890 results about "Blood circulating" patented technology

A modular assembly for a portable hemodialysis system may include a dialysis unit, e.g., that contains suitable components for performing hemodialysis, such as a dialyzer, one or more pumps to circulate blood through the dialyzer, a source of dialysate, and one or more pumps to circulate the dialysate through the dialyzer, and a power unit having a housing that contains suitable components for providing operating power to the pumps of the dialysis unit. The power unit may be selectively connected to the dialysis unit and provide power (e.g., pneumatic power in the form of pressure and / or vacuum) to the dialysis unit for the pumps when connected to the dialysis unit, but may be incapable of providing power to the dialysis unit when disconnected from the dialysis unit. The dialysis unit and the power unit are sized and weighted to each be carried by hand by a human.

An enclosure for containing a portable hemodialysis unit includes a housing suitable to support components for performing hemodialysis including a dialyzer, one or more pumps to circulate blood through the dialyzer, a source of dialysate, and one or more pumps to circulate the dialysate through the dialyzer. The housing may have a front panel at which blood circuit connections and dialysate fluidic connections are located, e.g., blood line connections for patient blood access, connections for a reagent supply, dialyzer connections for both blood flow and dialysate, etc. The enclosure may also include a pair of vertical, side-by-side doors hingedly mounted to the housing. With the doors in the closed position, access to the patient access and dialysate fluidic connections may be blocked, and the doors may allow for the retention of heat in the housing suitable for disinfection during a disinfection cycle.

An apparatus and method for microsurgical training using cadaveric anatomy with filling of the vascular system by fluids under pressure to simulate the appearance and function of live surgery. One or more arteries on the specimen of cadaveric anatomy are cannulated and connected to an arterial reservoir having a flexible container holding an arterial fluid simulating the appearance of blood circulating in the arteries of the living organism from which the cadaveric anatomy is derived. Suitable static pressure simulating the arterial pressure appropriate to that of the living organism is applied to the air in an air-tight space surrounding the flexible container in the arterial reservoir. A pulsating machine provides air pulsations to the space surrounding the flexible fluid container to simulate the normal pulsations of the arterial system. One or more veins on the specimen are also cannulated and connected to a venous reservoir having a flexible container holding a venous fluid simulating the appearance of blood circulating in the veins of the living organism. Suitable static pressure simulating the venous pressure appropriate to that of the living organism is applied to the air in an air-tight space surrounding the flexible container in the venous reservoir. Optionally, if the specimen includes at least a portion of spinal canal, a clear fluid reservoir can be connected to the specimen through the spinal canal to simulate cerebrospinal fluid.

A method and device for increasing blood flow by applying positive pressure to extremities of a mammal and / or controlling the temperature of the mammal. The device includes one or more collapsible and pliant body elements capable of expanding and flexibly applying pressurized compression forces to the extremity of the mammal by attaching one or more pressure-applying gas plenums as close to the extremity as possibly. The flexible extremity device can be used independently or can be used in conjunction with thermal pads disposed to the one or more collapsible and pliant body elements. Alternatively, the one or more collapsible and pliant body elements can be manufactured into thermal pads.

The present invention provides a portable device for enhancing circulation in a limb comprising at least one strap for encircling the limb, a motor and a mechanism driven by said motor for intermittently actuating a first transition from a relaxed state to a strained state of the strap and a second transition from the strained state to the relaxed state. The mechanism includes at least one energy storing element operatively disposed between the motor and the strap and at least one energy releasing mechanism coupling between the energy storing element and the strap. The energy releasing mechanism enables fast release of energy stored in said storing element and the use of the energy so released to effectuate at least one abrupt transition between said relaxed and strained states.

There is provided a method for controlling a flow of urine in the urinary passageway of a patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or bladder. The method comprises gently constricting (i.e., without substantially hampering the blood circulation in the urinary tissue wall) at least one portion of the urinary tissue wall to influence the flow in the urinary passageway, and stimulating the constricted wall portion to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the flow in the urinary passageway. The method can be used for restricting or stopping the flow in the urinary passageway of a urinary incontinent patient, or for actively moving the urine in the urinary passageway, with a low risk of injuring the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or bladder.

The present invention provides a method for diagnosing cancer, predicting a disease outcome or response to therapy in a patient sample. The method involves isolating a circulating tumor cell (CTC), for example, a viable CTC, from a sample using a parylene microfilter device comprising a membrane filter having or consisting of a parylene substrate, which has an array of holes with a predetermined shape and size; and detecting and quantifying telomerase activity in blood circulating tumor cells. The invention further provides methods of using cells live-captured in various applications.

A disposable, integrated extracorporeal blood circuit employed during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery performs gas exchange, heat transfer, and microemboli filtering functions in a way as to conserve volume, to reduce setup and change out times, to eliminate a venous blood reservoir, and to substantially reduce blood-air interface. Blood from the patient or prime solution is routed through an air removal device that is equipped with air sensors for detection of air. An active air removal controller removes detected air from blood in the air removal device. A disposable circuit support module is used to mount the components of the disposable, integrated extracorporeal blood circuit in close proximity and in a desirable spatial relationship to optimize priming and use of the disposable, integrated extracorporeal blood circuit. A reusable circuit holder supports the disposable circuit support module in relation to a prime solution source, the active air removal controller and other components.

There is provided a method for controlling a flow of intestinal contents in the intestinal passageway of a patient's intestines. The method comprises gently constricting (i.e., without substantially hampering the blood circulation in the intestinal tissue wall) at least one portion of the intestinal tissue wall to influence the flow in the intestinal passageway, and stimulating the constricted wall portion to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the flow in the intestinal passageway. The method can be used for restricting or stopping the flow in the intestinal passageway, or for actively moving the fluid in the intestinal passageway, with a low risk of injuring the intestines.

This invention is a multichannel catheter for extracorporeal circulation of blood to a patient undergoing cardiovascular treatments or surgery. The catheter has three independent channels, an obturator and an expandable balloon at one end of the catheter. The first channel is the largest and is of a size that allows for delivery of blood through outlet parts in the wall of the first channel to a patient in an amount sufficient to maintain the patient's metabolism and perfusion throughout the treatment or surgery. The obturator is longitudinally insertable into the first channel. A second channel, smaller than the first, is integrated into the wall of the first channel, and is suitable for delivering a biologically active fluid (e.g., for cardioplegia) to the heart and / or venting the left heart. A third channel, also smaller than the first, is integrated into the wall of the first channel, and suitable for delivering a fluid to the balloon for its expansion when positioned in the ascending aorta to occlude the flow of blood to the heart. The catheter provides an improved means of preparing for or performing cardiovascular surgery on a patient using a cardiopulmonary machine for extracorporeal circulation of blood. The catheter is particularly useful for cardiac surgery.

A blood circuit assembly for a dialysis unit may include an organizing tray, a pair of pneumatic pumps mounted to the organizing tray for circulating blood received from a patient through a circuit including a dialyzer unit and returned to the patient, an air trap mounted to the organizing tray arranged to remove air from blood circulating in the circuit, a pair of dialyzer connections arranged to connect to the inlet and outlet of a dialyzer unit, and a pair of blood line connectors, one inlet blood line connector for receiving blood from the patient and providing blood to the pneumatic pumps and the other outlet blood line connector for returning blood to the patient.

The disclosure provides wearable cardiac arrest detection and alerting device that incorporates a non-invasive sensor based on optical and / or electrical signals transmitted into and received from human tissue containing blood vessels, and that transcutaneously quantifies the wearer's heart rate. The heart-rate quantification enables the detection of the absence of any heart beat by the wearable detection and alerting device indicative of the occurrence of a cardiac arrest, wherein the heart is no longer achieving effective blood circulation in the individual wearing the device. The display on the wearable cardiac arrest detection and alerting device may include the elapsed time since the time of detection of a heart rate that is below a predetermine lower limit value, i.e., the detected occurrence of a cardiac arrest event.

A therapeutic device and related method of use are described. The device features a flexible member that includes one or more emitters of for example, electromagnetic radiation, thermal energy, magnetic fields, and / or electrical fields. The device can be readily attached and removed from a user's skin by sealingly contacting the flexible member upon a region of the user's body of interest to create a vacuum. The device may also impart other therapeutically beneficial results such as intensified blood circulation from formation of the vacuum along the user's skin, and can also be used for blood irradiation.

There is provided a method for controlling a flow of eggs in a uterine tube formed by a uterine tube wall of a patient. The method comprises gently constricting (i.e., without substantially hampering the blood circulation in the uterine tube wall) at least one portion of the uterine tube wall to influence the flow of eggs in the uterine tube, and stimulating the constricted wall portion to cause contraction of the uterine tube wall portion to further influence the flow of eggs in the uterine tube. The method can be used for restricting or stopping the flow of eggs in the uterine tube, or for actively moving the fluid in the uterine tube, with a low risk of injuring the uterine tube.

A hemodialysis apparatus includes a dialysis device, a detecting device, an evaluation device and a memory device. The dialysis device dialyzes and ultrafiltrates blood of a patient according to an ultrafiltration volume based on an estimated dry weight while performing hemodialysis treatment on the blood circulating extracorporeally. The detecting device obtains time series data by measuring a parameter related to concentration of the blood circulating extracorporeally at a plurality of points in time series in a process of the hemodialysis treatment by the dialysis device. The evaluation device evaluates appropriateness of the hemodialysis treatment by evaluating whether the estimated dry weight approximates to a dry weight after the hemodialysis treatment by the dialysis device. The memory device stores a plurality of time series data when the hemodialysis treatment is evaluated to be appropriate by the evaluation device.

There is provided a method for controlling a flow of fluid in the vas deferens in order to obtain a controlled male contraception. The method comprises gently constricting (i.e., without substantially hampering the blood circulation in the tissue wall) at least one portion of the tissue wall to influence the flow vas deferens, and stimulating the constricted wall portion to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the flow in the vas deferens. The method can be used for restricting or stopping the flow in the vas deferens, or for actively moving the fluid in the vas deferens, with a low risk of injuring the organ.

The present invention relates to an inflow cannula for blood circulatory assist devices, having a robust structure and possessing a thrombus anchoring effect. Furthermore, the inflow cannula for blood circulatory assist devices does not deform or exhibit loss of dimensional accuracy during the manufacture process. These features are achieved by a porous structure formed of one or more linear elements or of a porous shaped article.

The invention discloses Chinese medicated liquor for treating hypertension and a preparation method thereof. The Chinese medicated liquor is prepared from sun-dried ginseng, Radix Astragali, bighead atractylodes rhizome, Tuckahoe, tuber fleeceflower root, dried rhizome of rehmannia, white paeony root, angelica, bupleurum, dried orange peel, sealwort, centipedes, pilose antler, stir-baked semen ziziphi spinosae, thinleaf milkwort root-bark, Indian bread with hostwood, licorice, walnut, raisins, white spirit and other raw materials. Combining the raw materials, the Chinese medicated liquor takes both qi and blood into consideration, coordinates defensive qi and nutritive qi, makes qi and blood circulating in the whole body, coordinates the relationship between yin and yan, combines deintoxication and nourishing, removing blood stasis without hurting human body, maintains normal upbearing and downbearing of qi and blood, thereby reducing blood pressure.

The present invention provides an absorbent which can remove cells present in blood including activated leukocytes such as granulocytes and monocytes, and cancer cells as well as can remove cytokines which facilitate the activation of the remaining cells, and further has no concern for pressure loss and has high configuration stability. That is, the present invention provides an absorbent which absorbs the granulocytes and the monocytes in blood, an absorbent for cancer therapy which absorbs an immunosuppressive protein and an absorbent having a bilayer structure of a net and a nonwoven fabric, having a zeta potential of −20 mV or more, as well as a blood circulation column containing any of the absorbents filled therein.

A device is provided for assessing impairment of blood circulation in a patient, such as that in perfusion failure, by measurement of blood flow adjacent a mucosal surface accessible by a mouth or nose and connecting with the gastrointestinal tract or upper respiratory / digestive tract of a patient. The device includes a blood-flow sensor adapted to be positioned adjacent a mucosal surface with a patient's body and measuring blood flow in adjacent tissue and a PCO.sub.2 sensor adapted to be positioned adjacent the mucosal surface and measuring PCO.sub.2. In addition a pH sensor may be used in combination with the blood flow determination. A method of detecting perfusion failure is also disclosed. The method includes utilizing blood-flow measurements in conjunction with a surface perfusion pressure index and / or an optical plethysmography index to more accurately assess perfusion failure. These measurements may also be supplement by taking measurements of pH, sublingual PCO.sub.2, and Sa O.sub.2. The invention affords rapid measurement and detection of perfusion failure.

Methods and devices are provided for assessing impairment of blood circulation in a patient, such as that in perfusion failure, by measurement of blood flow in the gastrointestinal tract or upper respiratory / digestive tract of the patient. The method comprises introducing a blood-flow sensor into the gastrointestinal tract or the upper respiratory / digestive tract of a patient, placing the sensor adjacent a mucosal surface therein, and measuring blood flow in adjacent tissue to determine blood flow in that tissue. The method may also involve measurement of PCO.sub.2 and / or pH in combination with the blood flow determination. The invention affords rapid measurement and detection of perfusion failure.

An axial flow pump for a blood circulating pump for the circulation of blood, the rotor the rotor being constructed and arranged to impel blood in a downstream direction upon rotation of the rotor about its axis in a forward circumferential direction. The rotor is provided with hydrodynamic thrust bearing surfaces, each such thrust bearing surface being constructed and arranged to apply a hydrodynamic force to the rotor with a component of the force in the downstream direction upon rotation of the rotor in the forward circumferential direction.

An extracorporeal blood circuit, comprising an expansion chamber for air-blood separation, wherein a filter (38) retains the solid particles in the blood. The filter has a trunco-conical filtering wall with a vertical axis surmounted by a top head (43) provided with upper openings (44) conformed and arranged such as to define a fluid passage which is asymmetrical with respect to the vertical axis. The top head does not retain air bubbles internally thereof, thus preventing a situation in which the air bubbles are directed towards an outlet of the expansion chamber and thus towards the patient. The extracorporeal circuit is used in a dialysis apparatus.

Ablation systems comprise a support body, an energy transmitting element supported by the support body and an insulating member covering a portion of the support body and energy transmitting member. Ablation energy is transmitted from an uncovered, exposed portion of the energy transmitting element. The insulating member may be a distal portion of an introducer sheath. An open segment may be provided in the distal portion to expose a portion of the energy transmitting element. When used in cardiac ablation therapy, for example, the insulating member decreases the amount of ablation energy dissipated in the blood circulating through the heart and thermally insulates the energy transmitting member and the tissue at the ablation site, enabling better control of the ablation process. An inflatable balloon or an expandable web may be provided coupled to the distal portion of the sheath behind the open segment to provide further insulation of the energy transmitting element and of the tissue around the ablation site. In another embodiment, ablation catheters incorporate an insulating member such as the inflatable balloon, expandable web or a cover. Methods of ablating tissue are also disclosed.

In part, the present invention is directed to compositions and methods of making compositions comprising a polymeric backbone, a chelating group, a metal ion, and an active agent with a metal binding domain. The compositions can optionally further comprise protective groups. In part, the present invention is directed to prolonging the blood circulation time of an active agent containing a metal binding domain by using a composition comprising a polymeric backbone with a protective group, a chelator, and a metal ion.

Venous reservoirs are interposed between the patient and the arterial pump and serve to remove air bubbles and provide compliance that accommodates variations in the volume of blood circulating in the extracorporeal circuit during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The invention is a reservoir that incorporates automated means to remove air bubbles from the venous line prior to the blood entering the arterial blood pump. In another form, the reservoir includes means that handles foam prior to the blood entering the blood pump. In yet another form, the invention is means that improve air removal in a soft shell venous reservoir. These features are applicable to CPB circuits using gravity drainage or vacuum assisted venous drainage.

The invention discloses a method for preparing intelligent target medicine carrying composite micelles. The surfaces of the composite micelles are modified by target ligands and pH / temperature synergy sensitive polymers at the same time; and reversible transformation between the shielding state of the target ligands during blood circulation (the temperature is 37 DEG C, and the pH value is 7.4) and the deshielding state of the target ligands in tumor tissues (the thermal therapy temperature ranges from 40 DEG C to 44 DEG C, and the pH value ranges from 6.5 to 6.8) is achieved. The pH and temperature dual sensitivities used in the method have the synergy; and the method is more suitable for the complex physiological environment of the human body. The method has the beneficial effects that targeting of the target ligands and the sensitive phase transformation characters of the pH / temperature synergy sensitive polymers are sufficiently used; and a target reversible shielding nanometer drug delivery system with the tumor targeted specificity and the blood circulation stability is built.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for suppressing surgical site infections (SSI) that have occurred at extremely high incidence rates at the time of surgical operations and particularly surgical operations on digestive system organs, and to provide a column to be used for the method. According to the present invention, a method is provided for suppressing surgical site infections, which comprises the steps of: (a) administering a chemotherapeutic drug for treating and / or preventing a surgical site infection; and (b) collecting blood from a surgical subject and removing leukocytes that comprise neutrophils from the blood during or within 24 hours after surgical operation, and then returning the blood from which the leukocytes have been removed to the surgical subject. The present invention also provides a column for blood circulation which is filled with a carrier having affinity for leukocytes comprising neutrophils, which is used for suppressing a surgical site infection during or within 24 hours after surgical operation on a digestive system organ.