Abstract: An anesthetic dispensing device (100) particularly adapted to apply anesthetic agent to the oral cavity and upper tracheal area of a medical patient prior to intubation of such patient. An exemplary dispenser (100) includes a handle (110) operably connected to a retractor (112) that carries an anesthetic dispensing device (104). A currently preferred dispensing device (104) includes a fluid-dispersing nozzle (118) in fluid communication with a syringe (116). Sometimes, an optical device (164) is coupled to the dispenser (100) to permit direct visualization of the application of anesthetic agent.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure of a hospitalized patient includes a urinary catheter connected to a urine valve providing selectable communication between a discharge end of the urinary catheter and either a drain or a fluid source. Preferably, the urine valve is adapted for remote actuation and has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from leg-valve contact. Plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply and drain conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits between a patient's legs. When the urine valve is oriented to permit communication with the fluid source, an infusion pump may be used to infuse a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve and into the patient's bladder. A pressure transducer desirably is connected in-circuit to indicate the fluid's pressure.

Abstract: Described is, e.g., an apparatus (100), and associated methods of manufacture and use, for draining a fluid, discharged from a urinary catheter (104) installed in a subject's bladder, into a drain container (138) while avoiding undesired pressure states in such bladder. A drain conduit (102) connected to the catheter has a sufficiently small size as to maintain plug-flow between opposite ends of the drain conduit. The discharge end of the drain conduit is connected to a siphon-break apparatus (106) configured to cause a siphon-break disposed at an elevation (132) in approximate agreement with the subject's bladder. The potential energy from fluid downstream of the siphon-break location is decoupled from fluid in the drain conduit.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus (100) adapted to temporarily close a surgical access opening (106) to a patient's body cavity (110). The apparatus includes a base (102) that is disposed around a perimeter of the opening, and a cap (104) that typically provides resealable access through the opening. The base generally forms an air-resistant seal to the patient's skin. In certain embodiments, the cap may be removable from the base. The base typically includes structure (180) configured to permit suction to be applied effective to remove undesired fluids from the body cavity. A cap is adapted to change in size to accommodate expansion and contraction of viscera.

Abstract: A temporary airway that can be used to facilitate an intubation procedure. Desirably, the temporary airway is removable from an installed intubation conduit without requiring disassembly of the intubation system and interrupting breathing treatment of the patient. Certain embodiments include an intubation lumen, and a treatment lumen. The intubation lumen is configured to assist in guiding an intubation conduit into operable position in a medical patient. The treatment lumen is operable to apply an anesthetic agent, and/or treatment fluids, including gas, such as Oxygen or compressed air. Certain treatment lumens are associated with a fluid dispersion nozzle, most preferably an atomizing nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure of a hospitalized patient includes a urinary catheter connected to a urine valve providing selectable communication between a discharge end of the urinary catheter and either a drain or a fluid source. Preferably, the urine valve is adapted for remote actuatation and has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from leg-valve contact. Plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply and drain conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits between a patient's legs. When the urine valve is oriented to permit communication with the fluid source, an infusion pump may be used to infuse a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve and into the patient's bladder. A pressure transducer desirably is connected in-circuit to indicate the fluid's pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure of a hospitalized patient includes a urinary catheter connected to a urine valve providing selectable communication between a discharge end of the urinary catheter and either a drain or a fluid source. Preferably, the urine valve is adapted for remote actuation and has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from leg-valve contact. Plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply and drain conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits between a patient's legs. When the urine valve is oriented to permit communication with the fluid source, an infusion pump may be used to infuse a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve and into the patient's bladder. A pressure transducer desirably is connected in-circuit to indicate the fluid's pressure.

Abstract: A fluid atomizer that can include an orientable extension conduit between a pump bottle and an atomizing nozzle. A brace element between the bottle and the conduit limits movement of the nozzle during actuation of the pump mechanism. A resilient enlargement to engage the bottle may be included to permit suspending the bottle in commercially available storage racks.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure of a patient includes a urinary catheter (102) connected to a urine valve (250) providing selectable communication between a discharge end of the urinary catheter (102) and either a drain (224) or a fluid source (104). Preferably, the urine valve (250) is adapted for remote actuation and has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from leg-valve (250) contact. Plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply (225) and drain (223) conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits (225, 223) between a patient's legs. When the urine valve (250) is oriented to permit communication with the fluid source (104), an infusion pump (116?) may be used to infuse a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve (250) and into the patient's bladder (216). A pressure transducer (218) desirably is connected in-circuit to indicate the fluid's pressure and avoid pressure fluctuations induced by system components.

Abstract: A device structured to generate an input signal to a monitor (201) to visually indicate a value for one or more physiological state variables measured by one or more transducers (203) associated with a medical patient. Preferred embodiments include a pressure transducer (195) placed in fluid communication with the patient's bladder (177) effective to infer intra-abdominal pressure P2. Embodiments may also include a temperature transducer (143) configured to measure the temperature of fluid in/near the bladder (177) to infer core body temperature. Certain embodiments of the invention may include a second pressure transducer (235) configured to measure arterial blood pressure. In the latter case, signals received from the two pressure transducers (177, 235) may be manipulated to produce a third signal corresponding to abdominal perfusion pressure, which can then be indicated on a numeric display device (233).

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring intra-abdominal pressure in a medical patient includes a urinary catheter connected to a urine valve having selectable communication positions between a discharge end of the urinary catheter and either a drain or a fluid source. Preferably, the urine valve has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from body-valve contact. A plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply and drain conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits between a patient's legs. When the urine valve is oriented for communication with the fluid source, a syringe may be used to introduce a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve into the patient's bladder where the fluid's pressure can be measured. Desirably, a double check valve is included in a fluid supply path and arranged to permit repetitive operation of the syringe to introduce a bolus of fluid into the patient's bladder.

Abstract: A wound irrigation apparatus including a disposable portion associated with a discharged irrigation stream and a reusable fluid dispensing portion. One embodiment combines a conventional disposable splash shield with a shroud operable as a second splash shield to further protect (for reuse) a flow control device and its fluid supply conduit from splash-back of irrigating fluid. An exemplary shroud can be formed from a plastic bag. The shroud generally is used with a check valve forming a fluid path from the flow control device to a discharge nozzle exterior to the shroud. A preferred check valve may be embodied as a LUER™ joint spacer, and is structured to form a fluid resistant connection in engagement with a shroud by piercing the distal end of the check valve through a membrane wall of the shroud for reception of that distal end in a hub of a splash shield.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring intra-abdominal pressure in a medical patient includes a urinary catheter connected to a urine valve having selectable communication positions between a discharge end of the urinary catheter and either a drain or a fluid source. Preferably, the urine valve has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from body-valve contact. A plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply and drain conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits between a patient's legs. When the urine valve is oriented for communication with the fluid source, a syringe may be used to introduce a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve into the patient's bladder where the fluid's pressure can be measured. Desirably, a double check valve is included in a fluid supply path and arranged to permit repetitive operation of the syringe to introduce a bolus of fluid into the patient's bladder.

Abstract: An improved bite valve for use in personal hydration devices and other water dispensing systems. The valve has a flexible conduit sealed at an end by a cap. Fluid is blocked from flowing out of the conduit by the cap. The cap provides a fluid seal as a ring around an exterior surface of the conduit. Biting an end of the conduit, near the cap, radially separates the conduit from the cap, permitting fluid to flow into a person's mouth. The configuration of the valve permits a larger valve opening, and correspondingly improved fluid flow through the valve. A positive stop mechanism, to prevent undesired fluid flow, may also be provided in a valve.

Abstract: An atomizing nozzle which may be embodied having particular utility to dispense fluid as a mist at an exit of an endotracheal tube. The nozzle may be adapted to maintain a dry exit surface, and to resist unintended leakage of a medication. In one embodiment, a pressure of about 5 psi is required to initiate a discharge of fluid from the nozzle exit orifice.

Abstract: An atomizing nozzle which may be embodied having particular utility to dispense fluid as a mist at an exit of an endotracheal tube. The nozzle may be adapted to maintain a dry exit surface, and to resist unintended leakage of a medication. In one embodiment, a pressure of about 5 psi is required to initiate a discharge of fluid from the nozzle exit orifice.

Abstract: An improved bite valve for use in personal hydration devices and other water dispensing systems. The valve has a flexible conduit sealed at an end by a cap. Fluid is blocked from flowing out of the conduit by the cap. The cap provides a fluid seal as a ring around an exterior surface of the conduit. Biting an end of the conduit, near the cap, radially separates the conduit from the cap, permitting fluid to flow into a person's mouth. The configuration of the valve permits a larger valve opening, and correspondingly improved fluid flow through the valve. A positive stop mechanism, to prevent undesired fluid flow, may also be provided in a valve.

Abstract: A coupling to connect a commercially available syringe to a commercially available atomizer. In one embodiment the coupling is generally cylindrical, has a through-bore, and has a length dimension to generally minimize spacing between the syringe and atomizer to enable dexterity and ease of use of the assembly. One end of the coupling has an interference fit interface with an atomizer, and the other end provides a demountable LUER-LOCK connection with a syringe. A second embodiment provides a LUER-LOCK connector at one end of a tube of a convenient length. A second end of the tube is adhesively joined to connecting structure to secure an atomizer nozzle. The tube may contain a deformable wire to define any curvilinear shape in the coupling body between the syringe and nozzle.

Abstract: A fluid delivery valve for use in fluid conducting systems includes a rigid bracing member positioned within a hollow, flexible, resilient valve housing. By applying opposing lateral forces to the external surface of the housing near a widened portion of the bracing member, the valve housing deforms around the widened portion and the valve is actuated. Actuating the valve permits fluid communication between the inner chamber of the valve housing, and a channel which extends through an enlarged portion. The channels are sealed by the inner wall of the housing when the opposing forces are released. The fluid is thus selectively allowed to travel past the bracing member.

Abstract: An intubation detection system includes a pressure changing source, such as a volume changing device, connected to a transducer and an endotracheal tube. The intubation detection system determines whether the hollow tip of an endotracheal tube is in the esophagus or trachea of a patient. If the tip is in the trachea, the tip is not occluded. If the tip is in the esophagus, it becomes occluded. In one embodiment, the transducer is a pressure transducer, a chamber of a volume changing device is selectively increased in volume, and a flow restrictor is placed between the tip and the chamber and transducer. If the tip is in the trachea, when the volume is increased, the pressure at the transducer temporarily decreases, but quickly returns to atmospheric pressure. If the tip is in the esophagus, when the volume is increased, the pressure at the transducer decreases and remains at that pressure because the tip is occluded. A mass flow transducer may also be used.