Abstract: An extracorporeal kidney stone disintegrator comprises an upwardly open ellipsoidal reflector having an open upper end. A spark gap is provided in said reflector at the first focus point thereof. A flexible waterproof shroud is fixed to the open end of the reflector and secured to the skin of a human body containing a concretion such as a kidney stone to be disintegrated. A body of water fills said reflector and said shroud and is in direct contact with the skin of said human body, the reflector being positioned relative to said body so that the concretion is at the second focus point of the reflector. Generation of a sprak across the spark gap causes generation of a shock wave focused on the concretion and coupled to the concretion by the body of water and by the tissues of the human body.

Abstract: A collapsible inhalation valve is provided for administering asthmatic medication or the like. The valve comprises an upright cylindrical air chamber adapted to be held in the hand. A reciprocating member holds a pressurized cartridge of medication for reciprocation between storage position substantially within the air chamber and raised using position substantially exterior to the air chamber. A mouthpiece is pivoted on the air chamber and is movable between storage position substantially within the air chamber and using position projecting from the air chamber. A one-way valve is provided at the bottom of the air chamber to allow movement of air into the air chamber while preventing movement of medication out of the air chamber. Another one-way valve is provided at the entrance to the mouthpiece permitting inhaling of misted medication, but preventing exhaling into the air chamber.

Abstract: A variable threshold circuit is provided for use with a rate volume monitor. A series analog switch is controlled by a comparator which is biased by a voltage divider. During low rate exhalation by a patient the bias keeps the analog switch biased against conduction, and noise is suppressed. When exhalation is at a high rate a resistor is switched by a second analog switch into parallel with one of the resistors of the voltage divider to change the bias to the comparator, and thus to render the first analog switch conductive. At this time the high level of the exhilation signal masks any noise.

Abstract: A drift compensating circuit cooperates with an air-pressure-to voltage transducer. The first input of a comparison circuit is connected to the transducer, while a reference voltage is connected to the second input. The reference voltage is provided by an up/down counter and a digital to analog converter. The comparison circuit has an output connected to the up/down counter to cause the counter to count up or down. The counter is enabled at predetermined intervals.

Abstract: An extracorporeal kidney stone disintegrator comprises an ellipsoidal reflector having an open end. A spark gap is positioned in said reflector at the first focus point thereof. A flexible cap closes the otherwise open end of said reflector, and a body of liquid fills said reflector and said cap. The cap is adapted for disposition against a human body having therein a concretion such as a kidney stone to be disintegrated. The reflector is positioned so that the concretion lies on the second focus point of the reflector. Generation of a spark across said spark gap causes generation of a shock wave focused on the concretion and coupled to the concretion by the body of liquid and the tissues of the body through the cap. The cap has an annular pleat enhancing flexibility of the cap.

Abstract: Kidney stones are disintegrated by extracorporeal apparatus generated shock waves. A reflector open at one end, has a liquid such as water therein and a resilient disphragm across the open end of the reflector. A spark gap is provided in the reflector, and a spark across this gap generates a shock wave and produces gas in the liquid. A flexible enclosure within the reflector about the spark gap isolates the spark gap from most of the liquid in the reflector. Gas formed as an incident to discharging a spark across the gap is removed from this enclosure.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating shock waves for destruction of kidney stones comprises an upwardly opening ellipsoidal reflector. A resilient diaphragm closes the otherwise open end of the reflector, and the reflector is filled with water or other suitable liquid. A spark gap is provided in the reflector at the first focus point thereof, and the reflector is positioned relative to a human body such that the diaphragm presses against the body and the second focus point of the ellipsoid lies precisely on a kidney stone to be destroyed. Electronic apparatus is provided for causing a repeating spark across the gap to generate a series of shock waves which are focused by the ellipsoidal reflector to concentrate on a kidney stone. Gas is released by the sparks, and either a small tube surrounds the spark gap, or a diaphragm immediately overlies the spark gap to isolate water adjacent the spark gap from most of the water in the reflector. The isolated water is constantly recirculated to flush away gas.

Abstract: Apparatus for the non-invasive disintegration of kidney stones and the like. An ellipsoidal reflector open at one end is positionable against the body, and may have a diaphragm across the opened end to prevent leakage of water contained in the reflector. A spark gap is located at the first focal point of the ellipsoid, and sonic aiming means is physically interconnected with the ellipsoid for aiming the ellipsoid at the kidney stone or the like to locate the kidney stone at the second focal point of the ellipsoid. A series of sparks discharged across the spark gap generates a succession of shock waves that travel through water in the reflector, and through the body to impinge on the kidney stone or the like and thereby to disintegrate the same.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for the extracorporeal disintegration of kidney stones and the like. An ellipsoidal reflector has a spark gap positioned at one focus point of the ellipsoid, and the reflector is positioned so that the kidney stone being disintegrated is at the second focus point. The reflector is filled with water so that when a spark is generated through the spark gap, a shock wave is generated through which is focused through the water and through body tissues on the kidney stone. Both an electrocardiogram apparatus and an ultrasound pick-up apparatus are coupled to a spark triggering circuit controlling the pulse generator so that a spark or pulse can be generated only during ventricular contraction, thereby avoiding any possibility of inducing fibrillation of the heart.

Abstract: A throw-away plastic mouthpiece of low cost and producing a pressure differential upon inhalation is substituted for the rotary turbine and electronics mouthpiece of a known Spirocare respiratory therapy apparatus. The pressure differential is converted to a voltage by a pressure-to-voltage transducer, which voltage is highly amplified by a drift free amplifier. The amplifield voltage is applied to an adapter electronic circuit which produces a succession of negative going pairs of pulses exactly simulating the pulses from the Spirocare mouthpiece. The amplifier and adapter circuitry fit within the cavity provided in the Spirocare apparatus for storage of the mouthpiece, thereby adapting the Spirocare apparatus for use with an inexpensive, throw-away mouthpiece which need not be sterilized, and which is cheap to replace in the event of breakage.

Abstract: Improved connectors are disclosed for a Bain anesthesiology circuit. At the end remote from the patient, positive connections are made to the anesthesiology gas supply tube. The construction of the fitting for the exhaust is such as to apply a crank action, facilitating tight insertion of the fitting into an exhaust connector. At the patient end a positive locking connection is made to the endotracheal tube or the like, and a secure connection permitting a certain degree of turning without twisting of the inner tube is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for the non-invasive disintegration of kidney stones and the like. An ellipsoidal reflector open at one end is positionable against the body, and may have a diaphragm across the opened end to prevent leakage of water contained in the reflector. A spark gap is located at the first focal point of the ellipsoid, and sonic aiming means is physically interconnected with the ellipsoid for aiming the ellipsoid at the kidney stone or the like to locate the kidney stone at the second focal point of the ellipsoid. A series of sparks discharged across the spark gap generates a succession of shock waves that travel through water in the reflector, and through the body to impinge on the kidney stone or the like and thereby to disintegrate the same.

Abstract: An inhalation transducer circuit is provided for use with a transducer having a variable electrical output. Early amplifier stages provide very high gain, and are subsequently a.c. coupled to stages of lesser gain leading to a microprocessor and an output. An electronic switch is connected to the a.c. coupling circuit, and when no breathing is being measured and there is no output to the amplification circuit this switch is periodically closed to connect a reference voltage to the a.c. coupling, and thus to compensate for any DC drift in the transducer and early amplification stages.

Abstract: A pressure monitor is provided for gas pressure supplied to a patient. The monitor includes a pair of spaced contacts in the form of crank arms. A spring member is fixed at one end and is deflectable by a pneumatic cushion supplied with air from the gas supplied to a patient. The pneumatic cushion interacts with the resiliency of the spring member to urge the spring member to an intermediate position between a pair of fixed contacts. Too low a gas pressure will permit the spring member to engage one contact, while too high a gas pressure will cause the spring member to engage the other contact. Closure of the spring member against either contact energizes a respective alarm. In addition, there is provided a preset pneumatic-electrical switch connected to an oxygen supply line to indicate low oxygen pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing an eye lens having a cataract therein. An electric spark is discharged in a hydraulic medium to cause an electro-hydraulic shock which is focused on or directly conducted to the lens, thereby to liquify the lens, which is then readily flushed from position.

Abstract: A female anesthesiology connector is provided for connecting a tube supplying anesthesiology gases to an endotracheal tube. The female connector is provided with a longitudinally extending finger having a bevelled locking tooth thereon for providing a positive securement of the male connector of an endotracheal tube with the present female anesthesiology connector. The finger in on a ring inserted into the body of the female connector and secured in place by means of sonic or solvent welding, or a suitable adhesive. The ring and the body together provide an internal groove receiving an O-ring which makes a positive seal with the male connector of the endotracheal tube.

Abstract: An inhalation valve for respiratory diagnosis and/or therapy is provided. A single rubber or the like diaphragm is mounted in a free floating fashion so that one portion would open upon inhalation, while the other portion opens upon exhalation. The valve body is of molded plastic construction and contains a tube of restricted area through which air flows upon inhalation with reduction in lateral pressure being measured to indicate the volume of inhaled air.

Abstract: A metered dose inhaler is provided for inhalation of asthmatic medication. An upright cylindrical air chamber has structure at the top for receiving a pressurized canister of asthmatic medication and for conducting metered doses thereof into the air chamber. A one way valve is provided at the bottom of the air chamber to admit air but to preclude escape of mist. A mouthpipe is provided at the top of the chamber on one side thereof for insertion in a patient's mouth. A deflectable diaphragm is provided in cooperation with the mouthpipe so that when a patient inhales the diaphragm deflects to permit the mist in the air chamber to be inhaled, air entering the one way valve of the bottom of the air chamber to supplant the mist. When the patient exhales the diaphragm closes, and the exhaled air is bypassed to the outside.

Abstract: Inhalation therapy apparatus comprises a mouthpiece through which air is to be inhaled and provides a pneumatic signal related to the volume of air inhaled. The pneumatic signal is transduced to electrical information and provides visual indicia to be observed by the patient to encourage the patient's performance. One row of lights indicates a desired level of inhalation to be attained, while a parallel row of lights indicates the inhalation actually attained. A step wise visual configuration also is provided encouraging the patient to increase his inhalation step by step. A visual display is also provided of the total number of attempts or inhalations, and also the number of times that the desired volume is attained.