Abstract: An automatic manifold for a catheter assembly. Valve means automatically open and close flow between a liquid supply port for connection to injection means and a liquid delivery port for communication with the catheter assembly. A pressure sensor is integrated into the manifold. The manifold also includes a quick-disconnect coupling mechanism for a liquid supply port.

Abstract: An automatic manifold for a catheter assembly. Valve means automatically open and close flow between a liquid supply port for connection to injection means and a liquid delivery port for communication with the catheter assembly. A pressure sensor is integrated into the manifold. The manifold also includes a quick-disconnect coupling mechanism for a liquid supply port.

Abstract: An automatic manifold for a catheter assembly. Valve means automatically open and close flow between a liquid supply port for connection to injection means and a liquid delivery port for communication with the catheter assembly. A pressure sensor is integrated into the manifold. The manifold also includes a quick-disconnect coupling mechanism for a liquid supply port.

Abstract: A hemostasis valve including a collapsible membrane in a portion of a through-lumen. Fluid pressure in a chamber surrounding the collapsible membrane assists in sealing the collapsible membrane around an operating device inserted through the hemostasis valve. Different mechanisms for mechanically deforming the collapsible membrane to assist in sealing are disclosed. Also, a system for continuously flushing a vascular catheter connected to a hemostasis valve at a rate of 0.10 to 10.0 cubic centimeters per minute, and a hemostasis valve assembly including an expandable reservoir which stores liquid volume under pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for flushing a vascular catheter. Inlet and outlet passages extending from inlet and outlet ports, respectively, are selectably in communication with one another via a manually operable member cooperating with a sealing member and biased toward a closed position. Mechanisms for continuously and periodically flushing the catheter are incorporated.

Abstract: A hemostasis valve including a collapsible membrane in a portion of a through-lumen. Fluid pressure in a chamber surrounding the collapsible membrane assists in sealing the collapsible membrane around an operating device inserted through the hemostasis valve. Different mechanisms for mechanically deforming the collapsible membrane to assist in sealing are disclosed. Also, a system for continuously flushing a vascular catheter connected to a hemostasis valve at a rate of 0.10 to 10.0 cubic centimeters per minute, and a hemostasis valve assembly including an expandable reservoir which stores liquid volume under pressure.

Abstract: A method and gas analysis system for a mass spectrometer including an ion pump for creating an internal vacuum within said mass spectrometer, an ionization chamber, an inlet passage through which a gas sample is introduced into the ionization chamber, valve means associated with the inlet passage for controlling the volume of gas sample introduced into the ionization chamber, a filament for introducing electrons into the ionization chamber whereby the electrons bombard the gas sample thus forming ions, an extractor plate positioned adjacent the ionization chamber and biased such that a proportion of ions and electrons are allowed to pass through the extractor plate, a quadrupole filter into which the ions and electrons are directed by the extractor plate, the quadrupole filter operative to permit a stream of ions with a pre-selected mass-to-charge ratio to pass through the filter and ions other than those having the pre-selected mass-to-charge ratio being separated from the stream of ions, means for directing

Abstract: A dispenser for medication units such as pills, tablets, caplets, and capsules which allows dispensing of a single medication unit upon the simple push of a button or verbal request includes a control system which allows convenient changes, optionally responsive to instructions from a physician or other medical personnel via a modem over telephone lines, in the frequency and dosage of one medication in a regimen, without altering the schedule for other medications. The dispenser includes at least one elongated plastic band possessing at least one facing surface covered by a compressible material, such as elastomer foam, cloth, or brush bristles, having medication units sandwiched between the layers of the band or bands wound in abutting overlying relation on a storage reel. In order to dispense the medication units, rotating mechanisms unwind the band or bands from the storage reel onto separate take-up reel or reels, causing the dispensed medication units to fall and interrupt a light beam detector.

Abstract: A medication dispenser for dispensing pills, tablets, capsules, or the like, one at a time from a receptacle in which the medication is arranged loosely to allow for easy filling. In one embodiment, the medication units are passed through a restricted funnel opening, one at a time, and then captured between two cooperating, movable, compressible structures such as wheels, belts, or the like, which move the units to a detector that counts the units as they are removed from the dispenser. In another embodiment, the medication is first captured and then moved through a restricted opening. The dispenser may also include a computer for controlling and/or recording the time of dispensing and the quantity of medication dispensed. Additionally, the dispenser may include two sequentially placed sets of cooperating, movable, structures at different horizontal levels for achieving greater separation of medication units.

Abstract: A medication dispenser for dispensing pills, tablets, capsules, or the like, one at a time from a receptacle in which the medication is arranged loosely to allow for easy filling. In one embodiment, the medication units are passed through a restricted funnel opening, one at a time, and then captured between two cooperating, movable, compressible structures such as wheels, belts, or the like, which move the units to a detector that counts the units as they are removed from the dispenser. In another embodiment, the medication is first captured and then moved through a restricted opening. The dispenser may also include a computer for controlling and/or recording the time of dispensing and the quantity of medication dispensed. Additionally, the dispenser may include two sequentially placed sets of cooperating, movable, structures at different horizontal levels for achieving greater separation of medication units.

Abstract: A medication dispenser that includes a receptacle having a counting compartment with a first opening into the receptacle and a second opening through which the pills are dispensed. To be dispensed, the pills must passthrough the counting compartment and are counted during such passage. Both openings are blocked or unblocked by logic built into or remotely connected to the dispenser, which logic determines whether the pills in the compartment should be dispensed. In one embodiment of the dispenser, the pills are counted by sensing the amount of light that is passed through the compartment. The logic counts the pills by subtracting the amount of light transmitted through the compartment when it contains pills from the amount of light transmitted through an empty compartment and comparing the result to the known size of the pills. In an alternative embodiment, the pills are weighed in the counted compartment and the weight is compared to the known weight of a single pill.

Abstract: A medication dispenser includes a container having a main compartment, a selection compartment, and an exit compartment whereby a pill or the like is dispensed from the container by passage from the main compartment, through the selection compartment, and to the exit compartment. The configuration of the pill selection compartment may be selectively varied and adjusted into a preselected configuration substantially conforming to the shape and size of a pill contained in the main compartment. A flexible first gate selectively extends between the selection compartment and the main compartment, a second gate selectively extends between the selection compartment and the exit compartment, and a third gate selectively extends across the exit compartment, near the container exterior. Initially, the second gate is in an extended position, and the first and third gates are in nonextended positions.

Abstract: A card for permitting selective access to an object. The card includes a formed section and a covering in sealing, overlying engagement with the formed section. A beaded, looped wire interconnected with the object is interposed with adhesive between the formed section and the covering, thereby preventing access to the object. Only after the code is read can the interposed portion of the beaded, looped wire be removed from its interposed relation thereby to permit access to the object.

Abstract: A method of dispensing medicine by providing a medicine package having a sealed reservoir containing the medicine and bearing a machine readable code indicating the contents of the package, initiating the opening of the package with a machine having a special cutting tool, having a code reader for recording the information indicated by the code, and having a clock for recording the time when the opening of the package is initiated. The method of dispensing medicine further includes recording the identity of the person administering the medication and the identify of the person receiving the medication. The method also further includes the step of rendering the machine readable code unreadable upon the initiation of the opening of the package.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for measuring uterine artery blood flow characterized by non-invasively positioning a transducer crystal capable of generating an ultrasonic signal within the vagina of a human female at the lateral aspect of the cervix underneath and in close proximity to the uterine artery, measuring the internal diameter of the artery by sweeping the transducer thereacross through an arc lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the flow of blood therethrough for the purpose of determining its cross section, redirecting the transducer along the artery at an acute angle opposing the direction of blood flow therethrough while impinging upon the latter a pulsed series of ultrasonic signals of known frequency, detecting the reflections of the pulsed signals and measuring the shift in the frequency of the reflections for the purpose of determining a mean velocity of the blood flowing through the artery by applying the Doppler Effect principle, and determining the blood flow volume based

Abstract: A medicine package including a reservoir containing the medicine, the package bearing a machine readable code indicative of the characteristics of the medicine contained therein. If from reading the code it is determined that the medicine contained in the package can be used to satisfy the needs of a particular patient, then the package is opened and the code is rendered unreadable by the machine. A machine for reading the code, opening the package, rendering the code unreadable, and maintaining a record of the dispensing of the medicine to a particular patient is also disclosed.

Abstract: A probe for mounting a transducer, and having a hole extending longitudinal therethrough for a lead, is formed of two end portions having facing intermeshing bevel gears disposed with axes that are at an angle to the axis of the respective end portions. A central portion is mounted to the two end portions for rotation with respect thereto for holding the bevel gears in contact with one another.

Abstract: A medicine package including a reservoir containing the medicine, the package bearing a machine readable code indicative of the characteristics of the medicine contained therein. If from reading the code it is determined that the medicine contained in the package can be used to satisfy the needs of a particular patient, then the package is opened and the code is rendered unreadable by the machine. A machine for reading the code, opening the package, rendering the code unreadable, and maintaining a record of the dispensing of the medicine to a particular patient is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pill dispenser mechanism is provided in which a multilayered compartment is releasably attachable to a receptacle for pills in such a way that pills may be selectively advanced into one compartment, then by selective advancement of one of the compartment layers transfer the pill from the first compartment into a discharge compartment to permit sequential recovery of pills therefrom. In order to accommodate different sized pills, the compartments may be provided with different sized openings to conform to the substantial size and configuration of the pill. Electrical contact switches may be associated with the compartments to sense for the purpose of recording the movement of a pill between one or more, or a combination of both, compartments.

Abstract: The specification discloses an inflatable, insulating apparatus for use as or in a mattress inflatable with a fluid such as air. Included are a fluid-tight envelope and reflective material, preferably thin layers of metallic material, on at least two spaced portions of said apparatus to reflect thermal radiation, such as from a supported living being when the apparatus is used as a mattress, to reduce radiative heat transfer across or through the structure. Either as an alternate insulator, or in combination with the reflective material, one or more baffles may be provided within the apparatus to reduce both free and forced convective heat transfer. In one embodiment, reflective baffles form a honeycomb assembly which is collapsible upon deflation of the structure.