A blood processing system includes a collection line for carrying blood, a blood separation device for separating the blood into first and second fractions, a plasma delivery line for delivering the first blood fraction to an adsorption device, and a peristaltic pump. The adsorption device adsorbs plasma of the first blood fraction. Portions of the collection and plasma delivery lines are positioned in a channel of the peristaltic pump, and the peristaltic pump causes the blood to flow through the collection line at a first flow rate and causes the first blood fraction to flow through the plasma delivery line at a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate. In some implementations, the collection and plasma delivery lines are tubes having different internal diameters facilitating such differential flow rates. In some implementations, the peristaltic pump is the only pump in the blood processing system.

A combined bio-artificial liver support system, includes branch tubes that are connected in sequence: a blood input branch tube, an upstream tail end, a first plasma separation branch tube comprising at least a first plasma separator, a non-biological purification branch tube comprising at least a plasma perfusion device and a bilirubin adsorber, a biological purification branch tube comprising at least a hepatocyte culture cartridge assembly, and a plasma return branch tube, a downstream tail end of which is set as a blood output end.

The present disclosure provides apparatuses and systems for delivering a measureable absorbed-dose of a gaseous activating agent to a fluid including a biological liquid and/or cells. The apparatuses or systems include a gas-fluid contact device configured to controllably rotate or oscillate a control member having an interior surface in contact with the fluid and a control system configured to control rotation or oscillation of the contact member by the gas-fluid contact device. In some embodiments, the control system is further configured to control absorption of the gaseous activating agent by the fluid. The present disclosure also provides methods of treating a fluid including a biological liquid or cells with a gaseous activating agent to controllably activate the fluid.

An apparatus for high-throughput rapid trapping and purifying of circulating tumor cells and a method for purifying circulating tumor cells, relating to the field of biotechnology. The apparatus for high-throughput rapid trapping of circulating tumor cells comprises: a filter module, the filter module comprises a filter, a filter membrane which is arranged inside the filter and sealed with an inner wall of the filter, and a negative pressure device; the negative pressure device is connected with an end of an outlet of the filter, and used for maintaining a negative pressure within the filter; when a negative pressure is maintained within the filter by the negative pressure device, the filter membrane is configured to trap circulating tumor cells, then stain and wash the trapped cells by using reagents which are automatically loaded by means of a reagent loading module. The apparatus may automatically control loading a sample liquid to the filter as well as the negative pressure device, such that the process in which the circulating tumor cells are trapped by using the filter membrane and then stained has the advantages of being highly automated and having a high throughput (which can be achieved by means of increasing the number of filters).

The present invention relates to an extracorporeal circuit for CO.sub.2 removal from blood comprising a line for taking blood from the patient, a decarboxylation assembly and a line for returning the blood to the patient; said decarboxylation assembly comprising a first filtering unit, an oxygenator, an electrodialyzer adapted to generate an acid solution and a basic solution and means for the infusion of said acid solution upstream of said oxygenator, wherein said electrodialyzer comprises a first electrodialysis chamber and a second electrodialysis chamber, said first and second electrodialysis chambers being separated by an ionic membrane, and wherein said first chamber and said second chamber are respectively separated from the positive electrode, or anode, and from the negative electrode, or cathode, by means of a bipolar membrane.

A combined bio-artificial liver support system, includes branch tubes that are connected in sequence: a blood input branch tube, an upstream tail end of which is set as a blood input end, a first plasma separation branch tube comprising at least a first plasma separator, a non-biological purification branch tube comprising at least a plasma perfusion device and a bilirubin adsorber, a biological purification branch tube comprising at least a hepatocyte culture cartridge assembly, and a plasma return branch tube, a downstream tail end of which is set as a blood output end.

The invention provides a method and an apparatus or system for dialysis. The method and apparatus or system are useful for removing an undesirable protein-binding substance such as a toxin from a biological fluid such as blood or blood plasma. As such, the method and apparatus or system are useful for treating a subject in need of dialysis such as a subject suffering from hepatic disease. The methods feature a) dialyzing a biological fluid against a dialysis fluid containing an adsorber for a protein-binding substance to be removed through a semipermeable membrane, b) adjusting the dialysis fluid so that the binding affinity of the adsorber for the protein-bound substance to be removed is lowered and the substance to be removed passes into solution, and c) balancing the volume or flow of one or more fluids in the apparatus or system suitable for dialyzing a biological fluid containing a protein-binding substance to be removed. The apparatus or system features a) a biological fluid circuit (3); b) a dialysis fluid circuit (2); c) a means (4; 6; 7; 8; 9) for solubilizing the protein-binding substance to be removed; d) a dialysis, filtration or diafiltration device (5); e) a balancing system or apparatus suitable for balancing the volume or flow of one or more fluids in the apparatus or system suitable for dialyzing a biological fluid containing a protein-binding substance to be removed; and f) a dialysate regeneration unit.

A fluid treatment method, cycle treatment device, system and medical device are provided, wherein a cycle is formed by allowing a fluid to flow in a pipeline, and the cycle includes a treatment unit to treat the fluid to selectively change structures or concentrations of molecules or combinations thereof in the fluid, thereby avoiding loss of beneficial components; the fluid is treated by at least one cycle, and in any cycle, dynamic equilibrium of the total amount of the fluid in the cycle can be maintained through controlling the rate of adding the to-be-treated fluid into the cycle and the rate of the treated fluid leaving the cycle, so that the cycle is sustainable, and therefore the duration of the fluid treatment method is adjustable and can be determined based on a preset treatment target.

Method for transferring one or more portions of fluid from a specimen tube, comprising: providing an elongate connector comprising an elongated tube having a lumen or through-hole extending between proximal and distal ends thereof, a Luer-compatible female taper provided on the proximal end of the connector, a flange provided proximate the distal end of the connector; providing a tube seal mounted on the distal end of the connector, the tube seal comprising an elastomeric member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, and a through-hole extending therebetween, the distal end having a frustoconical or chamfered face forming a funnel, the elastomeric member having an outer diameter sized to sealingly engage with an inner surface of the specimen tube; advancing the distal end of the connector and the tube seal into the specimen tube, the funnel directing the first layer into the through-hole of the connector.

Method for transferring one or more portions of fluid from a specimen tube, comprising: providing an elongate connector comprising an elongated tube having a lumen or through-hole extending between proximal and distal ends thereof, a Luer-compatible female taper provided on the proximal end of the connector, a flange provided proximate the distal end of the connector; providing a tube seal mounted on the distal end of the connector, the tube seal comprising an elastomeric member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, and a through-hole extending therebetween, the distal end having a frustoconical or chamfered face forming a funnel, the elastomeric member having an outer diameter sized to sealingly engage with an inner surface of the specimen tube; advancing the distal end of the connector and the tube seal into the specimen tube, the funnel directing the first layer into the through-hole of the connector.