Abstract: Ingestible compounds which are substantially tasteless and which have been found to be effective reducers or eliminators of undesirable tastes for eatables.

Abstract: Ingestible compounds which are substantially tasteless and which have been found to be effective reducers or eliminators of undesirable tastes for eatables.

Abstract: Ingestible compounds which are substantially tasteless and which have been found to be effective reducers or eliminators of undesirable tastes for eatables.

Abstract: Ingestible compounds which are substantially tasteless and which have been found to be effective reducers or eliminators of undesirable tastes for eatables.

Abstract: Ingestible compounds which are substantially tasteless and which have been found to be effective reducers or eliminators of undesirable tastes for eatables.

Abstract: Ingestible compounds which are substantially tasteless and which have been found to be effective reducers or eliminators of undesirable tastes for eatables.

Abstract: Ingestible compounds which are substantially tasteless and which have been found to be effective reducers or eliminators of undesirable tastes for eatables.

Abstract: Ingestible compounds which are substantially tasteless and which have been found to be effective reducers or eliminators of undesirable tastes for eatables.

Abstract: Ingestible compounds which are substantially tasteless and which have been found to be effective reducers or eliminators of undesirable tastes for eatables.

Abstract: Ingestible compounds which are substantially tasteless and which have been found to be effective reducers or eliminators of undesirable tastes for eatables.

Abstract: A portable suction system is provided for use with collection chambers for pleural drainage devices and for autotransfusion systems. The portable suction system comprises a small container having an inlet port for connection with a collection chamber or autotransfusion bag and an outlet port for connection with a suction source. The container includes a one-way valve system to prevent air from passing into the collection chamber or auto-transfusion bag and further includes a suction regulator and indicator to visually indicate the suction level.

Abstract: A suction regulator is provided for a pleural drainage device which includes a spring-loaded valve which opens to atmosphere to maintain the appropriate suction levels in the pleural drainage device together with an air flow regulator which reduces the air flow to the drainage device when the suction level from the suction source exceeds a predetermined level. A tapered passageway is provided in the air flow path from the suction source to the pleural drainage device and a ball valve having an opening therethrough is slidably disposed within the tapered passageway so that when the air flow through the passageway increases, the ball valve rises to decrease the amount of air passing through the passageway.

Abstract: Sweetness inhibitors which are substantially tasteless have been found to be bitter taste inhibitors or blockers. Conversely, bitter taste inhibitors which are substantially tasteless have been found to be sweet taste inhibitors or blockers.

Abstract: An electronic monitoring system for a drainage device is provided with a bubble detector which transmits a signal upon the passage of a bubble through a bubble chamber of a surgical drainage device. There is provided a timing device which may be preset for any desired period of time. The timing device is connected to an alarm or signalling device which is activated to indicate the absence of passage of a bubble through the bubble chamber during the preset time interval. Switching means is provided on the timing device to selectively activate the timer initially to a short time period of a relatively few minutes and later to a long time period of several hours. The short time period is activated initially when the drainage device is first connected to a patient so that an alarm will be sounded to indicate possible malfunction of the device indicated by the absence of a bubble during a relatively short time period.

Abstract: A combined surgical drainage device and autotransfusion apparatus is provided in which a drainage device having a conventional collection chamber and suction regulating system may be readily converted into use as an autotransfusion system. The drainage apparatus has a fluid retention chamber disposed immediately beneath the inlet and a fluid outlet is provided in the bottom wall of the retention chamber with a spring pressed closure therein so that a nozzle on a collapsible autotransfusion bag may be inserted into the fluid retention chamber. The autotransfusion bag is collapsible and is provided with removable spreader means to maintain the bag in an expanded condition. When suction is applied to the drainage device, the interior of the autotransfusion bag is maintained at the desired suction level.

Abstract: An autotransfusion bag is provided with semi-rigid side walls and flexible material interconnecting the side walls. The bag is provided with spreader arms which extend across the top of the bag and across the bottom of the bag engaging retainer elements mounted on the external face of the side walls. The spreader arms maintain the bag in an open position to permit the bag to be filled with blood. When the bag is filled, the spreader arms may be removed to permit the bag to collapse as the blood is being reinfused to the patient.

Abstract: A syringe check valve for use with a flexible catheter tube. The valve includes a rigid tubular cap and an elastomeric valve member. The valve member is partially inserted into a flexible catheter tube and the rigid cap is slipped over the valve member to maintain the flexible tube on the valve member and to force the valve slot in the valve member closed. The valve is used by inserting the blunt end of a syringe into a tapered cylindrical bore in the valve member which is in communication with the valve slot. The contact of the end of the syringe with the interior walls of the tapered cylindrical bore forces open the valve slot and allows passage of fluid through the valve.

Abstract: A regulator is provided for controlling the degree of suction within a collection chamber in a drainage device. The regulator includes a means for measuring the degree of negativity within the chamber and a feedback passageway leading from the measuring means to the suction source. When the measuring means detects a degree of negativity which is equal to or greater than a predetermined value in relation to the available suction the feedback passageway is opened to atmosphere and when the degree of negativity becomes less than the predetermined value the feedback passageway is closed so as to impose the full suction of the suction source upon the chamber.

Abstract: A prebubble detector is provided for an underwater drainage apparatus. A series of sensors and detectors are disposed along the small arm of the underwater seal in a drainage device and means is provided for detecting the least degree of negativity reached during each breathing cycle. This information is fed to a logic circuit, timer and display so that the physician can readily see what the least degree of negativity reached is and how long a period of time has elapsed since the least degree of negativity has not decreased. A continuing trend of the least degree of negativity toward zero would indicate an air leak in the pleural cavity whereas stability of the least degree of negativity would indicate no air leak in the pleural cavity.

Abstract: A detector and counter for drainage devices is provided which will detect the passage of air through an underwater seal chamber. A signal is transmitted as a result of the detection of the presence of air or a bubble within an underwater seal chamber and an output circuit responsive to these signals measures the time interval between bubbles. In addition, a counter counts the total number of bubbles passing through the underwater seal over a selected period of time. The bubble detector when used with a pleural drainage device provides a diagnostic tool for a physican in determining the condition of a patient with a pleural air leak by indicating the elapsed time between bubbles and the total volume of air leak over the selected period of time.