Abstract: An intra-aortic balloon catheter having a variable diameter inner tube.

Abstract: An intra-aortic balloon catheter having an ultra-thin stretch blow molded balloon membrane. The balloon membrane is made from thermoplastic elastomeric and/or semicrystalline materials such as but not limited to polyurethane and polyetheramid.

Abstract: An improved method and device for measuring transthoracic impedance through an ECG cable and electrodes, in which the measurement accuracy is substantially unaffected by shunt capacitance and series resistance within the cable, said device comprising a means for repetitively injecting alternating polarity impulses of charge into the ECG cable and electrodes, a demodulator, and a low pass filter. The measurement performed by integration of the transient voltage induced by the injected charge responds primarily to the resistive components of the cable and patient impedance, and substantially rejects the effects of the shunt capacitance.

Abstract: An improved intra-aortic balloon catheter system comprising an insertion sheath, having an expandable distal end, and a tapered balloon membrane capable of being removed through said insertion sheath upon completion of therapy. The outer diameter of the balloon membrane in a wrapped state is smaller than the outer diameter of the outer tube.

Abstract: An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) having improved automated electrocardiogram (ECG) based intra-aortic balloon deflation timing. Said IABP capable of automatically determining to either deflate the intra-aortic balloon upon the detection of the next cardiac cycle (non-predictive deflation) or at an earlier point derived from predicting the occurrence of the next cycle (predictive deflation). This automated determination is based upon a quantitative assessment of the performance of the intra-aortic balloon pump in predicting the prevailing cardiac rhythm. The accuracy of deflation based upon beat-to-beat interval prediction is scored relative to actual beat-to-beat interval. Once the cumulative prediction score of a predetermined number of historic beat-to-beat intervals reaches a predetermined threshold for non-predictive deflation, the non-predictive deflation mode is automatically activated. Scoring of beat predictions continues in this mode to signal when to switch back to predictive deflation.

Abstract: A flexible high radial strength stent comprising one or more flex cells and primary cells. The primary cells comprising elongated members having first and second ends and extending in a circumferential direction around an axis and curving in two opposite directions transverse to the circumferential direction. The elongated members are joined to one another on their first ends forming cusps. The flex cell may comprise a member in the shape of a U, V, ellipse, rhombus, parallelogram, or other similar shape. The flex cell has two ends, or in the case of the parallelogram two vertices, each of which is attached to the adjacent second end of a neighboring elongated member.

Abstract: A hemostatic plug for sealing wounds in blood vessels comprising a tubular or spring-like body capable of buckling or collapsing upon application of a threshold axial force and having a fretted distal end. A collapsed portion of the plug lodges into the tissue tract and thus acts as a foothold allowing the plug to maintain continuous pressure on the puncture site necessary for a quick effective closure of the wound. Furthermore, collapse of the plug minimizes the chance of arterial penetration.

Abstract: A foldable monitor bedrail mount comprising a pair of U-shaped brackets pivotally connected on one end to a surface of the monitor and pivotally connected on the opposite end to a connecting rod. The U-shaped brackets pivot relative to the monitor and connecting rod between an open position, in which the monitor may be mounted on a bed rail, and a folded position, in which the mount assembly lies compactly against the rear surface of the monitor.

Abstract: An intra-aortic balloon catheter system comprising an intra-aortic balloon catheter having a reduced gas path length, a protective sleeve, and a Y-fitting connector connecting the proximal end of the catheter to an intra-aortic balloon pump. The protective sleeve is disposed about at least a portion of the connector between a proximal and distal end of the connector.

Abstract: An intra-aortic balloon catheter having an ultra-thin stretch blow molded balloon membrane. The balloon membrane is made from thermoplastic elastomeric and/or semicrystalline materials such as but not limited to polyurethane and polyetheramid.

Abstract: An intra-aortic balloon pump condensation prevention system comprising a water vapor extracting element. In one embodiment, the water vapor extracting element may comprise a Nafion tube. Said Nafion tube absorbs water vapor in the intra-aortic balloon catheter shuttle gas. The water is then extracted from the Nafion tube by means of a vacuum supply or a dry purge gas. In another embodiment, the water vapor extracting element may comprise a cooled coiled section of tubing. Water vapor which condenses in said coiled section of tubing migrates towards a sump as a result of the intermittent one-way flow of shuttle gas through the water vapor extraction element.

Abstract: A method and device for endoluminally bypassing blood flow through an aneurysm in the vicinity of a branched blood vessel, having a main branch, a first branch, and a second branch.

Abstract: A method for enhancing such biobypass techniques as angiogenesis, trans-myocardial revascularization, percutaneous myocardial revascularization, and myocardial cell proliferation by using the means for increasing of coronary blood flow to both instantly relieve the ischemic symptoms and stimulate the growth of new blood vessels. Intra-aortic balloon pumping and other counterpulsation means are identified as preferred means for increasing of coronary blood flow.

Abstract: A hemostatic plug for sealing wounds in blood vessels comprising a tubular or spring-like body capable of buckling or collapsing upon application of a threshold axial force and having a fretted distal end. A collapsed portion of the plug lodges into the tissue tract and thus acts as a foothold allowing the plug to maintain continuous pressure on the puncture site necessary for a quick effective closure of the wound. Furthermore, collapse of the plug minimizes the chance of arterial penetration.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for insertion of a catheter, such as an IAB catheter, into a blood vessel such that the cross-sectional area of the catheter will be minimized while the circumference of the catheter is maximized. The apparatus is formed as an oval tube of flexible plastic. When placed in a blood vessel, the catheter retains its oval configuration to minimize obstruction to blood flow. During inflation of the balloon bladder at the end of the catheter, the catheter retains its general oval shape. When the catheter is placed in the blood vessel by pre-loading the catheter over a guide wire and inserting the catheter and guide wire without an introducer sheath into the blood vessel both the catheter and its leading balloon bladder are approximately of the same perimeter thereby reducing the possibility of arterial bleeding.

Abstract: A method for percutaneously inserting an improved pediatric intra-aortic balloon. The improvement comprises a soft tip having a self occluding lumen capable of accommodating a guide wire. A removable pull tube is disposed within the self occluding lumen to prevent occlusion of the self occluding lumen. The catheter is designed without a guide wire lumen so as to be capable of rapid inflation and deflation of the balloon. The method comprises the following steps:(a)inserting an angiographic needle into the aorta;(b) passing the guide wire through the needle into the aorta;(c) removing the needle;(d) disposing the pull tube about the proximal end of the guide wire;(e) removing the pull tube from the self occluding lumen;(f) advancing the catheter into the aorta;(g) removing the guide wire from the aorta;(h) advancing the catheter up the aortic passageway to a position appropriate for pumping.

Abstract: A method and device for increasing the horizontal resolution of both a color flat panel display and a cathode ray tube (CRT) display. The method involves fine horizontal positioning of pixels according to information encoded in the color. Since pixel size is not changed, the display and processing bandwidth requirement is not increased. For the case of the color flat panel display, the fact that each pixel is constructed of a horizontal stripe of 3 primary color sub-pixels is utilized. Complex color information is spread across adjacent pixels to increase the apparent horizontal resolution by a factor of three. For the case of the CRT, a clock multiplier is used to multiply the video clock frequency by three. The apparent horizontal resolution of the CRT is increased by a factor of three by delaying pixels a varying multiple of this high clock speed.

Abstract: A reduced diameter stent/graft deployment catheter and a method of insertion for said catheter. The delivery sheath portion of the catheter, i.e. the distal portion of the catheter containing the stent/graft, has a larger outer diameter than the remaining proximal portion of the catheter. The reduced outer diameter of the body of the catheter allows for the use of a smaller diameter introducer sheath. The method of inserting said catheter comprises the following steps: First, the delivery sheath portion of the catheter is inserted into the patient. Next, an introducer sheath, with an outer diameter which is no larger than the outer diameter of the delivery sheath, is disposed about the catheter and its distal portion inserted into the patient. The catheter is then advanced into the patient and the stent/graft deployed.

Abstract: An improved intra-aortic balloon catheter with a balloon membrane, a tip, and a co-lumen extruded tube having an outer lumen and an inner lumen between the inner and outer surfaces of the co-lumen extruded tube. The portion of the co-lumen extruded tube that defines the inner lumen and which is disposed within the balloon membrane is made from polyimide, a lubricous material, to facilitate guide wire tracking. The polyimide inner tube portion demonstrates good kink resistance and flexural stiffness. In a first alternative embodiment of the invention the co-lumen tube comprises an outer tube with an inner tube embedded in the wall of said outer tube. In a second alternative embodiment of the invention a longitudinal signal pathway is provided.

Abstract: An improved pulse oximeter incorporating an innovative method for exposing a patient's extremity to electromagnetic radiation of two wavelengths, e.g., a red wavelength and an IR wavelength, and detecting the absorbance of the extremity at each of the wavelengths, said method comprising the steps of:(a) generating overlapping first and second pulse trains of electromagnetic radiation having first and second wavelengths and having the same frequency but differing in phase by 90 degrees;(b) exposing the extremity to the first and second pulses;(c) producing an electrical signal corresponding to the electromagnetic radiation intensity of both the first and second pulses added together;(d) amplifying said electrical signal using a tuned amplifier; and(e) demodulating said electrical signal using the first pulse and second pulse, independently, as reference signals.