A method of stimulating human blood external of a patient donor has the steps of activating an acoustic shock wave or pressure pulse generator to emit acoustic shock waves or pressure pulses directed to impinge the blood, subjecting the blood to the acoustic shock waves or pressure pulses to form stimulated blood cells and transfusing the stimulated blood cells into the patient donor. The patient donor is infected with a virus and the blood exhibits at least traces of the virus. The emitted acoustic shock waves or pressure pulses stimulating the stimulated blood cells fragment the virus in the blood. The fragmented virus in the blood transfused back into the patient donor triggers a defensive immune response to kill the virus. The emitted acoustic shock waves or pressure pulses are preferably of a low energy. The emitted shock waves or pressure pulses stimulate the blood cells and fragment the virus in the absence of cell damaging cavitation due to an elasticity in the blood cells and a lack of elasticity in the virus. The blood is not filtered. The blood can be oxygenated via Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) after being stimulated.

A safety needle device includes a housing including a passageway with a needle cannula extending therefrom. A shielding member is movable between a first position in which a puncture tip of the needle cannula is exposed therefrom and a second position in which the puncture tip of the needle cannula is encompassed therein. The shielding member is maintained in the first position against a biasing force which biases the shielding member toward the second position. A fluid and/or a temperature activation material is associated with the shielding member and is adapted to deform upon contact with a fluid medium and/or a certain temperature or temperature range. The fluid medium flowing through the needle cannula causes the fluid activation material to deform, such as through expansion, thereby releasing the shielding member from the first position and allowing a drive member to bias the shielding member toward the second position.

According to an embodiment, a medical device is disclosed. The medical device includes an external unit and an implantable unit. The external unit includes an electronic unit operationally coupled to a transmitter coil that is configured transmit power and/or data signal over a wireless transcutaneous link, a coil unit comprising a loop structure with the transmitter coil being wound around and along at least a part of length of the loop structure, and a fixation unit configured to attach the loop structure to a user's body i) proximal to an implantable receiver coil that is configured to be implanted within a body part, and ii) around a body part of a user such that a part of the body part is positioned in a hollow section of the loop structure. The implantable unit includes the implantable receiver coil configured to receive the power and/or data signal over the wireless transcutaneous link, a processing unit configured to i) process the received data signal to control functionalities of at least one of the components of the implantable unit, and/or ii) utilize the received power for operation of at least one of the components of the implantable unit. The wireless transcutaneous link includes a coupling between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil, and when the loop structure is attached using the fixation unit, at least a substantial number of magnetic field lines generated in response to excitation of the transmitter coil passes through the implantable receiver coil.

A low-cost and simple-to-use system and method to facilitate a prophylactic pleural lavage protocol at the time of thoracostomy tube placement for traumatic hemothorax in order to reduce the need for secondary intervention for the management of retained hemothorax. The invention may be used in conjunction with existing chest tubes and be administered at the time of initial chest tube placement, and continued at the bedside (by a bedside nurse) over the duration of chest drainage, as necessary. The system includes an operator device that semi-automatically administers a pleural lavage protocol consisting of saline instillation, and suction to slow the clotting process, prevent “gelling” of blood, and maintain drainability.

The present invention relates to a method for extracorporeal removal of a pathogenic microbe, an inflammatory cell or an inflammatory protein from mammalian blood/use of a device comprising a carbohydrate immobilized on a solid substrate, said carbohydrate having a binding affinity for a pathogenic microbe, an inflammatory cell or an inflammatory protein, for extracorporeal removal of said pathogenic microbe, inflammatory cell or inflammatory protein from mammalian blood/use of a carbohydrate having a binding affinity for a pathogenic microbe, an inflammatory cell or an inflammatory protein, wherein said carbohydrate is immobilized on a solid substrate, in the preparation of a device for treatment of a condition caused or aggravated by said pathogenic microbe, inflammatory cell or inflammatory protein and a method for treatment of a mammalian subject suffering from a condition caused or aggravated by a pathogenic microbe, an inflammatory cell or an inflammatory protein.

Provided is a filter apparatus, comprising two or more filter cartridges having a first end with an inlet and screen and a second end with an outlet and screen, and walls to contain a filter media held in a housing for holding the two or more filter cartridges in about the same orientation, and an attachment clamp connected to the housing. Also provided is a housing for holding two or more filter cartridges in about the same orientation and a method of using the filter apparatus and housing.

Examples of a module for housing unrelated electronic and electromechanical equipment for use during surgery. The module can include a lower section and a tower-like upper section. The lower section can house unrelated electronic and electromechanical equipment. The tower-like upper section can be located on top of the lower section. A water-resistant cowling can enclose at least a portion of the lower section and the tower-like upper section. A cartridge containing one or more ultraviolet-C producing lights can be protectively housed within the tower-like upper section. The cartridge containing one or more ultraviolet-C producing lights can be configured to emerge upward from a top of the tower-like upper section to substantially seat itself on the top of the tower-like upper section when activated allowing the ultraviolet-C light to disinfect the patient and staff-contacting upper surfaces of the equipment in the operating room.

Certain embodiments of the invention are directed to methods of adjusting the concentration of one or more electrolytes in a patients blood using a counter current electrolyte solution.

Devices, systems, and methods for medication infusion are described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a patient access subassembly, a first fluid reservoir, a second fluid reservoir, and an assembly. The assembly can have a first configuration in which the patient access subassembly is in fluid communication with the first fluid reservoir via a first tube, a second configuration in which the first fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with the second fluid reservoir, and a third configuration in which the first fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with the patient access subassembly via a second tube, the first fluid reservoir fluidically isolated from the first tube in the third configuration.

Examples of a module for housing unrelated electronic and electromechanical equipment for use during surgery. The module can include a lower section and a tower-like upper section. The lower section can house unrelated electronic and electromechanical equipment. The tower-like upper section can be located on top of the lower section. A water-resistant cowling can enclose at least a portion of the lower section and the tower-like upper section. A cartridge containing one or more ultraviolet-C producing lights can be protectively housed within the tower-like upper section. The cartridge containing one or more ultraviolet-C producing lights can be configured to emerge upward from a top of the tower-like upper section to substantially seat itself on the top of the tower-like upper section when activated allowing the ultraviolet-C light to disinfect the patient and staff-contacting upper surfaces of the equipment in the operating room.