Abstract: A method for manufacturing a heat-sealed neo-natal medical monitoring probe requires a pair of light sources and a light detector to be placed between two layers or conformable material used to implement the probe. The layers are designed to be self-aligning when placed in the assembly press for heat-sealing the perimeter of the probe. The heat-sealing process both protects the light sources and detector from fluids and also functions to precisely position and secure these devices.

Abstract: The menu selection device uses a combination of the rotary position of a rotary optical encoder and the operation of a coaxially mounted push-button switch to enable the user to progress through various layers of a hierarchical menu system. The rotary position of the shaft translates to a menu category which is selected by the user activating the push-button switch. The selection of the menu category allows the user to then sequence through the plurality of menu entries within this menu category by again rotating the shaft. The user selects one of these menu entries by again activating the push-button switch.

Abstract: A tilt mechanism for use with an infant care apparatus such as an incubator to place and retain the infant care apparatus in a desired tilt angle. The tilt mechanism includes two sets of crossed links, each set forming an X between the links. One end of each link is rotatable affixed to a fixed base and the other end rotatably affixed to the infant care apparatus. A locking device is used that allows the infant apparatus to be manually moved by means of the crossed link sets to the desired angle and then locked into that position. With this mechanism, the entire infant apparatus is tilted rather than only some internal bed or infant platform.

Abstract: A heated humidifier for an infant incubator wherein the water in the water reservoir is heated by an active heater located above the surface of the water and a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the active heater and which extends downwardly to a point beneath the water surface to heat the water. In the preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger is an extruded member in the shape of an I-beam to transfer the heat from an electric heater above the surface of the water to heat the volume of water in the reservoir to create water vapor.

Abstract: A system for allowing a user to disable an apnea alarm in an anesthesia system when the anesthesia ventilator is in the mechanical ventilation mode. The system takes advantage of the redundancy of both a CO2 monitor and a volume monitor triggering the apnea alarm based upon a predetermined fault condition. The inventive system allows the user to disable the apnea alarm based upon a signal from the volume monitor to alleviate the problem of spurious alarm signals from the volume monitor. The attempt to disable the volume monitor fault signal to the apnea alarm is prevented, however, without a system check by a CPU to insure that the CO2 monitor is, in fact, fully operational and capable of sending its fault signal to the apnea alarm to trigger that alarm. The system continuously checks the CO2 monitor and immediately restores the viability of the volume monitor as a trigger for the apnea alarm at any time the CO2 monitor becomes disabled and is unable to trigger the apnea alarm itself.

Abstract: This apparatus makes use of the existing data collection probe connector on the instrumentation as the port through which the software updates are loaded into the programmable memory devices that are used to store the operational software of the instrumentation. Circuitry is provided in the instrumentation to automatically differentiate between software update data being loaded into the instrumentation and the normal monitoring data that is received from the probe. This is accomplished by the use of probe defining circuitry that is able to differentiate between the standard probe used for data collection purposes and the software update probe that is provided to download software into the programmable memory devices.

Abstract: A nitric oxide delivery system that is useable with any of a variety of gas delivery systems that provide breathing gas to a patient. The system detects the flow of gas delivered from the gas delivery system at various times and calculates the flow of a stream of nitric oxide in a diluent gas from a gas control valve. The flow of gas from the gas delivery system and the flow established from the flow control valve create a mixture having the desired concentration of nitric oxide for the patient.The system does not have to interrogate the particular gas delivery system being used but is an independent system that can be used with various flows, flow profiles and the like from gas delivery systems.

Abstract: The pulsed optical rotary encoder digitally samples the operation of the optical rotary encoder to obtain the same information that is obtained by the use of the continuously active light-emitting devices but in a much more energy-efficient manner. In particular, the light-emitting devices are pulsed into operation for a short duration and at a frequent rate. The signals produced by the light detectors associated with the light-emitting devices are sampled at a predetermined time after firing the light-emitting devices to obtain the data necessary to determine the rotation of the coding disk.

Abstract: A heated humidifier for an infant incubator wherein the flow of air through the humidifier that picks up water vapor from the surface of the water is controlled in response to the temperature of the heater used to heat the water. In the preferred embodiment, the heater is an active heater located above the surface of the water and includes an extruded heat exchanger that depends downwardly from the heater to below the level of the water. A thermal actuator is located in good heat transfer association with the extruded heat exchanger at a point above the surface of the water and that thermal actuator controls the position of a valve in the outlet of the humidifier.

Abstract: Concomitant measurement of EtCO.sub.2, EtN.sub.2 and (FiO.sub.2 -FeO.sub.2) concentrations are used to detect a VAE. In a respiratory gas monitoring system, continuous measurements of end-tidal carbon dioxide, end-tidal nitrogen and the difference between inspired and expired oxygen concentrations are averaged using a predetermined time period and stored as historical data. Periodically, a present value of each of these concentrations is compared to its respective historical average for a predetermined time period. If the following conditions are met, the device signals the presence of a venous air embolism: 1) a decrease in the EtCO.sub.2 concentration of 1.5 mm Hg; 2) an increase in the FeN.sub.2 concentration of 0.03 vol %; and 3) a decrease in the difference between the inspired oxygen concentration and the expired oxygen concentration of 0.20 vol %.

Abstract: An infant incubator tilt mechanism is disclosed that allows infinite adjustment of the tilt angle of the infant mattress within certain limits. The mechanism includes a bent rod positioned within the infant incubator itself and underlying the infant bed and which has an offset portion that engages a bed lifter. As the bent rod is rotated about an axis, the bent rod moves the bed lifter to raise and/or lower the infant bed. One end of the bent rod extends outwardly to the exterior of the infant compartment and is rotatable by an exterior mechanism having a lead screw that is rotated by the operator to cause lateral movement of a link mechanism along an axis at about ninety degrees to the axis of rotation of the bent rod. The lateral movement of the link is again translated into rotational movement and connects to the bent rod to translate that rotational movement to the bent rod. The entire tilt mechanism is readily removable so as to be easily cleaned.

Abstract: A vaporizer for introducing a vapor of an anesthetic liquid into t carrier gas for introduction into a patient is disclosed. The vaporizer directly vaporizes the liquid by introducing the liquid into a vaporizing chamber having an extremely large width to height ratio, i.e. in excess of 600:1. The carrier gas flows in laminar flow through the vaporizing chamber and the liquid anesthetic is introduced at a controlled flow such that it immediately vaporizes upon introduction to the entrance of the vaporizing chamber. A control scheme utilizing a CPU controls the percentage of anesthetic vapor in the outlet gas by sensing certain parameters and then controlling the flow of liquid anesthetic by controlling the speed of a controllable speed pump.

Abstract: The improved pulse oximeter preprocesses the sets of red and infrared signals received from the probe. The set of pairs of processed red and infrared data points are fitted to a linear equation to compute the slope of the best fit line through these data points and account for noise in both of these sets of data points. A measure of the linearity of the input data points, if less than a predetermined threshold, indicates that a distorted signal has been received from the probe. The computed slope of the best fit line is converted to a RRatio which is used in a empirical calibration formula to compute the average SpO.sub.2 value.

Abstract: The twice scaled waveform display apparatus combines a twice scaled factor indication with the autoscaled waveform display so that an input data quality indication is produced based on factors such as signal strength, wherein the twice scaled factor is used to modulate the size of the display that is presented to the user. Thus, the generated waveform occupies a predetermined portion of the display when the signal strength and/or other input data qualities are at an acceptable level. The size of the waveform presented to the user on the display is reduced in magnitude when there is a degradation in the input signal magnitude or other quality factors.

Abstract: An infant care center or infant care warmer having as it source of heat, an infrared emitter that is located above the infant bed and which is relatively small in dimensions so as to not impede the access to the infant by attending personnel at any time, including when X-rays are being taken to the infant. The emitter is contained in a sealed emitter assembly and includes a lens that focuses and directs the infrared radiation to a desired footprint on the infant bed. In a specific embodiment, the infrared emitter is shaped generally in the form of a parabola and a honeycomb material comprising a plurality of hexagonal openings receives the infrared radiation from the parabolic shaped emitter and redirects the radiation into a desired pattern toward the infant bed.

Abstract: An illuminator for use with a variety of end use light emitting devices for administering light for therapy and/or observation of an infant. One of the end use emitting devices is a device to provide phototherapy to the infant and is prevented by the illuminator from emitting light that has not been filtered to select the desire spectrum of wavelengths for phototherapy. The illuminator prevents the introduction of a connector to the phototherapy device from being inserted to an operative, secured position unless the proper filter is in position to filter out all of the undesired wavelengths before the light radiation can reach the phototherapy end use emitting device. Other end use light emitting devices may, however, be used with the same illuminator and their connectors are readily inserted into the illuminator to receive light radiating from the illuminator to the end use light emitting device.

Abstract: The pulse oximeter probe uses an inexpensive connector to electrically interconnect the sensor elements with the pulse oximeter. One segment of the probe connector contains a set of connector pins that are wired to the sensor elements. Another segment of the probe connector is equipped with a mating configuration of sockets which align with these pins. Three projections function to automatically align the connector pins with the connector sockets. Two of the projections engage a mating aperture in the other connector segment to fasten the two connector segments together, while a third projection aligns with an edge of the other connector segment to position the two connector segments.

Abstract: A needle valve including a deformable seal positioned between the distal end of the needle and a hard, mechanical seat between the needle and the valve housing. The deformable seal is able to seal around the movable needle but is protected from serious deformation by the hard mechanical seat that is located so as to prevent the needle from entering the deformable seat beyond a predetermined amount. Thus the deformable seal does not extrude due to the entrance of the needle and wear is reduced.