Patents Examined by John C Hanley
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Patent number: 4745907Abstract: To deliver a controlled dosage of an insoluble material into a living body, the material is provided in measured amounts in vials, and a system is provided for flushing the entire content of insoluble materials from the vial into the body. Insoluble radioactive material, such as glass microspheres incorporating radioactive isotopes, are packaged in a plurality of vials, preferably with different amounts of material. An accurate dosage of radioactivity can be delivered by administering the entire contents of one or more vial(s) according to the sum of radioactivity in selected vials as determined by the initial measurement of radioactivity and by the natural half-life of the isotope.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 1987Date of Patent: May 24, 1988Assignee: Nuclear Medicine, Inc.Inventors: John L. Russel, Jr., John L. Carden
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Patent number: 4738264Abstract: A device for sensing heart and breathing rates in a single transducer and having electronic and filtering circuits to process the electrical signal generated by the transducer. The transducer is an electromagnetic sensor constructed to enhance sensitivity in the vertical direction of vibration produced on a conventional bed by the action of patient's heart beat and breathing functions and achieves sufficient sensitivity with no physical coupling between the patient resting in bed and the sensor placed on the bed away from the patient. The electronic circuits integrates the electrical energy generated by the sensor that pertains to cardiac and breathing information and sets off an alarm when pre-set circuits of these functions have been surpassed. The device has applications in monitoring SID Syndrome and non-ambulatory patients.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1986Date of Patent: April 19, 1988Inventor: Carl Orlando
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Patent number: 4738269Abstract: A subject's ability to maintain a position in equilibrium by organizing sensory orientation inputs is tested utilizing a support surface and a visual surround. These items are moved by servo control in relation to a subject's sway to provide perceptually misleading sensory orientation inputs to the subject, as part of various testing protocols.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1986Date of Patent: April 19, 1988Inventor: Lewis M. Nashner
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Patent number: 4735212Abstract: Apparatus is provided for simultaneously measuring fluid pressure at multiple sites at remote locations within a body cavity. A single elongated optical fiber capable of being inserted into such a body cavity is employed and which has a light transmitting core which is coaxially surrounded by cladding means essentially throughout its length. The core is uncladded at a plurality of portions of its length near the distal end thereof. A pressure transducer is located at each of the uncladded core portions. Each pressure transducer includes a flexible transducer member having an irregular surface facing the uncladded core portion for making surface area contact therewith so that the contacting surface area varies with applied pressure.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1986Date of Patent: April 5, 1988Assignee: Cordis CorporationInventor: Donald M. Cohen
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Patent number: 4733653Abstract: In radiotherapy use is made of apparatus of the type in which a chain of balls comprising radioactive balls and inert spacer balls is moved pneumatically to and from an applicator tube within the patient, the spacer balls are made of a material such as nylon which is softer and less dense than the radioactive balls, and is radiographically transparent. This reduces wear and tear on the radioactive balls and facilitates control of dosage and monitoring of the treatment. The balls are sorted after use by means of a radiation detector. The ball chain has a large diameter end ball of ferromagnetic material, which blocks air flow through the applicator when correctly located therein, and whose position can be verified by an induction coil.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1985Date of Patent: March 29, 1988Assignee: The Ontario Cancer InstituteInventors: Philip K. M. Leung, Henry P. J. Webb
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Patent number: 4732162Abstract: A syringe for sampling blood has a handle driven plunger in which is mounted an air permeable filter in communication with a valve chamber. In the chamber is mounted a gravity driven steel ball that is heavy enough to enable the syringe to be used in aspiration, with the ball remaining seated to block the air flow through the valve, and yet light enough to be used in taking of a normal pressure arterial blood sample during which air flow through the filter will drive the ball from its seat.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1987Date of Patent: March 22, 1988Assignee: Martell Medical Products, Inc.Inventor: Michael D. Martell
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Patent number: 4730622Abstract: Apparatus is provided for simultaneously measuring the oxygen content in blood as well as blood pressure at one or more sites within a body cavity or blood vessel. An elongated optical fiber is located within a catheter capable of being inserted into a body cavity. The distal end of the catheter contains a filter covering an end hole so that light may be transmitted through the filter at wavelengths in the red and infrared region while reflecting light of other wavelengths. This permits measurement of the oxygen content of blood. The optical fiber is coaxially surrounded by cladding means essentially throughout its length and is uncladded for at least a portion of its length near the distal end thereof. The catheter carries a pressure transducer associated with the uncladded core portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1986Date of Patent: March 15, 1988Assignee: Cordis CorporationInventor: Donald M. Cohen
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Patent number: 4727886Abstract: Apparatus for detecting and indicating the commencement of inhalation by a patient under test includes a housing through which a gas flow due to the inhalation is directed. A light source and a light receptor positioned adjacent to transparent portions of the housing define a light path between them which transversely intersects the gas flow, the receptor being adapted to provide an output signal in response to incident light from the source. A movably positioned vane mounted inside the housing and normally biased to a position substantially clear of the light path, moves to a position progressively blocking the light path upon commencement of gas flow due to inhalation. Means responsive to a change in the receptor output signal resulting from blockage of the light path provides indication of the flow due to the inhalation commencement.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1987Date of Patent: March 1, 1988Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John E. Conrardy, Bruce J. Fiorani, Robert H. Pedersen, Mark P. Steinert
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Patent number: 4727879Abstract: A measurement device for frequency control of a heart pacemaker based on the level of blood oxygen saturation contains a measuring probe which includes a light transmitter and a light receiver. The light receiver receives the light emitted by the light transmitter and reflected by the blood. The light transmitter and the light receiver are connected in parallel to an evaluation circuit via two common lines, this evaluation circuit charging the measuring probe with a constant current or with a constant voltage. A resistor is arranged in series with the light receiver. A transistor is arranged parallel to this series circuit, the base thereof being connected to the junction of the resistor and the light receiver. By means of this arrangement, the measurement sensitivity given deposits on the probe is maintained at a higher level.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1986Date of Patent: March 1, 1988Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Hans-Dieter Liess, Roland Heinze
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Patent number: 4723554Abstract: A new type of infrared reflectance device is disclosed to provide a quantitative evaluation of skin pallor. The instrument is designed to produce a measurement proportional to the percentage of infrared reflectance of the skin. In one embodiment, it consists of a miniature GaAs light emitting diode, which provides a pulsed infrared light source, a silicon photodiode detector, and processing circuitry. The device electronics are temperature compensated and are designed to respond only to the pulsed component of the detector output and to reject components due to stray light from external sources. The wavelength is chosen such that the measurement is relatively insensitive to the level of blood oxygenation and melanin pigment in the skin.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1986Date of Patent: February 9, 1988Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Charles M. Oman, Walter J. C. Cook
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Patent number: 4715386Abstract: The invention contemplates computer-aided analysis of recorded electronystagmograph data for a subject who is suspected of drug ingestion. The reference base for the analysis is predetermined by first entering into computer storage digital data that are characteristic of each of a selected plurality of component features of time-varying fluctuations in electronystamograph waveforms for each of a plurality of different ingested drugs, wherein the selected component features exist within a standardized set of at-rest conditions of electronystagmograph measurements. The plurality of component features is selected such that each of the drugs is characteristically identifiable by the presence of its singular combination of said component features.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1986Date of Patent: December 29, 1987Assignee: National Patent Analytical Systems, Inc.Inventor: Peter G. Martin
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Patent number: 4714080Abstract: A noninvasive optical oximeter for measuring oxygen saturation of arterial blood. A sample of blood is illuminated with light at two different wavelengths. Light reflected by the blood is sensed by a photodetector and an output signal is created in response thereto. The output signal is processed to form a quotient representing the AC components of the reflected light at each wavelength. The oxygen saturation of the blood is calculated by correlating this quotient with an oxygen saturation reference curve uniquely representative of the blood oxygen saturation characteristics of a particular individual.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1986Date of Patent: December 22, 1987Assignee: Nippon Colin Co., Ltd.Inventors: Reuben W. Edgar, Jr., Dennis W. Gilstad, Ronald L. Branstetter
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Patent number: 4706652Abstract: A delivery system for temporary radiation therapy comprising a sheet of material which is absorbable within the human body and having a plurality of parallel passages therein. The sheet is sutured to an area of the body which is to be treated and a catheter is inserted in each passage and extends to the exterior of the body. A tube carrying a plurality of radioactive seeds dispersed therein is inserted in each catheter. After a period of treatment, the tubes and catheters are removed and the carrier remains in the body.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1985Date of Patent: November 17, 1987Assignee: Henry Ford HospitalInventor: Bruce S. Horowitz
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Patent number: 4703757Abstract: A catheter houses an elongated flexible fiber optic member having a light transmitting core for transmitting light received at its proximal end to its distal end at which the light is reflected back to the proximal end. The fiber optic member is coaxially surrounded by cladding throughout essentially all of its length, except for an uncladded portion of its length adjacent the distal end. A pressure transducer is located adjacent the distal end alongside the uncladded core portion. The transducer is constructed of light absorbing material having a portion thereof making variable surface area contact with the uncladded core portion in dependence upon transversely applied pressure forces. The variations in surface area contact cause changes in the light refraction characteristics. This modulates the intensity of light passing through the core proximate thereto.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1986Date of Patent: November 3, 1987Assignee: Cordis CorporationInventor: Donald Cohen
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Patent number: 4702228Abstract: Particles or "seeds" are manufactured for implantation into tumors within a human body for emitting X-rays to destroy or reduce the tumors. The seeds contain palladium which is substantially enriched in palladium-102 and which is activated by exposure to neutron flux so as to contain a minor, but significant, fraction of X-ray-emitting palladium-103. The palladium is distributed on or throughout a base material so as to reduce self-shielding by the palladium. The seeds include an X-ray-opaque marker to facilitate external visualization of the seeds after their implantation, the marker preferably being formed of a material, such as lead or rhodium, which does not activate to contain undesirable isotopes under the radiation conditions in which palladium-102 is activated to palladium-103.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1985Date of Patent: October 27, 1987Assignee: Theragenics CorporationInventors: John L. Russell, Jr., David N. Coggins
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Patent number: 4700708Abstract: A probe apparatus for use with an optical oximeter is disclosed. A pair of light emitting diodes emit light of known narrow wavelengths through an appendage of a patient onto a photosensor. A resistor of coded known resistance is used to enable the oximeter to calculate the co-efficient of extinction of the wavelengths of the LEDs. The resistor, LEDs and photosensor are mounted on self-attaching hook and eye tape for mounting the probe onto the appendage of the patient. The probe is detachably wired to the oximeter, rendering the probe completely disposable. The oximeter is programmed at the factory to calculate the co-efficients of extinction of any LEDs which may be encountered in a series of disposable probes. From the co-efficients of extinction, the pulse rate and degree of arterial oxygen saturation is computed and displayed by the oximeter.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1986Date of Patent: October 20, 1987Assignee: Nellcor IncorporatedInventors: William New, Jr., James E. Corenman
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Patent number: 4697601Abstract: A device for measuring forces generated by a human tongue in three dimensions, i.e., along X, Y and Z axis. The device comprises a housing having sidewalls (preferably cylindrical), a closed back wall and a front wall having a central opening. An elongated beam extend through the opening into the housing to a mounting member which secures the inner beam end to the housing near the back wall. Strain gages are mounted on the beam near the mounting member to measure deflection of the free beam end in X and Y directions. A diaphragm extends across the housing between the mounting member and the back wall. A pin is movably positioned in a axial bore in the beam with one end in contact with the diaphragm and the other extending beyond the beam and housing. Strain gages mounted on the diaphragm detect movement of the diaphragm in the Z direction in response to changing force of the pin against the diaphragm.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1986Date of Patent: October 6, 1987Inventors: Darryl L. Durkee, Frank E. Manning
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Patent number: 4697575Abstract: A delivery system for interstitial radiation therapy comprising a substantially non-deflecting elongated member of material which is absorbable in living tissue and a plurality of radioactive seeds dispersed in a predetermined array within the member. In one form, the member comprises an elongated member having the seeds longitudinally spaced therein and forming a needle that can be inserted in the tumor to be treated.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 1984Date of Patent: October 6, 1987Assignee: Henry Ford HospitalInventor: Bruce S. Horowitz
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Patent number: 4694833Abstract: A noninvasive device for photoelectrically measuring a property of arterial blood is provided. Light that contacts living tissue with arterial blood is converted into a pair of electrical signals. The electrical signals are processed to provide information of the amplitude of the measured signals and are further processed to produce a final output signal that is substantially a square function of a ratio between the electrical signals representative of the amplitudes.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1986Date of Patent: September 22, 1987Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kenji Hamaguri
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Patent number: 4691709Abstract: Apparatus is provided for measuring the velocity of blood in a blood vessel in a body as well as for measuring static pressure at one or more sites within the blood vessel. The apparatus employs an elongated optical fiber member carried within a tubular catheter having a proximal end and a distal end with the latter adapted to be inserted within a blood vessel so that the blood flowing therein is parallel to the catheter. A first pressure transducer is carried by the catheter adjacent the distal end thereof and responds to static pressure acting transversely of the catheter for modulating the intensity of any light passing through the optical fiber inversely proportional to the magnitude of the transversely acting static pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1986Date of Patent: September 8, 1987Assignee: Cordis CorporationInventor: Donald M. Cohen
