Design and testing of a therapeutic infusion filtration system

Abstract

"A system has been designed and constructed to extract effusion liquid from the peritoneal or pleural cavities, remove malignant cells by filtration, add chemotherapeutic agents to the fluid, and return the fluid to the source cavity with maximum safety and comfort to a patient. The system is designed so that all operations can be per­ formed aseptically and a closed sterile system is maintained. Provisions are made for rapid heating or cooling of the fluid prior to return to the body. A performance evaluation of the system was made which include radioisotope dilution tests to determine the mixing rate of the effusate with the fluid in the body cavities and the total volume serviced by the filtration system. Also several tests have been carried out to define the circulation flow properties of the system, the thermal performance, and the performance of the safety devices."--Summary.