Abstract: A patient monitor apparatus utilizing a base member holding a moisture sensor to form a moisture sensor unit. The moisture sensor unit includes a plurality of perforations to permit passage of urine. The moisture sensor unit generates a signal upon the presence of urine. A tilt sensor is also mounted to the base member and generates a signal upon the absence of turning movements of the patient. The moisture sensor is covered by a porous sheet which prevents premature alarms from moist skin.

Abstract: A patient monitor apparatus utilizing a base member having first and second surfaces used in conjunction with an undergarment. The base member first surface supports a moisture sensor which generates a signal upon the presence of urine. A tilt sensor is also mounted to the base member and generates a signal upon the absence of certain movements of the patient. The moisture sensor is covered by a porous sheet which prevents premature alarms from moist skin.

Abstract: A system includes at least one pressurizing mechanism, a fluid path adapted to be placed in operative connection with the pressurizing mechanism to deliver an injectate to a patient, wherein the injectate includes cells, a control system operably associated with the at least one pressurizing mechanism; and at least one parameter generation system in operative connection with the control system. The parameter generation system includes an input system to receive data of a type of cells to be injected and is adapted to generate at least one parameter for the injection procedure at least in part on the basis of the data of the type of cells. The at least one parameter for the injection procedure may, for example, be a variable associated with the injectate, a variable associated with an injection protocol or a variable associated with at least one component of the fluid path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for blood glucose monitoring is provided which allows blood sampling and insulin infusion through the same catheter lumen of a multi-lumen, central venous catheter. It is designed to be used with a nearby continuous glucose sensor. The catheter lumen with the most proximal aperture leads to a connecting tube which is split into two parts, with both parts having a low internal volume. The described catheter allows for rapid switching between insulin delivery and blood sampling and minimizes the amount of purge fluid needed to clear the line.

Abstract: An integrated radiopharmaceutical patient treatment system is disclosed including a patient support platform with an associated patient stimulus apparatus, an imager proximate the patient support platform, a radiopharmaceutical fluid delivery system for infusing a radiopharmaceutical fluid into a patient, a patient monitor to be associated with a patient, and an integrated system controller operably associated with the patient stimulus apparatus, imager, radiopharmaceutical fluid delivery system, and patient monitor to control and coordinate their operations. Within the patient treatment system the radiopharmaceutical fluid delivery system may be included comprising a radionuclide supply module, a radiopharmaceutical processing module, a quality control module, a patient injection module, and a controller. A hazardous fluid handling system including a docking station and a hazardous fluid transport device adapted to detachably dock with the docking station is further disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-lumen catheter is described with features that reduce the volume of purge fluid needed when used with a system for monitoring blood analytes. The modifications involve reducing the internal diameter of one of the catheter tails, shortening its length, and reducing or eliminating the gap inside the Luer connector at the proximal end of the modified tail.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for more accurately determining a radiopharmaceutical dose administered to a patient by relying on a time factor. Particularly, broadly contemplated herein is the administration of a dose on the basis of an elapsed time from when a dose was last accurately measured in the past to when it is injected into the patient. As such, when a dose is first measured, that timepoint is preferably recorded whereupon the time of injection or administration into a patient is also recorded. Based on the original measured dose, the radionuclide (and thus its known decay rate) and the time elapsed, the dose is calculated and not directly measured on injection. The clocks on the filling station and the transport cart are synchronized to each other or to a known and accepted time standard. In this manner, there is temporal continuity and no inaccuracies of time or loss of time occurs between measurement and injection.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically and periodically measuring a patient's blood glucose level wherein the patient has a catheter in a blood vessel and is receiving infusion fluid through the catheter. A testing unit is provided which has a main infusion channel and, in a preferred embodiment, the testing unit includes a side channel. The side channel has a restrictive cross-sectional area compared with the main infusion channel. A glucose test chamber is formed in the side channel. First and second valves are placed adjacent the test chamber in the side channel to isolate a blood sample for testing. The isolation of the sample provides more accurate blood glucose measurements than those provided by systems of the prior art. A second embodiment of the invention has an isolatable test chamber placed in the main infusion line and no side channel is utilized.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for automatically and periodically measuring the level of a patient's blood glucose when a patient has a catheter in a blood vessel. A wearable, disposable test unit is attached by air, fluid and electric lines to a bedside monitor. The test unit has means for measuring blood glucose. A chamber in the unit contains a pneumatic pump which draws blood into the device and then expels all but a small residual portion of blood back into the patient's blood vessel catheter. A testing area is provided adjacent the pumping chamber. A test is done either when the pumping chamber is filled with blood, or after the pumping chamber is emptied. The test cycle is repeated about every 60 seconds. Provision is made to automatically calibrate the device every few hours or whenever calibration is required.

Abstract: A single-use lancet device is provided for drawing capillary blood samples. The device includes a body having an upper portion and a lower portion and a trigger carried by the upper portion of the body. The trigger is movable between a first raised position wherein the device is cocked and a second depressed position wherein the device is fired. A needle assembly is provided which is movable between a cocked position and a striking position. A free-floating drive spring is provided for moving the needle assembly from its cocked position to its striking position. A bounceback spring is integrally molded with the needle assembly and includes a pair of generally V-shaped spring arms. A trigger bar has a first position wherein it holds the needle assembly in its cocked position, and the trigger bar has a second position wherein it allows the needle assembly to move to its striking position as the drive spring expands.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for periodically and automatically testing and monitoring a patient's blood glucose level. A disposable testing unit is carried by the patient's body and has a testing chamber in fluid communication with infusion lines and a catheter connected to a patient blood vessel. A reversible peristaltic pump pumps the infusion fluid forwardly into the patient blood vessel and reverses its direction to pump blood into the testing chamber to perform a glucose level test. The presence of blood in the testing chamber is sensed by a LED/photodetector pair or pairs and when the appropriate blood sample is present in the test chamber, a glucose oxidase electrode is energized to obtain the blood glucose level. The resulting glucose level is displayed on a monitor. The unit is typically used for a patient in an intensive care unit.

Abstract: A single-use lancet device is provided for drawing capillary blood samples. The device includes a body having an upper portion and a lower portion and a trigger carried by the upper portion of the body. The trigger is movable between a first raised position wherein the device is cocked and a second depressed position wherein the device is fired. A needle assembly is provided which is movable between a cocked position and a striking position. A free-floating drive spring is provided for moving the needle assembly from its cocked position to its striking position. A bounceback spring is integrally molded with the needle assembly and includes a pair of generally V-shaped spring arms. A trigger bar has a first position wherein it holds the needle assembly in its cocked position, and the trigger bar has a second position wherein it allows the needle assembly to move to its striking position as the drive spring expands.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously determining a patient's identification and blood oxygen saturation are provided. An pulse oximeter probe carries a light source such as LEDs or lasers which is used to read patient identification information carried on the patient's wristband by a bar code. Alternately, the patient's wristband incorporates a radio frequency reader chip which contains the patient's identification information and the pulse oximeter probe carries an antenna adjacent its cable so that, when the pulse oximeter is turned on, it reads the chip in the wristband during the same motion with which the patient's oxygen blood saturation is measured with the pulse oximeter.

Abstract: A vacuum device is provided which assists in the drawing of blood samples from alternative puncture sites such as the forearm, abdomen or inner thigh and which may advantageously be used by diabetics. The device includes a hollow body which slidably receives a hollow plunger. A transparent cylindrical tip is attached to the lower end of the hollow body. A spring is carried inside the hollow body and hollow plunger, the lower end of the spring seating against a webbing formed in the transparent tip and the upper end seating against the upper end of the plunger. The device is actuatable by the thumb and two fingers of one hand. The plunger is depressed, the device is placed over a preexisting puncture site, and the plunger is released wherein the internal spring drives the plunger upwardly and creates a vacuum at the puncture site, allowing the user to easily see the formation of a droplet of adequate size for obtaining the necessary blood reading.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously determining a patient's identification and blood oxygen saturation are provided. An pulse oximeter probe carries a light source such as LEDs or lasers which is used to read patient identification information carried on the patient's wristband by a bar code. Alternately, the patient's wristband incorporates a radio frequency reader chip which contains the patient's identification information and the pulse oximeter probe carries an antenna adjacent its cable so that, when the pulse oximeter is turned on, it reads the chip in the wristband during the same motion with which the patient's oxygen blood saturation is measured with the pulse oximeter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for deriving diastolic blood pressure (DP) from systolic blood pressure (SP) and mean blood pressure (MP), especially useful in infants. A pulse oximeter is used to measure systolic blood pressure (SP) and an oscillametric blood pressure cuff is used to measure mean blood pressure (MP). Diastolic blood pressure is then derived from the formula: DP = ( MP × K ) - SP C where K is a constant of 2.94±0.04 and C is a constant of 2.06±0.04.

Abstract: An optically based transcutaneous blood gas sensor is provided having a reusable sensor head and a disposable sensing cap. A separate receptacle detachably connects to the sensor head and is attached to a person's skin by a layer of adhesive after a release liner is removed. The sensor head includes a sealed cavity housing one or more LEDs and one or more photodetectors. The disposable cap carries fluorescent targets which produces an amount of fluorescence as a function of blood gas concentration and the fluorescence is sensed by the photodetectors.

Abstract: A single-use, spring driven lancet is described. The device is precooked during assembly so that the user needs only to remove the safety cap prior to use. A concave trigger button with direct up and down motion releases the spring, causing the tip of the lancet to strike the subject's finger. A thin plastic fiber connection between the pull-tab and the needle safety cap prevents any compressive force from being applied to the drive spring, which effectively prevents recocking of the device.