Abstract: A medical effector system comprised of a bedside unit and a procedure unit. The bedside unit contains a series of connection points for receiving inputs from a series of patient monitors. The procedure unit contains a patient monitoring and medical effector program, and a drug delivery pump or magnetic flux generator capable of delivering therapeutic energy to a patient. The medical effector system contains the capability to issue and receive a request from a non-sedated patient, issue and receive a request from a sedated patient and then to calculate a time difference. The medical effector program operates the pump or magnetic flux generator based upon at least some of the patient outputs and program inputs including a calculated time difference. A removable umbilical cable connects the two units and allows the output of the patient monitors as well as other information to travel between the two units.

Abstract: A method for delivering intravenous drugs to a patient comprising programming a drug delivery system, including a controller and an infusion pump, with a maintenance rate or a loading dose for a drug and causing the drug delivery system to (a) calculate a loading dose based on the maintenance rate or a maintenance rate based on the loading dose, (b) administer the loading dose of the drug to the patient to rapidly achieve a desired level of effect, and (c) administer the drug at a first maintenance rate to maintain the level of effect.

Abstract: A first drug delivery system includes first and second drug-container holders and first and second pump assemblies. The first (second) holder is adapted to receive a first (second) drug container having a first (a different second) dimensioned shape but not a second (first) drug container having a different second (a first) dimensioned shape. A second drug delivery system includes first and second bar code scanners, first and second drug-container holders, and first and second pump assemblies. The first (second) holder is adapted to receive a first (second) drug container having a dimensioned shape and to orient a positioned first (second) bar code of the first (second) drug container to face the first (second) bar code scanner because of the dimensioned shape. In one application, the first drug is a sedative drug, the second drug is an analgesic drug, and the drugs are used during a conscious sedation medical procedure.

Abstract: A drug delivery system includes drug containers, a pump assembly, a sensor, and a controller. The drug containers each contain a different predetermined drug co-formulation of predetermined first and second drugs, wherein the first drug has a sedative effect. The sensor is adapted to sense a variable associated with the drug containers and output a different drug co-formulation identification signal associated with each of the drug containers based on the sensed variable. The controller is programmed to identify the drug co-formulation for the drug container operatively connected to the pump assembly from the associated identification signal and to control the pump assembly to deliver the drug co-formulation of the one drug container to the patient during a medical procedure according to a corresponding drug delivery algorithm which is different for each of the drug containers. A method is also disclosed which uses the drug delivery system.

Abstract: A first medical system includes a controller, a plurality of predetermined patient monitors, and a predetermined drug-delivering medical effector. The controller is adapted to choose different groups of the patient monitors for different medical procedures involving the medical effector. A second medical system includes a controller which is adapted to identify, by querying, connected ones of a multiplicity of medical effectors and connected ones of a plurality of patient monitors and is adapted to control at least one connected medical effector using at least some of the connected patient monitors for a predetermined medical procedure.

Abstract: A method for delivering a sedation drug comprising administering a drug to a patient while requesting the patient to respond to an instruction, monitoring a patient's BIS values, bringing the patient to a level of anesthesia where the patient fails to respond to the request within a predetermined response time, and determining a BIS value that coincides with the level of anesthesia corresponding to the failure to respond.

Abstract: The invention is a transporter for moving a rolltainer, a trolley, and various other multi-wheeled containers that roll on a surface. The transporter utilizes lever-assisted rotating forks to lift and position the container to provide maximum traction, stability, and safety. The transporter utilizes hub motors for increased maneuverability and to eliminate drivetrain elements. The transporter is configured to keep transporter structure between the operator and the load during al operative modes to maximize operator safety.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus are described for modifying fluid flow in a hard disk drive system to reduce cross-track motion. The systems and methods provide advantages because they include at least one flow modification element. In some embodiments, the flow modification system comprises a set of approximately parallel combs occupying a portion of the space present in between the disks in the hard disk drive system. The combs change the flow pattern of the fluid and act as a momentum channeling mechanism relative to the actuator assembly and suspension assemblies resulting in a considerable reduction in track misregistration error. Various embodiments of the invention include baffle-integrated combs, fixture-integrated combs, contoured enclosure surfaces, and enclosure attached combs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for presenting background sensory information to a call participant through a call connection. The method includes the steps of determining an identity of the call participant from call associated information and presenting the call participant with predetermined background sensory information through the call connection based upon the identity of the caller.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus are described for modifying fluid flow in a hard disk drive system to reduce cross-track motion. The systems and methods provide advantages because they include at least one flow modification element. In some embodiments, the flow modification system comprises a set of approximately parallel combs occupying a portion of the space present in between the disks in the hard disk drive system. The combs change the flow pattern of the fluid and act as a momentum channeling mechanism relative to the actuator assembly and suspension assemblies resulting in a considerable reduction in track misregistration error. Various embodiments of the invention include baffle-integrated combs, fixture-integrated combs, contoured enclosure surfaces, and enclosure attached combs.

Abstract: An apparatus for achieving hemostasis and pneumostasis along a staple line by utilizing a compliant bioabsorbable foam buttress which may be attached to one jaw of a surgical stapling apparatus by a biocompatible releasable adhesive.

Abstract: A check valve or backflow preventer has a valve mechanism mounted to a valve cover for removal and replacement as a unit. The valve clapper is resiliently supported to accommodate variations in tolerance. The valve seat is removably secured within the valve body by compression of a resilient seal ring to engage opposed walls of the seat and body. A spring pretensioning member facilitates safe replacement and removal of the valve mechanism.

Abstract: A system and method of determining cardiac output from a cardiac pressure waveform. The pressure waveform is continuously sensed and converted into a digital data stream. When a complete beat frame of data is sensed, the processor extracts a plurality of features from the sensed waveform which characterize the waveform. These features are compared to stored representative pressure waveforms (RPW's) which have a known cardiac output. The RPW's are obtained by applying a pattern recognition methodology to pressure waveforms of known cardiac output. In one embodiment the typical shapes function is used. The pattern recognition methodology results in classes and associated cardiac outputs which are stored as the RPW's. The features extracted from waveforms representative of unknown cardiac output are thus classified by the comparison to the RPW's. When a match is made between the extracted features and an RPW, the cardiac output of the selected RPW is output as the cardiac output of the patient.

Abstract: A check valve or backflow preventer has a valve mechanism mounted to a valve cover for removal and replacement as a unit. The valve clapper is resiliently supported to accommodate variations in tolerance. The valve seat is removably secured within the valve body by compression of a resilient seal ring to engage opposed walls of the seat and body. A spring pretensioning member facilitates safe replacement and removal of the valve mechanism.

Abstract: A system and method of determining cardiac output from a cardiac pressure waveform. The pressure waveform is continuously sensed and converted into a digital data stream. When a complete beat frame of data is sensed, the processor extracts a plurality of features from the sensed waveform which characterize the waveform. These features are compared to stored representative pressure waveforms (RPW's) which have a known cardiac output. The RPW's are obtained by applying a pattern recognition methodology to pressure waveforms of known cardiac output. In one embodiment the typical shapes function is used. The pattern recognition methodology results in classes and associated cardiac outputs which are stored as the RPW's. The features extracted from waveforms representative of unknown cardiac output are thus classified by the comparison to the RPW's. When a match is made between the extracted features and an RPW, the cardiac output of the selected RPW is output as the cardiac output of the patient.

Abstract: A fluid meter totalizing register assembly suitable for submerged service includes a fluid meter totalizing register and a register case. The register case has a housing comprising a water impermeable elastomeric material defining at least one wall of a cavity for receiving the fluid meter totalizing register. The register case includes a transparent lens of water impermeable material closing a top opening of the cavity in a water-tight seal with the wall of the housing, and a magnetic-force transmitting element of water impermeable material closing a bottom opening of the cavity in a water tight seal with the wall of the housing. The register includes a rotatable register element disposed within the cavity adjacent an inner surface of the magnetic-force transmitting element. The rotatable register element is driven by magnetic coupling with a rotatable meter element disposed adjacent an opposite, outer surface of the magnetic-force transmitting element.

Abstract: A photographic image is prepared for facsimile transmission by photocopying the photographic image onto a sheet of paper through a partially transparent screen. The screen may comprise a plurality of spaced dots on a sheet in which one of the sheet and dots are transparent and the other opaque to light transmission whereby the photocopy has reproduced on it the picture and the pattern of the dots with either the dots or the spaces between the dots forming the image of the picture.

Abstract: A simple, unitary tool which facilitates placement of shimming tape in the finger holes of a bowling ball and additionally can be used to enlarge the finger holes of such bowling ball. The tool comprises an elongated member and a pair of arms connected to such member. The arms respectively have a portion parallel to and spaced from the elongated member, the dimensions between such portions being less than the diameter of a bowling ball finger hole. A tape shim is threadable over the elongated member and under the arms to be retained thereby. The elongated member, with a threaded tape shim may be inserted into a bowling ball finger hole, pressed against the wall of such finger hole to transfer such tape shim to such finger hole to shim the finger hole, and then removed, leaving such tape shim properly secured to such finger hole. Additionally, the elongated member may include an abrasive surface portion spaced from the pair of arms.

Abstract: Burning a waste fuel blend at very high temperatures (typically greater than 4000 deg. F.) for a very short period of time (typically a matter of milliseconds) in a primary combustion zone to break the complex hazardous/toxic hydrocarbons into less complex chemicals (such as CO, CO.sub.2, H.sub.2, OH, HCl, and Cl.sub.2), passing the products of the primary zone into a secondary zone in which the products are maintained for a longer time (typically about 2 secs.) in turbulent conditions with excess air at lower combustion temperatures (typically 2000 to 2600 deg. F.) to reduce the primary zone products to a mixture of H.sub.2 O, CO.sub.2 and acids such as HCl, and quenching the products of the secondary zone.

Abstract: Burning a waste fuel blend at very high temperatures (typically greater than 4000 deg. F.) for a very short period of time (typically a matter of milliseconds) in a primary combustion zone to break the complex hazardous/toxic hydrocarbons into less complex chemicals (such as CO, CO.sub.2, H.sub.2, OH, HCl, and Cl.sub.2), passing the products of the primary zone into a secondary zone in which the products are maintained for a longer time (typically about 2 secs.) in turbulent conditions with excess air at lower combustion temperatures (typically 2000 to 2600 deg. F.) to reduce the primary zone products to a mixture of H.sub.2 O, CO.sub.2 and acids such as HCl, and quenching the products of the secondary zone.