Abstract: A single multifunction fixture secures an electronic device in a predetermined position and provides guide slots for the worker to place the individual conductors of a multiconductor cable in place such that each conductor aligns with a corresponding contact on the device when both the cable and the device are secured in the fixture. The fixture includes a movable head that can be brought into contact with the conductors once they are positioned over the corresponding electrical contacts to form electrically conductive paths through the head, electrical conductor, device contact and fixture for each of the cable conductors. The electrically conductive paths through the fixture form high current carrying capacity paths which, when sufficient current is passed therethrough, function to weld the cable conductors to their corresponding electrical contact on the device.

Abstract: A control system for a single-valve controlled medical ventilator adaptively invokes separate flow delivery or flow exhaust control functions in response to the sensed dynamic state of the ventilator without any dependence on measured patient parameters. The control system selects either the flow delivery control system or flow exhaust control system based on a determination of the mode in which the ventilator is operating. The determination is made using a sensed ventilator operational parameter, such as the ratio of manifold pressure to flow output, to select the appropriate control function. A hysteresis routine is provided to prevent "hair triggering" between the flow delivery and flow exhaust control systems.

Abstract: A system for correcting the concentration of NO.sub.2 detected by an electrochemical monitor in an apparatus for administering NO to a patient for therapeutic purposes. The system determines the effective monitoring time between the point in time that the sample of NO containing gas is removed by a sample conduit from the supply conduit to the patient and the point in time that the NO.sub.2 monitor actually analyzes the sample and determines the additional amount of NO.sub.2 that has been formed in the time-related reaction between NO and O.sub.2 in the sample conduit. Using that additional NO.sub.2 calculated value, the reading of the NO.sub.2 monitor is corrected to subtract that additional calculated NO.sub.2 from the monitor read value to produce a corrected, more accurate reading to the user.

Abstract: A system for the delivery of nitric oxide therapy to a patient that allows interventions by a user by activating a pause mode through a user input. A CPU in the system recognizes the activation of the pause mode and sends a signal to close a valve in order to discontinue the supply of nitric oxide to the patient. The activation of the pause mode also deactivates the normal alarm systems. A timer is activated when the system enters the pause mode and the timer allows a predetermined amount of time to pass while the pause mode is in effect. After that predetermined period of time has elapsed, the timer causes the CPU to reopen the valve to reestablish the flow of nitric oxide for the continued therapy and reestablish the alarm systems. The pause mode can be thus carried out without changing any alarm settings, established flows and the like so that the therapy is again recommenced at the same conditions as were in effect prior to the initiation of the pause mode.

Abstract: The disclosed gas analyzer (10) provides two separate folded optical paths (16 and 18) from a single source (12) to a single detector array (14) via a polychromatic filter (26). One optical path (16) passes through a sample gas chamber (24) containing a gas to be analyzed and the other path (18) passes through a reference chamber (30) containing a reference gas. On each optical path (16 or 18), radiation from the source (12) is collected by upstream optics (22 or 28) to form a converging beam (16b, c or 18b, c), thereby reducing or eliminating the need for collection optics at the detector array (14).

Abstract: The gas sample identification apparatus transmits at least one beam of light of predefined frequency band through a gas sample present in a gas sampling chamber. The presence and concentration of various agents in the gas sample are determined by a linear variable filter that selectively passes the light beam transmitted through the gas sample chamber to an array of detectors. The detectors are positioned to receive only a narrow passband component of the light beam. The output signals from the array of detectors is processed by a multivariate statistical processor to accurately identify both the presence and concentration of one or more agents contained in the gas sample.

Abstract: A needle valve in which the needle is moved with respect to its valve seat. The distal end of the needle has a length of a constant, uniform diameter that allows the flow to reach a maximum flow and not change while that finite length is moving within the valve seat. This allows a less critical placement of a stop that prevents further movement of the needle away from its valve seat.

Abstract: The source (12) has a heater element (122) sandwiched between elongate emitter plates (124 and 126). In operation, the source (12) is operated at temperatures in excess of 900.degree. C. and, preferably, at least about 1200.degree. C. to provide radiation in the 7-10 micrometer wavelength range. In one embodiment, the source (12) is used in conjunction with an elongate detector array (14) in a gas analyzer (10) for analyzing respiratory and anesthetic gases. Spherical mirrors (36a, 36b) and flat mirrors (38a, 38b) are employed to image the source (12) on the detector array (14). A linear variable filter (26) allows for analysis of the radiation at multiple wavelengths using detector array (14).

Abstract: An anesthesia system is disclosed that prolongs the lifetime of an oxygen fuel cell be used to detect the concentration of oxygen in that anesthesia system. The system determines and provides a signal indicating the end of any particular operation using the anesthesia system and that signal is used to cut off all gas supplies with the exception of the fresh air supply which is then allowed to pass through the system to wash the various lines, including the conduit having the oxygen gas fuel cell thus preventing the typically high concentrations of oxygen used in a operation from remaining in the oxygen fuel cell for an unnecessary period of time. Furthermore, the gases in the anesthesia machine are eliminated along with their deleterious effects and replaced by fresh air from the normal supply of fresh air to the system.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating the NO.sub.2 concentration in the gas provided to a patient. The therapy of using nitric oxide to threat the lungs of a patient includes administering that gas along with a gas containing oxygen. Since the mixing of NO and oxygen cause a reaction leading to the formation of NO.sub.2 and which is toxic, the method and system determine the concentration of oxygen in the oxygen containing gas, the concentration of NO in the NO containing gas and the residence time between the time those gasses are mixed together to the time that mixture is administered to the patient. Those values are then used, preferably in a microprocessor to access a look up table in the memory of the processor, to thereby provide an estimation of the NO.sub.2 concentration of the gas administered to the patient.

Abstract: The thermal time of flight signal guard overcomes the leakage crosstalk problem encountered in prior art systems by eliminating the leakage currents in the flow transducer before they reach the temperature sensors. This is accomplished by the installation of a conductive strip into the fluid flow path, interposed between the temperature sensors and the heat source. The conductive strip intercepts any errant leakage currents that are generated by the heat source and carried by moisture which accumulates on the walls of the fluid flow path to the temperature sensor. The signals that pass through the fluid flow conduit past the conductive strip to the temperature sensors are the thermal tracer signals. Therefore, the temperature sensors operate in a leakage current free environment and the signals produced by the temperature sensors are devoid of leakage current noise.

Abstract: A breathing bag arm assembly that is affixed to a medical apparatus such as an anesthesia machine or component thereof. The breathing bag arm assembly comprises three moving parts, a base connector that rotatable attaches to the medical apparatus, a bent tube that is affixed to the base connector and can be rotated to a plurality of discrete locked positions with respect to the base connector and a port connector that is rotatable affixed to the other end of the bent tube. The port connector has a port for connecting to the flexible bag. By manipulation of the assembly, the clinician can locate the flexible bag in a variety of positions for convenient use, and retain the flexible bag in the desired position depending vertically downwardly. The overall assembly is readily disassembled and reassembled for cleaning or the like.

Abstract: An anesthetic vaporizer filler valve is disclosed that can be used in conjunction with anesthetic agent bottles currently commercially available and which have standard keying systems with rotating collars having lugs extending therefrom. The standard collar of such anesthetic agent bottles is keyed into the vaporizer filling valve. the vaporizer filler valve has an internal valve that must be opened in order to introduce the liquid anesthetic agent into the vaporizer sump. By means of a corresponding slot in the vaporizer filler valve that correspond with mating lugs of the standard anesthetic agent bottle, only a proper anesthetic agent bottle can engage and be screwed into the filler valve designed for that specific anesthetic agent.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser for dispensing liquid cryogen comprises a vessel (10) and a valve/actuator arrangement (16, 18) the valve being positioned within the vessel and operable to obturate or uncover an outlet orifice (14). The actuator (18) being positioned wholly or substantially outside the vessel, but being able to generate a magnetic force within the vessel for moving a magnet on the valve so as to move the valve between open and closed positions.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention characterizes the operating characteristics of a medical monitoring probe in a more comprehensive and accurate manner than is heretofore known in the prior art. This apparatus not only identifies the present value of a plurality of operating characteristics of the optical components contained in the probe, but also computes the interrelationship therebetween to produce a composite probe indicia that substantially defines the net operating characteristics of the probe, including the interrelation of the various interactive and/or cumulative effects. This composite probe indicia represents either a number or a graphical representation of probe operating characteristics that can be used directly by the processor contained within the monitoring system to perform the required computations.

Abstract: A locking device is disclosed for attachment to an absorber used in an anesthesia system and which provides assurance that the bag to ventilator switch cannot be put in the ventilator position for those applications where a ventilator is not intended to be used, i.e. MRI applications. As a further feature, the locking device also physically prevents the ventilator input to the bag to ventilator switch from being occluded, either by a protective plastic shipping cap or by having tubing or other conduits connected thereto.

Abstract: A liquid cryogen dispenser 10 includes a consolidation structure 20 adjacent its outlet 14 for causing gas contained in the liquid to consolidate into bubbles of sufficient buoyancy to cause them to rise to the surface of the liquid rather than be drawn through the outlet 14 where they can disrupt the smooth flow of liquid cryogen therefrom.

Abstract: A fluid measuring device for measuring fluid present in liquid and vapor phase having a phase separator 12, a device for measuring the flow of the liquid and optionally the vapor and a device for recombining the liquid and vapor phases after the flow rates are measured.

Abstract: A system is disclosed to prevent the build up of pressure within a patient circuit when an oxygen flush is activated in a ventilator powered anesthesia system. In the event the user activates the oxygen flush at a time that the ventilator is in the inhalation cycle providing a breath to the patient, a valve is automatically opened to vent the patient circuit to the atmosphere, thereby preventing that additional oxygen flow to the patient circuit from resulting in an undesirable pressure build up that could affect the lungs of the patient.

Abstract: This probe makes use of a simplified housing construction that significantly reduces the cost of the manufacture of the probe housing. The housing is implemented using two molded housing halves, which are pivotally connected together and which include an integral spring member. In addition, the housing includes a connector mounted thereon for enabling the probe to be disengaged from the cable and its associated connector that interconnects the probe with the medical monitoring equipment. As a further improvement, a notch is provided on the housing so that the conductors can be positioned to exit the probe in any direction to minimize the possibility of the conductors inadvertently pulling the probe loose from the patient's finger.