Abstract: A chatting party initiates a computer chat with a chatted-to party by way of a computing system of a chatting service acting on behalf of the chatted-to party. The computing system collects from the chatting party in connection with the chat identifying information identifying the chatting party, and an initial indication of the general nature of the chat. A priority is then assigned to the chat based at least in part on the collected identifying information and the collected initial indication of the general nature of the chat, and the chat is assigned to the attention of one of the chatted-to party, an agent at the chatting service on behalf of the chatted-to party, and an automated chat engine of the chatting service for chatting with the chatting party. The chat is assigned based at least in part on the assigned priority of the chat.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a library of program data for medical pumps, the apparatus comprising: memory loaded with a database, the database including a plurality of program data records and a plurality of data key records, each program data record containing a set of program data items, at least some of the program data items included in the database for controlling operation of a medical pump, each data key record containing a data key and each data key identifying one of the data program records; a database management system programmed to link a data key to a set of program data; and a scanner in data communication with the database management system, the database management system being further programmed to receive a code scanned by the scanner, save the code in a data key record, and link the code to a set of program data, the code being a data key.

Abstract: A method of programming a medical infusion pump with a protocol is disclosed. The method includes providing a protocol including one or more patient specific pump parameters. The method further includes providing a user interface configured to allow user adjustment of at least one of the one or more patient specific pump parameters. The method also includes uploading the protocol into the medical infusion pump.

Abstract: A needle guard clip assembly has a clip and a spring, the clip having a first wall with a needle passage therethrough, a generally parallel second wall, a strut connecting the two walls, and a heel extending from the first wall. The walls, strut, and heel are an integral piece. The spring is associated with and extends from the first wall.

Abstract: A safety device to be used with a vial, or capsule, has a collar dimensioned to slidably fit about the body of the vial. Extending from the collar is a neck member that has connected to its other end a housing pivotable to a position along the longitudinal axis of the vial. A latch member having a lip is integrated to the neck member and extends out from the neck member in a direction towards the center of the collar. Neck member is fabricated to have an elastic characteristic so that if it is not biased by any external force, it will return to its original position. As the collar of the safety device is moved along the body of the vial, neck member is biased away from the vial as the latch member maintains contact along the outer surface of the vial, and then the outer surface of the hub formed at the top end of the vial.

Abstract: An aural volume feedback system is implemented in a center having a plurality of agents working thereat. Each agent is situated at a work station for being in calling contact with a client. At the work station, a microphone transforms aural speech of the agent into an electrical format, and a volume detector samples the electrical format and generates based on the sampling an instantaneous volume level. The volume detector compares the generated volume level to a predetermined threshold to determine that the agent is speaking excessively loudly, and thereafter outputs a trigger signal. A feedback generator receives the trigger signal, and based thereon generates a feedback to be perceived by the offending agent at the work station, where the perceived feedback hopefully causes the offending agent to reduce the aural volume thereof.

Abstract: A catheter has a main portion made from an elongated tube and a soft tip that has softer flexural properties than the tube. The tip is affixed to the distal end of the tube. A reinforcement member is intermittently embedded in the body of the tube to provide kink and shear stress resistance as well as enhanced columnar strength and torque-ability to the catheter. With the flexible soft tip, the catheter is diverted when it meets an obstacle inside the patient to prevent the catheter from harming the patient. Another exemplar soft tip catheter is a one-piece elongated catheter with its distal portion selectively notched. A reinforcement member may be embedded along the length of the one-piece catheter or only along the main body portion. The notch at the distal portion may be a spiral cut or a number of ring cuts, with possibly different pitch, width and cut depth.

Abstract: An air warmer has a housing whereinto is positioned a noise reduction mechanism having a casing that encases a sound reducing structure having a maze like cavity. An axial fan is positioned within the sound reducing structure. In operation, air is drawn into the sound reducing structure by the fan along a first tortuous passage. The air is directed by the fan through another tortuous passage to an air outlet to inflate a convective blanket with an air hose connected to the air outlet. The configuration of the maze like cavity and the material from which the nosie reducing structure is formed reduce the noise generated by the fan. A heater is provided proximate to the air outlet to heat the output air. A filter is provided at the air inlet to filter the ambient air drawn into the warmer.

Abstract: Each agent in a work setting is able to take work breaks as needed to devote personal time to attend to personal matters. An agent module is associated with a computing device of each agent and a central module is central to all of the agents. The agent module receives a request from the agent for a work break and forwards the request to the central module for processing thereat. The central module examines the request according to a set of rules to determine whether and/or when the request for the work break from the agent is to be approved, and grants the request based on the set of rules. Thereafter, the central module notifies the agent by way of the agent module that the request has been granted. Thus, the agent may take the requested work break.

Abstract: An aural volume feedback system is implemented in a center having a plurality of agents working thereat. Each agent is situated at a work station for being in calling contact with a client. At the work station, a microphone transforms aural speech of the agent into an electrical format, and a volume detector samples the electrical format and generates based on the sampling an instantaneous volume level. The volume detector compares the generated volume level to a predetermined threshold to determine that the agent is speaking excessively loudly, and thereafter outputs a trigger signal. A feedback generator receives the trigger signal, and based thereon generates a feedback to be perceived by the offending agent at the work station, where the perceived feedback hopefully causes the offending agent to reduce the aural volume thereof.

Abstract: An aural volume feedback system is implemented in a center having agents each situated at a work station in calling contact with a client. At the work station, a first microphone closer to the agent transforms aural speech thereof into an electrical format forwarded toward the client. A second microphone farther from the agent transforms aural speech thereof into an electrical format forwarded toward a volume detector which samples same and generates based thereon an instantaneous volume level. The volume detector compares the generated volume level to a predetermined threshold to determine that the agent is speaking excessively loudly, and outputs a trigger signal. A feedback generator receives the trigger signal, and generates a feedback to be perceived by the offending agent at the work station, where the perceived feedback hopefully causes the offending agent to reduce the aural volume thereof.

Abstract: A portal access assembly includes an inserter that has a needle, a cap moveable along the length of the needle and an infuser having a cannula through which the needle extends. A safety mechanism inside the cap allows the needle to be moved relative to the cap so long as the shaft of the needle biases against an edge of one of the legs of the mechanism. After the cannula is properly positioned in the implanted port to establish a fluid path between the port and the infuser, the needle is removed by being pulled upwards until it no longer biases the one leg of the mechanism. At which time the safety mechanism fixedly captures the needle inside the cap to prevent the contaminated tip of the needle from being exposed to the environment. At the same time, the cap is detached from the infuser.

Abstract: An information bearing septum viewable under radiographic imaging is formed by molding a septum base to have a depression with a given configuration and molding a one-piece solid radiopaque material insert having the same given configuration. The radiopaque insert is mounted to the cavity formed by the depression at the septum base. The top of the septum is then covered by a silicone layer that bonds to the septum. The finished septum is adapted to be fitted to a reservoir housing of a subcutaneous implantable portal. In place of the solid insert, the septum may be formed by placing on top of the septum base a one-piece top layer impregnated with a radiopaque material that has an integral hanging insert that fittingly mounts into the cavity formed by the depression at the septum base.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for programming a medical infusion pump are disclosed. One method includes displaying a meter having two or more locations, each of the two or more locations representing a corresponding parameter value programmable into the medical infusion pump. The method further includes displaying an indicator having a selectable positional relationship to the meter, the selected position corresponding to a parameter value.

Abstract: An embodiment is directed to pressure plate for attachment to an infusion pump, where the pressure plate includes a tubing support surface at least partially surrounded by a raised perimeter support. The pressure plate includes a plurality of guide structures extending from the raised perimeter support that define a passageway for an infusion pump tube. Additionally an attachable flow stop assembly is included that includes an attachable occlusion arch and an attachable flow stop arm. The attachable occlusion arch includes a plurality of tab structures that couple to the raised perimeter support. The occlusion arch further includes an aperture configured to surround an infusion pump tube threaded therethrough. The attachable flow stop arm is operatively coupled to the raised perimeter support adjacent the attachable occlusion arch in a spring-biased fashion such that the aperture in the occlusion arch may be selectively occluded by the flow stop arm.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating a prescription form is disclosed. The method includes displaying a first menu containing a plurality of therapy menu items. The method also includes displaying a second menu containing at least one qualifier menu item. The method further includes displaying a third menu containing at least one drug menu item. The method includes, upon selection of a therapy menu item, a qualifier menu item, and a drug menu item, selecting a protocol including one or more patient specific pump parameters corresponding to the therapy menu item, the qualifier menu item, and the drug menu item. The method also includes displaying a prescription form including at least one of the one or more patient specific pump parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus for indicating a change in operation of a medical infusion pump. The apparatus includes a memory configured to store an original pump parameter and a current pump parameter. The apparatus further includes a programmable circuit in electrical communication with the memory, the programmable circuit programmed to display the original pump parameter and the current pump parameter. A method indicates a change in operation of a medical infusion pump.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a server for communicating with a medical device. The server comprises a web browser process for communicating with a remote device and a pump interface process for communicating with a medical device. Another aspect of the present invention is a medical device. The medical device comprises memory configured to store data and a programmable circuit in electrical communication with the memory. The programmable circuit is programmed with a web server for communicating data with a remote device. Another aspect of the invention is a server for communicating with a medical device. The server comprises memory for storing data and a programmable circuit in electrical communication with the memory. The programmable circuit programmed with an interface for communicating with a medical device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new thiadiazolidinediones of formula (I), or any pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof, and its use in the treatment of a disease in which glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) is involved, particularly neurodegenerative diseases, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular disorders. Additionally, there is provided a process for preparing such compounds, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.

Abstract: A method and medical pump to perform a flushing procedure are provided. The medical pump is configured to execute the flushing procedure subsequent to an infusion procedure, the flushing procedure and infusion procedure lacking a specified relationship between each other until after performance of the infusion procedure. The method comprises performing an infusion procedure of a medicament with the medical pump and automatically querying in human detectable form whether to execute a flushing procedure in response to conclusion of the infusion procedure.