Abstract: A balloon catheter has a balloon membrane, a tip connected to the distal end of the balloon membrane and an outer tube connected to the proximal end of the balloon membrane for supplying a medium for inflating and deflating the balloon membrane. A pressure sensor, such as a fiber optic sensor, may be mounted in a pocket in the tip. The pocket may be filled with a flexible substance which both communicates pressure to and protects the pressure sensor. A membrane may overlie the pocket to prevent leakage of the flexible substance therefrom.

Abstract: Apparatus for altering the body temperature of a patient comprises an inflatable mattress defining an interior space for receiving at least a portion of a patient's body therein. The inflatable mattress is constructed to conduct a heat transfer liquid into direct contact with the portion of the patient's body. The inflatable mattress includes a first zone inflatable to a first pressure and a second zone inflatable to a second pressure greater than the first air pressure. The inflatable mattress in an inflated condition defines a well for receiving the portion of the patient therein. A head positioner positions the patient's head so that the patient's breathing passageway remains out of contact with the heat transfer fluid. A method of adjusting the body temperature of a patient comprises filling the first and second zones, positioning the portion of the patient's body on the mattress, and directing the heat transfer liquid to contact the patient's body.

Abstract: A method of performing CPR on the patient while altering the body temperature of a patient comprises covering at least a thoracic region of the patient with a cover. A heat transfer liquid is directed to flow through liquid passages in the cover for contact with the thoracic region of the patient. Oxygen is supplied to the lungs of the patient, and the thoracic region of the patient is compressed directly through the cover while heat transfer liquid is being directed through the liquid passages in the cover. Apparatus for adjusting the body temperature of a patient generally comprising an enclosure sized and shaped for receiving at least a torso of the patient's body. A heat transfer liquid has a temperature between about 0° C. and about 5° C. A pump drives the heat transfer liquid into the enclosure for connect with the patient's body at a rate greater than about 6 liters per minute.

Abstract: Apparatus for altering the body temperature of a patient comprises an enclosure defining an interior space for receiving at least a portion of a patient's body therein. The enclosure is constructed for transferring a heat transfer liquid into direct contact with the portion of the patient's body received in the enclosure to promote heat transfer between the patient's body and the heat transfer liquid. A drain for draining the heat transfer liquid from the interior space of the enclosure is at least partially disposed beneath the enclosure. A hold-open inhibits occlusion of the drain. A weir in fluid communication with the drain maintains the heat transfer liquid at a predetermined height in the enclosure. A control system is preprogrammed with a target temperature for the body temperature of the patient.

Abstract: Apparatus for altering the body temperature of a patient comprises a cover for covering at least a portion of a patient's body and a compliant support adapted to underlie and generally conform to the shape of the portion of the patient's body to define a well adjacent to the patient's body portion for accumulating heat transfer liquid. The cover and compliant support cooperatively define an enclosure for receiving the portion of the patient's body and are constructed to conduct a heat transfer liquid into direct contact with the portion of the patient's body received in the enclosure to promote heat transfer between the patient's body and the heat transfer liquid.

Abstract: Paperboard support posts are formed by linearly advancing paperboard plies to a mandrel and wrapping the plies about the mandrel with the ply edges parallel to the mandrel axis, the plies being adhered together to form a tube that is linearly advanced along the mandrel and then cut into desired lengths. In one embodiment, the tube is a multi-grade structure having one or more relatively low-grade plies in the middle of the tube wall and relatively higher-grade plies toward the inside and outside of the tube. In another embodiment, one or more intermediate plies are embossed or corrugated to increase their effective caliper.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the body temperature of a patient comprises an enclosure defining an interior space for receiving at least a portion of a patient's body therein. The enclosure is adapted for substantially sealingly enclosing the portion of the patient's body within the interior space with the enclosure. Heat transfer liquid may then be circulated through the interior space of the enclosure via an inlet and an outlet for flow over the patient's body in direct liquid contact therewith to promote heat transfer between the patient's body and said heat transfer liquid. The heat transfer liquid may be either warmer or cooler than the patient's body temperature, to either warm or cool the portion. Controlled cooling may be employed to induce therapeutic hypothermia, while controlled warming may be employed to counteract unintended hypothermia.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low-density paperboard sheet of at least one paperboard layer made from a stock solution that includes a proportion of standard wood flour or fine sawdust in addition to traditional cellulose fibers. The proportion of sawdust can range from 1% to 40% by weight. Advantageously the sawdust of the present invention does not require a costly refining or micronization operation in order to produce low-density, high yield paperboard layers. Additionally, the low-density layers of the present invention may be readily combined with other layers of varying densities in order to tailor the physical properties of the resulting multi-layer sheet to a given application.

Abstract: A balloon catheter has a balloon membrane, a tip connected to the distal end of the balloon membrane and an outer tube connected to the proximal end of the balloon membrane for supplying a medium for inflating and deflating the balloon membrane. A pressure sensor, such as a fiber optic sensor, may be mounted in a pocket in the tip. The pocket may be filled with a flexible substance which both communicates pressure to and protects the pressure sensor. A membrane may overlie the pocket to prevent leakage of the flexible substance therefrom.

Abstract: An intra-aortic balloon catheter system comprising an intra-aortic balloon catheter having a reduced gas path length, a protective sleeve, and a Y-fitting connector connecting the proximal end of the catheter to an intra-aortic balloon pump. The protective sleeve is disposed about at least a portion of the connector between a proximal and distal end of the connector.

Abstract: An improved intra-aortic balloon catheter with a balloon membrane, a tip, and a co-lumen extruded tube having an outer lumen and an inner lumen between the inner and outer surfaces of the co-lumen extruded tube. The portion of the co-lumen extruded tube that defines the inner lumen and which is disposed within the balloon membrane is made from polyimide, a lubricous material, to facilitate guide wire tracking. The polyimide inner tube portion demonstrates good kink resistance and flexural stiffness. In a first alternative embodiment of the invention the co-lumen tube comprises an outer tube with an inner tube embedded in the wall of said outer tube. In a second alternative embodiment of the invention a longitudinal signal pathway is provided.