Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc.

Baxter International Inc.

Paul E Measells

Henry M Gajewski

Dean G Laurin

Leonard F Czuba

Jan W Garber

William D Johnston

Peter C Kwong

Barry H Vernick

David V Bacehowski

Kenneth D Zabielski

Jeffrey E Miripol

Gerald A Grode

R Daniel Webster

A blood bag comprises a plastic polyvinyl chloride formulation in which the polyvinyl chloride formulation contains from 5 to 30 percent by weight of a first plasticizer material which is essentially nonextractable by blood plasma stored in the bag up to 35 days at about 4.degree. C.; and from 10 to 25 percent by weight of a second plasticizer which is significantly extracted by blood plasma stored in the bag up to 35 days at about 4.degree. C.

Blood storage container and material

A sterilizable, plastic medical container has a body section formed of thin, multi layer film. The film has a first layer formed of cross-linkable plastic free or essentially free of extractable plasticizers, such as poly(ethylene vinyl acetate), and a second layer formed of a substantially non-cross-linkable plastic having a higher melting temperature than the first layer, such as high density polyethylene. The first layer is inwardly oriented in contact with the contents of the container. A port formed of the same plastic can be heat sealed to the body section. The container is irradiated to effect cross-linking, filled with fluid, and the port sealed. The fluid filled container can then be heat or steam sterilized.

Sterilizable multi-layer plastic materials for medical containers and

Method of making a sterilizable multi-layer container

A method of storing a quantity of red blood cells uses a blood bag which comprises a plastic polyvinyl chloride formulation which contains from 5 to 30 percent by weight of a first plasticizer material which is essentially nonextractable by blood plasma stored in the bag up to 35 days at about 4.degree. C.; and from 10 to 25 percent by weight of a second plasticizer which is significantly extracted by blood plasma stored in the bag up to 35 days at about 4.degree. C. and which, upon leaching, is capable of suppressing the formation of plasma hemoglobin.

Method of storing red blood cells which minimizes both red blood cell

A method of storing blood components uses a blood component storage container which is made of a plasticized polyvinyl chloride formulation which includes a heat stabilizer system selected from the group consisting of salts of C.sub.10 to C.sub.26 saturated fatty acids present in an amount of less than about one percent by weight of the composition. Surprisingly, use of only minimal amounts of these higher molecular weight fatty acids results in an effectively heat stabilized product suited for mass production techniques. As a result, the total amount of the heat stabilizer which can possibly leach into blood plasma is significantly reduced. The material from which the container is made preferably includes an effective amount of a plasticizer which is also essentially nonextractable in blood plasma.

Blood component storage container and method utilizing a polyvinyl

A method and apparatus for joining sealingly incompatible plastic materials is disclosed. A coextruded connector (10) with separate, telescopically related layers (12,14) is affixed to one of the materials. The outer layer (14) of connector (10) is composed of a polymer specifically selected to melt or deform at a temperature lower than that of inner layer (12). The connector is frictionally fit within a second material to be joined and the connection is heated to a temperature sufficient to melt or deform outer layer (14) without melting inner layer (12). Outer layer 14 is thereby securely fused to the second material or blood container. A secondary embodiment is disclosed for joining materials of similar composition. Two coextruded connectors (40,46), having telescopically related layers composed of different polymer materials, are formed, as above, but the layer sequence of each connector is opposite to the other. The connectors (40,46) are sized to frictionally fit one within the other and the layers (42,48) in facing contact are composed of a material selected to melt or deform at a temperature lower than the nonfacing layers (44,50). For joining, the connectors (40,46) are affixed to the materials to be joined and then fit one within the other. The connection is then heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the lower melting, facing layers (42,48) to fuse together.

Method and apparatus for joining materials

Blood-compatible, chlorine-free polymers such as a flexible, non-toxic, sterilizable polyester plastic formulation may contain from 5 to 70 percent by weight of a blood-extractable plasticizer such as di-2-ethylhexylphthalate, to cause blood which is stored in contact with the polymer to exhibit a surprisingly low hemolysis rate when compared with corresponding polymers which are free of the plasticizer. Accordingly, blood bags, tubing and other medical blood-contacting devices may be advantageously made from these polymers.

Blood compatible polymers and medical devices made therefrom

Blood-compatible, chlorine-free polymers such as a flexible, non-toxic, sterilizable polyester plastic formulation may contain from 5 to 70 percent by weight of a blood-extractable plasticizer such as di-2-ethylhexyladipate, to cause blood which is stored in contact with the polymer to exhibit a surprisingly low hemolysis rate when compared with corresponding polymers which are free of the plasticizer. Accordingly, blood bags, tubing and other medical blood-contacting devices may be advantageously made from these polymers.

Blood compatible polymers and medical devices made therefrom containing

A multiple-layered, autoclavable, flexible plastic sheet comprises (a) at least one first layer consisting essentially of 30 to 90 percent by weight of a block copolymer having thermoplastic rubbery characteristics and having rubbery olefin blocks and blocks of a polystyrene; and from 10 to 70 percent by weight of a polyolefin derived principally from at least one of propylene, ethylene and 4-methylpentene-1, said polyolefin having a Vicat Softening Temperature of about 120.degree. C.; and (b) at least one second layer consisting essentially of a polyolefin derived principally by from at least one of propylene, ethylene, and 4-methylpentene-1 and being of semi-crystalline characteristics to exhibit low permeability to water vapor, the first and second layers being bonded together in alternating arrangement.

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Palatine, IL, United States of America

Paul E Measells