Abstract: The invention comprises a low cost method of sealing and resealing a microfluidic device before, during, and after communication of fluids into the microfluidic device. The invention includes a microfluidic device with fluid introduction ports substantially hermetically sealed with elastomeric plugs, wherein the plugs can be penetrated by hollow needles to introduce fluids such as air, water, ethanol, or other chemical or biological reagents into the device while maintaining a substantially hermetic seal. The invention includes a method for introducing fluids into a microfluidic device from an external source. The method comprises the steps of penetrating fluid introduction ports substantially hermetically sealed with elastomeric plugs with hollow needles connected to a fluid source, pumping fluid into the device, and removing the hollow needle from the plug, whereupon plug self-reseals to form a substantially hermetic seal.

Abstract: A portable illuminator includes a contained power source and an integrally contained light source that is selectively inserted into the handle portion of a vaginal speculum. The portable illuminator includes at least one feature to protect the illuminator from contamination and to prevent users from pinching or snagging gloves or fingers during operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rapid and easy to use diagnostic tool that a point-of-care practitioner can use to specifically identify the cause of a disease, such as the upper respiratory infection (URI) pharyngitis. Such a disease has multiple potential causative pathogens and has a number of combined clinical manifestations. The diagnostic tool is rapid in order to provide the busy point-of-care practitioner with an assay result within a time that does not affect patient flow. The time usually available to such a practitioner is optimally less than 10 minutes, so that an assay that detects multiple pathogens rapidly is regarded as one that does so in less than 10 minutes. The diagnostic tool can be operated with minimal training and within the confines of said practitioner's environment. The diagnostic tool has specificity and sensitivity above those of the prior art devices. The tool is self-contained, which thereby helps to control the spread of infection and eases the burden of disposal of used equipment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rapid and easy to use diagnostic tool that a point-of-care practitioner can use to specifically identify the cause of a disease, such as the upper respiratory infection (URI) pharyngitis. Such a disease has multiple potential causative pathogens and has a number of combined clinical manifestations. The diagnostic tool is rapid in order to provide the busy point-of-care practitioner with an assay result within a time that does not affect patient flow. The time usually available to such a practitioner is optimally less than 10 minutes, so that an assay that detects multiple pathogens rapidly is regarded as one that does so in less than 10 minutes. The diagnostic tool can be operated with minimal training and within the confines of said practitioner's environment. The diagnostic tool has specificity and sensitivity above those of the prior art devices. The tool is self-contained, which thereby helps to control the spread of infection and eases the burden of disposal of used equipment.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic instrument includes at least one blood oxygen saturation sensor and at least one temperature sensor. The sensors are being capable of measuring blood oxygen saturation and temperature simultaneously after insertion of a probe portion of the instrument relative to a defined body site, such as the axilla, rectum, or sublingual pocket of a patient. At least a portion of the probe portion of the instrument is disposable.

Abstract: A blood pressure measuring apparatus includes an inflatable sleeve adapted to be wrapped about a limb of a patient. The sleeve includes an interior and at least one socket provided on an exterior surface of the sleeve, the socket being fluidly connected to the interior of the sleeve. A gage is directly attached to the sleeve socket through attachment of a mating engagement portion. A pneumatic bulb is also attached fluidly to the sleeve through a receiving port which is provided on at least one of the socket and the gage.

Abstract: A blood pressure measuring apparatus includes an inflatable sleeve socket that is capable of receiving an engagement portion of a compact gage housing having either a contained mechanical or an electronic pressure gauge. This coupling permits direct attachment to the sleeve and permitting fluid interconnection between the interior of the sleeve and the contained pressure gauge without requiring any hoses or tubing therebetween. The electronic pressure gauge is responsive to changes in pressure within the inflatable sleeve. The pressure changes can be processed and output to an integral display or can be wirelessly transmitted.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic instrument includes at least one blood oxygen saturation sensor and at least one temperature sensor. The sensors are being capable of measuring blood oxygen saturation and temperature simultaneously after insertion of a probe portion of the instrument relative to a defined body site, such as the axilla, rectum, or sublingual pocket of a patient. At least a portion of the probe portion of the instrument is disposable.

Abstract: An otoscopic instrument permits visual inspection of the ear canal and includes at least one chemical sensing element for detecting a fluid indicative of a disease as well as at least one of an infrared thermometer, and a mechanism for determining pressure variations and the presence of fluid in the ear for providing a comprehensive examination of a patient. The instrument can also be adapted for use with other body cavities such as the throat and nose, among others.

Abstract: An illumination system for a medical diagnostic instrument includes at least one light directing element disposed relative to an instrument housing and at least one illuminating device, such as a white LED which is optically coupled to a peripheral portion of the light directing element for providing directed illumination of a target of interest.

Abstract: A blood pressure measuring apparatus includes an inflatable sleeve adapted to be wrapped about a limb of a patient. The sleeve includes an interior and at least one socket provided on an exterior surface of the sleeve, the socket being fluidly connected to the interior of the sleeve. A gage is directly attached to the sleeve socket through attachment of a mating engagement portion. A pneumatic bulb is also attached fluidly to the sleeve through a receiving port which is provided on at least one of the socket and the gage.

Abstract: An inflatable sleeve for a blood pressure measuring apparatus includes a socket which is capable of receiving an engagement portion of a gage housing thereby permitting direct attachment to the sleeve and permitting fluid interconnection between the interior of the inflatable sleeve and the interior of the housing without requiring any hoses or tubing there between. The sleeve includes an artery index marker which permits the sleeve to be properly aligned on an appropriate limb of the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a physical quantity or parameter includes a housing having a supportably mounted shaft member. A first end of the shaft member is placed in proximity with the output of a displacement device which is responsive to a change in the physical quantity. A ribbon spring member is coaxially disposed and wound helically about the supported shaft member, one end of the spring member being attached to the shaft and a remaining end to a supporting structure. Based on a change in the physical quantity, (pressure, velocity, temperature, etc.), the output of the displacement device engages the shaft member, which axially displaces and rotates due to the constraint of the ribbon spring member. The rotation of the shaft member produces a corresponding angular deflection of an attached pointer relative to readable indicia.

Abstract: A compact hand-held diagnostic device includes at least one chemical sensing element mounted to an external surface of a substrate, the chemical sensing element being capable of detecting at least one chemical component indicative of a condition of a target and producing an electrical change when said at least one chemical component is detected. The device includes a processor for processing electrical changes produced by the chemical sensing elements into a resulting signal and at least one indicator connected to the processor for indicating the presence of a detected chemical component and in which the chemical sensing element is directly exposed to the target environment without requiring any portion of the environment to first be drawn into the device. The compact device can be used in both medical and industrial applications.

Abstract: A hand-held medical or industrial diagnostic instrument includes at least one chemical sensing element capable of detecting at least one fluid emitted by a disease and producing an electrical or optical change when said at least one fluid is detected. The instrument further includes a processor having resident circuitry for processing the electrical change generated by said at least one chemical sensing element into a resulting output signal indicative of the disease(s). The at least one chemical sensing element is preferably supported in substantial direct proximity with a target area to be tested.

Abstract: A conditioning sleeve for a medical or an industrial diagnostic sensing instrument, in which the instrument has a support for supporting at least one chemical sensing element capable of detecting at least one chemical component of a fluid and producing an electrical signal when said at least one chemical component is detected. The sleeve includes an interior sized for enclosing at least a portion of the support including the at least one chemical sensing element and for producing environmental conditions within the sleeve interior which approximate those of an intended target area. Preferably, at least one heater or cooler and a humidifier approximate the environmental conditions of the target area in order to acclimate the sensing elements of the diagnostic instrument prior to actual use.

Abstract: An imaging assembly includes a miniature electronic image sensor including an imaging substrate having a plurality of pixels and a microlens array aligned with corresponding pixels on said imaging substrate and focusing optics for focusing an optical image of a target onto the imaging substrate including at least one adaptive lens element. The focusing optics have a first exit pupil distance defining a first field of view and the miniature electronic image sensor has a second exit pupil distance defining a second field of view which is different than the first exit pupil distance. The adaptive lens element directs light onto said imaging substrate through said microlens array while maintaining the first field of view.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive device includes a housing having an upper portion and a narrowed lower portion. The housing retains a pressure responsive element having a movable surface which responds to changes in fluid pressure. A movement mechanism interconnects the movable surface of the pressure responsive element with an indicator disposed in an upper portion of the housing wherein at least a portion of the movement mechanism and the pressure responsive element are situated within a narrow lower portion of the housing. The narrow portion includes a ball-shaped end which directly engages a socket of an inflatable sleeve, such as a blood pressure cuff. The interconnection between the ball-shaped end and the socket permits pivotal movement of the housing to facilitate reading of the indicator.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive device includes a housing having an interior cavity and a narrow downwardly extending portion. A support plate is disposed within the housing cavity along with a flexible diaphragm which is sealingly mounted to a bottom facing side of the support plate. A movement mechanism interconnected to the diaphragm includes a pressure sensitive element which is responsive to the impingement of incoming fluid on the sealed diaphragm. The movement mechanism is disposed within a narrow extending portion of the housing to assume a compact and shallow profile which facilitates direct attachment to existing devices, such as blood pressure sleeves. In a preferred version, the movement mechanism is disposed within a cavity defined by the diaphragm.

Abstract: A gage mechanism for a blood pressure measuring device or other similar apparatus includes a supported shaft member having one end in contact with an inflatable bellows. A pointer is attached at an opposite end of the shaft and a helically wound spring is attached to the shaft and a supporting structure. As the bellows inflates, the shaft is axially displaced and causes rotation due to the constraint of the helical ribbon spring, causing a corresponding angular deflection of the attached pointer relative to an indicating scale. The mechanism includes a first adjustment member for allowing the pointer to be preset to a zero or calibrated position, and a second adjustment mechanism that controls the amount of angular rotation of the shaft and pointer for a displacement of the bellows.