Abstract: A system for monitoring the health and medical requirements of a plurality of patients located at remote sites and providing these requirements to a care center. At the patient site, there is a base unit, which can be connected to a number of sensors and/or recorders with sensors. The sensors are for monitoring the patient's medical state and the recorders are for recording the medical data. The base unit stores the data and transfers the data to a care center, where the data is stored and analyzed. The care center may likewise communicate with the base unit and may reconfigure the base unit based on the data analyzed. The data retrieved from the base units is accessible on a local area network and care providers of the patients may monitor their patients by accessing the local area network.

Abstract: Continuous or periodic measurement of blood gas parameters and blood pressure by separating plasma from blood and then using that plasma to measure the blood parameters. Plasma is separated from blood in vivo with a filter implanted within a blood vessel, and the separated plasma is removed to extracorporeal apparatus for analyzing blood gas parameters or measuring blood pressure. The use of plasma is equivalent to the use of whole blood for measuring blood gas parameters as the gas parameters reside in the plasma, not in the separated blood cells which remain in the blood vessel. This arrangement permits the continuous measurement of blood gases without removal of blood from the body.

Abstract: A device for being implanted in a blood vessel for carrying out continuous in vivo plasma separation comprises an elongated, axial header and at least one elongated microporous fiber having a hollow interior, said fiber being dimensioned to be received within a blood vessel without significantly obstructing fluid flow through said blood vessel, the pore size of said fiber being sufficient to allow plasma to diffuse through said pores into said hollow interior of said fiber but not sufficient to allow cellular components larger than plasma to diffuse therethrough, said one or more fibers extending laterally relative to the axis of said header and in fluid communication with said header.

Abstract: A force transducer usable tokodynamometer for measuring intrauterine pressure and motion, and for measuring other force exerted by human body or other organisms. The tokodynamometer has a cavity filled with an incompressible fluid and closed by a flexible diaphragm disposed for contacting the body portion being studied. A zero-displacement fluid-pressure transducer is in the cavity and provides an electrical signal responsive to pressure in the fluid, as body force acts through the flexible diaphragm to induce pressure in the fluid. Changes in intrauterine pressure or other body forces are thus measured with no significant physical displacement of a transducer or other force-measuring element. The fluid-filled cavity has the shape of a truncated cone with the diaphragm at the larger end and the transducer at the smaller end, increasing the sensitivity of the transducer.

Abstract: A thermistor airflow sensor assembly adapted to be mounted adjacent the mouth and nose of a patient for monitoring the breathing of the patient, with the assembly comprising thin, flexible, resilient layers of film adhesively secured to each other to form a laminate. Copper conductor strips are formed by etching away a copper layer attached to the lower film prior to lamination, with chip thermistors being soldered to the copper conducting strips. The thermistors are mounted in leg portions extending laterally from a main body strip of the assembly, with two legs being adapted to be aligned with the nostrils of the patient, and the opposed leg extending downwardly to a position where the outer end thereof is generally aligned with the mouth of the patient.

Abstract: A pneumatic control circuit for a pressure adsorption swing system having two three-way valves which are connected at one end to a compressor and at a second end to first and second molecular sieves respectively. The three-way valves and the compressor are both located on the inlet side of the sieves such that they form a single control circuit for both the adsorption/desorption phase and the balance phase of the pressure adsorption swing system. A method for controlling pneumatic flow in the pressure swing adsorption system is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording analysis of a reagent test strip having a plurality of color blocks for testing different constituents of a fluid, comprises a reference panel having a plurality of visually distinguishable and calibrated color areas or spots, a plurality of first lights for designating the testing of a different constituent or parameter, a plurality of second lights each located adjacent a different color spot, a cavity or space adjacent groups of color spots, detection optical detector for detecting the presence of the reagent strip positioned in the space, and a microcomputer for recording and storing test results and having means for directing sequential testing of the different parameters and for turning the lights on and off during the sequential testing. The apparatus includes switches for signaling the microcomputer to record and store the test data and for turning the apparatus on and off. The invention includes a process for operating the apparatus.

Abstract: Selective separation of blood cholesterol by cascade filtration. An in vivo filter is implanted within a blood vessel to separate plasma from blood, and the separated plasma is removed to an extracorporeal secondary filter which removes low density lipoprotein (LDL) from the plasma. The in vivo portion of the apparatus comprises a number of microporous hollow fibers sized to permit diffusion of plasma, but not cellular or other larger blood components, through the fiber pores to the hollow interior of the fibers. The secondary filter passes the removed plasma along membrane walls formed by fibers sized to block passage of LDL while permitting passage of other plasma components, so that approximately 95 percent of LDL is separated from the plasma before the plasma is returned to the body in real time after removing the LDL cholesterol.

Abstract: A device treats sleep apnea by supplying pressurized air to the nasal passages of a user through a connection device connected to said control device through a hose. The device includes a blower which pressurizes air and which supplies the pressurized air to the connection device, and a control device adapted to control the pressure level supplied by the generating device. The control device incudes a ramp generating device adapted to selectively control the generating device to generate pressurized air at a pressure level which increases for a preset time to a preset prescribed pressure level, and an override device which, when actuated, overrides the ramp generating device and which controls the generating device to immediately generate pressurized air at the preset prescribed pressure level.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous in vivo separation of plasma from other blood components comprising a bundle of microporous hollow fibers inserted into the vena cava. The fibers are sized to permit diffusion of plasma through the fiber pores but not cellular or other larger blood components. The fibers are in fluid communication with a dual lumen catheter which removes plasma from the hollow fibers to a treatment system and returns treated plasma to the bloodstream. The apparatus can be incorporated into an ambulatory plasma separator system for providing continuous plasma treatment while the user is mobile.

Abstract: The patient monitor includes a patient unit having a probe connected to receive a carrier signal, which probe is adapted for connection to the body of a patient to be monitored. The carrier signal is passed through the patient's body and modulated in accordance with the respirations of the patient to produce a modulated carrier signal. A carrier detection circuit is connected to receive the modulated carrier signal and produce a demodulated respiration signal. An ECG circuit also receives the carrier signal and filters out ECG signals. The respiration and ECG signals are passed to an analysis unit. Both the patient unit and analysis unit contain baseline correction circuits for maintaining a predetermined baseline.

Abstract: The patient monitor includes a patient unit having a probe connected to receive a carrier signal, which probe is adapted for connection to the body of a patient to be monitored. The carrier signal is passed through the patient's body and modulated in accordance with the respirations of the patient to produce a modulated carrier signal. A carrier detection circuit is connected to receive the modulated carrier signal and produce a demodulated respiration signal. An ECG circuit also receives the carrier signal and filters out ECG signals. The respiration and ECG signals are passed to an analysis unit. Both the patient unit and analysis unit contain baseline correction circuits for maintaining a predetermined baseline.

Abstract: The system comprises first and second input circuits for receiving first and second parameter signals, respectively, from a patient monitor and producing first and second data signals. The first and second signals may be ECG and respiration signals, respectively. Each of the signals is passed directly to a switching circuit, and also passed through a time delay circuit which provides a time delay representation of the signal to the switching circuit. Also, the first signal is passed to a rate circuit which provides a rate signal indicative of the frequency of the first signal to the switching circuit. The switching circuit is operative to selectively connect the real time signals, time delayed signals or rate signal to an output circuit depending on the mode of operation of the system chosen. The output circuit can be connected to a strip chart recorder for providing a permanent readable record of the signal selected by the switching circuit.

Abstract: A pressure transducer for use in a direct blood pressure measuring system includes a domed portion which is connected to a line interposed in a patient's blood supply system. A sterile solution serves to interface the patient's blood system and the pressuring measuring apparatus. An asymmetrical configuration of the interior cavity in the domed portion of the transducer, which cavity is in the fluid flow path, as well as a convex surface formed on the top face of the cavity improve the reliability of the transducer by avoiding standing waves and bubbles in the fluid in the cavity. Flow lines intersecting the cavity are tapered to improve impedance matching with the cavity.

Abstract: A device detects a discontinuity in the communication of a sensor with a patient by detecting separation of the sensor from the patient. An alarm responds to the detected separation of the sensor from the patient to signal the discontinuity in the sensor operation. The device is particularly useful with a patient warming device which is responsive to the patient's temperature as sensed by the sensor for controlling the heat applied to the patient.