Abstract: This invention is directed to a vascular access needle (20) for insertion of a sharpened end of a needle (28) into the lumen of a blood vessel. The vascular access needle (20) includes both a hollow needle (28) and an elongated cylindrical body (22) having respective central passageway lumen (27) and capillary lumen (26) extending through the entire vascular access needle (20). The elongated cylindrical body includes a planar angled surface (21) which plane is oriented parallel to the plane of the needle distal opening (29), which provides the capability for proper orientation of the needle (28) for insertion into the blood vessel lumen. The elongated cylindrical body (22) further includes a pair of parallel flat surfaces (23) for stabilization and proper orientation of the needle distal opening (29) when inserting into the blood vessel lumen.

Abstract: The present invention is a means for accessing blood vessels for the insertion of a guide wire while preventing the free release of blood. Specifically, a hollow, thin-walled metal tube typically having a sharp point at its distal end is joined at its proximal end to a transparent viewing section. The viewing section has a distal narrow lumen and a proximal chamber which has a cap at its proximal end. The cap encloses a pressure sealing means through which a guide wire can be passed. After the distal end of the metal tube is placed in an artery, blood will rush through the metal tube and into the viewing section. The air in the air-tight proximal chamber will alternatively be compressed between diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Feedback to the operator that the distal end of the metal tube is properly placed within an artery can be achieved by observing the reciprocating pulsatile motion of the blood column within the distal narrow lumen of the viewing section.

Abstract: An ergonomic vascular access needle (10) is provided which has a transparent body (20) having an extended and small diameter capillary lumen (22) through which blood may be observed. The extended capillary lumen (22) is in fluid communication on opposing ends with a variable volume chamber (25) and a needle lumen (32). A movable plunger (40) within the transparent body (20) is displaceable to create the variable volume chamber (25). The distal end of the needle (30) is then pushed through the patient's skin and the plunger (40) is displaced from a forward position to create a suction within the capillary lumen (22), the needle lumen (32) and the variable volume chamber (25). The needle (30) is then advanced until the needle distal opening (33) is within the venous lumen and blood is observable in the capillary lumen (22).

Abstract: A Finger Actuated Medication Infusion System (FAMIS) for delivering a dosage of medication into a living body. The FAMIS is fully mechanical and comprises a reservoir, a pump and connecting catheters. The reservoir includes a sealed bellows portion which contains a pressurant and exerts a substantially constant pressure on the medication in the reservoir, regardless of the amount of medication therein. The pump includes a bellows assembly disposed within an equalizing pressure chamber, and will deliver medication through the bellows assembly at a predetermined flow rate independent of ambient temperature, ambient pressure or the amount of medication remaining in the reservoir. The FAMIS design also provides safeguards against inadvertant overdosing, transmission of bacteria into the body and prevents gas bubbles within the reservoir from impeding the flow of medication through an outlet flow restrictor which forms part of the FAMIS pump.

Abstract: A system insensitive to nonspeech sounds utilizes a pair of spatially separated microphones to obtain the direction of origin of speech signals from a common sound source. The speech signal from each microphone is transformed into a pulse representative signal having a rapid increase responsive to pitch peaks of energy from the sound source. The cross correlation of these pulses accurately reflects the phase relationship between the speech signals arriving at the microphones. The cross correlation is implemented as time interval histograms which are periodically read to identify the direction of the common sound source.

Abstract: A cervix-to-rectum measuring device to be used in the treatment of cervical cancer which includes a handle and a probe pivotably connected to the handle for insertion in the rectum. The measuring device further includes means for coupling the handle to an intrauterine radiation applicator when the latter is positioned in the uterine cervix and the probe is inserted in the rectum to pivot the handle about the probe. A gear is provided which is adapted to pivot with the probe. A pinion pivotably connected to the handle meshes with the gear. A pointer fixed to the pinion is displaced in response to the pivoting of the handle about the probe, and this displacement can be read from a scale on the handle, providing an indication of the cervix-to-rectum distance.