1. A connector system for use in priming a fluid circuit having a pump, a conduit having a first end coupled with the pump and a second end, a cannula having a first end, a second end configured to fluidly couple with a first fluid source, and a cannula lumen extending between the first and second ends of the cannula, the system comprising:
a first connector configured to couple with the second end of the conduit, the first connector comprising a gas permeable membrane, a main lumen extending from the gas permeable membrane, and a secondary lumen having a first end configured to couple with a second fluid source and a second end in fluid communication with the main lumen; and
a second connector configured to couple with the first end of the cannula, the second connector having an end configured to be inserted through the gas permeable membrane into the first connector, whereby fluid communication can be established between the main lumen of the first connector and the cannula lumen;
wherein the first connector comprises a first surface and the end of the second connector comprises a second surface, the first and second surfaces configured to engage to provide a seamless lumen within the first connector at least at the location where the first and second surfaces engage.
2. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the seamless lumen is provided when the end of the second connector is fully inserted into the first connector.
3. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the second surface conforms to the first surface when the end of the second connector is fully inserted into the first connector, such that a seal is formed between the first and second surfaces.
4. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the first fluid source is a source of blood.
5. The connector system of claim 1, further comprising a second fluid source.
6. The connector system of claim 5, wherein the second fluid source contains a biocompatible liquid.
7. The connector system of claim 6, wherein the biocompatible liquid is saline.
8. A connector system for use in priming a fluid circuit, the system comprising:
a first connector having a first end configured to couple with a fluid circuit and a second end comprising a gas permeable membrane, a main lumen extending from the gas permeable membrane to the first end, and a secondary lumen in fluid communication with the main lumen, the secondary lumen having a first end configured to couple with a fluid source and a second end coupled to the main lumen at a location between the gas permeable membrane and the first end of the first connector; and
a second connector configured to couple with the fluid circuit, the second connector having an end configured to be inserted through the gas permeable membrane into the first connector, whereby fluid communication can be established between the main lumen of the first connector and the second connector.
9. The connector system of claim 8, further comprising:
a conduit having a first end coupled with a pump and a second end configured to couple with the first end of the first connector; and
a cannula having a first end coupled with the second connector and a second end configured to fluidly couple with another fluid source.
10. The connector system of claim 9, wherein the another fluid source is a source of blood.
11. The connector system of claim 8, further comprising a fluid source.
12. The connector system of claim 11, wherein the fluid source comprises a biocompatible liquid.
13. The connector system of claim 12, wherein the biocompatible liquid is saline.
14. The connector system of claim 8, wherein:
a portion of the main lumen of the first connector comprises an internal surface that is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the main lumen and that comprises a distal region and a proximal region; and
the end of the second connector configured to be inserted through the gas permeable membrane comprises a piercing member, the piercing member comprising a tip having an inclined surface that matches the angled internal surface of the portion of the main lumen.
15. A connector system for use in priming a fluid circuit having a conduit with a first end and a second end, a cannula having a first end, a second end configured to fluidly couple with a first fluid source, and a cannula lumen extending between the first and second ends of the cannula, the system comprising:
a first connector configured to couple with the second end of the conduit, the first connector comprising a main lumen and a secondary lumen having a first end configured to couple with a second fluid source and a second end in fluid communication with the main lumen;
a gas permeable membrane removably coupled with the first connector and configured such that the connector system is reusable; and
a second connector configured to couple with the first end of the cannula, the second connector having an end configured to be inserted through the gas permeable membrane into the first connector, whereby fluid communication can be established between the main lumen of the first connector and the cannula lumen.
16. The connector system of claim 15, further comprising a removable end cap, wherein the membrane is configured to be positioned between the end cap and the first connector.
17. The connector system of claim 16, wherein the membrane is part of a membrane assembly, the membrane assembly further comprising a seal member configured to be positioned between the end cap and the first connector.
18. The connector system of claim 17, wherein the seal member is an o-ring.
19. The connector system of claim 15, wherein the first fluid source is a source of blood.
20. The connector system of claim 15, further comprising a second fluid source, the second fluid source containing a biocompatible liquid.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of forming dopaminergic neurons by contacting neuroprogenitor cells in vitro with an effective amount of a foggy polypeptide.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the contacting occurs in vitro.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the foggy polypeptide is active and is encoded by a nucleic acid having at least 80% nucleic acid sequence identity to a nucleic acid sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:1).
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the foggy polypeptide comprises an active foggy amino acid sequence that has at least 80% amino acid sequence identity of FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:1).
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the foggy polypeptide is SEQ ID NO:1.
6. A method of forming serotonergic neurons by contacting neuroprogenitor cells in vitro with an effective amount of a foggy polypeptide antagonist.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the contacting occurs in vitro.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the foggy polypeptide antagonist is active and is encoded by a nucleic acid having at least 80% nucleic acid sequence identity to a nucleic acid sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.
9. The method of claim 6 wherein the foggy polypeptide antagonist comprises an amino acid sequence that is an active foggy antagonist that has at least 80% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:3.
10. The method of claim 6 wherein the foggy polypeptide is SEQ ID NO:3.
11. A method of treating a disorder in a mammal wherein said disorder is characterised by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, comprising transplanting into said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of neuroprogenitor cells pretreated with an effective amount of a foggy polypeptide.
12. A method of treating a disorder in a mammal wherein said disorder is characterized by degeneration of serotonergic neurons, comprising transplanting into said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of neuroprogenitor cells pretreated with an effective amount of a foggy polypeptide antagonist.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of at least one neuronal survival factor.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the neural survival factor is selected from the group consisting of: nerve growth factor (NGF); ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3); neurotrophin-4 (NT-4); aFGF; IL-\u03b2B, TNF-\u03b1, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1, IGF-2), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-\u03b1, TGF-\u03b21) and skeletal muscle extract.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the disorder is one characterized by abnormalities in the regulation of postural reflexes, movement and reward-associated behaviors.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of: Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, drug addiction and a condition caused by trauma or illness resulting in resting tremor, rigidity, akinesia or postural abnormality.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of adipsia, aphagia or sensory neglect.
18. The method of claim 12 further comprising the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a neuronal survival factor.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein the disorder is one characterized by an abnormal regulation of food intake, hormone secretion, stress response, pain and immune function, sexual activity, cardiovascular function and temperature regulation.
20. The method of claim 12, wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of: depression; proclivity to suicide; violent aggressive behavior; obsessive-compulsive behavior; anorexiabulimia and schizophrenia.
21. A composition of matter comprising neuroprogenitor cells and an effective amount of a foggy polypeptide antagonist.
22. A medical device comprising neuroprogenitor cells and an effective amount of a foggy polypeptide antagonist.