Trutek Research, Inc.

Northgate Research, Inc.

Trudell Medical Limited

Monaghan Medical Corporation

Nortgate Research, Inc.

Alfred G Brisson

Christopher Nowacki

Robert Urman

William R Shene

Exequiel D Cruz

Exequiel Dela-Cruz

Jerry R Grychowski

Jeffrey E Koziol

Frank Cammarata, Iii

Thomas H Burdick

Cristopher Nowacki

A nebulizer has a body with oxygen inlet and outlet ends through which oxygen flows. An aspirator is provided within the body in communication with a water supply conduit for aspirating water into oxygen flowing through the body. A float valve interconnects the water inlet and the aspirator for controlling the flow of water into the oxygen flowing through the nebulizer.

Nebulizer

Apparatus is provided for the extracorporeal destruction of kidney stones, and includes an ellipsoidal reflector. The reflector has a first focus point, and a second focus point, the reflector being truncated and the second focus point being disposed beyond the resulting open end of the reflector for coincidence with a kidney stone or the like. An extension from the apex of the reflector has a cavity with a spark gap therein. The cavity opens into the reflector, and the cavity and reflector are filled with liquid such as water. A spark produced across the spark gap produces a shock wave which moves to the first focus point of the reflector and is reflected to the second focus point.

Remote spark shock wave generator

A flow device is provided for sensing air flow and includes a body having at the opposite ends thereof coaxial bores. Counterbores extend inwardly from the coaxial bores and are interconnected by a restricted bore having lateral bores extending from opposite ends thereof to provide a pneumatic pressure drop. The bottom portions of the respective counterbores are relieved to provide a pair of troughs for water collection outside of the normal air flow area so that water can accumulate for an extended period of time before interferring with pressure drop readings.

Flow device with water trap

A lithotripter is provided with an x-ray aiming system. The lithotripter includes an upwardly opening ellipsoidal reflector having a vertical axis. This reflector is supported from a pedestal, and an arm rigid with the pedestal supports a radio opaque disc which is disposed below overhead x-ray apparatus. A patient with a kidney stone is disposed on a table above the reflector and below the x-ray apparatus. If the vertical axis of the reflector is perfectly aligned with the kidney stone in the patient, then the radio opaque disc will shadow the kidney stone, and provide positive evidence of alignment. If there is misalignment, then simple examination of the x-ray picture will show in what direction the reflector support, and hence the radio opaque disc, need be moved to effect proper alignment.

X-ray aiming fixture

An electrode construction is provided for electrohydraulic shock wave generation such as for extracorporeal kidney stone destruction. The construction includes a reflector adapted to be filled with liquid such as water for coupling to a human body. The reflector has a focus point. An insulated base supports a plurality of pairs of electrodes, and is movable relative to the reflector. The insulating base is moved to bring successive pairs of electrodes into substantial coincidence with the focus point of the reflector. Upon such movement electrical connection is automatically made to extensions of the pair of electrodes having their spark gap substantially coincident with said focus point.

Electrode construction for replacement of worn electrodes in a

A venturi device is provided for sensing air flow. The device includes a body having first and second substantially cylindrical end portions interconnected by a wasp-waisted intermediate portion. The end portions are provided with bores which may be of different internal diameter. The intermediate portion is provided with axially aligned counterbores. These counterbores are connected by four bores of relatively small diameter. A radially inwardly extending wall in the through-bore comprises a flow restriction, and lateral bores are provided on opposite sides of the wall extending radially outwardly from the through-bore.

Device for sensing air flow

A rate volume monitor includes a sensor which provides an output upon inspiration and upon expiration. If inspiration follows expiration too closely a computer operates an alarm to provide warning that air entrapment or 'stacking' may occur in the patient's lungs.

Circuit providing indication of air entrapment in patient's lungs

A pediatric medication inhaler is provided for cooperation with a medication dispersing cylinder and a supply of medication. The inhaler is a one piece device in the nature of a mask molded of integral plastic or elastomer. The invention is characterized in having a bubble or relatively thin wall projecting from the mask-like device, which bubbler flexes inwardly upon inhalation so that a person providing medication to the infant can watch for inhalation.

Pediatric asthmatic inhaler

A pediatric medication inhaler is provided having an entering end and an exit end. A commercial medication dispenser is secured in the entering end, and a one-way valve is incorporated between the entering end and the exit end permitting air and medication flow from the entering end to the exit end, but preventing flow in the opposite direction. An adapter is secured to the exit end and is made of pliable foam plastic material contoured and adapted to conform to an infant's face. A whistle is provided in the adapter to provide an audible signal that the infant is breathing properly.

Pediatric asthmatic medication inhaler

An extracorporeal kidney stone disintegrator comprises an upwardly open ellipsoidal reflector having an open upper end. A spark gap is provided in said reflector at the first focus point thereof. A flexible waterproof shroud is fixed to the open end of the reflector and secured to the skin of a human body containing a concretion such as a kidney stone to be disintegrated. A body of water fills said reflector and said shroud and is in direct contact with the skin of said human body, the reflector being positioned relative to said body so that the concretion is at the second focus point of the reflector. Generation of a sprak across the spark gap causes generation of a shock wave focused on the concretion and coupled to the concretion by the body of water and by the tissues of the human body.

Shroud for coupling kidney stone disintegrator to human body

A collapsible inhalation valve is provided for administering asthmatic medication or the like. The valve comprises an upright cylindrical air chamber adapted to be held in the hand. A reciprocating member holds a pressurized cartridge of medication for reciprocation between storage position substantially within the air chamber and raised using position substantially exterior to the air chamber. A mouthpiece is pivoted on the air chamber and is movable between storage position substantially within the air chamber and using position projecting from the air chamber. A one-way valve is provided at the bottom of the air chamber to allow movement of air into the air chamber while preventing movement of medication out of the air chamber. Another one-way valve is provided at the entrance to the mouthpiece permitting inhaling of misted medication, but preventing exhaling into the air chamber.

Collapsible inhalation valve

A variable threshold circuit is provided for use with a rate volume monitor. A series analog switch is controlled by a comparator which is biased by a voltage divider. During low rate exhalation by a patient the bias keeps the analog switch biased against conduction, and noise is suppressed. When exhalation is at a high rate a resistor is switched by a second analog switch into parallel with one of the resistors of the voltage divider to change the bias to the comparator, and thus to render the first analog switch conductive. At this time the high level of the exhilation signal masks any noise.

Variable threshold for rate volume monitor

A drift compensating circuit cooperates with an air-pressure-to voltage transducer. The first input of a comparison circuit is connected to the transducer, while a reference voltage is connected to the second input. The reference voltage is provided by an up/down counter and a digital to analog converter. The comparison circuit has an output connected to the up/down counter to cause the counter to count up or down. The counter is enabled at predetermined intervals.

Timed drift compensation for rate volume monitor

A kidney stone disintegrating system includes a computer-controlled aiming system. The disintegrating system includes a reflector containing water through which the reflector is coupled to a living body having a kidney stone. The reflector is a portion of an ellipsoid and a spark gap generator is located at one focus of the ellipsoid. An electrical energy source is connected to the spark gap generator for generating a spark which in turn generates a shock wave in the fluid. Three motors are connected to the reflector for moving it in respectively X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis directions to locate the reflector so that the kidney stone lies at the second focus point thereof. A pair of ultrasound transducers are carried by an articulated support comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected arms. Precision potentiometers are provided between the arms to indicate the relative positions thereof, and electrical potentials from the potentiometers are connected to a computer. The signals and the computer are connected to a monitor having a screen to display the kidney stone, and particularly the position thereof as determined by the two transducers. The computer is connected to the three motors to position the reflector in accordance with the positions of the transducers to locate the reflector with the second focus point coinciding with the kidney stone. Controls are provided for causing generation of a spark with the resulting shock wave focused on the kidney stone to destroy the kidney stone.

Growing community of inventors

Kildeer, IL, United States of America

Alfred G Brisson