Flexible Indicator Patents (Class 116/270)
  • Patent number: 4361107
    Abstract: A pressure indicating device for use with medical cannulae having balloon type sealing cuffs such as tracheal tubes. The device would be added to a normal pilot balloon to indicate having exceeded a preset pressure by having a long tubular structure that could be folded inside itself telescopically at low pressure and would pop-out at the preset pressure. When elongated or popped-out, a visual indicator would be exposed until the overpressure was corrected and the tube again tucked into itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1982
    Inventor: Gordon A. Gereg
  • Patent number: 4295566
    Abstract: An evacuated article-containing package assembly with a vacuum integrity indicator comprises an air-impervious package having an access opening and having at least a flexible portion. An article is included inside the package. A member is included inside the package which is compressible under the influence of pressure less than atmospheric pressure. A closure seal is on the package for sealing the access opening, with the sealed package being air-evacuated. The compressible member is adapted to expand against the flexible portion of the package to outwardly expand the flexible portion if the pressure inside the package equalizes with the pressure outside the package. When this occurs, the expanded flexible portion serves as a visual indicator that there is no vacuum condition inside the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Robert C. Vincek
  • Patent number: 4292916
    Abstract: A disposable timer and product storage condition indicator in which components of a carrier mixture react physically and/or chemically with one or more receptive layers. The carrier mixture and receptive layers are so comprised as to react during a given time interval, the interval being dependent upon and constantly modified by such external physical conditions as temperature, moisture, light, radiation, or pressure. During the timing period the device can either give a changing color display which is matched in rate to the declining freshness of a food or medicine in a container to which the device is attached or can cause the appearance or disappearance of words or symbols or sticky areas or odors. A variety of means for activating the timer are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Micro-Circuits Company
    Inventors: Robert F. Bradley, Lindell P. Bradley
  • Patent number: 4287750
    Abstract: A device for checking the functioning of a gas measuring apparatus which includes a tubular connection for the passage of a gas so that it can be directed through a tube mounted in the connection which has means therein such as a chemical for measuring the gas which is passing therethrough. The device comprises a translucent diffusing screen mounted on the tubular connection so as to be able to view through the screen and into the gas passage and a spring diaphragm connected to the tube having a side disposed in space relationship to the screen and viewable through the screen and gas between the screen and the diaphragm when the diaphragm is flexed in one direction in respect to the screen so as to position it closer to the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Assignee: Dragerwerk AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Eckstein, Horst Rabenecker
  • Patent number: 4286603
    Abstract: A pressure detection arrangement embedded between the skin of a portion of the body and a means used to surround and/or immobilize that particular part of the body, such as a cast. The pressure detection arrangement is a bifurcated capsule having a reservoir cavity and an indicator cavity. A colored fluid is initially contained only within the reservoir cavity by either a frangible disc across the conjunction of the indicator cavity with the reservoir cavity or an extensible bladder within the reservoir cavity. The indicator cavity is transparent or translucent and protrudes through the case to regions external thereto.If there is swelling of the limb due to medical complications, the skin presses against the capsule and either breaks the fringible disc allowing the colored fluid to pass into the indicator cavity or forces the extensible bladder into the indicator cavity of the capsule. Both methods provide a visual indication in the indicator cavity of excessive pressure on the limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Inventor: Lee Marshall
  • Patent number: 4266550
    Abstract: Inflatable cuff-type catheters, e.g., endotracheal and tracheotomy tubes, with cuff pressure indicators are provided. One indicator means comprises an expandable chamber with an open-ended spring about the mid-section of the chamber. As the chamber expands, the spring also expands to indicate the gas pressure in the cuff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Inventor: James D. Bruner
  • Patent number: 4254731
    Abstract: An indicator device for indicating when a prechosen pressure difference has been exceeded comprises a casing having two ports separated by a resilient diaphragm with an aperture therein, and a movable member urged into sealing relation with said aperture so as to prevent leakage therethrough, the configuration of the member and the aperture being selected so that, in use, the application of a prechosen pressure differential between said ports will cause the member to partly pass through the aperture to a position whereat it is retained by the diaphragm, said member being provided with means for indicating that it has been so retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1981
    Assignee: Engineering Components Limited
    Inventor: Peter F. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4249583
    Abstract: A device for evacuating air from a container comprises a closing cover, to sealingly close an opening of a container, having an opening closable by a valve. The closing cover further has at its upper surface an annular flange surrounding the opening therein. The device also comprises a separable evacuating pump having a cylinder which may be sealingly connected to the closing cover by pressing the cylinder over the flange until the end surface of the cylinder engages the part of the closing cover from which the annular flange projects, in order to achieve a sealing action in two planes substantially perpendicular to each other, and also locking the pump against lateral displacement relative to the closing cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1981
    Inventor: Tage S. Lundbladh
  • Patent number: 4215699
    Abstract: A device for indicating the position of a needle in a patient's body comprising, a body member having a flexible film secured to the body member and overlying a surface of the body member, and a passageway communicating with a space between the surface and film. The body member is attached to an outer portion of the needle with the passageway communicating with the needle to indicate pressure by the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1980
    Assignee: The Kendall Company
    Inventor: Bhupendra C. Patel
  • Patent number: 4209041
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure responsive accessory, such as a cavitation eliminator, for a hydraulic system and a replacement bladder assembly for the accessory. The accessory comprises a cartridge having an inlet for connection to a hydraulic system, and contains a gas filled flexible bladder which compresses and expands in response to pressure fluctuations in the system. This bladder is removably secured within the cartridge in a unique way which permits easy removal of a bladder in the field when worn and replacement of the bladder by that of the present replacement bladder assembly. Shield means are provided between the bladder and a grid overlying casing inlet openings to protect the bladder from impact damage, and means connected with the shield provide indication of excess bladder pressure or automatic release of excess pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1980
    Inventor: Ernest W. Loukonen
  • Patent number: 4203385
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fluid pressure indicator for providing visual indication whether or not the magnitude of a fluid pressure condition is above a predetermined minimum value. The indicator comprises indicating means having an indicating portion and a diaphragm. The indicating means is movable between a first extreme position in which the indicating portion is not visible and a second extreme position in which the indicating portion is visible. The diaphragm has a fixed portion and a resiliently deformable portion which is affixed to the indicating means and movable responsive to changes in the magnitude of the fluid pressure condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1980
    Assignee: Amerace Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Mayer, Adam Smorzaniuk
  • Patent number: 4185638
    Abstract: Inflatable cuff-type catheters, e.g., endotracheal and tracheotomy tubes, with cuff pressure indicators are provided. One indicator comprises an expandable chamber with an open-ended spring about the mid-section of the chamber. As the chamber expands, the spring also expands to indicate the gas pressure in the cuff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1980
    Assignee: Sandoz, Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Bruner
  • Patent number: 4134407
    Abstract: A monitoring system is comprised of an elastomer balloon housed in a rigid cage having a plurality of windows which is designed to continuously indicate the state of collapse or expansion of the internal cuff or cuffs of an encotracheal tube. This balloon monitor is interconnected in series with the pneumatic channel through which the cuff or cuffs are inflated. The volume of the balloon may be observed visually with reference to its filling the cage enclosure denoting thereby its state of inflation and therefore, also that of the endotracheal cuff. Calibration of the balloon monitor provides means for accurately observing both the volume and pressure of air in the system. Therefore, visual inspection of the balloon monitor indicates by reason of the calibration the prevailing level of pressure in the patient's endotracheal cuff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Inventor: James O. Elam