Abstract: Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for determining the composition of liquids, including the identity of one or more drugs in the liquid, the concentration of the drug, and the type of diluent using immittance spectroscopy. These devices, systems and methods are particularly useful for describing the identity and, in some variations, concentration of one or more components of a medical liquid such as intravenous fluid.

Abstract: Apparatus for ascertaining cardiac output of the heart of a patient comprising a control and display module. A venous probe is inserted into a vein in the forearm of the patient and is coupled into the control and display module and provides an electrical signal representing the dissolved oxygen in the venous blood. An arterial probe is inserted into an artery in the forearm of the patient and is coupled into the control and display module and provides an electrical output signal representing the dissolved oxygen in the arterial blood. The control and display module has a visible display that provides a continuous in vivo cardiac output that utilizes an arterial venous oxygen differential equation which includes an adjustment factor for adjusting for venous blood being sampled rather than mixed venous blood in the pulmonary artery of the patient.

Abstract: Apparatus for ascertaining cardiac output of the heart of a patient comprising a control and display module. A venous probe is inserted into a vein in the forearm of the patient and is coupled into the control and display module and provides an electrical signal representing the dissolved oxygen in the venous blood. An arterial probe is inserted into an artery in the forearm of the patient and is coupled into the control and display module and provides an electrical output signal representing the dissolved oxygen in the arterial blood. The control and display module has a visible display that provides a continuous in vivo cardiac output that utilizes an arterial venous oxygen differential equation which includes an adjustment factor for adjusting for venous blood being sampled rather than mixed venous blood in the pulmonary artery of the patient.

Abstract: A device for clamping a pair of workpieces together. The device includes a pair of fastener heads, each defining a segmented head which is designed to clamp a workpiece a passageway in the head, as an interior camming surface in the head is moved axially against a contact surface. The two heads are mounted for axial movement toward and away from contact position at which the camming surfaces of the two heads are simultaneously brought into contact with an associated contact surface, with further movement of the two heads axially toward one another acting to force the segments in each head radially inwardly, substantially the same extent, to produce simultaneous clamping of workpieces held in each head.

Abstract: A calibration vial is described for storing and calibrating under sterile conditions a blood gas sensor that comprises an optical fiber whose sensing end carries a sensing element, such as a chromophore or fluorophore. The vial contains a calibrating liquid and, in its preferred embodiment, is structured to keep the end of the filter wet and permit fast calibration of the sensor without spillage of the calibrating liquid. The vial has a tubular inner calibration chamber in which the end of the fiber resides and which has a sterile filter-plugged gas inlet in its bottom and an outer concentric calibrating liquid reservoir chamber. The bottoms of the two chambers are interconnected by one or more liquid reflux ports that are positioned such that the gas coming into the bottom of the calibration chamber aspirates liquid from the reservoir chamber into the calibration chamber. This permits rapid mixing and circulation of the liquid upwardly through the calibration chamber.

Abstract: A fluid transfer mechanism for rapidly and accurately picking up or aspirating a fluid quantity or aliquot in one position, moving it to a second position and dispensing the aspirated aliquot. The mechanism includes an arm mounted on a high helix shaft on one end and driven up and down the shaft by a first motor and rotated around the shaft by a second motor. The arm includes at a second end a fluid transfer probe which is moved into and out of the fluids to aspirate and dispense the fluids in precise angular locations. The arm may be accelerated and deaccelerated as it is rotated to avoid vibrations and spilling of the fluid from the probe. The probe may include a level sensing structure for sensing when the probe has contacted a fluid surface. The probe also may be coupled to an oscillator to oscillate the probe in a vessel into which the fluid has been dispensed to mix the fluids therein.

Abstract: A fluid transfer mechanism for rapidly and accurately picking up or aspirating a fluid quantity or aliquot in one position, moving it to a second position and dispensing the aspirated aliquot. The mechanism includes an arm mounted on a high helix shaft on one end and driven up and down the shaft by a first motor and rotated around the shaft by a second motor. The arm includes at a second end a fluid transfer probe which is moved into and out of the fluids to aspirate and dispense the fluids in precise angular locations. The arm may be accelerated and deaccelerated as it is rotated to avoid vibrations and spilling of the fluid from the probe. The probe may include a level sensing structure for sensing when the probe has contacted a fluid surface. The probe also may be coupled to an oscillator to oscillate the probe in a vessel into which the fluid has been dispensed to mix the fluids therein.

Abstract: An aperture module for obtaining signals from microscopic particles suspended in a sample blood solution which passes through a scanning aperture. A module housing including an aperture holder is mounted on a container or bath containing a body of the particulate liquid suspension to be tested. The aperture holder with aperture formed therein extends into the vessel to permit passage of the sample through the aperture to an outlet chamber immediately behind the aperture. The chamber is connected to a source of clean electrolyte and has a narrowed or reduced dimension portion positioned immediately behind the aperture. A vacuum is applied to the chamber to cause the sample to be drawn through the aperture for testing thereof. An optical hemoglobinometer is positioned in association with the bath to measure the hemoglobin content of the solution to be tested.

Abstract: A diluting apparatus or pump having first and second chambers coaxially formed in a single pivotally mounted block. A first piston is reciprocally disposed in the first chamber and a second piston is coaxially mounted on the first piston and reciprocally disposed in the second chamber, substantially eliminating any transverse thrusts on the pistons. A spool valve is pivotally mounted on an eccentric pin mounted on a rotating crank to drive the pistons. The valve reciprocates within a valve body to couple the first chamber to a fluid supply line on a return stroke and to couple the first chamber to an output line on a delivery stroke. The second chamber is coupled to the output line on both strokes to draw in a second fluid on the return stroke and discharge it with the fluid from the first chamber on the delivery stroke thus mixing the two fluids.