Abstract: An assembly for receiving pharmaceutical waste into a waste receiver includes a receiver body coupled to a receiver cap. The assembly also includes a receiver housing defining an interior divided into a receiver compartment configured to receive the receiver body and a cap compartment configured to receive the receiver cap, with the cap compartment dimensioned so as to receive the receiver cap in a single orientation. The assembly also includes a receiver lid coupled to the receiver housing. The receiver lid covers the cap compartment and defines a waste aperture through which the pharmaceutical waste is configured to be directed into the waste receiver.

Abstract: A system includes a cannula that is configured to be inserted into a portion of a body and adjusted in length based on a depth measurement associated with the portion of the body; and an obturator having a handle and a shaft that can be moved relative to the handle to adjust a length of the obturator and a lock for locking the shaft in a plurality of positions relative to the handle, wherein the obturator is configured for receiving the cannula on the shaft and inserting the cannula into the portion of the body.

Abstract: Fluid management systems are disclosed that include software-controlled, electro-mechanical devices used in combination with single-use or multi-use tubing sets. Functions of the fluid management systems can include fluid pressurization, fluid warming, fluid deficit monitoring (including flow-based and weight-based), suction, fluid collection, and fluid evacuation (including indirect-to-drain and direct-to-drain options). The systems can be configured based on the surgical environment (e.g., operating room or physician office) as well as other user needs and/or preferences.

Abstract: A tracking device for a navigation system that includes a localizer. The tracking device has a tracking body. At least one tracking element is supported by the tracking body and configured to transmit a tracking signal for the localizer. A visual indicator is supported by the tracking body and has an emitter configured to generate a visible light. A tracker controller supported by the tracking body is configured to receive a signal from the navigation system indicative of the tracking signal being received by the localizer, and in response, control the visual indicator to activate the emitter to generate the visible light to produce a color to indicate to a user that the tracking signal is being received by the localizer.

Abstract: A manifold for coupling a suction tube to a medical waste collection system. A housing includes a body portion, and first and second legs extending from said body portion. An inlet fitting is for coupling to the suction tube. An arm extends outwardly from said housing and includes a proximally-directed surface. A lock element extends outwardly from said housing and includes a distally-directed surface. A spine extends outwardly from said housing and includes a proximally-directed surface. A catch may include a distally-directed surface. A rim of the first leg defines an outlet opening, and the catch and the rim are spaced apart by a void between the first and second legs. The housing may define a manifold volume, and a filter element may be disposed within the manifold volume. A radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag may be at least partially positioned on said second leg.

Abstract: A sponge counting system for maintaining an inventory of articles used during a medical or surgical procedure, where, in the event an article for which the status needs to be reconciled is left in a patient, the system generates a record that the article is in a partially reconciled state and when a subsequent procedure is performed, the scanner employed during the procedure has the records of the partially reconciled articles associated with the patient.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive treatment system includes a delivery assembly; and a vaso-occlusive device detachably coupled to the delivery assembly by a delivery assembly junction. The vaso-occlusive device includes a braided portion formed out of one or more composite wires, a coiled portion coupled to the braided portion, and an intra-device junction coupling the braided portion to the coiled portion. Each composite wire includes a core made from a core metallic material, and an external layer made from an external metallic material different from the core metallic material. One of the core and the external layer has a greater radiopacity and a lesser stiffness, respectively, than the other one of the core and the external layer.

Abstract: A personal protection system including a hood configured for removable coupling to the helmet. The hood may include a shell defining a filter opening and a shield opening. The hood also including a transparent face shield disposed within the shield opening and attached to the shell and a filter section mounted over the filter opening defined by the shell. The filter section may be formed from a nonwoven filter medium material including activated charcoal particles embedded in the nonwoven filter medium material to trap smoke and odors in the air generated during normal surgical activities. the filter section may include a top surface and a bottom surface, and the activated charcoal particles may be embedded within the nonwoven filter medium material between the top surface and the bottom surface. The hood may further include a mounting element configured to removably couple the hood to the helmet.

Abstract: Light-based non-invasive blood pressure measurement systems and methods that include a sensor having a light emitter and a light detector are disclosed. The light emitter emitting coherent or non-coherent light that is transmitted into and reflected from the tissues of the patient, including reflecting from moving blood. The light reflected from the moving blood being having a Doppler shift and detected by the light detector to generate a noninvasive blood pressure signal. The non-invasive blood pressure signal is processed to determine the instantaneous velocity of the blood. Additionally, pulse wave velocity data is obtained nearly, or substantially, simultaneously with the acquisition of the non-invasive blood pressure signal. Using the pulse wave velocity, the instantaneous velocity of the blood and a density of the blood, an instantaneous blood pressure can be determined.

Abstract: A thermal pad is adapted to be placed in physical contact with a patient and to receive temperature controlled fluid from a thermal control unit. The temperature controlled fluid circulates through the thermal pad and controls the patient's temperature. The thermal pad includes first and second sheets that are sealed together about their periphery to define a fluid chamber there between. A fluid inlet and fluid outlet are fluidly coupled to the fluid chamber. In some embodiments, a filter sheet is sandwiched between the first and second sheets and arranged such that fluid entering the fluid inlet must pass through the filter sheet before exiting out of the fluid outlet. A plurality of bonds may be included that seal the first and second sheets together at a plurality of locations. In some embodiments, a non-sheet filter is positioned within the fluid chamber and filters the circulating fluid.

Abstract: A machine accesses a first image captured prior to initiation of a procedure, where the first image depicts a set of instruments, as well as a second image captured after initiation of the procedure, where the second image depicts a proper subset of the set of instruments depicted in the first image. From the first and second images, the machine may determine that an instrument among the set of instruments depicted in the first image is not depicted among the proper subset of the set of instruments in the second image, and then cause presentation of a notification that indicates the instrument not depicted in the second image is missing. Alternatively, or additionally, the machine may determine whether an instrument among the set of instruments was used in the procedure, and then cause presentation of a notification that indicates whether the instrument was used in the procedure.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient over a floor surface is described herein. The patient support apparatus includes a drive system with a drive member, a user interface arranged for selective user engagement by a user to operate the drive system, and a control system for operating the drive system. The control system includes a processor configured to determine that the patient transport apparatus is traveling on an inclined floor surface, monitor the user interface for changes in user engagement by a user, and operate the drive system to decelerate the drive member to one of a plurality of positions based on the changes in user engagement.

Abstract: A headwall unit is mounted a headwall of a hospital room and acts as a communication conduit between a bed (or other patient support apparatus) and a conventional communications outlet built into the headwall of the hospital room. The communications outlet is communicatively coupled to a standard nurse call system and an in-room television. The headwall unit is adapted to wirelessly forward audio signals from a remotely positioned nurse to the bed, and to receive wireless audio signals corresponding to a patient's voice from the bed and to forward the received audio signals to the communications outlet. The headwall unit is further adapted to detect infrared communications from both the bed and a television remote control. Communications from the television remote control are automatically analyzed by the headwall unit to determine the type of television in the room and the correct signals to use for controlling the television.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus and a method of notifying persons within a vicinity of the patient support apparatus are disclosed. The patient support apparatus includes a patient support structure for supporting a patient, an actuator for moving the patient, a notification system, and a controller coupled to the notification system and the actuator. The controller receives a selection of a remote control function via a communication network, generates a notification in response to receiving the selection of the remote control function, and transmits an output signal to the actuator based on the selection of the remote control function. The notification system executes the notification prior to the controller transmitting the output signal to the actuator.

Abstract: An exemplary method of imaging tissue of a subject using a rolling shutter imager to provide a video stream comprises: sequentially resetting a plurality of rows of pixels of the rolling shutter imager from a first row to a last row; transitioning a liquid crystal shutter from a closed state to an open state; after the liquid crystal shutter is transitioned into the open state and after resetting the last row, illuminating the tissue of the subject with an illumination light for an illumination period to accumulate charge at the plurality of rows of pixels, and after the illumination period ends, sequentially reading the accumulated charge at the rows of pixels from the first row to the last row; generating an image frame from the sequentially read accumulated charge at the plurality of rows of pixels; and adding the image frame to the video stream.

Abstract: A patient support system for charging a battery of a patient transport apparatus via power selected from first and second source types. A charger with a guide coupled to a housing supporting first and second power connectors. A charge circuit charges the battery with power received from the first or from the second source types. A selector with a bastion prevent simultaneous electrical communication of the charge circuit with power from both the first and second source types. The selector is selectively movable between: a first selector position where the bastion blocks access to the second power connector and permits access to the first power connector to charge with power from the first source type, and a second selector position where the bastion blocks access to the first power connector and permits access to the second power connector to charge with power from the second source type.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing a flow of fluids suctioned from a patient. The flow of fluids may be divided according to a flow division ratio. An image of a first portion of the fluids may be evaluated to determine an estimated blood component quantity as a representative fraction of the flow of fluids. An intermittent estimate of blood loss may be determined based on the flow division ratio and the estimated blood component quantity, and a total estimate of blood loss updated based on the intermittent estimate. The representative fraction is projected or extended to be an estimated blood component quantity of the second portion of the fluids that bypasses the receptacle. The images may be continuously captured with a camera, and a fluid level of the fluids with a receptable may be continuously monitored. The total estimate of blood loss may be displayed in real-time on a display.

Abstract: An autonomous medical waste collection assembly. A base supports a waste canister in fluid communication with a manifold receiver, and a suction pump. A controller is in electronic communication with a powered wheel and configured to transmit a movement signal for a motor to power the powered wheel to move the assembly along a floor surface. The assembly may be operable in an autonomous mode in which the powered wheel automatically moves the assembly along the floor surface, and a manual mode in which resistance from the powered wheel is negated to provide for manual movement of the assembly. The controller may be further configured to steer the assembly based on a current location input signal, and a disposal location input signal from a locator network within the medical facility that is indicative of a location of a disposal station.