Abstract: A number of different parameters related to carbon dioxide output of a patient are routinely determined in ventilator/anaesthetic systems. For this purpose, a ventilator/anaesthetic system for determining carbon dioxide parameters includes a ventilator unit in which a first flow meter is arranged to measure an expired flow of gas, and a carbon dioxide meter is arranged to measure the concentration of carbon dioxide in expired gas. Arranging the carbon dioxide meter in the ventilator/anaesthetic unit minimizes the equipment which must be located in the immediate vicinity of patient, and a faster, more sensitive carbon dioxide meter thus can be used.

Abstract: An anaesthetic system, which can be switched between an open system and a rebreathing system, includes a breathing circuit, a setting unit and a switching unit. When the breathing circuit is connected as a rebreathing system and a change in anaesthetic concentration or a change of anaesthetic type is initiated via the setting unit, the switching unit automatically sets the breathing circuit as an open system for a predetermined period of time, at the end of which the breathing circuit is automatically reset as a rebreathing system.

Abstract: An anesthetic system, primarily intended for a closed breathing circuit, has an inspiratory line, an expiratory line and a connecting line which form a closed gas line system with the inspiratory line and the expiratory line. A first check valve and a second check valve are arranged in the connecting line to control the direction of gas flow in the gas line system. A first gas reservoir and a second gas reservoir are also connected to the connecting line. The gas reservoirs are functionally interconnected so an increase in the volume of one results in a corresponding reduction in the volume of the other, and vice-versa. The changes in volume are actively controlled by a control system. During inspiration, respiratory gas is carried to the patient from a hand ventilator at the same time as respiratory gas is carried from the first gas reservoir to the second gas reservoir.

Abstract: In a method for correcting for non-physiological variations in ECG signals, signals recorded during a heartbeat, or a characteristic part of a heartbeat, are conditioned and digitized. Signal samples are stored in the form of an m.times.p matrix, where m is the number of samples and p is the number of leads used from measuring electrodes applied to the patient. The difference between this measuring matrix and a reference matrix is minimized by performing one or more of the operations translation, time synchronization, rotation and scaling of the measuring matrix. An apparatus for correcting for non-physiological variations in ECG signals includes a stage for conditioning signals, picked up by measuring electrodes applied to the patient, an A/D converter for digitizing the signals and a calculation unit. The calculation unit includes a storage unit for storing signal samples in the form of a m.times.

Abstract: Ventilators and anesthetic systems are generally equipped with a number of different safety functions. An improved, manually operated safety valve device has a valve element, slideingly or rotatably arranged in a valve seat inside a valve body. The valve element is connected to an operating element. In a sliding embodiment, when the operating element is not actuated the valve element is retained in a first position by a spring, which presses against the operating element. When the operating element is partly depressed, a gas channel is exposed to an input channel and gas can pass to an output channel at a first defined flow rate. The operating element can be affixed in this position by means of an arresting unit. If a larger flow of gas is needed, the operating element can be completely depressed, whereupon a flow-through channel with a lower resistance to flow opens to pass a second defined flow of gas.

Abstract: A breathing gas system, primarily intended for use during anaesthetization of patients, has a respiratory circuit, a drive gas apparatus and a pressure-transmitting bellows device, connected by a first space to the respiratory circuit and by a second space to the drive gas apparatus. When an outlet valve is regulated at the end of an expiratory phase to minimize the pressure difference between the first space and the second space, the respiratory circuit responds immediately at the next inspiratory phase when drive gas is sent to the second space. Minimizing the pressure difference also makes possible use of the pressure-regulated operating mode with the breathing gas system, and a rapid response to attempts at spontaneous breathing by the patient is achieved.

Abstract: An analysis apparatus such as an ECG apparatus has a control unit which includes an artificial neural network for discovering signal-recording electrodes which are erroneously attached to a patient. At least one artificial neural network is taught by being fed measurement signals from both correctly recorded measurements and from erroneously recorded measurements. The artificial neural network is then able to identify erroneous attachments with great accuracy from recorded measurement signals.

Abstract: A passive device for reducing the relative humidity of a flowing gas has a container in which a tube is disposed. A flowing gas passes into the-container-through a inlet and then flows downwardly through a cavity in the container, whereupon the gas transfers heat to the tube and the walls of the container. As a result, liquid water condenses from the water vapor content of the gas. The flowing gas then flows upwardly through a channel in the tube and is then warmed by the heat previously transferred to the tube, whereupon the relative humidity of the flowing gas decreases.

Abstract: A valve for controlling a gas or liquid flow, has an admission and a discharge with a valve seat, a valve part displaceable relative to the valve seat, and a seal therebetween, whereby the valve part presses the seal against the valve seat in one position and thus interrupts the flow. In order to obtain a valve of this type that has a simple structure and exhibits an extremely high sealing power over a comparatively long time span, a liquid having such properties that it is insoluble in the liquid or the gas that flows through the valve serves at least partially as a seal.

Abstract: A medical implant contains a sensor for sensing extracorporeally, manually generated shockwaves and for generating electrical signals, a detector connected to the sensor that, dependent on the electrical signals, emits pulses to a control unit connected to the detector for controlling a function implementing stage. The control unit emits a function signal to the function stage for the implementation of a function of the implant corresponding to a sequence of one or more parameters with reference to two or more pulses in a shockwave sequence, said sequence being identified in the control unit. In a method for controlling a medical implant, shockwaves are manually generated in a sequence and pulses are respectively generated dependent on the shockwaves, a function signal is supplied to a function stage given every identified sequence of one or more parameters referred to two or more pulses and the implant function defined by the identified sequence is then implemented by the function stage.

Abstract: In conjunction with the diagnosis of conditions in and treatment of the lungs, a small amount of NO is supplied to the lungs in some cases. A gas mixture for this purpose is disclosed in which an inert, non-toxic trace gas is present in an exact concentration in relation to NO, in order to simply and safely control the amount of NO then supplied to the lungs. The amount of NO supplied can be determined by determining the concentration of the trace gas. A method and device for administering breathing gas to a patient together with the aforementioned gas mixture are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a process and devices or continuously measuring the concentration of an analyte in tissue. The tissue is provided with a hollow fiber having a pore size between the size of the analyte and the size of macromolecules, hollow fiber is perfused with a solution compatible with the tissue, and that solution is supplied from the hollow fiber through a reactor for the analyte. The reactor has a second hollow fiber having a pore size between the size of the analyte and the size of macromolecules, and the second hollow fiber is located in a container which contains macromolecular reactants for detecting the analyte and a signal producing system coupled therewith. The perfusion fluid is fed from the reactor to an eliminator for the analyte, whereby at least 95% of the remaining analyte is removed from the perfusion fluid and the perfusion fluid is reintroduced into said first hollow fiber.

Abstract: In a method for internally cleaning an implanted infusion system, having an infusion pump connected on its outlet side to a catheter via a nonreturn valve and a flushing port downstream of the nonreturn valve and upstream of the catheter, a first flow of cleaning fluid is passed through the infusion pump and the nonreturn valve. A second flow of secondary fluid is supplied through the flushing port, and a third fluid flow is discharged through the flushing port. A device for such cleaning has a pump such as a syringe connected to the flushing port for supplying the second flow of secondary fluid, for diluting or otherwise modifying the cleaning fluid passing through the infusion pump and the nonreturn check valve, and for discharging the third flow.

Abstract: A device for explanting an electrode device, particularly an intravascular or intracardiac electrode device having an electrode cable and an electrode head arranged on the cable's distal end, is capable of simply and safely detaching fibrotic matter from the entire surface of the electrode cable and electrode head. The explanting device has a stiff first sleeve, relatively short in relation to the length of the electrode cable, and whose diameter is slightly larger than the external diameter of the electrode cable. One end of the sleeve forms a cutting edge. The first sleeve is connected at its end opposite the cutting edge to a first control body in the form of a stylet with which the first sleeve can be moved along the implanted electrode device. A second sleeve, operable with another stylet, amy additionally be employed, having resilient cutting elements.

Abstract: Most alveoli could collapse in different illnesses and injuries to a lung. A relatively high positive pressure, which could in itself damage the lung or impede its healing, is required to open the alveoli. A positive pressure is often applied at the end of the expiratory phase in order to keep the alveoli open throughout entire respiratory cycles. A ventilator is disclosed wherein an opening pressure for the lung can be determined from measurement values for the pressure and the volume of air supplied to the lung. The ventilator registers the measurement values and determines the opening pressure from the relationship between measurement values for pressure and for volume. The determined opening pressure can then be used by a physician for setting an appropriate end expiratory pressure (PEEP) for the respiratory phase or be used by a control unit in the ventilator for automatic setting of an appropriate end expiratory pressure.

Abstract: In a method for enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio of ECG signals, A/D-converted signals from a number of cardiac cycles are time-synchronized to form a signal ensemble, and the correlation between the signals in the ensemble is determined in time intervals, comprising at least two samples, during at least a part of the cardiac cycles. A device for enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio of ECG signals, includes circuitry for recording, A/D-converting and other processing of the ECG signals. A synchronization unit is arranged to time-synchronize the signals from a plurality of cardiac cycles to form a signal ensemble, and a calculator unit controlled by a window unit determines the correlation between the signals in the ensemble in time intervals, comprising at least two samples, during at least a part of the cardiac cycles.

Abstract: A dehumidifying device is often used to protect measurement equipment from condensation during measurements of a flowing gas. A dehumidifying device which does not need to be replaced as a result of becoming moisture-saturated is achieved by a container filled with a hydrophilic material and connected to a moisture permeable element. When a gas flows through the device via an inlet, a flow channel and an outlet, the hydrophilic material absorbs moisture from the flowing gas. The absorbed moisture is released into ambient air via the moisture permeable element.

Abstract: In a procedure for flushing a catheter, connected to an apparatus, implanted in a patient for infusing liquid medication, in particular insulin, through the catheter, the infusion channel in the catheter is isolated from the patient and connected in a circuit separated from the patient. Cleaning fluid is then flushed through the circuit. In a device for flushing a catheter according to this procedure, connected to an implanted apparatus for infusing fluid medication, in particular insulin, through the catheter, the catheter is at least of a double-lumen type. One channel is intended for the infusion of the medication through an outlet valve in the catheter, and a second valve is arranged in the tip of the catheter to interconnect the two channels.

Abstract: In a method for measuring the flow resistance of a catheter in an implanted medication infusion system, the system having a medication reservoir and a pump that conveys the medication from the reservoir into the patient through a catheter connected to the discharge of the pump via a one-way valve, and having a rinsing input for direct access to the catheter disposed upstream of the catheter and downstream of the pump, the time required in order to pump a pre-determined liquid volume through the catheter via the rinsing input at a predetermined pressure is measured. In a device for such a flow check, a testing device is provided for connection to the rinsing input, which pumps a predetermined liquid volume through the catheter via the rinsing input at a predetermined pressure. Measuring sensors are provided for supplying signals from which the time required for pumping this liquid volume can be determined.

Abstract: An x-ray examination apparatus has an x-ray tube having an anode dish with a number of selectively activatable focal spots that are arranged such that all of the focal spots are intersected by a common straight line. In order to obtain an x-ray examination apparatus with a primary radiation diaphragm that can be shifted in a very simple way such that it is quickly brought into a position that is matched to the current focal spot generated on the anode dish, a mechanism is provided for shifting the primary radiation diaphragm along the straight line when switching from one focal spot to another.