Abstract: An aspiration instrument for the aspiration of liquids in a surgical operation takes the form of an aspiration pipe. This aspiration pipe has a check valve, which may be opened by way of a lever, button or the like and by which the aspiration effect may be shut off when the lever or the like is let go of.

Abstract: An overpressure safety valve assembly for use during heart surgery is disclosed. The assembly comprises an elongated tubular body portion having an inlet end, and an outlet end and an unidirectional valve disposed therebetween. A relief valve portion is joined to and in flow communication with the tubular portion. The relief valve portion includes a first relief valve configured to open if the pressure within the overpressure safety valve diminishes below a predetermined level, and a second relief valve configured to open if the pressure adjacent the outlet end exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: A monitoring arrangement is provided for detecting for extreme pressure conditions in blood tubing lines of a hemodialysis system. The arrangement includes a first pushbutton switch and a pivoted lever arm. A clamping means is located at a first end of the lever arm for clamping the blood tubing line against the first pushbutton switch, and the other end of the lever arm opposes a second pushbutton switch. Under low pressure conditions, the blood pressure in the tubing is no longer sufficient to hold the first pushbutton switch closed. The switch then opens to signal a low pressure condition. Under high pressure conditions, the blood tubing pressure causes the lever arm to pivot so that the far end of the lever activates the second pushbutton switch, which signals a high pressure condition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for relieving high or excess negativity in an underwater drainage device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a syringe needle with a valve operatively connected to the syringe needle. The valve provides a sealed passageway from the atmosphere through the syringe needle and a spring urges the valve to a closed position except when high or excess negativity occurs in the underwater drainage device. In the method, the syringe needle pierces a resealable portion of the drainage device and a valve is provided in fluid communication with the syringe needle. After excess negativity is relieved, the syringe is removed from the resealable portion of the drainage device.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood circulation system including a line for withdrawing the venous blood from the patient, an artificial lung provided on the line, a reservoir for the blood withdrawn, a blood supply line for sending out the blood from the reservoir to the artery of the patient, and a blood supply pump provided on the blood supply line and serving as an artificial heart. The amount of blood to be supplied is automatically controlled to maintain the arterial pressure of the patient in a suitable required range. The blood supply pump is stopped when the arterial pressure of the patient measured is above a predetermined upper limit value, while the pump is driven when the arterial pressure has lowered to a level below a lower limit value. The amount of blood to be withdrawn is also controlled automatically to keep the central venous pressure of the patient approximately constant. The blood withdrawing line has a blood withdrawing pump.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting occlusions in a parenteral administration system of a type having a peristaltic pump for pumping a fluid through a feeding tube to a patient. A pressure transducer measures the cyclicly varying pressure of the fluid in the feeding tube and produces a corresponding pressure signal, and a comparator compares the pressure signal to a selected one of several thresholds, depending on the current stage of the pumping cycle. An occlusion alarm is actuated whenever the selected threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: An improved surgical device having unique aspiration and instrument control is disclosed. The device is adapted for one-handed simultaneous or alternate dissection and aspiration through a novel combination of control elements. The device is particularly well-suited for neurosurgery and microsurgery.

Abstract: A bubble trap for a cardioplegia system in which cardioplegia medication or a mixture of arterial blood and medication is delivered to the heart of a patient undergoing open heart surgery which includes a bubble trap in conjunction with the delivery system which separates air from the arterial flow and provides visual indication of an increase of air in the system, together with a flow means for lengthening the path of flow through the trap to achieve maximum separation of air from the arterial flow.

Abstract: A blood infusion pump designed to be employed in combination with a blood bag. The blood bag is located within a storage container. The storage container includes an inflatable bladder. Pressurized fluid is to be conducted within the inflatable bladder which presses against the blood bag to cause discharge of the blood from the blood bag through a discharge conduit assembly. The container which contains a supply of pressurized fluid is mounted within the housing of the pump of this invention and is connected to the inflatable bladder. There is an access door into the storage chamber, which when opened, prevents the conducting of pressurized fluid to the inflatable bladder through a valve assembly and the simultaneous venting of the inflatable bladder to the ambient.

Abstract: A drainage control valve apparatus utilizes a pressure relief valve for opening upon a predetermined fluid pressure being applied thereto and a liquid column is used for holding the pressure relief valve open by the weight of the liquid column escaping past the pressure relief valve to apply a negative pressure to the back of a pressure relief valve element. A small opening or a check valve releases the suction column when drainage is complete to allow the pressure relief valve to close. The pressure relief valve may be a spring biased valve and may be adjusted by varying the compression on the spring. The unit may be attached to a patient's leg with a strap. A method of draining a bladder is provided having the steps of opening a pressure relief valve under bladder pressure in a catheter, holding the pressure relief valve open with the suction of a column of liquid formed by the liquid passing the opened pressure relief valve and releasing the pressure relief valve when drainage is substantially complete.

Abstract: A medical suction device is disclosed which includes a vacuum indicator flag. This flag is made up of a flexible tube capped with a plug. The rigidity of the walls of the tube is chosen such that the walls collapse when the pressure inside the tube falls below a predetermined value, thereby allowing the flag to droop. In addition the rigidity of the tube serves to hold the flag upright when the pressure inside the tube rises above a second predetermined value. Thus the state of the flag (upright or drooped) provides a remote indication of the pressure being developed by the suction device. In addition, the suction device uses a constant force coiled ribbon spring to provide substantially constant suction as the suction device is filled. Furthermore, the suction device includes a plurality of separately valved drainage receptacles which can be folded and stored compactly against the drainage device.

Abstract: A portable, self-cleaning or flushing evacuator apparatus aspirates and removes sinus fluids from nasal and sinus cavities. The apparatus includes a housing having a vacuum producing compartment, a mucus collecting compartment, a sterilizing compartment and a storage compartment. A suction pervious barrier separates the mucus collecting compartment from the vacuum producing compartment. A rotatable propeller is mounted to a drive motor and located in the vacuum producing compartment. The propeller is effective to produce only a suction to draw through a catheter which is inserted into a nasal opening at one end and connected to the mucus collecting compartment at the other end thereof. The vacuum producing propeller is effective to produce an amount of suction sufficient to withdraw mucus material from the sinus cavities without causing irritation of the soft nasal tissues.

Abstract: A syringe assembly comprising, a syringe having a chamber for retaining fluid, and a plunger having one end received in the chamber for pumping fluid out of the chamber. The syringe assembly has means for limiting the amount of pressure generated by the syringe during pumping of fluid.

Abstract: A pressure diaphragm, wherein at least a portion of an elongate fluid channel is formed diametrically across, and is open through, a flat raised surface of a substantially rigid, disk-like body, and wherein a flexible membrane overlies the raised surface and is sealed to a surrounding flange. The fluid channel communicates with fluid inlet and outlet fittings carried by the body, which are adapted for connection with the tubes of an IV set, and the cross-sectional flow area of the fluid channel is substantially equal to or less than the cross-sectional flow area of any IV tube adapted for connection to the fluid inlet fitting.

Abstract: A system for injecting fluid into a patient and monitoring the blood pressure of the patient comprising an injector for incrementally injecting the fluid through a delivery tube into the vascular system of the patient at selected prescribed rates with display means and rate indicator means generating an output indicative of the rate of fluid injection connected to the display means for visually displaying the rate at which the fluid is being injected; a blood pressure monitor including transducer means communicating with the vascular system of the patient through the delivery tube on the injector for providing an output indicative of the patient's blood pressure and pressure detector means responsive to the output of the transducer means to generate an output indicative of the systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the patient; and mounting means for selectively mounting the blood pressure monitor on the injector and including connector means connecting the output of the pressure detector means in the bloo

Abstract: Apparatus provides a controlled flow of fluid at particular rates from a source to a patient at controlled pressures of low value. The apparatus includes an input line connected to the source. An output line extends to the patient and implementing means such as a pump implements the flow of fluid from the input line to the output line at a particular rate. The source is disposed a particular distance above the implementing means to produce a particular pressure of the fluid at the implementing means and to provide this particular pressure to the fluid flowing to the patient.A bypass line is connected across the implementing means. Means in the bypass line, such as a chamber and a flexible diaphragm in the chamber, isolate the input side of the bypass line against the flow of fluid to the output side of the bypass line.