Abstract: A system for controlling administration of medical fluid includes a fluid passageway to which is attached a first flow regulator, a second flow regulator, and a flow detector. The system also includes a controller for controlling the first and second flow regulators in response to a measurement taken by the flow detector of fluid movement in the fluid passageway. The first flow regulator, such as a pump, is configured to maintain fluid movement at flow values greater than an unrestricted flow value. The second flow regulator, such as a variable adjustable valve, is configured to maintain fluid movement at a flow value less than the unrestricted flow value. A method of controlling administration of medical fluid includes obtaining a target flow value, moving fluid through the disposable assembly, taking a measurement of fluid movement in the disposable assembly, and actuating a flow regulating apparatus.

Abstract: A continuous positive airway pressure system features a housing forming an airway chamber, and an air pressure inlet and an air pressure outlet. The housing further defines internally a pair of tapered air jets, and a pair of tapered air receivers. The air receivers are located downstream of the air supply jets and disposed coaxially with respective ones of the air supply jets. Each receiver has a taper in an opposite direction to the direction of the taper of the air supply jets. A pair of nasal prongs is located downstream of the air receiving jets.

Abstract: A tubular pumping element for pumping a liquid is disclosed. The tubular pumping element includes an outer shell that has a bore with an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends of the bore. There is a flow path for the liquid from the inlet through the bore to the outlet. A support element is located within the bore of the outer shell. An elastic sleeve is located over the support element and has a plurality of expandable portions. The support element includes a plurality of fluid passages each coupled to a respective port on the surface of the support element under one of the plurality of expandable portions of the elastic sleeve. Introduction of a driving fluid into one of the fluid passages causes the expandable portion of the elastic sleeve that is proximate to the respective port to expand.

Abstract: A drawer that includes a container and an activation member is disclosed. The container includes a receptacle and a lid. The lid moves between an open position allowing access to the receptacle and a closed position restricting access to the receptacle. The container further includes a fastener, coupled to the lid, to fasten the lid to the receptacle when the lid is in the closed position. The activation member moves radially around a longest axis of the activation member, and includes an actuator. When the activation member is rotated in a first direction, the actuator is placed into a first orientation relative to the fastener. When the activation member is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction, the actuator is placed into a second orientation relative to the fastener such that the actuator actuates the fastener to cause the lid to move into the open position.

Abstract: A pump having a disposable fluid contacting portion which defines a fluid inlet and outlet and a fluid path there between is presented. The pump includes a drive portion configured to engage the disposable portion to cause fluid to be moved from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. The disposable portion is configured to be selectively coupled to the drive portion. The disposable portion includes a driven membrane which forms a portion of the fluid path, and the drive portion includes a drive membrane. The two membranes are vacuum coupled to each other, whereby movement of the drive membrane causes the driven membrane to move, causing fluid to be pumped through the disposable portion. The pump has particular utility in the medical field for moving fluid from a source to a patient. The pump may include features such as an air-trap, bubble detection, fluid flow controls, and pressure detection.

Abstract: An intravenous fluid container is disclosed, wherein the fluid container comprises a bag, a fluid reservoir formed within the bag, an outlet, and a pumping element formed within the bag and fluidically coupled between the fluid reservoir and the outlet.

Abstract: A medical connector is described which is formed by a body having an inlet port, an outlet port through a male luer portion of the body, and a fluid path between the inlet port and the at least one outlet ports. A retractable post extends through the fluid path in the male luer sealing a tip of the male luer thereby closing the fluid path when the connector in not activated. Barbs extending along the exterior of the male luer and connected to the retractable post, wherein when the connector is activated, the barbs force the retractable post away from the tip of the male luer thereby opening the fluid path through the medical connector. A retention member applies force to the post to force the post to seal the tip of the male luer with the medical connector is not activated.

Abstract: A vial adapter having a needle-free valve, a sharpened cannula used to perforate a vial's rubber stopper, and a circular array of claws of different lengths to engage vial closures of different diameters. The array of claws includes a first set of claws each having a first length extending inwardly from the periphery of the housing of the adapter and a second set of claws alternating with the first set of claws and each having a longer length. The second set of claws are mounted so that they deflect and plastically deform out of the way in the case where the adapter is engaged with a vial that exceeds a predetermined size. The housing includes a shroud that is at least as long as the sharpened cannula to protect medical personnel who use the adapter from inadvertent punctures. The needle-free valve includes a resiliently deformable piston element with a naturally open bore. The interior of the piston provides a fluid flow path through the adapter.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that allow a user to select when messages related to medication events are sent and to select the content parameters of those messages. In one aspect, a medication dispenser is configured to notify a messaging processor when an identified medication that was not previously loaded in the medication dispenser is newly loaded into the medication dispenser, and the messaging processor is configured to send a message to a user through a communication link upon receipt of this notification. In another aspect, the medication is identified during a review of a new medication order issued by a doctor.

Abstract: A weight-based dispensing system is disclosed. The system includes a platform and a container, coupled to the platform, including a lid configured to move between a closed state restricting access to items in the container and an open state allowing access to the items in the container. The system also includes at least two weight sensors, wherein each of the weight sensors is coupled to the platform and is configured to determine a change in weight on the platform, and a controller configured to determine a change in the number of items in the container based on the state of the lid and the change in weight on the platform. A method for dispensing items is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vented vial adapter has a filter attached to a vent arm that includes at least two filter media for suppressing aerosolized medicaments from leaving the vial and suppressing bacteria and other contaminants from entering the vial during reconstitution activities of the medication in the vial. The filter media allows the passage of air to the atmosphere outside the vial for pressure equalization. In another aspect, a third filter medium is used in the vent of the adapter to allow gas to pass in either direction through it, but prevents bacteria and particulate matter in the atmosphere from reaching the second filter device. A first filter is hydrophobic and prevents non-dispersed liquid from reaching the second filter, while conducting liquid dispersed in gas. The second filter absorbs the liquid dispersed in gas.

Abstract: An adaptive critical low level management system is described. In some embodiments, the system includes a configuration module configured to receive a service level setting and a storage module configured to receive usage information for at least one inventory of at least one type of medical item. The system also includes a processor configured to adaptively determine a critical low level based on the usage information and the service level setting, and an analysis module configured to determine when the critical low level has been reached by the at least one inventory of the at least one type of medical item, and to produce an output indication that the critical low level has been reached.

Abstract: A syringe imaging system for a syringe infusion pump is provided. The system comprises an imaging device configured to capture one or more images of a syringe, and a processor, which is configured to determine, based on the one or more captured images, an internal diameter of the syringe and a distance between a bung and a bottom of the syringe, and to calculate a remaining volume of the syringe based upon the determined internal diameter and distance. A syringe infusion pump is also provided. The pump comprises a housing having a bracket configured to receive a syringe, a syringe driver configured to actuate a plunger of the syringe, an imaging device configured to capture one or more images of the syringe, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine, based on the one or more captured images, an internal diameter of the syringe and a distance between a bung and a bottom of the syringe, and to calculate a remaining volume of the syringe based upon the determined internal diameter and distance.

Abstract: A portable ventilator uses a Roots-type blower as a compressor to reduce both the size and power consumption of the ventilator. Various functional aspects of the ventilator are delegated to multiple subassemblies having dedicated controllers and software that interact with a ventilator processor to provide user interface functions, exhalation control and flow control servos, and monitoring of patient status. The ventilator overcomes noise problems through the use of a noise attenuating system comprising noise reducing pressure compensating orifices on the Roots blower housing and multiple noise reducing chambers. The ventilator is configured with a highly portable form factor, and may be used as a stand-alone device or as a docked device having a docking cradle with enhanced interface and monitoring capabilities.

Abstract: A fluid pump apparatus for pumping a fluid from a fluid source to a fluid output comprises a first portion, such as a durable portion, and a second portion, such as a disposable portion. The first portion includes a fluid chamber having a wall and an internal cavity, an input port and an output port. A membrane forms a portion of the wall. The first portion further includes a magneto-sensitive element coupled to the membrane. The second portion comprises an actuator configured to contactlessly induce a reciprocating movement of the membrane by application of a time-varying magnetic field to the magneto-sensitive element, thereby facilitating pumping of the fluid through the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising: a mechanical manipulation mechanism configured for transmitting a first set of control signals; and at least one mechanical slave cylinder coupled with the mechanical manipulation mechanism and positioned at a distal end of the surgical device, the at least one mechanical slave cylinder configured for receiving the first set of control signals, wherein the at least one mechanical slave cylinder comprises: a piston configured for responding to the first set of control signals by moving between a proximal end and a distal end of the mechanical slave cylinder; and a detachable shaft configured for detachably coupling with a distal end of the piston and for the moving with the piston.

Abstract: An nCPAP device for assisting patient breathing includes a generator body forming an inlet, a chamber, and first and second flow circuits. The chamber directs pressurized gas from the inlet to the flow circuits. The flow circuits each include a first and second jets, a flow director and an exhaust conduit. The jets emit a jetstream into the flow director in a direction of a patient side thereof. In some embodiments, the flow director forms a first tapered wall section directing inhaled air toward the patient and a second tapered wall section directing exhaled air toward the exhaust conduit. The generator body requires reduced driving pressures to achieve target CPAP levels and reduces total imposed WOB as compared to conventional designs.

Abstract: A system and method of associating a plurality of objects is disclosed. A physical space is defined and a real-time locating system (RTLS) is used to determine objects that are within the physical space. The objects determined by the RTLS to be within the physical space are associated. The objects include at least one of a caregiver, a patient, a medical device, a medication, and a medical substance.

Abstract: A pump is disclosed that comprises a primary control unit comprising a first processor and one or more modular pumping units removably docked to the primary control unit. Each modular pumping unit comprises a pumping mechanism and a second processor configured to control the pumping mechanism and communicate with the first processor. The modular pumping unit is configured to manipulate a portion of a fluid delivery set to pump a fluid. The first processor and the second processor are configured to exchange one or more operating parameters when the modular pumping unit is docked to the primary control unit. The modular pumping unit is configured to pump the fluid after being undocked.

Abstract: An intravenous fluid pump (IV) contains a disposable part including a fluid chamber having a resilient top membrane and a non-disposable part including a piston abutting a resilient membrane and a vacuum chamber fitted on top of the resilient top membrane. An external pump is used to create vacuum in the vacuum chamber, resulting in the resilient top membrane being held taut. The flow rate through the pump is relatively independent of changes in the pressure of IV fluid on the upstream and the downstream due to changes in the relative elevation of the fluid reservoir and the patient with respect to the fluid pump.