Abstract: An arm board for supporting the forearm, wrist and hand during IV therapy which includes a contoured brace with removable straps for securing the forearm and middle two fingers of the patient's hand to the support, allowing some limited movement of the middle two fingers, and free movement of the little finger, thumb and index finger to reduce fatigue without altering the position of the IV tubing.

Abstract: A patient ambulation motion detector designed to be worn on the body. The detector incorporates a wireless transmitter, a motion sensor switch and a second call switch. It may be enclosed in a plastic case and attached most commonly to the upper anterior chest by a non-allergic double-backed tape.

Abstract: A mercury switch which is actuated only on a specific movement of an individual by design of an internal cavity of the switch to control movement of a mercury ball into and out of engagement with two electrical contacts. The internal cavity has a truncated cone for receipt of the mercury ball, a surface of revolution sloping outward from the opening of the truncated cone and an interruption ramp in this surface of revolution to guide the mercury ball into the truncated cone for actuation of a switch when a critical angle of the switch has been exceeded.

Abstract: A mercury switch which is actuated only on a specific movement of an individual by design of an internal cavity of the switch to control movement of a mercury ball into and out of engagement with two electrical contacts. The internal cavity has a truncated cone for receipt of the mercury ball, a surface of revolution sloping outward from the opening of the truncated cone and an interruption ramp in this surface of revolution to guide the mercury ball into the truncated cone for actuation of a switch when a critical angle of the switch has been exceeded.

Abstract: A patient ambulation motion detector designed to be worn on the body. The detector incorporates a wireless transmitter, a motion sensor switch and a second call switch. It may be enclosed in a plastic case and attached most commonly to the upper anterior chest by a non-allergic double-backed tape.

Abstract: An arm board for supporting the forearm, wrist and hand during IV therapy which includes a contoured brace with removable straps for securing the forearm and middle two fingers of the patient's hand to the support, allowing some limited movement of the middle two fingers, and free movement of the little finger, thumb and index finger to reduce fatigue without altering the position of the IV tubing.

Abstract: A rearwardly and downwardly opening mask shell is provided for positioning about and over the nose and mouth face areas of a patient in a manner such that the mask shell seals rearwardly against the face of the patient and opens downwardly from the mouth area of the patient.

Abstract: A patient ambulation motion detector intended for attachment to a patient's body. The detector includes a motion sensor switch and a detachment detector switch which are mounted on a circuit board, the circuit board being in turn enclosed within an attachment casing which is attachable to a lateral surface of the patient's body. The motion sensor comprises three SPST mercury switches mounted to the circuit board and oriented so as to be responsive to declination of that portion of the patient's body to which the detector is attached and which declination is indicative of impending ambulation, but non-responsive to positions in which the posture of the patient is not indicative of impending ambulation. The detachment detector switch is a spring contact switch which is openable and closable by a plunger acting thereon and sensitive to detachment of the detector from the patient's body. The detector may be wired to a conventional switched nurse call system.

Abstract: An arm board for supporting the forearm, wrist and hand during intravenous therapy includes a contoured support having adjoined forearm, wrist and hand support surfaces for conformally supporting the ventral surfaces of the forearm, wrist and palm. A handgrip is provided adjoining the palm support surface, and thumb recesses are provided on each side of the hand support to enable the patient to grip the support. A tubing support member is pivotally mounted at the handgrip to provide support for intravenous tubing. The tubing support member is mounted to be pivotable about its handgrip mounting as well as to be vertically adjustable with respect to the handgrip. The pivot mounting is contained within the handgrip and includes a locking or clamping mechanism which is manually operable via a thumbwheel accessible through the handgrip for fixing the tubing support in place.

Abstract: A patient ambulation motion detector is intended for attachment to a lateral generally vertical surface of a patient'body. The detector includes a motion sensor switch and a detachment detector switch which are mounted on a circuit board, the circuit board being in turn enclosed within an attachment casing which is attachable to a lateral surface of the patient's body. The motion sensor switch is a mercury switch mounted to the circuit board and having the axis of movement of the mercury contained therein oriented generally parallel to the circuit board so as to be responsive to declination of that portion of the patient's body to which the detector is attached and which declination is indicative of impending ambulation. The detachment detector switch is a spring contact switch which is openable and closable by a plunger acting thereon and sensitive to detachment of the detector from the patient's body. The detector may be wired to a conventional switched nurse call system.

Abstract: A closed vertical mixing chamber is defined above a predetermined plan area of a body of water and an upright tubular member including open upper and lower ends is supported over a central zone of the area spaced slightly above the water level. Structure is provided defining a closed inlet chamber above lower end of the tubular member and about the latter into which gas to be humidified is admitted. The gas is discharged downwardly from the inlet chamber about the lower end of the tubular member toward the water level and at locations spaced outwardly from and about the tubular and electro-acoustical transducer structure is operatively associated with the water in the zone for generating a column of water projecting upwardly above the level and having finely divided particles of water emanating therefrom. The gas moves inwardly over the surface of the water toward the water column and thereafter upwardly into the tubular member about the water column.

Abstract: In an intravenous needle and needle holder assembly, the needle can be moved between a retracted position in which it has a substantially rigidified junction with the holder to facilitate insertion in a patient's blood vessel, and an extended position in which a length of flexible tubing on which the needle is mounted becomes exposed from the holder to allow a degree of lateral movement of the holder after the needle has been inserted thereby aiding in immobilizing the holder on a patient's arm and preventing dislocation of the needle.

Abstract: A cord holding device for retaining an electrical cord in strategic position on a hospital bed in a convenient location relative to a patient lying on the bed has a base member which in use may be secured by adhesive or a belt to a mattress cover or a mattress pad underneath a bed sheet. A holder member snaps onto the base member over the bed sheet so as to trap the bed sheet therebetween. The holder member carries a pushbutton assembly by which it may be released from the base member by depression of the pushbutton. A U-shaped saddle in inverted form fits into the top of the pushbutton to releasably secure the electrical cord between the saddle member and the pushbutton.

Abstract: A cord holding device for retaining an electrical cord in strategic position on a hospital bed or convenient location relative to a patient lying on the bed has a base member which in use may be secured by adhesive or a belt to a mattress cover or mattress pad under a bed sheet. A cord holder member snaps onto the base member over the bed sheet so as to trap the bed sheet therebetween. The cord holder member has a cylindrical wall with spaced top-opening slots for receipt of the cord with the cord extending chord-wise across the holder member and the device further includes a cover member which snaps onto the holder member to trap the cord in the slots. The cover member may have a depending cylindrical wall with bottom-opening slots complementary to the slots in the cord holder member so as to trap the cord therebetween and so that the cover member can be rotated on the holder member thereby adjusting the effective width of the slots to suit different size cords.