Abstract: A surgical drape and suction head combination for attaching the suction head to a wound area. The suction head comprises a planar flange portion and a tubular connector piece on a first face that communicates with an aperture extending to a second face. The second face is formed with projections that define flow channels for facilitating flow of liquids to the aperture.

Abstract: A power saving dimming apparatus for gas discharge lamps activates a system of gas discharge lamps through a phototransistor network sensitive to the infrared spectrum rather than the normal visible spectrum. The phototransistor network allows power to be supplied to the apparatus, resulting in the turning on of the lamps whenever daylight conditions exist which are insufficient to produce infrared light. When power is applied to the apparatus, either at initial turn on or after a momentary interruption, the apparatus applies full power to the primaries of the lamp ballasts for a preselected time period, thus ensuring all the lamps in the system light. After the preselected time period has passed, the apparatus automatically dims the lamps and maintains them in the dimmed state.

Abstract: A surgical drape and suction head combination for attaching the suction head to a wound area. The suction head comprises a planar flange portion and a tubular connector piece on a first face that communicates with an aperture extending to a second face. The second face is formed with projections that define flow channels for facilitating flow of liquids to the aperture.

Abstract: A color identifier for use with a contained cosmetic product comprises a cosmetic grade foam swab for retaining a portion of the cosmetic product and a body for associating the swab with the cosmetic product. The body generally comprises a base for supporting the swab in a region adjacent the cosmetic product's container. Further, the body comprises a translucent enclosure, through which the swab is viewable, for maintaining the swab in place upon the base. A patch of adhesive is utilized for fixed application of the color identifier's body to the cosmetic product's container. In use, a portion of the cosmetic product is applied to the swab, which is then enclosed within the body. Because the body is provided with a translucent area, the portion of the cosmetic product applied to the swab is viewable notwithstanding its sealed enclosure within the body.

Abstract: A color identifier for use with a contained cosmetic product comprises a cosmetic grade foam swab for retaining a portion of the cosmetic product and a body for associating the swab with the cosmetic product. The body generally comprises a base for supporting the swab in a region adjacent the cosmetic product's container. Further, the body comprises a translucent enclosure, through which the swab is viewable, for maintaining the swab in place upon the base. A patch of adhesive is utilized for fixed application of the color identifier's body to the cosmetic product's container. In use, a portion of the cosmetic product is applied to the swab, which is then enclosed within the body. Because the body is provided with a translucent area, the portion of the cosmetic product applied to the swab is viewable notwithstanding its sealed enclosure within the body.

Abstract: An air sac for use on a low air loss bed. The air sac is provided with a releasable connector for retaining the air sac to the low air loss bed and with a nipple for receiving air from a gas supply source to inflate the air sac. The air sac is also provided with a cutout which allows the patient to be rolled toward one end of the air sac when the air sac is inflated, A pillar is provided on the end of the air sac toward which the patient is rolled when the air sac is inflated to retain the patient on the air sac. The air sacs are arranged in sets with every other sac mounted to the frame of the low air loss bed in alternating arrangement whereby the patient is rolled first in one direction when the air sacs of one set are inflated and then back in the other direction when the air sacs in the first set are deflated and the air sacs in the second set are inflated.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for remediation of soil, vapor and groundwater contaminated with hydrocarbons. The system is ideally suited for easy integration into a mobile remediation unit that uses a liquid ring vacuum pump to extract a contaminated mixture from a sub-surface formation and direct it into a separator, which also serves to shield the high-flow vacuum pump from non-gaseous phases of the contaminated matter that would otherwise reduce its efficiency. Cooling systems are employed to render the unit more independent and self-contained, and an automatic vent and low-shear pump-down cycle is used to transfer liquid phases to fractionation subsystems with minimal emulsification.

Abstract: A portable wound treatment apparatus, for stimulating the healing of superficial wounds, comprises a housing containing a suction pump and a canister for containing fluids drawn from the wound. The housing is supported on a harness or belt worn by the patient. The canister is connected to a porous wound dressing at the wound site via a plurality of tubes, a multi-lumen tube or a combination thereof. A rechargeable battery pack may be incorporated within the housing or provided externally thereto. In the case of an external battery pack, the pack may be shaped to balance the housing on the harness or belt. In operation, pressure transducers are provided to monitor and, if desired, report pressures at the wound site or internal to the canister. Monitored pressures may also be utilized to determine the filled state of the canister and, thereafter, either report this state to the operator or automatically discontinue suction from the wound, or both.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing concurrent applications of intermittent pneumatic compression therapy and vacuum assisted closure therapy generally comprises a wound dressing for introduction of a negative pressure into a wound on a patient's foot and a foot wrap for application of positive, compressive forces to substantially all of the patients foot. A suction pump, having an associated vacuum sensor and first feedback mechanism, supplies negative pressure to the wound dressing. A ventable source of pressurized gas, having an associated pressure transducer and second feedback mechanism, supplies positive force to the foot wrap. At least one control system is operably associated with the suction pump and ventable source of pressurized gas for controlling the negative and positive applications of pressure to the patient's foot. Controlled modes for operation include continuous or intermittent application of one or both therapies and simultaneous or cycled application of the therapies.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for preventing bed sores in a bedridden patient. A patient-supporting low air loss bed includes a frame, a first set of air bags for supporting a patient thereon mounted transversely on the frame, and a second set of substantially rectangular air bags for supporting a patient thereon mounted substantially transversely on the frame, and all of the air bags are connected to a gas source. The configuration of the air bags is such that when the first set of air bags is inflated, the patient supported thereon in moved toward the first side of the frame of the low air loss bed and when the second set of air bags is inflated while the first set of air bags is deflated, the patient is moved toward the second side of the low air loss bed. The configuration of the air bags also retains the patient on the top surface of the air bags when the patient is rolled in one direction or the other.

Abstract: A medical device for estimation of pulmonary wedge pressure wherein a non-occluded pulmonary artery blood pressure measurement is utilized to directly estimate the pulmonary wedge pressure. A neural network is trained with occlusion-obtained data, whereafter the trained coefficients are utilized to implement the wedge pressure estimator. A flow-directed catheter is utilized to transduce the pressure waveform, which is then input to the processing computer through a analog-to-digital data acquisition board. The data is preprocessed in the computer in order to present the neural network with 11 samples of blood pressure data and 11 samples of time-correlated first derivatives of the blood pressure data as well as an indication of the length in time of the heartbeat. The trained neural network then directly outputs the estimated wedge pressure.

Abstract: An improved endotracheal tube holder generally comprises an elliptically shaped base member having associated therewith an endotracheal tube stabilization mechanism, for fixing an endotracheal tube into a set position, and an appliance securing mechanism, for affixing the tube holder to a patient's head and/or neck. The tube holder is also provided with a plurality of alternately inflatable fluid chambers, perimetrically disposed about the lower circumference of the holder's base member and oriented for interposition between the base member and the patient's oral and/or facial regions. A source of pressurized fluid is provided for alternately inflating the fluid chambers according to the state of a provided selection device. The improved holder relieves the interface pressure between the base member and the patient's oral and/or facial regions created by the appliance securing mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in a patient includes a computer based device, a device disposed on a predetermined position on a calf of the patient for measuring blood volume, another device for measuring temperature of the calf and still another device for measuring calf size. A cuff is operably connected to the computer based device and envelops a portion of a thigh of the patient and is controllably restrictable by the computer based device to produce a controlled venous occlusion of the patient's deep veins for a predetermined period. A method for detecting DVT using the device is also provided.