Fenwal, Inc.

Mark B Jones

Richard L West

Daniel R Lynn

Salvatore Manzella, Jr

Tat Mui

Daniel F Bischof

Jean-Marie Mathias

Craig L Sandford

Walter T Watts

Bryan Blickhan

James Darren Roxas

Dennis C Berry

Kwang Suk Kim

Shawn Davis

Andres Pasko

Anthony Oleszkiewicz

Rich West

Salvatore Manzella Jr

Needle protector assemblies including needle assemblies and needle protectors for housing used blood collection needles are disclosed. The needle protectors are single-piece protectors that include an open distal end for receiving a needle hub (with a needle mounted thereon). A retaining member locks the needle hub when the needle hub is substantially retracted. A stop engages the needle hub in a fully retracted position such that a needle post is completely contained within an interior chamber of the needle protectors. A viewing slot in the needle protectors is provided.

Needle protector, needle assembly and fluid processing set including the same

Peelable seals including porous inserts are described. An example peelable seal includes a porous insert positioned between a first sheet and a second sheet. The porous insert includes a plurality of interwoven strands and a plurality of pores adjacent the interwoven strands through which a bond is formed between the first sheet and the second sheet when heat is applied to at least one of the first sheet, the second sheet or the porous insert.

Peelable seals including porous inserts

A method for manufacturing a plurality of filter assemblies is provided that includes providing first and second housing sheets and positioning a filtration medium therebetween. Heat and pressure are applied to form first, second, and peripheral seals of at least two filter assemblies at the same time. Each second seal is positioned outboard of the associated first seal with a non-seal area therebetween, while each peripheral seal is positioned outboard of the associated second seal. The first seal commingles the housing sheets and the filtration medium, while the peripheral seal and the periphery of the second seal commingle only the housing sheets. The peripheral seal may include a tear seal to enable separation of a plurality of adjacent filter assemblies.

Methods for making a plurality of filter assemblies

Sheets for use with medical containers are described. An example sheet for use with medical containers includes a plurality of layers. At least one of the layers includes polyolefin and the plurality of the layers comprises approximately less than 15% of at least one of a plasticizer or a low molecular weight material that is to decrease a rate of hemolysis when exposed to a blood component. At least one of the plurality of layers being modified to enable autoclavability and radio frequency sealability.

Sheets for use with medical containers

Medical needle assemblies incorporating a needle cover are provided. According to one aspect, the needle cover is integrally formed from a material that: (1) is sufficiently rigid to prevent bending of an underlying cannula, (2) is suitable for allowing a frangible portion thereof to be broken under pre-selected conditions, and/or (3) has a moisture vapor transmission rate sufficient for steam sterilization of a needle tip enclosed by the needle cover. According to another aspect, at least part of a cap portion and a hub portion of the needle cover are translucent. According to yet another aspect, the needle cover is provided with a wing having an enlarged rib suitable for gripping during separation of a cap portion from the remainder of the needle cover.

Phlebotomy needle assembly and frangible cover

An umbilicus is provided for use in an umbilicus-driven fluid processing system. The umbilicus has a pair of anchor portions, at least one fluid-transmitting lumen, and a drive shaft. The fluid-transmitting lumen and drive shaft extend between the anchor portions. The lumen and drive shaft may be comprised of different materials. If multiple lumen are provided, they may either be separate from each other and the drive shaft or defined in a single umbilicus body which also provides a lumen for receiving at least a portion of the drive shaft.

Umbilicus for use in an umbilicus-driven fluid processing system

Containers and components thereof for use in the medical industry and methods to manufacture the same are described. An example tab for use with a medical container includes opposing sheets sealed to define an open ended chamber into which a port is to be at least partially positioned. The port is to enable access to the medical container. The tab includes a tear seal defined by each of the opposing sheets and a first guide positioned on a first side of each of the tear seals. The tab includes a second guide positioned on a second side of each of the tear seals, wherein the first and second guides are to enable a tear to propagate substantially between the guides and adjacent the tear seals.

Containers and components thereof for use in the medical industry and methods to manufacture the same

Needle covers are provided for medical needle assemblies having a base and a cannula. The needle cover includes hub and cap portions. The hub portion is adapted to be secured to the base. The cap portion is adapted to substantially enclose at least a distal end of the cannula when the hub portion is secured to the base. The cap portion includes at least one generally outwardly extending wing having an outer edge and an enlarged rib extending along only a portion of the outer edge of the wing and only in a direction substantially parallel to a central axis defined by the cap portion. The cap portion is separable from the hub portion upon application of a torsional force, with the rib of the wing being thicker than the portion of the wing radially inward of the outer edge to assist gripping during application of such force.

A one-piece bearing is provided for use with a fluid processing assembly of the type having an umbilicus, a bearing support, a gimbal received within the bearing support, and a liner at least partially received within the gimbal. The bearing is secured to a midsection of the umbilicus and adapted to be at least partially received within the liner. An inner surface of the bearing engages the umbilicus while an outer surface of the bearing engages at least a portion of the liner for rotation relative to the liner.

Bearing and bearing assembly for umbilicus of a fluid processing system

Umbilicus for use in an umbilicus-driven fluid processing

Biological fluid filtration methods are provided for the treatment of gas within a biological fluid filtration system. A quantity of biological fluid is flowed under the force of gravity through a leukocyte removal filter and into a post-filter container. The post-filter container has a maximum vented volume that is approximately the same as the quantity of biological fluid flowed through the filter and into the post-filter container. At least a substantial portion of the gas in the post-filter container is vented therefrom without separately restricting expansion of the post-filter container and without manually manipulating the post-filter container to expel gas.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Mark B Jones