Abstract: An improved catheter assembly is provided wherein a cannula depends from a catheter body having a first passageway therethrough communicating with the cannula through which an introducer needle may be introduced and removed. The assembly is provided with a second passageway communicating with the cannula through which a fluid may be introduced. A moveable means is provided disposed across the first passageway and moveable from a first position to a second position. The moveable means is provided with a duct passing therethrough, the duct being coaxial with the first passageway when the moveable means are in a first position to allow the introduction of removal of the introducer needle. Thereafter, the moveable means are adapted to be moved into a second position in which the access of the duct is displaced to be non-coaxial with the first passageway, and hence out of communication therewith and with the moveable means in the catheter body cooperating to seal the duct from the first and second passageways.

Abstract: A disposable crimping valve assembly for parenteral solution delivery systems comprises a two-piece tubing receptor housing hingedly connected and with an irreversible snap connection which will not permit removal of the device from parenteral tubing after assembly. A back section has an integral movable pressure plate attached to the housing by integral flexible web connectors. When the movable plate is actuated toward the stationary press surface, tubing is bent over a sharp ridge element until the wall thereof contacting the sharp ridge collapses in a crimping action. The motor drive assembly provides rotational pressure to a threaded actuator engaging the back section without applying axial pressure thereto. The clamp permits manual adjustment to set flow rates when it is separated from the control housing.

Abstract: Catheters formed from polyurethanes containing sufficient halogenated moieties in the polymer structure to make the polyurethanes radiopaque are disclosed. Such polyurethanes can be prepared by employing halogenated diols and/or halogenated diisocyanate reactants. In preferred cases, the catheters are optically transparent in addition to being radiopaque.

Abstract: A mounting clamp particularly suited for mounting medical accessories on support poles comprises a stationary clamping surface which can be attached to an accessory housing. A cam is pivotly mounted on a trunnion connected to the stationary clamping surface has a spiral clamping surface, the stationary clamping surface and spiral clamping surface being positioned to constitute a clamping means when the clamp is in a clamping position. A spring means having one end connected to the trunnion and the other end connected to the cam is provided for biasing the cam to the clamping position. A lever pivotly mounted on the trunnion has a projection which engages the cam and causing it to pivot with the lever when the lever is pivoted to a clamp releasing position. The cam preferably has two spiral surfaces, one generated by a line parallel to the axis of rotation of the cam and the second cam surface by a line forming an angle with the axis of rotation of the cam.

Abstract: For use independent of a stand, a monolithic, miniaturized gravity infusion regulating apparatus comprises a single casing (6) housing the photoelectric drop detector (7), the electronics with controls (8) and the regulating mechanism and which can be fitted to the drop chamber (1) of an infusion instrument (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A blood pressure cuff is applied about a subject's artery, and inflated above the systolic level thus fully occluding the artery for a full heart cycle. The cuff pressure is thereafter reduced to permit an increasing flow through the progressively less occluded artery, and a measure of the peak amplitudes of the successively encountered blood flow (oscillatory complex) pulses stored in memory. Also retained is the cuff pressure obtaining for each stored complex peak. In accordance with varying aspects of the present invention, the stored complex peak-representing data ensemble is corrected for aberrations; and improved data processing operates on the stored (and advantageously corrected) pulse peak data and the corresponding cuff pressure information to determine the subject's diastolic arterial blood pressure.

Abstract: An inflatable, deflatable cuff, worn by the subject, is coupled to an air reservoir which is at a predetermined pressure which is above systolic pressure. The pressure head is established by a pump mechanism preferably located within the reservoir. When the reservoir is operatively coupled to the cuff, the cuff quickly inflates to a desired artery-occluding initial pressure preparatory to a following blood pressure measuring cycle of operation. The air pump resumes air flow into the reservoir when pressure within the reservoir falls below a predetermined threshold in preparation for a subsequent measurement cycle. The pump also supplies air directly to the cuff should the reservoir contents ever be inadequate to inflate fully the occluding cuff.

Abstract: A disposable pinch valve assembly for parenteral solution delivery systems comprises a two-piece tubing receptor housing hingedly connected and with an irreversible snap connection which will not permit removal of the device from parenteral tubing after assembly. A back section has an integral movable pressure plate attached to the housing by integral flexible web connectors. When the movable plate is actuated toward the stationary press surface, tubing is pinched or crimped therebetween and the cross-section area of the flow passage through the tubing is reduced. The movable pressure plate is designed to engage a actuator connector which engages the device by turning the actuator by hand or by the use of a motor-driven actuator in an axially sliding engagement.

Abstract: A pulmonary monitor for measuring a complex set of variables utilizing a group of three pushbuttons arranged to operate in hierarchical a hierarchical pattern for facilitating operator control of the functions of the monitor.

Abstract: A system for monitoring patient respiration include a disposable, convenient moisture detection device. The device is minimally intrusive to the laminar flow of gases and has minimal liquid collection volumes. It is characterized by high sensitivity at rapid response rates.

Abstract: A blood pressure cuff is applied to the patient, pumped to a pressure above systolic, and then is reduced in pressure decrements. At each decrement, complexes are detected by investigating the signal slope, and peaks of the complexes are measured and compared. During the complex detection process, the signal slope is measured periodically at a rapid rate, and unless the slope meets predetermined criteria, the input filters are clamped to a baseline, and the process is repeated.

Abstract: A pressure cuff on the patient is inflated to a predetermined pressure above systolic, and then is deflated incrementally. At each decrement, oscillatory complexes are detected, and respective peaks are compared and evaluated as "true" complexes if they are within certain size matching criteria. After such "true" complexes are identified at a predetermined number of levels (e.g. 2 or 3), only a single complex is investigated at subsequent levels, provided specified size and timing criteria are met.

Abstract: In systems for rapid sequential analysis of fluid samples, such as blood samples, an electrochemical sensor is capable of equally rapid, sequential sample response by avoiding the need for equilibration during the measuring phase, and by substantially replacing the electrolyte acceptor for each sample. The sensor is made up of a pair of electrodes, an electrolyte acceptor, and a gas permeable membrane separating the electrolyte from the sample stream. Samples are passed rapidly by the membrane, and at the end of each such pass, the electrodes are polarized for a certain period, the flow of electrical current is measured, and the electrolyte is flushed and replaced by new electrolyte. This membrane material can be hydrophobic and also hydrophilic in nature.

Abstract: Automated blood pressure monitors utilizing a pressurized cuff are adapted automatically to work with a variety of cuff sizes, including neonatal. An acoustical pressure pulse is generated at the monitor, propagated to and through the cuff, and back to a pressure transducer in the monitor. The total time of propagation is indicative of the cuff size being utilized.

Abstract: An improved sensing electrode assembly for testing for a constituent in blood is provided. An electrode assembly exhibits a decreased time to reach stable operation by virtue of having the assembly pretreated by applying thereto a liquid containing blood derived albumin.

Abstract: A chemically sensitive field effect device has its chemically selective system exposed to the material being investigated. The device is driven by a time varying, typically sinusoidal, current source. A protected reference electrode is also in contact with the body under investigation, and is biased at a predetermined DC level relative to the chemically sensitive field effect device.

Abstract: Negative pressure to accelerate flashback is formed by selective deformation of an elastomeric bladder. The bladder and a next adjacent cam means are enclosed in a housing, penetrated by a slide or roller engaging the cam surface. As the slide or roller moves along the cam surface, the bladder is selectively deformed first to close, then to evacuate distally and then to reopen at a negative differential pressure.

Abstract: In the formation of a chemically sensitive field effect device, prior to formation of the gate membrane, an aluminum pad is disposed over the gate, and a polyimide layer is disposed thereover. Photoresist and etching steps produce openings in the polyimide to form a gridwork which is anchored to the device on the periphery of the gate. The aluminum layer is etched completely away, forming a void defined by the suspended polyimide mesh on one side, and the gate insulator on the other. Polymeric membrane is formed in the void by insertion in liquid form.

Abstract: A polarographic sensor for blood oxygen monitoring is defined by respective anode and cathode electrode wires fixedly maintained in conventional fashion. The end cross sections of the wires are carried on a surface, and overlying this surface is a capillary pore ultrafiltration membrane. The microscopic capillary pores, which have diameters less than 12 micrometers each, pass water therethrough and thus allow the blood, which passes on the side of the membrane opposite the anode and cathode, to act as its own electrolyte.