Abstract: A search engine is provided which responds to a user's queries by generating and presenting a graphed result. This graphed result is displayed in a manner that the invention has determined to be most preferred by one or more users. In various embodiments of the invention, this preferred manner may be determined based upon an accumulated history of output format selections for the particular data being displayed.

Abstract: A search engine is provided which responds to a user's queries by generating and presenting a graphed result. The present invention includes automated and human process for retrieving raw data from various sources (to include Internet sources), profiling and storing structured data derived from this raw data, and retrieving this structured data in response to user queries. The invention utilizes a unique data storage architecture that optimizes the characterization of the structure data for querying.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a search engine system for querying and displaying structured data. In various aspects of the invention, users are permitted to enter simple keywords and/or advanced profiles which results in a set of graphed results being returned as thumbnail presentations. The user is then permitted to select one of these thumbnail presentations to invoke various display features of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is an infrared thermometer with multiple probes for use at a variety of bodily sites. The thermometer automatically detects which of the multiple probes is currently attached, loads a predetermined program from memory that corresponds to the current probe, and thereafter obtains a temperature measurement from a patient using infrared radiation emitted therefrom. Each of the probes is comprised of an infrared target which provides a substantially consistent sources of infrared radiation for the thermometer to measure.

Abstract: The diastolic blood pressure and a systolic blood pressure of a vertebrate are measured using an inflatable pressure cuff disposed about a limb of the vertebrate and connected to an inflation device through a single conduit. A pressure sensor is pneumatically connected to the cuff through the same common conduit. The sensed pressures at the diastolic and systolic points are corrected for a pressure differential associated with the flow of an inflation fluid through the common conduit. The sensed pressures at the diastolic point and the systolic point may be measured during inflation of the cuff or during controlled deflation of the cuff.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gas sensor that comprises a sensor cell, a sensing side support layer, and a reference side support layer. The sensor cell comprises an electrolyte layer, a sensing electrode and a reference electrode, wherein the sensing electrode is disposed on a sensing side of the electrolyte layer, and the reference electrode is disposed on a reference side of the electrolyte layer. The reference side has a reference thickness of about 40% to about 160% of a sensing thickness of the sensing side. Methods for manufacturing gas sensors are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided antifoam composition comprising an antifoaming-effective amount of at least one antifoam component, where antifoam component comprises product of the reaction of (a) at least one silicone fluid, (b) at least one silicone resin selected from the group consisting of silicone resin (i) having a ratio of M to Q units of from about 0.6/1 to about 0.8/1 and a different silicone resin (ii) having a ratio of M to Q units of from about 0.55/1 to about 0.75/1, optionally, (c) at least one inorganic particulate possessing reactive surface groups; and, optionally, (d) catalyst for the reaction of (a) and/or (b) with (c).

Abstract: A catheter and a guidewire exchange system includes a catheter and a guide member. The catheter includes a lumen extending through the shaft and sized to receive the guidewire, and a longitudinal guideway enabling transverse access from the shaft exterior surface to the lumen. The guide member includes a housing, a catheter passageway extending through the housing and adapted to slidably receive the catheter, a guidewire passageway extending from one end of the housing into the catheter passageway and including a tube adapted to merge the guidewire transversely through the guideway and into the first lumen, a rigid nose cone attached to the housing and having an aperture extending therethrough that is continuous with the catheter passageway and adapted to slidably receive the catheter, and a first gasket positioned in line with the catheter passageway and tightenable to impede catheter movement through the catheter passageway.

Abstract: A tunneler for a dual lumen tip catheter, comprises an elongated body extending from a distal tissue-penetrating end to a proximal, catheter-coupling end, the catheter coupling end including a catheter tip receiving portion including a cutout sized and shaped to receive a dual lumen tip of a catheter to be coupled thereto and a proximally extending lumen-mating projection oriented so that, when inserted into a lumen of the catheter, the dual lumen tip of the catheter is received in the cutout in an orientation relative to an elongated body of the catheter substantially the same as when the dual lumen tip and the elongated body of the catheter are in an unstressed state.

Abstract: A method is provided for blood pressure measurement by means of an inflatable cuff (50) applied to a limb of a vertebrate and pneumatically coupled to a first port (112A) and a second port (112B) of a blood pressure measurement apparatus (100). A pump (160) coupled to the second port inflates the cuff pneumatically. During an initial cuff inflation period, a first pressure sensor (180) pneumatically coupled to the first port senses a first pressure and a second pressure sensor (182) pneumatically coupled to the second port senses a second pressure. An analysis module (142) compares the magnitude of the first pressure to the magnitude of the second pressure to determine the relative relationship between the respective magnitudes of the first pressure and the second pressure.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for motivating a user of a spirometry system 20 having a display screen 12, an air-tube 22, a flow measurement sensor 24 operatively associated with the air-tube 22, a display screen 26, and an associated processor 30. A motivational animation is displayed on the display screen 12 having a first aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined peak flow rate to a goal value therefor and having a second aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined total flow volume to a goal value therefor. The processor 30 repeatedly updates the motivational animation during the period of use of the spirometer to reflect the degree of achievement of both of the goal values by the user.

Abstract: An enteral feeding catheter (5) that provides access to both the stomach and the jejunum for feeding, aspiration and decompression. The catheter includes a dual lumen “D” tube (30) that joins to an external “Y” connector (25) at the proximal end of the tube. The connector serves both lumens as a source for fluid or aspiration. The gastric lumen (37) and the jejunal lumen (38) of the “D” tube both connect to a transitional connector bolus in the stomach. The gastric lumen of the “D” tube joins with a lumen in the transitional bolus that communicates with a gastric port (27). The gastric port is recessed to the level of its full internal lumen, thereby providing maximum protection against occlusion and maximum area for outflow. The “D” jejunal lumen connects in the bolus with a lumen that transitions from a “D” shape to a full circle shape. The latter provides for the attachment of a smaller, round, single lumen tube that extends into the jejunum.

Abstract: A catheter includes a catheter tube, internal and external retention bolsters and a retractable catheter tip. The retractable tip is in the form of a bolus which is extended to axial alignment with the tube for insertion. After insertion with a stylet or the like, removal of the stylet permits the tip to retract automatically and assume a position perpendicular to the axis with minimal protrusion into the corporeal space involved.

Abstract: A single lumen catheter includes a catheter tube and an overmolded tip. The catheter is fabricated by skiving a portion of the distal end of a tube. The distal end is then inserted in a mold and molten polyurethane or silicone, for example, is injected into the mold. The configuration of the tip and its relation to the tube creates an impediment to kinking of the tip or the tube where it joins the tip.

Abstract: A disposable cover for an elongated probe of a portable thermometry apparatus includes an open proximal end and a distal tip sized to fit over at least an axial portion of the elongated probe. The cover includes a transitional wall thickness at its proximal end for fitting over a holding barb of said probe, the transitional wall thickness varying between a first wall thickness adjacent the proximal end and a second wall thickness that is substantially thinner than the first wall thickness at a distal axial distance relative to the proximal end. The second wall thickness defines a weakened wall portion which is ruptured when the cover has been ejected from said holding barb by an ejection mechanism of the thermometry apparatus. The cover can also include a thinned walled portion over at least a portion of the distal tip and can also include a feature that permits the user to detect when a cover has been attached to a probe.

Abstract: A catheter and a guidewire exchange system includes a catheter and a guide member. The catheter includes a lumen extending through the shaft and sized to receive the guidewire, and a longitudinal guideway enabling transverse access from the shaft exterior surface to the lumen. The guide member includes a housing, a catheter passageway extending through the housing and adapted to slidably receive the catheter, a guidewire passageway extending from one end of the housing into the catheter passageway and including a tube adapted to merge the guidewire transversely through the guideway and into the first lumen, and an fluid flow reduction body that is positioned in the guidewire passageway and impedes fluid flow therethrough.

Abstract: A method in which thermal mass and manufacturing differences are compensated for in thermometry probes by storing characteristic data relating to individual probes into an EEPROM for each probe which is used by the temperature apparatus.

Abstract: A catheter and a guidewire exchange system includes a catheter and a guide member. The catheter includes a lumen extending through the shaft and sized to receive the guidewire, and a longitudinal guideway enabling transverse access from the shaft exterior surface to the lumen. The guide member includes a housing, a catheter passageway extending through the housing and adapted to slidably receive the catheter, a guidewire passageway extending from one end of the housing into the catheter passageway and including a tube adapted to merge the guidewire transversely through the guideway and into the first lumen and a rigid nose cone attached to the housing distal end and having an aperture extending therethrough that is continuous with the catheter passageway and is adapted to slidably receive the catheter.

Abstract: An assembly for guiding a catheter includes a catheter, a catheter advancing and retracting apparatus, and a guidewire removal tool. The catheter comprises an elongate shaft having an exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end; a first lumen extending through the shaft and sized to receive a guidewire; and a guideway enabling transverse access from the shaft exterior surface to the first lumen. The catheter advancing and retracting apparatus comprises an elongate housing; an opening formed through the housing and adapted to receive the catheter; and a linear slot formed in the housing and adapted to be aligned with a portion of the catheter guideway. The guidewire removal tool comprises a substantially cylindrical main body sized to be receivable by the first lumen and having a chamfered leading edge adapted to raise the guidewire out of the first lumen through the guideway.

Abstract: A catheter and a guidewire exchange system includes a catheter and a guide member. The catheter includes a lumen extending through the shaft and sized to receive the guidewire, and a longitudinal guideway enabling transverse access from the shaft exterior surface to the lumen. The guide member includes a housing, a catheter passageway extending through the housing and adapted to slidably receive the catheter, a guidewire passageway extending from one end of the housing into the catheter passageway and including a tube adapted to merge the guidewire transversely through the guideway and into the first lumen, a rigid nose cone attached to the housing and having an aperture extending therethrough that is continuous with the catheter passageway and adapted to slidably receive the catheter, and a first gasket positioned in line with the catheter passageway and tightenable to impede catheter movement through the catheter passageway.