Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an alarm in a patient monitoring system during the transient period which occurs after performing a procedure that intentionally alters the patient's state. The patient monitoring system executes the steps of initiating a target mode when the user sets target limits of a physiological parameter, establishing dynamic limits that vary with time, comparing measured parameter values with the dynamic limits, and generating an alarm when any of the measured parameter values falls outside the dynamic limits. The target mode is terminated when any of the measured parameter values falls within the target limits. The dynamic limits ensure that the physiological parameter is monitored during the transient period after an intervention procedure, without generating false alarms.

Abstract: A filter for rezeroing an in-vivo pressure sensor is disclosed. The filter operates in a signal mode and a rezero mode. In the signal mode, the filter is a low pass filter which filters out noise. In the rezero mode, the filter is a low pass filter which filters out the dynamic components of an in-vivo pressure signal caused by the rezeroing of the pressure sensor. The filter is switchable between the signal and rezero modes. The filter is implemented by means of an active two pole RC filter with a Butterworth response. A circuit is provided to shorten the time in which the filter reaches its final response characteristic. Also disclosed is a method for processing an output from an in vivo pressure transducer, the output signal comprising noise, a mean pressure signal and a dynamic pressure signal.

Abstract: Therapeutic heating pads and covers serve to preclude direct contact between a patient and any heating pad or towels applied. The covers thus serve to lessen soiling or contamination of the towels or pads. The pad cover material is non-absorbent and moisture or liquid impervious, providing for ease of cleanup and sanitation. The pads and covers may be provided in a variety of shapes and sizes in order to conform better to specific areas of the anatomy and include securing straps enabling the pad covers to be secured to the desired area of the patient.

Abstract: A curative device for promoting healing of a subject is disclosed which includes a housing having an open end, an infrared lamp secured within the housing and adapted to radiate infrared rays, an oxygen-containing gas source, a gas diffusing pipe disposed within the housing and having a first end connected to the oxygen-containing gas source and a second end located adjacent to the open end and oriented so that the oxygen-containing gas is emitted from the second end in the axial direction of the housing, a DC voltage source, and an electrode disposed adjacent to the second end of the gas diffusing pipe and electrically connected to the DC voltage source and adapted to form an electrostatic field in the atmosphere adjacent to the open end of the housing. When the housing is positioned such that the open end is oriented toward and spaced apart from the subject, the subject can be exposed to the electrostatic field and a flow of the oxygen-containing gas and irradiated with the infrared rays.

Abstract: An improved therapy member (10) for treatment of sprains, muscle aches and orthopaedic injuries is provided which is very flexible to permit the member to be placed in conforming relationship with a patient's limb or other body part, while also allowing effective hot or cold thermal therapy. The therapy member (10) preferably includes an internal bladder (12) having a fluid inlet (26) and a fluid outlet (28). The bladder (12) is substantially surrounded by a body of flexible, thermally conductive gel (32), the latter being encased within a flexible fabric-type sheath (34). An inlet/outlet fluid supply tubing assembly (16) is coupled with the bladder (12) in order to permit circulation of hot or cold fluid through the bladder (12) for therapy purposes. The gel (32) advantageously includes a water soluble humectant entrapped within a polyacrylamide matrix.

Abstract: A method of applying therapeutic heat a patient including forming a heating pad having an outer container having a first side formed by a material non-pervious to water and a second side formed by a material pervious to water. The container substantially encapsulates an outer bag containing and exothermic chemical and an inner bag containing a solvent. Further, the first side is covered by a layer of heat insulating materially and the second side by a layer of sponge-like material. The fist side and sponge-like material are contacted with water, thereby causing the sponge-like material to absorb water. Then the inner bag is fractured, causing the chemical and solvent to mix, producing heat, which is directed at the sponge-like material. The second side of the heating pad is then placed against the body, causing moist heat to be applied to the body. The pad may by tied to the body using straps extending from the ends of the container.

Abstract: A method and devices for measuring pressure within blood vessels used for hemodialysis and also for flow of blood into or from such blood vessels during hemodialysis. In one aspect of the method, a currently available hemodialysis set is used. This set comprises a tube (14) attached at one end to a hollow needle (12) and closed at the other end by a cap (19) which covers a proximal connector (18). The method comprises puncturing the blood vessel with the needle (12), measuring the distance to which blood flows under pressure into tube (14), calculating that pressure from that distance, and finally using the hemodialysis set for flow of blood in the performance of hemodialysis. In other aspects of the method, the improved devices of the invention are used.

Abstract: An oximetric sensor probe is movably coupled to a patient's finger to facilitate transillumination and detection of optical energy through a portion of the patient's finger without subjecting the finger to significant deformation. The finger is received within a receptacle having a cup-shaped closed end and an opposite open end that is rolled up upon itself and is adapted to be unrolled longitudinally along the finger to form a tubular enclosure which closely surrounds the finger. An optical source and an optical detector are arranged in spaced axial alignment with each other on opposite sides of the finger so that optical energy transmitted by the source through the finger is received by the detector. The detected light is analyzed to noninvasively determine the saturation of oxygen within the patient's blood.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasive measurement of blood glucose concentration based on producing a polarized-modulated laser beam via a polarizing frequency shifter (24), measuring a phase difference introduced, e.g., by a finger (F) or a ear lobule (E) of a subject, measuring phase difference between a reference signal (SR) and a probe signal (SP), and processing the obtained data which are then presented as blood glucose concentration. The apparatus for the above-mentioned measurements comprises an infrared laser source (22), a polarized frequency shifter (24) which produces a polarized-modulated infrared laser beam, a piezoelectric transducer (26) for driving the polarizing frequency shifter (24), and an optical transducer (30) with a glucose measuring head (32). The latter has an optical input for receiving the laser beam and a balanced receiver (62).

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for restricting to a proper level the pressure increase in cuffs (7) for use in non-invasive automatic sphyghmomanometry and connectable with a common monitor (1). The apparatus comprises a pump (2) and a cuff (7) in communication therewith that can be replaced with another type of cuff. The pressure of the cuff is increased by means of pump" (2), a valve (8) for releasing the pressure out of cuff (7), a pressure-sensing element (12) for monitoring the development of a cuff pressure, an AC/DC signal separator (13) for separating an AC component from a DC component in a signal received from the pressure-sensing element, and a control element (16) for further processing the information received from the signal separator and for controlling the operation of valve (8).

Abstract: A therapeutic moist pack is provided having a water absorbent filler containing polyacrylamide. The therapeutic moist pack has an exterior layer made of a flexible water permeable material. The present invention also provides a method of preparing a therapeutic moist pack having a water absorbent filler containing polyacrylamide.

Abstract: An electronic Sphygmomanometer employing both the Korotkoff method and the oscillometric method which is thereby capable of accurately measuring blood pressure due to the advantages of the two methods. The electronic sphygmomanometer is arranged in such a manner that either of the results of measurements of the two methods can be automatically selected. A gate for detecting the Korotkoff sound by using an oscillation in cuff pressure is automatically stopped, and the validity of the Korotkoff sound is determined in accordance with a change in the height of the oscillating pulse wave.

Abstract: A disposable pneumatic thermal blanket for controlling a patient's body temperature wherein the blanket includes structure for providing access through the blanket for surgical purposes. The inflatable blanket consists of upper and lower thermoplastic sheets heat sealed at the periphery and specified locations and sealed slits within the blanket central region permit access to a patient without loss of temperature controlled air. The blanket includes strategically placed adhesive strips or patches to aid the positioning of folded blanket access portions, or positioning of the blanket on the patient, and the location and relationship of the slits permit a variety of shapes and sizes of access openings to be selectively formed.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating the fetal condition prior to or under birth receives the signals of a fetal heart rate transducer and a toco transducer. The signals are first preprocessed in the time domain and in the frequency domain. A trace processor identifies possible events like decelerations and contractions. These are validated by a validation processor, whose output is then classified by a classification processor. A score processor scores the events and cooperates with an alarm handler and a reasoning processor. The rules according to which these processors operate are stored in a rule memory and may be edited or selected, or new rules may be set up, by a display or personal computer under control of an expert interface.

Abstract: An illuminator for photodynamic therapy includes a bulb, a condenser lens assembly and a filter assembly. The filter assembly includes the following components in an optical path: (1) a high-pass filter to filter out light having wavelengths below a first wavelength value; (2) a low-pass dichroic filter to filter out light having wavelengths above a second wavelength value; and (3) a dichroic mirror which reflects light having wavelengths between the first wavelength value and the second wavelength value and which transmits infrared light. An exit lens assembly directs light transmitted through the high-pass filter and the low-pass dichroic filter and reflected by the dichroic mirror onto a patient for photodynamic therapy. The condenser lens assembly and the exit lens assembly scramble the beam to ensure that the patient is illuminated with light which is highly uniform in both intensity and spectral characteristics (color) throughout the illuminated area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for therapeutically treating stroke is provided. The apparatus includes a magnetic field generator for producing a controlled, fluctuating, directionally oriented magnetic field parallel to a predetermined axis projecting through the patient's cerebral tissue. In one aspect, a field detector measures the magnetic flux density along the predetermined axis. The applied magnetic field may comprise a full-wave rectified signal oscillated at predetermined frequencies to maintain a preselected ratio of frequency to the effective flux density, where the ratio maintains tissue viability and reduces edema by controlling ion electrolyte balance. This ratio is maintained by adjusting the frequency of the fluctuating magnetic field and/or by adjusting the intensity of the applied magnetic field after nulling out the local magnetic field at that region containing the target cerebral tissue.

Abstract: A photochemotherapy dosimeter for monitoring cumulative photochemotherapy radiation dosage. The photochemotherapy dosimeter includes an optical fiber having a chemical cell attached at one end thereof. The chemical cell contains a photobleachable chemical which can be in a solution or incorporated into a matrix material. Changes in the absorption of the photobleachable chemical are used to monitor the cumulative photochemotherapy radiation dosage. In use, the chemical cell of the photochemotherapy dosimeter is positioned near an abnormal tissue which is subjected to photochemotherapy treatment.

Abstract: A pressure waveform monitor for non-invasively monitoring the pressure waveform inside a vessel, such as an artery, includes a flexible diaphragm extended across an opening of a container containing a fluid. The flexible diaphragm is placed against tissue surrounding an artery such that arterial pressure causes a deflection in the diaphragm. A deflection in the diaphragm causes the fluid to be redistributed throughout the container which is effectively divided into an array of volume compartments. The relative volume distribution is determined through impedance plethysmography. The diaphragm is maintained in a calibrated position by maintaining the array of volume compartments at relatively unchanged volumes. When the relative volumes remain essentially unchanged, calibrated tonometry is possible. The pressure within the container is then used to determine the pulse waveform and the pressure within the artery.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method and a system for ambulatory recording of the pH and the presence of various materials in compartments of the gastro-intestinal tract. The invention also reports the pH pattern in relation to the prevalence of the materials, and analyses to which degree such materials are in active or inactive states in their normal or foreign compartments. This is useful in situations, for example, when duodenal material is refluxed into the stomach and esophagus. The invention involves a gastro-intestinal catheter with a pH sensor and a combined light absorption and fluorescence sensor, a signal recorder and processor, and a written report producer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an alarm in a patient monitoring system. The patient monitoring system executes the steps of measuring values representative of a physiological parameter of a patient, determining whether the parameter values are within safe zone limits, initiating calculation of a trend vector that is a function of changes in the parameter values, when the parameter values go outside the safe zone limits, comparing the trend vector with an alarm limit function and issuing an alarm when the trend vector exceeds the alarm limit function. The alarm limit function typically varies with time after initiating calculation of the trend vector. The trend vector is calculated for each measured value until an alarm is issued or the parameter value returns to within the safe zone limits.