Abstract: A non-invasive, disposable, self-adjusting tocodynamometer (10) for monitoring uterine contractions of a patient during pregnancy, labor, and delivery The tocodynamometer includes a pressure-sensitive, fluid. filled bellows (20) responsive to changes in the hardness of the uterus during contractions The bellows has one face which projects into the patient's soft tissue in the abdomen and adjacent the uterus, rending the tocodynamometer sensitive even for obese patients. A plate (22) supports the bellows and provides structure for attaching the tocodynamometer to the patient. A wall (30) formed on the plate receives the bellows as it is compressed during use. A conduit (14) connects the bellows to a pressure transducer (12) which, in turn, is connected to a monitor (16). The bellows, conduit, and pressure transducer form a closed system containing the working fluid.

Abstract: An electrical conducting connector used to interconnect medical electrodes and monitoring devices. The male stud, commonly manufactured on the electrode, is relocated to a new position as an integral part of the connector. Consequently, the connector can act as an adapter for electrically interconnecting a relatively inexpensive, flexible, studless electrode secured on the skin of a patient to a monitor having a conventional lead wire plus female couple assembly. Such interconnection allows rotation between the connector and electrode, thereby assuring patient comfort and continued electrical contact even when the electrode is adhered to the patient for long periods of monitoring.

Abstract: A disposable electrode assembly comprising a pair of thin, flexible, foam pads having adhesive on their facing surfaces. Leads from remotely located fetal electrodes are secured between the pads by the adhesive and are in electrical contact with conductive plates also located between the two pads. The lower pad carries a body electrode which is in electrical contact with the patient when the assembly is attached to the patient. Such attachment is assured without using an adhesive on the lower pad which contacts the patient's skin. The conductive plates and the body electrode are electrically connected to a fetal monitoring device by thin conductors also secured between the pads by the adhesive. The thin conductors combine in a cable assembly adapted to connect to the fetal monitoring device.

Abstract: A heat sensitive coating has a colorless or light colored leuco dye precursor, preferably having a five-membered spirol lactone ring at one end of the molecule, and a tertiary amino group at another end of the molecule, and a developer. Sensitizers which increase the heat sensitivity of these dye precursors, and compositions of sensitized dye/developer systems are disclosed. The sensitizers are .gamma.-substituted lactones, 3-naphthylmethylidenephthalide, and derivatives of benzalphthalide.

Abstract: A disposable marker and adapter for use in an integrator pen. The forward end of the marker fits within the adapter and a nib holder, projecting from the front of the marker, is threadedly retained therein. The rear end of the adapter is adapted to be frictionally retained within a conventional integrator pen body holder.

Abstract: Transparency medium for automatic printers comprises transparent film sheet with central window area and surrounding margin area and a backer sheet bonded to the film sheet only in the margin area. Preferably, a sequence of such backer sheets, including side edges suitable for automatic feeding (such as by tractor pin holes) on a separate edge portion, are separably connected at adjoining forward and rearward edge lines to form a fan folded supply of indefinite length.

Abstract: A disposable blood pressure transducer system for use with a catheter with or without a catheter flush/flow valve. The transducer housing has both electrical and fluid connections, with the electrical connections being protected from contamination by fluid.

Abstract: Optical apparatus which compares the transmittance of radiation through a coated product with the transmittance of radiation through only the base material of the coated product to measure the coating weight of the coating on the coated product. A dichroic filter or similar device is included to minimize or even eliminate radiation losses, due to reflections from the coated product, which affect the accuracy of the apparatus. The apparatus can be modified to measure selected characteristics of the base material instead of the coating.

Abstract: A recording instrument pen and pen arm and the combination thereof, the mounting means comprising a rearwardly extending channel-defining member associated with said pen and including a slot having two widthwise segments at lengthwise positions thereof, the forward segment being of lesser width than the rearward segment, the forward tip of the pen arm being adapted to be received in said slot and to be securely positioned by engagement at at least four spaced-apart positions therein.

Abstract: A heterogeneous, pressure-sensitive, electrically conductive adhesive for disposable biomedical electrodes. The adhesive consists of two phases: a viscoelastic polymeric adhesive phase and an electrically conductive aqueous phase containing a water receptive polymer, a humectant, and an electrolyte. Both phases are intimately interdispersed and the adhesive is applied as a relatively thin film on a supporting substrate. The adhesive is characterized in that it establishes a physical equilibrium with the ambient system so that varying concentrations of moisture in the atmosphere are accommodated and tolerated by the adhesive without loss of viscoelastic and adhesion capabilities and without impairment of electrical conductivity values even under conditions of both high and of low relative humidity.

Abstract: Disposable pen and pen arm for a recording instrument, the pen stylus and pen arm being correspondingly elongated and bent to mate with one another in their assembled configuration. The pen body having a slot for receiving the pen arm upon installation and piloting the pen body rearwardly to an installed location, which is otherwise not conveniently accessible.

Abstract: Heat-sensitive compositions which rapidly develop color upon heating and rapidly discharge their color upon cooling, comprising an intimate mixture of a 3,3-bis (p-aminophenyl) phthalide and an organic acid. The color-producing and color-discharging cycle may be reproduced many times without noticeable change in response. The novel compositions of the invention are useful as temperature indicators, thermal display media, safety papers and validation devices.

Abstract: A disposable marker apparatus for use with low torque recorders includes a bifurcated body with two separate ink reservoirs in the first and second body segments interconnected by a connector segment. The connector segment includes an ink transmitting member. A stylus tube extends from the body. A pivot member is provided to engage an associate pivot support outwardly from said pen body. A substantial portion of the mass of the marker is below the connector segment and the pivot member. The result is a marker having a center of gravity below the pivot so that the swinging marker tends to stabilize after disturbance due to vibration or rapid marker excursion.

Abstract: A disposable biomedical and diagnostic electrode characterized in that functional electrical contact is effected between the skin and an electrically conductive element of the electrode by means of a conductive adhesive, and in that conductive skin contact is enhanced, when necessary, by selective application of a conductive gel contained in and releasable from a storage cavity in the electrode itself. The pressure-released gel establishes a fluid film interface between the patient's skin and the conductive adhesive and, concurrently, provides a highly conductive path between the electrode itself, and the patient's skin.

Abstract: Catheter patency flow-flush controller comprising push-button valve mechanism with fast flow flush path surrounding the valve member, normally closed by a valve element and valve seat interposed between the inlet and outlet of the internal passageway of the controller by a coil spring located external of the internal passageway, the coil spring also compressively retaining a resilient seal at all times about the entry way through which the valve plunger enters the controller internal passageway. Preferably, the valve member push-button actuator includes a top cap member with dependent skirt which serves also as an alignment guide during valve movement by sliding engagement with an upwardly open skirt associated with the controller housing. Other features of the invention are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A device for giving a visual indication of the amount of residual ethylene oxide present in ethylene oxide treated solid hospital articles and other health devices. The amount of residual ethylene oxide is indicated by the difference in color exhibited by different sensitized areas of the device in the form of an opaque dark colored support member having bonded to its surface a thin film of a cholesteric liquid crystal composition in a solid film-forming binder. The film is made by laying down on the surface of the support member a solution or dispersion of liquid crystals which exhibits a change in color when in contact with ethylene oxide at a temperature from 60.degree. to 100.degree. F. in a solution of the solid binder, then evaporating the solvent.

Abstract: A recording chart of the type carried as one of a stacked array on a chart-driving and changing mechanism which functions periodically to separate the top chart from the stacked array. A zonal portion of the chart adjacent to a slit is integrally deformed to provide an open-ended socket or slot in the chart to facilitate intrusive penetration of a blade-like lip of a rotatable release button or hub of the chart changer, cleanly, between a top chart of the stack and a chart therebeneath, to lift and displace the chart while preventing the release button from cutting into the top chart itself adjacent a blade-facing edge thereof.

Abstract: An ion selective potentiometric electrode component consisting essentially of a solid, plate-like interface element prepared by simultaneously co-precipitating Ag.sub.2 S, Ag.sub.2 Se, CdS and CdSe followed by compressing the precipitated material at an elevated temperature to provide a substantially impervious agglomerate having an X-ray diffraction pattern distinct from a composite pattern of the individual four components and characterized by improved response properties and enhanced sensitivity to cadmium ion concentration in solution.

Abstract: In an electrode of the type having a reservoir for containing a reference electrolyte solution and a liquid junction for effecting electrical communication between said reference electrolyte solution and a sample solution, and including a seat and plug valve assembly of the electrode in communication with the reservoir and a sample solution, an improvement characterized in that a resiliently stressed spring contained within the reservoir biases the plug axially into mating engagement with the valve seat, and in that, upon application of displacement pressure axially against the plug, the latter automatically twists, axially, to execute a partial turn so that a valve-closing face of the plug laps or wipes against the seat and concurrently moves from engagement with the valve seat to open the valve assembly for fluid flow and cleansing flushing therethrough.