Abstract: A connector device is disclosed for establishing fluid communication between a diluent container having sidewalls and a drug vial. The connector has a piercing member having a first end and a second end and a central fluid pathway. The piercing member is mounted to the liquid container and has fluid accessing portions hermetically sealed from an outside environment. A vial receiving chamber is associated with the piercing member and is dimensioned to connect to the vial. The vial may be selectively attached to the device without piercing the closure of the vial and without breaching the hermetic seal of the fluid accessing portions of the piercing member. Means are provided for connecting the vial receiving chamber to the liquid container.

Abstract: A connector suitable for connection of at least three different types of containers to administration sets, preferably enteral administration sets, and feeding tubes. The containers contain nutritional feed for administration thereof to various types of patients who require enteral nutrition. In one aspect, the connector comprises three different segments: (a) a first segment for connecting containers having mouths having a relatively large diameter, such as, for example, plastic and glass bottles having mouths having diameters of approximately 40 mm; (b) a second segment for connecting containers having mouths having a relatively intermediate diameter, such as, for example, crown cap bottles having mouths having diameters of approximately 26 mm; and (c) a third segment for connecting containers having mouths having relatively small diameters, such as, for example, flexible pouches having mouths having diameters of approximately 12.5 mm.

Abstract: An implantable pulse generator and a method of operation, where the pulse generator is adapted to sense at least a first cardiac signal. Cardiac events are identified in the first cardiac signal, in response to which a blanking interval is started. The blanking interval includes a repeatable noise window blanking interval. When noise is detected during the repeatable noise window blanking interval, the noise window blanking interval is repeated. Depending upon the type of sensed cardiac event (paced or intrinsic) the blanking interval is adjusted to either to a first overall duration or a second overall duration. The second overall duration includes a first timed interval that has a programmable value. The repeatable noise window blanking interval starts after the first timed interval of the second overall duration. The duration of repeated repeatable noise window blanking intervals is summed and compared to a pacing escape interval.

Abstract: A method of obtaining an electrocardiograph (ECG) of a patient located in a turbulent electromagnetic environment. The method includes recovering an ECG signal from a patient. The signal, including added noise, is recovered near the cardiac region as the differential signal resulting from signals delivered by two electrodes forming part of a first measurement loop. The signal further consists of simultaneously recovering from the patient a second measurement signal incorporating at least the noise, as a differential signal resulting from the signals delivered by two electrodes forming part of a second measurement loop distinct from the first measurement loop. Then, the second measurement signal is added or subtracted from the first noisy ECG signal, in real time. The second measurement signal is as a function of the polarity of the noise in the second signal relative to the noise in the first noisy ECG signal.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices and methods of tachycardia detection that provide adjustable detection criteria based upon a hemodynamic parameter. In some embodiments, the apparatus and methods provide for detection and delivery of therapy for hemodynamically stable and hemodynamically unstable tachycardias by varying a number of intervals detected (NID) threshold based on hemodynamic measurements.

Abstract: An apparatus for the diagnosis and/or therapy of neuro-muscular disorders, comprising; a control module for controlling the parameters of an electrical pulse suitable for stimulating a muscle or muscle group, and one or more conductor tools for delivering the electrical pulse to a muscle or muscle group, wherein the control module is configured to enable the adjustment of the parameters of the electrical pulse at levels suitable for stimulating muscles or muscle groups at a micro-level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing blood component products. In one embodiment, a plurality of a predetermined type of blood component is harvested from a source of whole blood. At least two on-line yield determination techniques are utilized to determine the yield for the harvested blood components. One is a predetermined yield prediction technique and the second is a predetermined yield monitoring technique, each of which are individually calibrated in relation to a predetermined off-line yield determination technique. The predetermined yield prediction and monitoring techniques each provide the yield for the harvested blood components and each is then utilized to provide a determined yield. Consequently, when the harvested blood components are packaged the determined yield my be associated therewith, thereby providing a blood component product.

Abstract: Plasma fluid removal is needed in a variety of clinical conditions including congestive heart failure and moderate renal insufficiency. In order to avoid the problems inherent in extracorporeal ultrafiltration methods, the present invention removes fluid using an intravascular or intracorporeal dual-lumen catheter. Plasma fluid is driven across a semipermeable membrane, as in an in vivo vascular catheter. Suboptimal intracatheter flow, luminal collapse, erratic high transmembrane flow with nonhomogenous caking and clotting of the external catheter surface are all avoided by inducing pressure gradients across the wall by means of osmotic forces instead of negative pressures induced by hydraulic pumps. Osmotically induced fluid flow would tend to keep the lumena slightly distended and thereby simplify the fluid delivery systems.

Abstract: A vacuum reservoir, for use with an intra-aortic balloon pump or other system, containing a muffling means having a honeycomb-like cell structure or other flow straightening structure.

Abstract: A medical testing system includes an instrument for monitoring the electrical activity of a patient's heart. The instrument includes a work surface and an illuminating component for illuminating the work surface.

Abstract: Method and device for the diagnosis and therapy of chronic heart failure comprising continuous monitoring of the patient and continuous determination of significant decompensation parameters during a sample period of normal patient life, recording the data determined, continuously monitoring these data during therapy, comparing the memorized data with those determined during the same time span of the sample period and comparing the duration of periods in which decompensation is present with the total duration of those periods during which decompensation is absent or conforms to that determined during the sample period.

Abstract: A minimal intrusive cardiac support apparatus is disclosed which requires only one incision into a main blood vessel or heart chamber. The apparatus includes a pair of generally coaxial and slideably arranged cannulae (one inner and one outer) communicatively coupled to a blood pump for providing right-heart and/or left-heart cardiac support during cardiac surgery. Optional balloons may be mounted on the outside of the inner and outer conduits which can be selectively inflated to seal off the sides surrounding vessel or to deliver cooling fluid or medication to the surrounding tissue. Using the apparatus, a method of pumping blood through the body is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus which reduces a bleeding amount upon an operation. A bloodless treating apparatus used upon a surgical treatment of an objet comprises: (A) a fluid replacement supply unit which quantitatively supplies a fluid replacement into a blood vessel leading to the object (24); and (B) a fluid replacement withdrawing unit which quantitatively withdraws the fluid replacement having passed through the object (24) from a blood vessel coming from the object.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for early detection of subacute, potentially catastrophic illness in an infant. The method comprises: (a) monitoring heart rate variability in the infant; and (b) identifying at least one characteristic abnormality in the heart rate variability that is associated with the illness. This method can be used to diagnose illnesses such as, but not limited to, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, pneumonia and meningitis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container. The device has a first sleeve member having a first and a second end, the first sleeve member having at the first end a first attaching member adapted to attach to the first container. The device further has a second sleeve member having a first end and a second end, the second sleeve member being associated with the first sleeve member and movable with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position, the second sleeve member having at the second end a second attaching member adapted to attach the second sleeve member to the second container. First and second piercing members project from one of the first and second sleeve members for providing a fluid flow path from the first container to the second container, and the first and second piercing members are independently hermetically sealed.

Abstract: A rechargeable implantable medical device with a magnetic shield placed on the distal side of a secondary recharging coil to improve recharging efficiency is disclosed. The rechargeable implantable medical device can be a wide variety of medical devices such as neuro stimulators, drug delivery pumps, pacemakers, defibrillators, diagnostic recorders, and cochlear implants. The implantable medical device has a secondary recharging coil carried over a magnetic shield and coupled to electronics and a rechargeable power source carried inside the housing. The electronics are configured to perform a medical therapy. Additionally a method for enhancing electromagnetic coupling during recharging of an implantable medical device is disclosed, and a method for reducing temperature rise during recharging of an implantable medical device is disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic field measurement apparatus includes a plurality of magnetometers each having SQUID's and three detection coils, one of which detects each of three orthogonal directional magnetic field components (Bx, By, Bz) of a magnetic field generated from a subject to be inspected, a display which displays time variation of waveforms of the magnitude (?(Bx2+By2+Bz2)) of magnetic field synthesized by square sum of each of the three orthogonal directional magnetic field components of the magnetic field generated from the subject to be inspected, a holder for holding a Dewar's vessel for arranging magnetometers therein, and a controller for controlling a positional relationship between the subject to be inspected and the Dewar's vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a subcutaneous valve having opening pressure that can be adjusted non-invasively from the outside, said valve comprising a body presenting a chamber with a cylindrical inside side wall, an inlet duct and an outlet duct for cerebospinal fluid both opening out in said side wall, a valve member such as a ball placed at the inside end of said inlet duct, a spring blade fitting closely to the side wall of said chamber and urging the valve member against its seat, and a moving member controlled from the outside and provided with means for locking it in a determined position, the length of the spring blade acting on the valve member being determined by the position of said moving member. The valve is remarkable in that said moving member is constituted by a resilient flexible arcuate blade fitting closely to the cylindrical inside wall of said chamber. The valve is applicable to the treatment of hydrocephalus.

Abstract: A method of electrotherapy for living matter such as humans, animals and plants is provided. The method involves providing a transmitter for generating a radiofrequency electromagnetic transmission from an antenna in the range of 10 to 50 megahertz, determining empirically the resonant frequency of said human, animal or plant to be treated and placing said human, animal or plant to be treated in the vicinity of the antenna at the resonant frequency for a sufficient period of time to provide the desired benefits.

Abstract: Techniques are described for charging an energy storage device, such as the high-voltage energy storage capacitors of an external defibrillation device, using an average current mode control technique. By controlling the average current in a transformer, energy may be stored rapidly and at controlled energy levels.