Abstract: An inline water trap including a filter component and a panel connector configured to interface with a patient gas monitor. In one embodiment the inline water trap indicates to the patient gas monitor that it is in place and that the patient gas monitor may begin intaking and analyzing the filtered patient sample. The inline water trap receives a patient sample and filters water and contaminants from the sample before allowing the remaining gas portion of the sample to pass through to the patient gas monitor, thereby protecting the patient gas monitor from damage. One embodiment of the inline water trap additionally contains an RFID tag to indicate to the patient gas monitor that the correct type of inline water trap is engaged.

Abstract: Vital sign monitoring is especially challenging in small animals, given the high metabolic rates and small volumes under consideration. An embodiment of the present invention includes a unique nose-cone design and associated instrumentation which allows for measurement of respiratory parameters, including anesthesia gas concentration, inspiratory and expiratory O2, and inspiratory and expiratory CO2 (capnometry). Such instrumentation facilitates a physiologic assessment of small animals undergoing general anesthesia, an increasingly important consideration as small animals play a greater role in in vivo biomedical studies. In addition, the techniques proposed herein are suitable for measurement on small respiratory volumes associated with neonatal monitoring.

Abstract: An inline water trap including a filter component and a panel connector configured to interface with a patient gas monitor. In one embodiment the inline water trap indicates to the patient gas monitor that it is in place and that the patient gas monitor may begin intaking and analyzing the filtered patient sample. The inline water trap receives a patient sample and filters water and contaminants from the sample before allowing the remaining gas portion of the sample to pass through to the patient gas monitor, thereby protecting the patient gas monitor from damage. One embodiment of the inline water trap additionally contains an RFID tag to indicate to the patient gas monitor that the correct type of inline water trap is engaged.

Abstract: An inline water trap including a filter component and a panel connector configured to interface with a patient gas monitor. In one embodiment the inline water trap indicates to the patient gas monitor that it is in place and that the patient gas monitor may begin intaking and analyzing the filtered patient sample. The inline water trap receives a patient sample and filters water and contaminants from the sample before allowing the remaining gas portion of the sample to pass through to the patient gas monitor, thereby protecting the patient gas monitor from damage. One embodiment of the inline water trap additionally contains an RFID tag to indicate to the patient gas monitor that the correct type of inline water trap is engaged.

Abstract: An inline water trap including a filter component and a panel connector configured to interface with a patient gas monitor. In one embodiment the inline water trap indicates to the patient gas monitor that it is in place and that the patient gas monitor may begin intaking and analyzing the filtered patient sample. The inline water trap receives a patient sample and filters water and contaminants from the sample before allowing the remaining gas portion of the sample to pass through to the patient gas monitor, thereby protecting the patient gas monitor from damage. One embodiment of the inline water trap additionally contains an RFID tag to indicate to the patient gas monitor that the correct type of inline water trap is engaged.

Abstract: An inline water trap including a filter component and a panel connector configured to interface with a patient gas monitor. In one embodiment the inline water trap indicates to the patient gas monitor that it is in place and that the patient gas monitor may begin intaking and analyzing the filtered patient sample. The inline water trap receives a patient sample and filters water and contaminants from the sample before allowing the remaining gas portion of the sample to pass through to the patient gas monitor, thereby protecting the patient gas monitor from damage. One embodiment of the inline water trap additionally contains an RFID tag to indicate to the patient gas monitor that the correct type of inline water trap is engaged.

Abstract: A liquid separator for a respiratory gas sample analyzer includes a closed container having a liquid trap filter chamber integral with the container. The liquid trap filter chamber includes an inlet compartment and an outlet compartment. The inlet compartment is interposed between a sample inlet port and a sample outlet port and includes a gas permeable, liquid impermeable filter element for separating liquid from a gas sample, the liquid separated from the gas sample passing to a collection chamber. The outlet compartment includes a further gas permeable, liquid impermeable trap filter element which is interposed between the collection chamber and a low pressure port, for preventing the flow of liquid through the output compartment to the low pressure port.

Abstract: A liquid separator for a respiratory gas sample analyzer includes a closed container having a liquid trap filter chamber integral with the container. The liquid trap filter chamber includes an inlet compartment and an outlet compartment. The inlet compartment is interposed between a sample inlet port and a sample outlet port and includes a gas permeable, liquid impermeable filter element for separating liquid from a gas sample, the liquid separated from the gas sample passing to a collection chamber. The outlet compartment includes a further gas permeable, liquid impermeable trap filter element which is interposed between the collection chamber and a low pressure port, for preventing the flow of liquid through the output compartment to the low pressure port.

Abstract: A liquid separator for a respiratory gas sample analyzer includes a closed container having a liquid trap filter chamber integral with the container. The liquid trap filter chamber includes an inlet compartment and an outlet compartment. The inlet compartment is interposed between a sample inlet port and a sample outlet port and includes a gas permeable, liquid impermeable filter element for separating liquid from a gas sample, the liquid separated from the gas sample passing to a collection chamber. The outlet compartment includes a further gas permeable, liquid impermeable trap filter element which is interposed between the collection chamber and a low pressure port, for preventing the flow of liquid through the output compartment to the low pressure port.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical parameter monitoring device which allows the monitoring of a plurality of medical parameters from a remote location. The invention uses a central monitoring system which transmits and receives date parameters via RF from remote patient monitors. The monitoring system utilized a digital spread spectrum RF transceiver between the central monitoring system to the remote monitors. Forward error correcting, frequency hopping, and spread sprectrum communications are employed to provide accurate transmission of data for a plurality of physiological parameters. Transmitted data can be automatically registered into storage in the central monitoring system.

Abstract: An oximeter for non-invasively measuring the oxygen saturation in blood with increased speed and accuracy is disclosed. The oximeter includes a number of features which increase the functionality of the device including: a dynamic range control for monitoring a range of inputs from low level signals encountered in fetal and other applications to typical or high level signals; light emitting devices of different wavelengths for filtering noise and providing additional medial monitoring functions; and an improved method for calculating the oxygenation levels without the need to take peak and valley measurements. The device includes a sensor unit which can be attached to a patient and an oximeter which determines the oxygen saturation in the blood based on signals received from the sensor. The sensor can include light emitting devices in three or more wavelengths to provide additional functions. In the present invention, the detected signal is immediately converted to a digital value.

Abstract: An integrated medical monitoring system comprising at least one patient monitor, at least one central monitor, and at least one remote access device which are tied together through an integrated communications link is disclosed. The communications between various components of the system are bi-directional, thereby affording the opportunity to establish monitoring parameters from remote locations, provide interactive alarms and monitoring capabilities, and provide data exchange between components of the system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical parameter monitoring device which allows the monitoring of a plurality of medical parameters from a remote location. The invention uses a central monitoring system which transmits and receives data parameters via RF from remote patient monitors. The monitoring systems utilizes a digital spread spectrum RF transceiver between the central monitoring system and the remote monitors. Forward error correcting, frequency hopping, and spread spectrum communications are employed to provide accurate trnsmission of data for a plurality of physiological parameters. Transmitted data can be automatically registered into storage int he central monitoring system.

Abstract: An oximeter for non-invasively measuring the oxygen saturation in blood with increased speed and accuracy is disclosed. The oximeter includes a number of features which increase the functionality of the device including: a dynamic range control for monitoring a range of inputs from low level signals encountered in fetal and other applications to typical or high level signals; light emitting devices of different wavelengths for filtering noise and providing additional medial monitoring functions; and an improved method for calculating the oxygenation levels without the need to take peak and valley measurements. The device includes a sensor unit which can be attached to a patient and an oximeter which determines the oxygen saturation in the blood based on signals received from the sensor. The sensor can include light emitting devices in three or more wavelengths to provide additional functions. In the present invention, the detected signal is immediately converted to a digital value.

Abstract: An oximeter for non-invasively measuring the oxygen saturation in blood with increased speed and accuracy. The device includes a sensor unit which can be attached to a patient and an oximeter which determines the oxygen saturation in the blood based on signals received from the sensor. In the present invention, the detected signal is immediately converted to a digital value.

Abstract: An optical sensor, for positioning and holding an optical source and optical detector on opposite sides of a patient's finger or other extremity includes a clothespin-like housing having opposed housing members. The optical source and optical detector are embedded, respectively, in separate, opposed contact pads. The contact pads are mounted on the opposed housing members. A detent mechanism and a carrier associated with each of the housing members and contact pads allows the contact pads to be detached from the housing for cleaning or repair. A pivot mechanism that permits limited lateral as well as rotational movement of the housing members relative to each other allows the sensor to accommodate fingers of varying sizes.

Abstract: A system for handling and disposing of respiratory waste from a patient's respiratory circuit. The system includes a device for providing an inhalable input fluid containing a gas to the patient's respiratory circuit, a device for providing an output path for the expired respiratory waste, a device for filtering and handling the respiratory waste with a filter portion including (a) an input port on a first side of a filter media for separating a gas from liquids and solids, (b) a first chamber on the first side, (c) a first output port for liquids and solids on the first side, (d) a second side of the filter media having a second chamber and (e) a second output port on the second side of the filter media for the gas with the first chamber geometry enabling preferential removal of any solids occluding the filter media preventing gas flow to the second chamber.

Abstract: A pulse oximeter and method of determining the oxygen saturation level of a patient's blood wherein a heartbeat related signal is used, as a reference to guide the averaging of optical pulse waveforms. The oximeter and method assign different weighting to different optical pulses based upon the amplitude of new pulse waveforms and the degree of similarity between it and the preceding waveform. A composite, averaged pulse waveform is then used in computing oxygen saturation level.

Abstract: A pump supplies a variable pressure to an occluding cuff of a blood pressure monitor. This pump includes a pumping member that is driven through a stroke in response to a drive signal having a fixed frequency but a variable duty cycle such that the length of the stroke is variable in response to variations in the duty cycle. The drive signal is generated at a selected driving frequency which is outside of and greater than the measuring frequency range of the blood pressure monitor. In this way, strokes of the pump do not cause pressure variations in the cuff within the measuring frequency range.

Abstract: A water trap for a gas analyzer includes self-sealing filters formed of a porous polymer that includes a cellulose extract that causes the polymer to become impermeable on contact with water. The water trap in this way automatically protects the gas analyzer from liquid contamination. Preferably, the gas analyzer monitors a pressure parameter of a pneumatic line connected to the water trap and provides an indication that the water trap should be replaced in the event this pressure parameter indicates an abnormal operating condition.