Abstract: Intracorporeal warming apparatus includes a catheter for placement in a patient, the catheter having a distal end and a proximal end. An antenna lies adjacent to the distal end of the catheter and a cable having one end connected to the antenna extends from the proximal end of the catheter. A transmitter transmits a first signal of a first frequency capable of heating blood or tissue and a receiver receives a second signal of a second frequency which is indicative of thermal radiation, the receiver producing an output signal in response thereto. A diplexer connects the proximal end of the cable to the transmitter and receiver so as to couple the first signal from the transmitter only to the antenna and the second signal from the antenna only to the receiver so that the apparatus can simultaneously heat the blood or tissue and determine the actual temperature of that material.

Abstract: Infusate warming apparatus comprises a housing defining an internal cavity. A lossy asymmetric transmission line is situated in the housing which transmission line includes an elongated electrical conductor having opposite ends and a conduit for conducting infusate which is highly absorptive to electromagnetic energy of a first frequency through the housing in close proximity to the conductor. A connector extends into the housing for coupling an external electromagnetic signal of the first frequency to one end of the conductor so as to subject the infusate to an energy field which heats the infusate. A temperature sensor for sensing the infusate temperature and controlling the signal to maintain a constant infusate delivering temperature is also disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic air eliminator includes an elongated housing defining an interior chamber having a top wall, a bottom wall and a substantially cylindrical side wall centered on an axis. A vent opening is present in the chamber top wall and a hydrophobic membrane covers the vent opening. The housing has a fluid outlet passage centered on the axis in the bottom wall of the chamber and a fluid inlet passage in the chamber side wall at a location adjacent to the top wall. That inlet passage is curved about the axis so that fluid inflow to the passage enters the chamber tangentially and circulates about the axis to the fluid outlet to minimize fluid turbulence and to maximize the residence time of the fluid housing.

Abstract: Microwave tumor detection apparatus includes a probe having a working end arranged to contact tissue. Positioned in the probe is at least one rectangular waveguide each waveguide having an aperture at the working end of the probe. The waveguides constitute antennas tuned to receive microwave radiation emitted by the tissue opposite the working end of the probe. Each waveguide is coupled electrically and mechanically to a dedicated radiometer in the probe for detecting the temperature of tissue opposite that waveguide. These radiometers have thermally conductive casings which are mounted to a common heat sink and are insulated so that all of the radiometers have a uniform thermal distribution. Also, a thin thermally insulating interface pad may be located between the working end of the probe and the tissue contacted by the probe to prevent such contact from causing changes in the surface temperature of the tissue. A method of detecting breast tumors is also disclosed.

Abstract: A connector/clamp assembly for a transfer set includes an inlet connector with a base, a shank extending from one end of the base and an I.V. tube extending from the opposite end of the base. The base interfits with a housing having opposite ends, a bottom wall and a pair of side walls extending from the bottom wall, so that the shank extends from one end of the housing and the tube extends along the bottom wall to the opposite end of the housing. A clamp is present in the housing opposite the tube and which is movable within the housing between a first position wherein the clamp collapses the tube against the housing bottom wall thereby blocking the tube lumen and a second position wherein the clamp does not collapse the tube sufficiently to appreciably occlude the lumen.

Abstract: Microwave heating apparatus for fixating tissue comprises an electrically conductive waveguide structure having opposite first and second walls each of which has opposite first and second ends and a longitudinal centerline. A body of non-magnetic dielectric material inside the waveguide structure bridges the first and second walls preferably at their centerlines. A pocket extends through a wall of the waveguide structure into the body and a tissue holder containing contents, namely a tissue sample and a fixation solution, is arranged to be received in the pocket. The dielectric constant of the body is selected to closely match the composite dielectric constant of the tissue holder and its contents so that when microwave power is delivered into the waveguide structure for heating a succession of samples, variations in the dielectric properties of the different samples will not significantly affect the tuning of the waveguide structure.

Abstract: Microwave tumor detection apparatus includes a probe having a working end arranged to contact tissue. Positioned in the probe is a plurality of rectangular waveguides arranged in columns and rows such that each waveguide has an aperture at the working end of the probe that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the aperture of the waveguide in any adjacent column and row of the array. The waveguides constitute antennas tuned to receive microwave radiation emitted by the tissue opposite the working end of the probe. The waveguides are coupled electrically and mechanically to dedicated radiometers in the probe for detecting the temperatures of tissue opposite the waveguides. These radiometers have thermally conductive casings which are mounted to a common heat sink and are insulated so that all of the radiometers have a uniform thermal distribution.

Abstract: Microwave heating apparatus for warming low flow rate infusates includes an electrically conductive housing defining an elongated heating cavity and a printed circuit board which separates the cavity lengthwise into first and second cavity sections. The circuit board includes a substrate which provides a fluid-tight divider between the two cavity sections and a meandering conductor run which extends along the substrate.

Abstract: A microwave apparatus for warming of a liquid such as blood or IV fluids in which the warming occurs in-line by means of a microwave heating cavity having a source of microwave energy coupled thereto. A support element in the form of a bobbin forms an assembly with an IV tube wound about the bobbin. This tubing-bobbin assembly is inserted into the microwave heating cavity. A non-invasive, non-perturbing microwave temperature monitor is provided coupled to the microwave heating cavity for monitoring the temperature of liquid flowing in the IV tube. Controls are provided including a desired operating selector for combining signals representative of, not only cavity temperature, but also inlet and outlet temperatures to control the power level of microwave energy delivered to the heating cavity.

Abstract: Microwave tumor detection apparatus includes a probe having a working end arranged to contact tissue. Positioned in the probe is a plurality of rectangular waveguides arranged in columns and rows such that each waveguide has an aperture at the working end of the probe that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the aperture of the waveguide in any adjacent column and row of the array. The waveguides constitute antennas tuned to receive microwave radiation emitted by the tissue opposite the working end of the probe. The waveguides are coupled electrically and mechanically to dedicated radiometers in the probe for detecting the temperatures of tissue opposite the waveguides. These radiometers have thermally conductive casings which are mounted to a common heat sink and are insulated so that all of the radiometers have a uniform thermal distribution.

Abstract: A microwave radiator formed at least partially of a radioactive substance and adapted to simultaneously deliver microwave energy and nuclear radiation to living tissue. The radiator is incorporated into an interstitial or intracavitary probe. The radiator is a helical electrical conductor, formed of a radioactive substance such as iridium.sup.192, and electrically connecting a central electrical conductor to a coaxial electrically-conducting jacket. Alternatively, a microwave antenna is formed as part of a probe with a cavity adapted to receive sources of ionizing radiation. Preferably, the cavity is part of a channel through a conduit carrying the probe, the channel being connected to a device for delivering ionizing radiation sources to the probe after positioning at the target tissue and after a heating regime. The device is able to remove the ionizing sources while leaving the microwave source in place for an additional heating regime. Other therapeutic regimes are facilitated by the combination.

Abstract: A microwave radiator formed of a radioactive substance and adapted to simultaneously deliver microwave energy and nuclear radiation to living tissue. The radiator is incorporated into an interstitial or intracavitary probe. The radiator is a helical electrical conductor, formed of a radioactive substance such as iridium.sup.192, and electrically connecting a central electrical conductor to a coaxial electrically-conducting jacket.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for detecting the presence of incidental bubbles in liquid flowing in a tube. The system monitors the amplitude of microwave radiation from the liquid and recognizes when that amplitude drops in a manner characteristics of the presence of a bubble.