Abstract: A needle valve having improved economy of manufacture and assembly is disclosed in which the tapered end of the needle moves axially with respect to a valve seat having a cylindrical opening but does not rotate. An adjusting means, in turn, is rotated to cause the axial movement of the needle and an alignment means, preferably a sphere, is interposed between the needle and the adjusting means to provide alignment between the two components. The needle itself is also spring biased away from the valve seat.

Abstract: A medical ventilator is provided which continuously controls both inspiratory and expiratory flow and pressure, including positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP), through control of a single inspiratory flow-control valve. This valve controls inspiratory flow and pressure and, during expiration, controls expiratory flow and pressure by controlling the pressure within the back chamber of an expiratory diaphragm or balloon-type valve. Feedback signals preferably are provided to the valve's controller to provide inspiratory closed-loop flow control and continuous inspiratory and expiratory closed-loop pressure control.

Abstract: A combination of a protective tube and guidewire straightener used to locate a guidewire into a patient for introducing a catheter into a patient's bloodvessel. The guidewire straightener has a flexible end that flexes inwardly to lock the guidewire in a fixed position within the protective tube. The protective tube has an opening so that the guidewire straightener can be rotated by the user to align the flexible end with the opening to allow the flexible end to be released outwardly to unlock the guidewire so that it can move within the protective tube. A further opening in the shape of an elongated slot is formed in the protective tube and which allows the user to move the guidewire to advance or retract the guidewire from the protective tube. The positioning of the components are such that a user, by the manipulation of only one hand, can unlock the guidewire from it's fixed position and advance it into the patient, leaving the user's other hand free to carry out other operations.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fiber optic sensor for analyzing pH which comprises (a) a fluorescence-based fiber optic sensor; and (b) a fluorescent dye-polymeric matrix in contact with the sensor, wherein the fluorescent dye is seminaphthorhodaflor-1-isothiocyanate, the polymer is a hydrogel selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, cellulose, dextrans, and polysaccharides, and the dye is chemically bonded to the polymer.

Abstract: A flow control valve is disclosed wherein a deformable elastomeric element is positioned at least partially within the flow path of a fluid passing between an inlet and an outlet. By deforming the elastomeric element, the cross-section of the flow path of the fluid is changed, thereby controlling the flow of fluid through the flow control valve. The elastomeric element may be of various standard configurations and is easy and inexpensive to replace in the event of excessive wear.

Abstract: An intermittent suction device for removing fluids from a patient where the duty cycle between the OFF and ON cycles is controlled by a magnetically susceptible diaphragm that switches back and forth between first and second positions, representing ON and OFF positions, by controlling the differential pressure across the diaphragm. The diaphragm is biased toward it first position by a permanent magnet that acts to attract the flexible diaphragm. The device has few moving parts and its duty cycle and overall cycle times are easily adjusted by the user.

Abstract: A magneto-pneumatic timing device is disclosed that provides a pressure signal alternating between a high and a low pressure output signal. The duty cycle may be varied as well as the overall cycle time. A magnetically biased flexible diaphragm divides a chamber into a pair of subchambers and the differential pressure between the subchambers is controlled to cause the flexible diaphragm to pull away from the magnetic bias to one position and to return to its biased position. Control of the output pressure signal is carried out by varying the resistance in certain of the pneumatic passages that are part of the control function for the differential pressure. The device is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and features very few moving parts, thus it is reliable and capable of high production, low cost manufacture.

Abstract: A rotary type flowmeter having a variable orifice through which the flow to be measured is directed toward a rotatable needle. A preload is also applied and which may be varied as desired. By the use of the variable orifice and with the preload, the same flowmeter may be used for differing ranges of flow by minor adjustment and various indicating scales may be taylored to the particular flow being monitored.

Abstract: The universal pulse oximeter probe [of the present invention] utilizes an inexpensive sensor connector configuration to enable the cable section of the probe to be used numerous times. The [sensor connector is mechanically simple and electrically reliable to interconnect the sensor elements with the cable that connects the pulse oximeter system to the sensor elements. This sensor connector enables the user to obtain significant benefits due to the fact that the expensive cable segment of the probe is a separable element from the housing that contains the sensor elements. In particular, the] cable segment of the probe consists of a connector that is compatible with the pulse oximeter system and which functions to interconnect the pulse oximeter system with a plurality of conductors, the far end of which are terminated in the sensor connector [of the present invention].

Abstract: A gas analysis cell having a pressure control system eliminates pressure variations in the gas cell regardless of changes in restriction, gas viscosity and barometric pressure. Since optical alignment through the gas cell is sensitive to gas pressure, maintaining a constant pressure in the gas cell makes the system more stable.

Abstract: Described herein is a patient interfacing system for sampling the inspired and expired gases of a patient and removing moisture from the sample. In one embodiment of the present invention, a patient link receives the gases from the patient's airway circuit and a vaporization section vaporizes condensed moisture in the sample. A separator section allows the vaporized moisture component of the sample to exit the patient interfacing system before the gas sample reaches the monitoring instrument. A filter may also be utilized to prevent condensed moisture, particulates and liquids from entering the monitoring instrument. Thus, the patient interfacing system of the present invention provides a reliable, cost effective and efficient means for delivering gas samples to a monitoring instrument which reduces or prevents water condensation inside the gas analysis portion of the monitoring instrument.

Abstract: Peptide amide and amide dimer muscle relaxants represented by the formulae: ##STR1## wherein: R is lower alkyl; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, allyl, propargyl, aryl lower alkyl and cyclo-lower alkyl lower alkyl, or R plus one or both of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, together with the nitrogen to which they are attached, form a heterocyclic ring having 5 to 7 member atoms; AA are independently selected from certain amino acids moieties; n is 2 to 4; x is independently 0 or 1; y is independently 1 or 2; z is 2 to 12; and An.sup.- is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion.

Abstract: A deadender cap that is designed to be screwed into a standard medical Luer male thread connection to dead end that connection. The deadender cap is a one-piece molded construction having an internal tapered projection that fits within the open passages of the male Luer connection a predetermined distance when the deadender cap is tightened into position, thus liquid within the open passage is forced outwardly and then as the deadender cap is tightened and no air bubbles are formed.

Abstract: A filter having a microporous hydrophilic membrane is utilized in a thermodilution set up wherein the filter is positioned downstream from the injectate reservoir, the syringe and most of the fittings through which bacteria or other harmful materials could enter the bolus of injectate. The filter thus traps bacteria and particulates and prevents the material that may have inadvertently entered the injectate stream from being introduced into the patient. The filter is relatively inexpensive and is commerically available having a pore size of about 0.2 um while allowing typical thermodilution injectate flows of about 150 cc/min.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to silicone polyurethane copolymers containing phosphorescent dye compounds wherein the copolymers are represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein n is an integer ranging from 1 to about 30, and y, z, and w are integers ranging from 0 to about 40, wherein one of y, z, and w is at least one; and A is a diamide, B is a silicone block copolymer, D is a chain extender, and E is a phosphorescent porphyrin-type compound.

Abstract: A gas analysis cell positioned within an optical resonant cavity in a gas analysis system is disclosed wherein the cell includes a flow of buffer gas which forms a "dam", thereby protecting the optical elements in the analysis system. The analysis cell includes an inlet for introducing a gas sample into the analysis chamber of the cell. Two buffer gas inlet ports, one on each end of the cell, are provided to introduce a flow of buffer gas which is directed past optical elements in the system adjacent the ends of the cell. Two output ports are located at the ends of the analysis chamber to remove the buffer gas and gas sample mixture. The flow of buffer gas acts to confine the gas sample within the analysis chamber and reduce adverse effects which occur when the gas sample comes in contact with the optical elements of the system.

Abstract: A gas analysis cell positioned within an optical resonant cavity in a gas analysis system is disclosed wherein the cell includes a flow of buffer gas which forms a "dam", thereby protecting the optical elements in the analysis system. The analysis cell includes an inlet for introducing a gas sample into the analysis chamber of the cell. Two buffer gas inlet ports, one on each end of the cell, are provided to introduce a flow of buffer gas which is directed past optical elements in the system adjacent the ends of the cell. Two output ports are located at the ends of the analysis chamber to remove the buffer gas and gas sample mixture. The flow of buffer gas acts to confirm the gas sample within the analysis chamber and reduce adverse effects which occur when the gas sample comes in contact with the optical elements of the system.

Abstract: A handhole latch is disclosed for use with an infant incubator and which is damped by one or more elastomeric O-rings to reduce noise and vibration that could startle the infant. The O-rings are positioned between a moving piston latch and a housing such that the O-rings are sandwiched between the moving piston latch and the housing as the piston latch snaps, by spring bias, into its position holding the handhole door closed.

Abstract: A guidewire straightener that is adapted to fit on the end of a protective tube containing a guidewire used for introducing a catheter into a patient's bloodvessel. The guidewire straightener has a flexible end that flexes inwardly to grasp the guidewire when the guidewire is inserted into the end of the protective tube. The guidewire is thus prevented from migrating with respect to the protective tube during packaging, shipping and handling.

Abstract: A sensor for monitoring a condition such as a chemical concentration includes two luminescent materials having differing absorption bands and differing sensitivities to the condition to be monitored. Light in the two absorption bands is applied in alternating sequence so as to elicit emissions from the two luminescent materials in alternating sequence. These emissions are compared to one another and the relationship between them, such as the ratio of their intensities, indicates the condition. The luminescent materials may be porphyrins or derivatives thereof.