Abstract: Method and apparatus for diagnosing heart failure are disclosed. They include monitoring a subject's pulsatile blood flow with a non-invasive probe during a Valsalva maneuver (VM), processing data therefrom to calculate fall in flow, hear rate changes, Rebound, and heart stroke volume during the VM. Monitored and calculated results are compared to defined thresholds and interpreted and reported. The apparatus takes the form of a pulsatile blood flow probe on a finger or toe or in a mouthpiece facilitating the VM, the mouthpiece optionally including a pressure transducer or digital monometer to ensure that the subject is performing the VM within required pressure and time ranges. The method and apparatus include a controller or digital processor for processing and reporting the results of the monitoring, calculations, comparisons, interpretation, and reporting of the diagnostic results.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for diagnosing heart failure are disclosed. They include monitoring a subject's pulsatile blood flow with a non-invasive probe during a Valsalva maneuver (VM), processing data therefrom to calculate fall in flow, hear rate changes, Rebound, and heart stroke volume during the VM. Monitored and calculated results are compared to defined thresholds and interpreted and reported. The apparatus takes the form of a pulsatile blood flow probe on a finger or toe or in a mouthpiece facilitating the VM, the mouthpiece optionally including a pressure transducer or digital monometer to ensure that the subject is performing the VM within required pressure and time ranges. The method and apparatus include a controller or digital processor for processing and reporting the results of the monitoring, calculations, comparisons, interpretation, and reporting of the diagnostic results.

Abstract: A non-invasive patient hydration monitoring system, device, and method are disclosed. The invented device utilizes a non-invasive photo-plethysmographic (PPG) finger- or toe-probe with an infrared transceiver to measure blood perfusion or circulation in an extremity. Such perfusion data is processed using correlation techniques into patient hydration data by a microprocessor and software application that preferably resides in a cell phone or similar portable hardware/firmware/software platform. Individual and successive patients can be quickly screened, baselined, diagnosed, and reported to identify individuals with dehydration conditions that are indicators of more important health issues such as disease and contagion.

Abstract: A lightweight portable probe or transducer containing a transmissive or reflective electro-optical emitter and receptor in the infrared spectrum is fitted on a subject's finger or toe. Associated electronics energize and monitor the probe, detect cardio-rhythmic fluctuations therefrom, and process digital data over a prescribed window to produce a non-invasive, qualitative or quantitative measure of the subject's circulation. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a simple tri-color LED array is used to indicate the subject's circulation as being normal, reduced, or borderline.

Abstract: The invented non-invasive vital signs monitor is in a flexible, nominally flat planar form having integral gel electrodes, a sticky-back rear surface, an internal flex circuit capable of sensing, recording and playing out several minutes of the most recently acquired ECG waveform data and a front surface that includes an outplay port. The invented non-invasive body composition ‘risk’ monitor includes a measurement device for monitoring one or more variables including body fluid mass, dehydration, respiratory rate, blood pressure, bio-impedance, cardiography such as cardiac output, and body conformation parameters. The risk monitor may be provided in a lightweight carrying case into which the vital signs monitor plugs. Finally, a lightweight portable probe or transducer containing a transmissive or reflective electro-optical emitter and receptor in the infrared spectrum is fitted on a subject's finger or toe.

Abstract: A lightweight portable probe or transducer containing a transmissive or reflective electro-optical emitter and receptor in the infrared spectrum is fitted on a subject's finger or toe. Associated electronics energize and monitor the probe, detect cardio-rhythmic fluctuations therefrom, and process digital data over a prescribed window to produce a non-invasive, qualitative or quantitative measure of the subject's circulation. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a simple tri-color LED array is used to indicate the subject's circulation as being normal, reduced, or borderline.

Abstract: The ergonomically advantaged syringe is used by an operator to inject fluid into a patient during a medical procedure, which can include angiographic procedures where catheters are used. Although said ergonomic syringe may be connected to and used with a catheter of any size, it is particularly suited for use by an operator to inject radiopaque dye through catheters having small diameters. The large handgrip and locations of the fingergrips, together with other features on these elements of the ergonomic syringe, increase comfort and reduce the fatigue, strain, and risk of disability which may be associated with achieving the force required for each injection to achieve high pressures necessary for proper dye density in the blood flow in the target blood vessels, where such force is greater in smaller catheters than in larger catheters.

Abstract: The ergonomic syringe is used by an operator to inject fluid under pressure into a patient during a medical procedure, which can include angiographic procedures where catheters are used. Although said ergonomic syringe may be connected to and used with a catheter of any size, it is particularly suited for use by an operator to inject radiopaque dye through catheters having small diameters. The large handgrip and locations of the fingergrips, together with other features on these elements of the ergonomic syringe, increase comfort and reduce the fatigue, strain, and risk of disability which may be associated with achieving the force required for each injection to achieve high pressures necessary for proper dye density in the blood flow in the target blood vessels, where such force is greater in smaller catheters than in larger catheters.

Abstract: A hemostatic compression pad, for use with vascular compression devices, for application of pressure onto an area of a patient generally including a blood vessel and a wound site, such as a blood vessel puncture, during or after a medical procedure, where such procedure may be a cannulating procedure, for the purpose of controlling bleeding and achieving hemostasis. In use, the hemostatic compression pad, which is composed of at least two materials, is detachably connected to a vascular compression device and generally placed proximal to the catheter insertion site and over the blood vessel containing the cannula. The cannula is then removed from the blood vessel and pressure applied and maintained using the vascular compression device and hemostatic compression pad to compress the blood vessel for the purpose of controlling bleeding and, further, to achieve hemostasis. The improvement of this invention is its low propensity to slip laterally relative to the patient's body surface to which it is applied.

Abstract: The invented cardiac monitor is in a flexible, nominally flat planar form having integral gel electrodes, a sticky-back rear surface, an internal flex circuit capable of sensing, recording and playing out several minutes of the most recently acquired ECG waveform data and a front surface that includes an outplay port preferably having one or more snap connectors compatible with a lead harness from an n-lead recorder. The monitor has a relatively short battery life, as it is intended for limited-term use and, after a single recording and outplay session it may be disposed of, e.g. discarded or recycled. Preferably, the monitor uses one or more zinc-air batteries the air inlet ports of which may be selectively configured, as by folding or otherwise manipulating the monitor's expanse, to either activate or deactivate particular recording or outplay modes of operation of the monitor.

Abstract: The ergonomic syringe is used by an operator to inject fluid under pressure into a patient during a medical procedure, which can include angiographic procedures where catheters are used. Although said ergonomic syringe may be connected to and used with a catheter of any size, it is particularly suited for use by an operator to inject radiopaque dye through catheters having small diameters. The large handgrip and locations of the fingergrips, together with other features on these elements of the ergonomic syringe, increase comfort and reduce the fatigue, strain, and risk of disability which may be associated with achieving the force required for each injection to achieve high pressures necessary for proper dye density in the blood flow in the target blood vessels, where such force is greater in smaller catheters than in larger catheters.

Abstract: A vascular compression apparatus and method for applying pressure onto an area of a patient generally including a blood vessel and a wound site, such as a blood vessel puncture, after a cannulated procedure for the purpose of controlling bleeding and achieving hemostasis. The vascular compression apparatus includes a handle, an elongate shaft and a pad. The shaft extends generally downward from the cente of the bottom side of the handle, The pad is connected generally at the center of its top side to the bottom end of the shaft. In use, the pad is generally placed proximal to the catheter insertion site and over the blood vessel containing the catheter. The catheter is then removed from the blood vessel and pressure applied to the gandle by the user in a downward direction to force the pad to compress the blood vessel for the purpode of controlling bleeding and, further, to achieve hemostasis. The entire vascular compression apparatus may then be discarded after use.

Abstract: The artery clamp of the invention includes a base which has an elongate rod mounted normal thereto. An elongate sleeve having a central bore is carried on the rod. The sleeve includes a channel which extends the length thereof, which channel has an axially extending slot along at least a portion of its length. The rod is received in the central bore to allow rotation of the sleeve relative to the base of the artery clamp. An arm structure extends laterally outwardly from the sleeve and includes an extensible portion which is laterally adjustable relative to the sleeve and which includes a mechanism for carrying a pressure pad thereon.

Abstract: Portable, two-way ECG data-storage apparatus for the selective window-capturing of successive plural-lead ECG data records. The apparatus receives its information from the analogue output terminals in a conventional ECG machine, and operates a store multiple-lead data in flagged time-windowed fashion in order to assure stable signal information and efficient meory use. Playback can occur either directly in an analogue manner back to any selected ECG machine, and/or audibly for listening to by a user or for transtelephonic transmission.