Abstract: Apparatus for facilitating the performance of medical procedures involving the vascular system of a patient, especially in a critical care environment, such as withdrawal of blood for analysis and infusion of medication. In the taking of a blood sample, blood flows through an arterial catheter connected to an artery of the patient, past a sample station, and then through a venous catheter that brings the blood back to the patient, the various mechanisms being connected by transparent plastic tubes. After a sample is taken, the tubes are flushed through the sample station, arterial catheter, and the venous catheter. Calibration of all pressure transducers requires application of high and low pressures to them, the high pressure being obtained by applying a high pressure (e.g. 200 mm Hg) to a bottle of saline solution which is also utilized to flush the tubes and which is connected to all of the transducers.

Abstract: Apparatus for facilitating the performance of medical procedures involving the vascular system of a patient, especially in a critical care environment, such as withdrawal of blood for analysis and infusion of medication. In the taking of a blood sample, blood flows through an arterial catheter connected to an artery of the patient, past a sample station, and then through a venous catheter that brings the blood back to the patient, the various mechanisms being connected by transparent plastic tubes. After a sample is taken, the tubes are flushed through the sample station, arterial catheter, and the venous catheter. Calibration of all pressure transducers requires application of high and low pressures to them, the high pressure being obtained by applying a high pressure (e.g. 200 mm Hg) to a bottle of saline solution which is also utilized to flush the tubes and which is connected to all of the transducers.