Abstract: An esophageal intubation detector with an indicator is used to determine whether the hollow tip of an endotracheal tube is in the esophagus or trachea of a patient. In a preferred embodiment, the esophageal intubation detector includes a syringe (or a bulb) connected to the endotracheal tube through an adapter to which the indicator is connected. The bulb may be associated with a resuscitator bag. A clinician places the endotracheal tube into, for example, a patient's mouth and throat. The esophageal intubation detector is connected to the endotracheal tube creating a system. The system volume increases through retraction of a syringe plunger or self-inflation of a depressed bulb. If the tube tip is in the esophagus, the tube tip will become occluded with the walls of the esophagus as the system volume increases, causing the system pressure to decrease and causing activation of the indicator, implying that the endotracheal tube is in the esophagus.

Abstract: An esophageal intubation detector with an indicator is used to determine whether the hollow tip of an endotracheal tube is in the esophagus or trachea of a patient. In a preferred embodiment, the esophageal intubation detector includes a syringe which is connected to the endotracheal tube through an adapter to which the indicator is connected. In practice, a clinician places the endotracheal tube into, for example, a patient's mouth and throat. The esophageal intubation detector is connected to the endotracheal tube creating a system. The system volume increases through retraction of a syringe plunger or self-inflation of a depressed bulb. If the tube tip is in the esophagus, the tube tip will become occluded with the walls of the esophagus as the system volume increases, causing the system pressure to decrease. A decrease in system pressure causes activation of the indicator, implying that the endotracheal tube is in the esophagus.

Abstract: A connector for connecting two catheters and permitting the catheters to rotate relatively, the connector having a collar, a hub and a rotator, the hub and the rotator having an O-Ring therebetween. The rotator overlays the hub and has an internal surface that has a shape that is contoured to the shape of the O-Ring to make a seal therebetween. The hub has a surface at an end thereof with a projection thereon that biases the O-Ring into a sealing contact with the internal contoured surface of the rotator. The collar prohibits the hub from withdrawing from its overlaid position within the rotator by overhanging a surface extending radially from the hub. The hub receives a catheter, at the end opposite its contact with the O-Ring, the catheter wedging within the hub. The rotator received a catheter by an end having a luer lock with a common longitudinal axis about which they are all preferably symmetrical. Each component, including the O-Ring is preferably concentrically aligned.

Abstract: A novel pressure transducer apparatus for medical pressure monitoring apparatus having a housing with a calibration port. The patient side of the transducer senses fluid pressures to be monitored. The non-patient side of the transducer is hermetically sealed in the housing of the apparatus. The housing has a female calibration port communicating, via a pinhole, with the non-patient side of the transducer. The non-patient side of the transducer can thus alternatively be vented to atmospheric pressure or be exposed to a vacuum calibration pressure.