the direction of fluid flow. At least one of the radiation sources comprises a photodiode. The system and method further include a control for operating each discrete source of radiation at a selected wavelength within the prescribed range to activate the photoactive material bound to the contaminant. Upon activation, the material eradicates the contaminant. The system and method provide extracorporeal treatment of fluids like blood to quickly and effectively eradicate infection agents at relatively high flow rates.

Systems and methods for eradicating contaminants using photoactive

A system and method for treating a fluid carrying a biological contaminant to which a photoactive material has been bound include a treatment device that defines a flow passage with a gap. The system and method operate to establish a flow of fluid from the inlet end of the gap to the outlet end of the gap. The system and method expose the fluid, as it transits the gap, to a source of radiation that activates the photoactive material bound to the contaminant. The system and method also mix the fluid as it flows within the gap.

Systems for treating a fluid carrying a contaminant to which a photoactive material has been bound include a treatment device that defines a relatively narrow, arcuately shaped flow path. These systems envelop the path with a radiation chamber that directs radiation from one or more sources into the fluid.

Systems for eradicating contaminants using photoactive materials in

A support member for use in a coil dialyzer to support an elongated, tubularly-shaped, semipermeable membrane is disclosed herein. The member is embossed and has generally angularly extending parallel ribs on both sides of the web. The ribs are arranged so that on each side there are high ribs and low ribs positioned between said high ribs. The ribs on opposite sides overlap in such a manner to form an angle varying between 60.degree. and 140.degree.. Furthermore, the ribs are arranged in a pattern wherein there are four short ribs positioned between adjacent pairs of high ribs.

Support member construction for semipermeable membrane

A support member for use in a coil dialyzer to support an elongated, tubularly-shaped, semipermeable membrane is disclosed herein. The member is embossed and has generally angularly-extending parallel ribs on both sides of the web. The ribs are arranged so that on each side there are high ribs and low ribs positioned between said high ribs. The ribs are arranged in a pattern whereby the lower ribs are at least of two different heights so that on each side of the support membrane there are ribs of at least three different heights.

Multi-level support member for use with semipermeable membrane

A device for separating low density materials such as gas bubbles from a liquid is disclosed which comprises a chamber defined by an inner wall which in turn defines generally circular, transverse cross-sections about a longitudinal axis. The liquid inlet port extends through the inner wall in a position to pass liquid into the chambers circumferentially about the inner wall for swirling flow within the chamber. Accordingly, lower density components of the fluid, such as bubbles, migrate away from the inner wall toward the center of the swirling flow. An outlet port extends through the inner wall, and is spaced from the inlet port, to collect fluid which is free from the low density materials.

Swirling flow bubble trap

Method and apparatus for testing a membrane strip for leaks due to pin holes are disclosed. A detector fluid is applied to one face of the strip while bringing a detection medium into proximity with the other face thereof, and producing a pressure difference between the opposite faces of the strip in a sense to cause flow of the detector fluid through any open pin holes in the strip, and accordingly into contact with the detection medium. In accordance with this invention, a membrane-compatible liquid is applied to the membrane strip prior to testing for pin holes, so that the liquid is retained in the pin holes by capillary attraction. Accordingly, the flow of detector fluid through pin holes which are less than a predetermined size is prevented. The predetermined size may be controlled by the magnitude of pressure difference between opposite faces and the nature of the membrane-compatible liquid. As a result, the presence only of holes larger than the predetermined size is detected.

Growing community of inventors

Barrington, IL, United States of America

Ludwig Wolf, Jr