Abstract: Bubble trap has a hollow body with an upwardly directed mixed fluid inlet on its side directed to introduce mixed fluid in a tangential direction so as to rotate the liquid within the body. This rotation permits separation of the gas bubbles from the liquid and permits withdrawal of the debubbled liquid from the bottom of the body. The inlet and outlet from the body are respectively upwardly and downwardly directed to permit draping of inlet and outlet hoses. In one embodiment, a filter is installed to facilitate gas bubble separation.

Abstract: Into patients intubated with an endotracheal tube for patient ventilation, a sound tube is inserted into the hypopharynx. A valve between the endotracheal tube and the ventilator can be manually actuated so that the patient's exhaled breath passes through a buzzer in the sound tube. The sound emanates from a location just above the natural vocal chords and can be articulated into intelligible speech by lips and tongue.

Abstract: The valve is positioned in the left ventricle drain line and includes a check valve which permits flow only away from the heart. A vent valve is located downstream of the check valve to prevent buildup of pressure. In addition, the valve includes an inwardly directed umbrella valve to limit left ventricle drain line vacuum intensity applied to the heart.

Abstract: The valve is positioned in the left ventricle drain line and includes a check valve which permits flow only away from the heart and downstream of the check valve includes a vent valve which prevents buildup of pressure. In addition, the valve includes a vacuum orifice to limit left ventricle drain line vacuum intensity applied to the heart.

Abstract: A rigid receptacle has an open top, and a removable lid seals by vacuum onto the open top. The lid carries dependent therefrom into the receptacle a flexible disposable collection bag. The bag is supported from the lid by means of an inlet fitting and an outlet fitting which extends from the lid. The inlet fitting is for attachment to a tube which extends into the thoracic cavity of the patient. The outlet fitting has an outwardly facing check valve therein to prevent buildup of pressure within the collection bag. The lid is also provided with a vacuum connection, by which vacuum can be drawn into the receptacle but outside of the collection bag to close vacuum in the vacuum bag without the need for continuous vacuum or the connection of a vacuum line to the interior of the collection bag.

Abstract: The valve is positioned in the left ventricle drain line and includes a check valve which permits flow only away from the heart and downstream of the check valve includes a vent valve which prevents buildup of pressure. In addition, the valve includes a manually adjustable vacuum control orifice whereby the surgeon can control the left ventricle drain line vacuum intensity applied to the heart.

Abstract: This buoyant blood stop valve is in the blood line to the patient to stop flow to prevent air embolism when the blood is exhausted from the oxygenator reservoir. The stop valve comprises a downwardly directed hemispherical cup next to the downwardly directed tubular inlet. The top of the cup is open to the inlet to permit free passage of air in and out of the top of the cup. The cup and inlet are formed in the upper valve body, and the lower valve body is secured thereto and faces the upper valve body. The bottom of the lower body has an outlet, and above the outlet is a circular valve seat, such as an O-ring in a recess. Above the O-ring the lower body has a curved bottom, but vanes are formed in the lower body and inwardly directed toward the outlet valve seat at the O-ring. Upper vanes adjacent the inlet are sloped toward the hemispherical cup.

Abstract: Variable rate pump for insulin delivery has as its pumping unit a syringe. A motor is connected to advance the syringe and electric signal pulses are produced during syringe advance. A control system permits selection of the interval between command pulses to maintain the desired base insulin delivery rate. A separate circuit drives the motor and syringe to deliver a predetermined bolus of insulin. Alarm circuits are connected to monitor the various system requirements and signal when they are not fulfilled.

Abstract: Insulin delivery system comprises insulin reservoir, pump and subcutaneous needle. Pump is electromechanically-driven at a preselectable fixed rate and can be additionally actuated to deliver a preprandial bolus of selected dosage.

Abstract: The blood-air separator is for use in the extracorporeal blood bypass during cardio-pulmonary surgery. Air bubbles are separated from the recirculating blood stream by centrifugal force and buoyancy after the stream has left the oxygenator and before it returns to the patient. Separation is accomplished by imparting circular motion to the bloodstream within the separator at a point where air bubbles can move upward and inward, and blood liquid outward and downward. Curved vanes in the blood flow stream cause the circular blood motion.

Abstract: The arterial blood filter of this invention is for extra-corporeal bypass during cardio-pulmonary surgery. It has an internal divergent blood flow path from the inlet to smoothly reduce blood flow velocity to permit separation of air bubbles with minimum trauma to blood cells. The upper portion of the blood filter housing permits collection of air bubbles and permits their withdrawal. The inlet and outlet connections to the filter are both on the bottom to ease draping of the connecting tubes.

Abstract: The oxygenator is used for arterializing blood during open heart surgery. The oxygenator is factory-assembled and sterilized and is of economic and efficient design so that it can serve as a throwaway unit. Blood from the patient is oxygenated as it passes through the center of a tubular sparger with porous walls which supplies oxygen bubbles of the optimum size. The foaming blood is delivered to the top of the main oxygenator body where it is distributed by gravity flow downward across the heat exchanger tubing. The heat exchanger is wound as a flat coil with all connections outside of the oxygenator body. A silicone-coated sponge is located below the heat exchanger so that downwardly flowing foaming blood is defoamed as it passes through the sponge. Carbon dioxide and other gases are vented, and liquid blood gravitates into a tapered arterial reservoir.

Abstract: Blood shut-off valve is positioned at the outlet of a blood oxygenator arterial reservoir so that the valve closes when the reservoir is emptied to prevent flow. Valve has a member which floats in the blood and an outlet valve seat against which the member rests in the absence of blood, together with a constraint which positions the member near the seat, but protects it from hemodynamic closing forces.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an implantable medication-dispensing device which is arranged for subcutaneous implantation. The device has hard body in which is located a liquid reservoir, an adjacent gas chamber, and a pump which is manually operable through the cutaneous layer for drawing liquid medication from the reservoir and dispensing it and directing it into the body tissue below the hypoderm. A refill membrane permits injection of medication into the reservoir so that the implanted device can be periodically refilled.