Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring clotting capacity of a patient's blood comprises a probe having a wetted portion, a well to receive a blood sample to contact the wetted portion, a spring element intermediate the wetted portion and a probe support, and a sensor to determine the displacement of the wetted portion resulting from a displacing force imparted to the wetted portion by a clotting blood sample in the well. Embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention may include a variable capacitance displacement sensor, an eddy current variance sensor, a microelectromechanical sensor and an optical instrument. Embodiments of the apparatus may include a current source. The present invention enables reliable detection of mitochondrial dysfunction and sepsis in a blood sample. Embodiments of the apparatus of the invention may be portable. A probe used in such embodiments may be disposable.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring clotting capacity of a patient's blood comprises a probe having a wetted portion, a well to receive a blood sample to contact the wetted portion, a spring element intermediate the wetted portion and a probe support, and a sensor to determine the displacement of the wetted portion resulting from a displacing force imparted to the wetted portion by a clotting blood sample in the well. Embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention may include a variable capacitance displacement sensor, an eddy current variance sensor, a microelectromechanical sensor and an optical instrument. Embodiments of the apparatus may include a current source. The present invention enables reliable detection of mitochondrial dysfunction and sepsis in a blood sample. Embodiments of the apparatus of the invention may be portable. A probe used in such embodiments may be disposable.

Abstract: A portable apparatus to warm a stream of biocompatible fluid prior to introduction into a patient comprises a heat exchanger base with a first side and a second side, a gas chamber cover coupled to the first side to form a gas chamber therebetween, a fluid warming chamber cover coupled to the second side to form a fluid warming chamber therebetween, an air-fuel mixing chamber with an outlet feeding an inlet to the gas chamber, a catalyst member disposed within a catalyst compartment of the gas chamber to receive an air-fuel mixture from the inlet to the gas chamber, a tortuous pathway between the catalyst compartment and an exhaust port of the gas chamber, an air mover to receive ambient air and discharge air into the air-fuel mixing chamber, and a fuel storage tank connected to feed a stream of fuel gas to the air-fuel mixing chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining blood clotting capacity comprises an actuator to cyclically move a member within a sample of blood received in a well in a tray and one of a deflection sensor and a position sensor to determine the position of the wetted member upon being acted upon by the actuator. The theoretical position of the wetted member, as determined using a known actuator force and wetted member physical data, is compared to the sensed deflection or position of the wetted member, and the resistance to movement of the wetted member caused by the blood is determined and correlated to a clotting capacity.

Abstract: An embodiment of a submersible warming garment comprises a closed fluid loop including a warming conduit disposed in thermal communication with a chamber containing a catalyst and a cooling conduit disposed within a wearable garment. A pump moves the fluid through the warming conduit, where heat is gained, to the cooling conduit, where heat is surrendered to a human wearing the garment, and back to the pump. An actuated valve on a container of fuel and an actuated valve on a container of oxygen are controlled using a controller to provide a combustible mixture into the chamber where the mixture reacts in the presence of a catalytic member to generate heat and combustion by-products. The combustion by-products, including carbon dioxide and water, are one of adsorbed and absorbed by a carbon dioxide scrubber and a reusable water storage medium. A fan moves the by-products into the scrubber and water storage medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining blood clotting capacity comprises an actuator to cyclically move a member within a sample of blood received in a well in a tray and one of a deflection sensor and a position sensor to determine the position of the wetted member upon being acted upon by the actuator. The theoretical position of the wetted member, as determined using a known actuator force and wetted member physical data, is compared to the sensed deflection or position of the wetted member, and the resistance to movement of the wetted member caused by the blood is determined and correlated to a clotting capacity.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining blood clotting capacity comprises an actuator to cyclically move a member within a sample of blood received in a well in a tray and one of a deflection sensor and a position sensor to determine the position of the wetted member upon being acted upon by the actuator. The theoretical position of the wetted member, as determined using a known actuator force and wetted member physical data, is compared to the sensed deflection or position of the wetted member, and the resistance to movement of the wetted member caused by the blood is determined and correlated to a clotting capacity.

Abstract: An embodiment of a submersible warming garment comprises a closed fluid loop including a warming conduit disposed in thermal communication with a chamber containing a catalyst and a cooling conduit disposed within a wearable garment. A pump moves the fluid through the warming conduit, where heat is gained, to the cooling conduit, where heat is surrendered to a human wearing the garment, and back to the pump. An actuated valve on a container of fuel and an actuated valve on a container of oxygen are controlled using a controller to provide a combustible mixture into the chamber where the mixture reacts in the presence of a catalytic member to generate heat and combustion by-products. The combustion by-products, including carbon dioxide and water, are one of adsorbed and absorbed by a carbon dioxide scrubber and a reusable water storage medium. A fan moves the by-products into the scrubber and water storage medium.

Abstract: A portable apparatus to warm a stream of biocompatible fluid prior to introduction into a patient comprises a heat exchanger base with a first side and a second side, a gas chamber cover coupled to the first side to form a gas chamber therebetween, a fluid warming chamber cover coupled to the second side to form a fluid warming chamber therebetween, an air-fuel mixing chamber with an outlet feeding an inlet to the gas chamber, a catalyst member disposed within a catalyst compartment of the gas chamber to receive an air-fuel mixture from the inlet to the gas chamber, a tortuous pathway between the catalyst compartment and an exhaust port of the gas chamber, an air mover to receive ambient air and discharge air into the air-fuel mixing chamber, and a fuel storage tank connected to feed a stream of fuel gas to the air-fuel mixing chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining blood clotting capacity comprises an actuator to cyclically move a member within a sample of blood received in a well in a tray and one of a deflection sensor and a position sensor to determine the position of the wetted member upon being acted upon by the actuator. The theoretical position of the wetted member, as determined using a known actuator force and wetted member physical data, is compared to the sensed deflection or position of the wetted member, and the resistance to movement of the wetted member caused by the blood is determined and correlated to a clotting capacity.