Abstract: An IV pole mountable, therapeutic infusate processing device is incorporated into a hypothermia system to receive therapeutic fluid(s), such as normal saline, peritioneal dialysis solution, or other crystalloid solution, to heat such therapeutic fluid(s) a few degrees centigrade above normal body temperature and to direct the resulting heated infusate to and through a selected anatomical portion of a patients body to raise the temperature of that body portion so as to affect any cancerous or other tumors that may be located therein. The processing device is provided with touch screen controls and visual indicators to facilitate its proper use; while the system further includes temperature and pressure sensors to monitor the hyperthermia processing to insure patient safety.

Abstract: A device is provided for use to securely clamp a medical mechanism to a person carrier, such as a lifter, stretcher, gurney, or the like, to facilitate providing medical treatment to a person during transport of the person to a medical facility, The device has an open condition released from the person carrier and a closed condition whereupon it clamps very securely to a rail of the person carrier; with the material of the person carrier facilitating securing to the person carrier the device as well as the medical mechanism to be secured to the person carrier. The medical mechanism may, by way of example, be a relatively heavy mechanism for providing infusate to the person or a relatively heavy control for the infusate providing device. No matter what it could be severely damaging to the person on the carrier, medical personnel and transport personnel if a relatively heavy mechanism loosened from the person carrier and moved uncontrolled around the transport.

Abstract: An IV pole mountable, therapeutic infusate processing device is incorporated into a hypothermia system to receive therapeutic fluid(s), such as normal saline, peritioneal dialysis solution, or other crystalloid solution, to heat such therapeutic fluid(s) a few degrees centigrade above normal body temperature and to direct the resulting heated infusate to and through a selected anatomical portion of a patients body to raise the temperature of that body portion so as to affect any cancerous or other tumors that may be located therein. The processing device is provided with touch screen controls and visual indicators to facilitate its proper use; while the system further includes temperature and pressure sensors to monitor the hyperthermia processing to insure patient safety.

Abstract: A heat exchanger that is useable in a wearable fluid heater is disclosed. Mechanisms may be used with or comprised in embodiments of the heat exchanger for purging gas from the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An intravenous fluid heater is provided that is dimensioned so as to be wearable adjacent a patient's intravenous fluid infusion situs. In one embodiment, the heater includes a heat exchanger for defining a flow path through the heater for fluid to be infused via the infusion situs. At least one controllable heating element is provided for heating the fluid in the flow path by heat conduction thereto through the heat exchanger. Sensors are included for sensing respective temperatures of entering and exiting fluids of the flow path. A controller controls, based upon the temperatures of the exiting fluids, heating of the fluid in the flow path by the heating element so as to cause the fluid in the flow path to be substantially uniformly heated to a desired infusion temperature prior to exiting the heater.

Abstract: An intravenous fluid heater is provided that is dimensioned so as to be wearable adjacent a patient's intravenous fluid infusion situs. In one embodiment, the heater includes a heat exchanger for defining a flow path through the heater for fluid to be infused via the infusion situs. At least one controllable heating element is provided for heating the fluid in the flow path by heat conduction thereto through the heat exchanger. Sensors are included for sensing respective temperatures of entering and exiting fluids of the flow path. A controller controls, based upon the temperatures of the exiting fluids, heating of the fluid in the flow path by the heating element so as to cause the fluid in the flow path to be substantially uniformly heated to a desired infusion temperature prior to exiting the heater.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an anatomical condition of a patient is provided. One embodiment of the system includes an electronic monitoring device for monitoring the anatomical condition (e.g., cardiac function) of the patient and for generating an electrical signal indicative of that monitored condition. The system converts the electrical signal into an optical signal that is indicative of the monitored condition, and supplies the optical signal via a fiber optic link to a remote location for processing. The system also supplies to the electronic monitoring device another optical signal via another fiber optic link. The other optical signal is for use both in controlling operation of and powering the electronic monitoring device.

Abstract: A method for decreasing the deflation time of an intra-aortic balloon comprises removing a portion of the gas from the closed pneumatic system during balloon inflation and then restoring the removed gas to the system at or near the end of balloon deflation. An apparatus for decreasing the deflation time of an intra-aortic balloon comprises an auxiliary chamber connected by an auxiliary valve to the pneumatic system near the volume chamber. The auxiliary valve is controlled to open and close the auxiliary chamber to the pneumatic system at predetermine points in the balloon inflation/deflation cycle. Removing a portion of the gas from the pneumatic system increases the pressure gradient from the balloon to the volume chamber, increasing the gas flow from the balloon, and decreasing deflation time.

Abstract: In the fluid heater disclosed herein, a plurality of thin or ribbon-like conductors are embedded in and link a pair of similar flow paths. An inductor is magnetically coupled to the conductors and is energized with alternating current thereby to induce local currents in the conductors and generate heat which is imparted to fluid passing through the flow paths and over the surfaces of the conductors.

Abstract: In the sine wave inverter disclosed herein the input of a low pass filter is switched at high frequency between positive and negative supply voltages. The switching is controlled by a comparator which is responsive to a composite of signals which include contributions from a sine wave control signal at the same frequency desired for the output and a square wave control signal which is at a frequency substantially higher than the desired output frequency. The filter input voltage is attenuated and phase adjusted to generate a feedback signal having a high frequency component which is substantially in phase with the high frequency control signal. This feedback signal is combined with the sine wave and high frequency square wave control signals to generate the composite of signals which controls the comparator. Accordingly, the duty cycle of the filter input voltage is varied in correspondence with both the sine wave control signal and the loading of the inverter output.