Abstract: A tamponade catheter is disclosed for controlling bleeding from a penetrating or perforating wound in a patient comprising a catheter having an inner catheter lumen with a non-elastic inflatable balloon secured to the catheter in fluid communication with an inner catheter lumen of the catheter. A removable outer sheath overlays the inflatable balloon for inserting the inflatable balloon within the wound of the patient. A bendable flexible stiffening stylet is receivable within the inner catheter lumen of the catheter to aid in navigating the catheter into the wound of the patient. The removable outer sheath and the stylet are removable for inflating the inflatable balloon by an introduction of a fluid through the inner catheter lumen of the catheter for enabling the inflated non-elastic inflatable balloon to create pressure within the wound of the patient to control bleeding therefrom.

Abstract: An internal compression tourniquet catheter system and method for wound track navigation for controlling hemorrhage from wounds. The preferred embodiments include an inflatable member constructed of thin, flexible and puncture resistant material such that when deflated can be wrapped around the catheter shaft, which passes within and has a lumen to inflate it. The inflatable member is of large potential volume enabling full inflation with near zero internal pressure when unconstrained externally. When positioned within a wound track and inflated, the gas or liquid injected into the balloon lumen creates pressure because its expansion is constrained by the tissues of the wound, and that pressure is transmitted directly to the surrounding tissue of the wound track.

Abstract: A tamponade catheter is disclosed for controlling bleeding from a penetrating or perforating wound in a patient comprising a catheter having an inner catheter lumen with a non-elastic inflatable balloon secured to the catheter in fluid communication with an inner catheter lumen of the catheter. A removable outer sheath overlays the inflatable balloon for inserting the inflatable balloon within the wound of the patient. A bendable flexible stiffening stylet is receivable within the inner catheter lumen of the catheter to aid in navigating the catheter into the wound of the patient. The removable outer sheath and the stylet are removable for inflating the inflatable balloon by an introduction of a fluid through the inner catheter lumen of the catheter for enabling the inflated non-elastic inflatable balloon to create pressure within the wound of the patient to control bleeding therefrom.

Abstract: An instrument comprises first and second modules. The modules each comprise computer electronics hardware including a display screen typically carried by the first module. The modules are separable from each other. One of the modules has a projecting bus for connection with the interior of the other module. The bus defines a plurality of sockets for removably receiving circuit boards of desired variable types for direct connection with electronics within the other module and for connection with electronics of the one module through the bus. Thus, the instrument is easily modified in its functioning by addition, subtraction, or replacement of circuit boards from the bus.

Abstract: A method and a catheter for passing a therapeutic electric current to, or sensing electric signals from, the body of a patient. The catheter is inserted into the esophagus of the patient, temporarily sealing a space surrounding a portion of the catheter containing one or more electrodes within the esophagus wall. The space is filled with an electrically conductive liquid (electrolyte). Then, an electric current is passed through electrodes to the conductive liquid between the esophagus wall and an electrode carried on the catheter in spaced relation from the esophagus wall or to other electrodes in the heart or body surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for cardioverting or defibrillating a patient's heart. A plurality of electrodes is positioned on a plurality of different locations on the patient. Different sets of the plurality of electrodes are pulsed with a plurality of pulses within a maximum time period of 200 milliseconds. By using multiple, relatively low energy shocks to different locations instead of a single large shock, there is significantly less trauma to the patient, and during cardioversion the use of anesthesia may be avoided.

Abstract: A gauging esophageal catheter or stethoscope which is insertable into the esophagus or stomach of a subject or patient, has an elongated, flexible body portion having an instrument carried on a distal end. The catheter has a series of user visible gradations for permitting selective positioning of the instrument at a predetermined insertion depth within the subject. The gradations are calibrated to the height, weight or body surface area of the subject. The gradations may be printed on the body portion, or the body portion may have a transparent portion, and the gradations may be carried on a member internal thereto which is visible through the transparent portion.

Abstract: An automated sphygmomanometer which automatically determines when a blood pressure determination needs to be made. During a "guard mode" determination, a cuff on an appendage of the patient is frequently inflated to a check pressure, which is preferably below the patient's mean arterial pressure ("MAP"), and the signature (shape, amplitude, pulse period, etc.) of the measured oscillometric signal is compared to a stored signature of a portion of an oscillometric signal at a corresponding portion of the oscillometric envelope determined during a previous blood pressure determination. If these signals differ by some predetermined amount, it is determined that the patient's blood pressure has changed significantly and that a new blood pressure determination needs to be conducted immediately. These guard mode determinations are made in addition to the normal blood pressure determinations made at predetermined intervals typically selected by the user.

Abstract: A blood pressure cuff is applied about a subject's artery, and inflated above the systolic level thus fully occluding the artery for a full heart cycle. The cuff pressure is thereafter reduced to permit an increasing flow through the progressively less occluded artery, and a measure of the peak amplitudes of the successively encountered blood pressure (oscillatory complex) pulses stored in memory. Also retained is the cuff pressure obtaining for each stored complex peak. In accordance with varying aspects of the present invention, the stored complex peak-representing data ensemble is corrected for aberrations; and improved data processing operates on the stored (and advantageously corrected) pulse peak data and the corresponding cuff pressure information to determine the subject's systolic arterial blood pressure.

Abstract: The deflation of the inflatable and deflatable cuff worn by a subject during automatic sphygmomanometric measurement is accomplished in unequal size decrements and principally in larger steps than 7 Torr. Each step after detection of the initial oscillations is determined in the first instance by reference to a look-up table or an equation as a function of prevailing cuff pressure. This Base Step dimension is augmented by a factor proportional to the last oscillation amplitude, the factor being increased after detection of the maximum oscillation amplitude. A valve mechanism with at least two different effective orifice sizes is used for deflation, the smaller size effective orifice being used first, to maintain control over the decrement step rate while holding the time for decrement within a predetermined limit of 8 mSec. per Torr, i.e., maintaining the rate above 125 Torr per second.

Abstract: A looseleaf notebook is provided for retaining bar code listings which denote conditions of a patient in a hospital. The notebok includes a strap which encircles the binding of the notebook. Preferably this strap is fixed in place between the notebook ring mechanism and the inside of the binding panel of the notebook. The strap is also preferably adjustable or resiliently stretchable. The strap permits the notebook to be held open and manipulated by a user who slides a hand between the strap and the binding panel while supporting the opened covers of the notebook with the thumb and fingers of the hand. With the notebook being held in one hand in this manner, the user's other hand is free to manipulate a bar code reader over the patient condition bar codes, or to perform other information-gathering or medical functions.

Abstract: A blood pressure cuff is applied about a subject's artery, and inflated above the systolic level thus fully occluding the artery for a full heart cycle. The cuff pressure is thereafter reduced to permit an increasing flow through the progressively less occluded artery, and a measure of the peak amplitudes of the successively encountered blood flow (oscillatory complex) pulses stored in memory. Also retained is the cuff pressure obtaining for each stored complex peak. In accordance with varying aspects of the present invention, the stored complex peak-representing data ensemble is corrected for aberrations; and improved data processing operates on the stored (and advantageously corrected) pulse peak data and the corresponding cuff pressure information to determine the subject's mean arterial blood pressure.

Abstract: A blood pressure cuff is applied about a subject's artery, and inflated above the systolic level thus fully occluding the artery for a full heart cycle. The cuff pressure is thereafter reduced to permit an increasing flow through the progressively less occluded artery, and a measure of the peak amplitudes of the successively encountered blood flow (oscillatory complex) pulses stored in memory. Also retained is the cuff pressure obtaining for each stored complex peak. In accordance with varying aspects of the present invention, the stored complex peak-representing data ensemble is corrected for aberrations; and improved data processing operates on the stored (and advantageously corrected) pulse peak data and the corresponding cuff pressure information to determine the subject's diastolic arterial blood pressure.

Abstract: An inflatable, deflatable cuff, worn by the subject, is coupled to an air reservoir which is at a predetermined pressure which is above systolic pressure. The pressure head is established by a pump mechanism preferably located within the reservoir. When the reservoir is operatively coupled to the cuff, the cuff quickly inflates to a desired artery-occluding initial pressure preparatory to a following blood pressure measuring cycle of operation. The air pump resumes air flow into the reservoir when pressure within the reservoir falls below a predetermined threshold in preparation for a subsequent measurement cycle. The pump also supplies air directly to the cuff should the reservoir contents ever be inadequate to inflate fully the occluding cuff.

Abstract: A pressure cuff on the patient is inflated to a predetermined pressure above systolic, and then is deflated incrementally. At each decrement, oscillatory complexes are detected, and respective peaks are compared and evaluated as "true" complexes if they are within certain size matching criteria. After such "true" complexes are identified at a predetermined number of levels (e.g. 2 or 3), only a single complex is investigated at subsequent levels, provided specified size and timing criteria are met.

Abstract: An improved sensing electrode assembly for testing for a constituent in blood is provided. An electrode assembly exhibits a decreased time to reach stable operation by virtue of having the assembly pretreated by applying thereto a liquid containing blood derived albumin.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing information indicative of the mean blood pressure of a living creature through indirect measurement comprising an inflatable cuff, a pump connected to the cuff, a deflating valve connected to the cuff, measuring apparatus connected to the cuff adapted to measure cuff pressure and pressure oscillations occurring in the cuff caused by the heartbeat of the living creature and control apparatus connected to the pressure measuring apparatus, pump and deflating valve. Deflation of the cuff occurs in pressure increments, with processing being done at each given decrement to evaluate plural successive pulsations for purposes of artifact rejection and identification of a true pulsation.