Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.

Array Science, LLC

Other

Array Sciences, LLC

William Scott Crawford

Robert Matthew Ohline

Kulwinder S Plahey

Tri Ly

Jie Zhu

Regan Spencer Fulton

Trinh Kiet Hoac

William Randall Crawford, Iii

Matthew Robert Ohline

A dialysis machine (e.g., a peritoneal dialysis (PD) machine) can include a pressure sensor mounted at a proximal end of a patient line made of a distensible material that provides PD solution to a patient through a catheter. During treatment, an occlusion can occur at different locations in the patient line and/or the catheter. When an incremental volume of additional solution is provided to the patient line while the occlusion is present, a change in pressure results. The change in pressure depends on dimensions and a distensibility of a non-occluded portion of the patient line. If the change in pressure, the incremental volume, properties related to the distensibility of the patient line, and some of the dimensions of the patient line are known, a location of the occlusion can be inferred. An occlusion type can be inferred based on the inferred location.

Patient line blockage detection

A method is provided for detecting leaks in a disposable medical fluid cassette that includes a base and a flexible membrane attached to the base in such a way that the base and the flexible membrane cooperate to at least partially form a fluid passageway. The method includes applying a first force to the flexible membrane, measuring a first physical property of a system that includes the medical fluid cassette a medical fluid pumping machine, removing the first force from the flexible membrane, applying a second force to the flexible membrane, measuring a second physical property of the system, and determining whether the medical fluid cassette leaks based on a comparison of the first physical property and the second physical property.

Medical fluid cassette leak detection methods and devices

An assembly including a cassette having a support layer. At least a portion of the support layer is embedded in a recipient block formed from an agarose gel for securing the recipient block to the cassette. The recipient block has a surface spaced from the support layer and is provided with at least one bore extending from the surface into the recipient block that is adapted to receive a biological sample material. A method for forming an assembly is provided.

Assembly for use with biological sample material

A dialysis machine (e.g., a peritoneal dialysis (PD) machine) can include a pressure sensor mounted at a proximal end of a patient line made of a distensible material that provides PD solution to a patient through a catheter. During treatment, an occlusion can occur at different locations in the patient line and/or the catheter. When an incremental volume of additional solution is provided to the patient line while the occlusion is present, a change in pressure results. The change in pressure depends on dimensions and a distensibility of a non-occluded portion of the patient line. If the change in pressure, the incremental volume, properties related to the distensibility of the patient line, and some of the dimensions of the patient line are known, a location of the occlusion can be inferred. An occlusion type can be inferred based on the location of the occlusion.

A method for making a microarray block with a recipient block having at least one bore therein. A mold having a cylindrical bore with a cross-sectional shape approximating the cross-sectional shape of the at least one bore of the recipient block can be provided. The first end of the mold can have an opening that communicates with a cylindrical bore of the mold. A biological sample and a liquid carrier medium can be introduced through the opening and solidified in the mold to form a core. The core can be removed from the mold and at least a portion of the core can be inserted into the at least one bore of the recipient block. Related methods and assemblies are provided.

Apparatus for producing high yield cores for use in a microarray block, method for using same

Capacitance-based patient line blockage detection

A dialysis machine (e.g., a peritoneal dialysis (PD) machine) can include a pressure sensor mounted at a proximal end of a patient line that provides PD solution to a patient through a catheter. During treatment, an occlusion can occur at different locations in the patient line and/or the catheter. Elastic waves may be generated at a pump that introduces (e.g., for fill cycles) or withdraws (e.g., for drain cycles) the solution into/out of the patient line. For example, when the solution is introduced or withdrawn suddenly, elastic waves travel distally down the patient line until they encounter the occlusion, and are then reflected back (e.g., toward the pressure sensor).

Wave-based patient line blockage detection

Devices, systems, and methods can be used to deliver temperature-controlled medical fluids to patients. For example, this disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods for controlling the temperature of dialysate delivered to a patient during a peritoneal dialysis treatment.

Medical fluid temperature control

A method and apparatus are provided for forming high-yield tissue microarray blocks capable of producing 1,000 or more replicate slides. In one embodiment, a plurality of donor tissue samples are minced and suspended in separate molten liquid carriers to form a plurality of separate two-phase mixtures of solid minced tissue and molten wax. Each of the two-phase mixtures is preferably formed into elongated columns and transferred into a separate well of a microarray block. A method and apparatus are provided for forming the elongated molten wax columns with minced tissue evenly distributed along the length of each column. The apparatus for forming the array includes an extrusion mechanism for transferring the columns of two-phase mixtures into the deep wells of the microarray block. The two-phase mixture may alternately be cooled and allowed to solidify before being transferred into the microarray block. An alternate embodiment is provided wherein cell cultures are utilized as starting material as opposed to solid donor tissue samples.

Method for producing tissue microarray blocks of cell cultures

Method for producing tissue microarray blocks

A method and apparatus for cleaning accumulated silt from the floor of a percolation basin are provided. An underwater terrain vehicle (UTV) moves along the basin floor and carries a series of blades that cut and lift the accumulated silt. An eductor driven vacuum head also carried by the UTV vacuums fragmented silt and transports the entrained fragmented silt through a vacuum hose into a location where the silt particles are separated from the water in which they are entrained. The UTV carries a first sonar for continuously scanning the basin floor and which is utilized to guide the UTV. A second sonar is placed in the basin in a known location and continuously scans and continuously monitors the location of the UTV on the basin floor. An operator remotely guides the UTV from an onshore location.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

William Scott Crawford