Baxter International Inc.

American Hospital Supply Corporation

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

David L Swendson

David J Evans

Clement E Lieber

Edward E Elson

Miriam H Taimisto

Lawrence J Busse

Robert Skidmore

Lucien Attal

Michael D Rold

Wesley M Morris

W Scott Couchman

Donald E Bobo, Jr

James D Fonger

Mark A Konno

Clifford E Currier

A one-handed blood sampling reservoir for an infusion line having a configuration which allows discard fluid to be drawn into the reservoir and then returned to the patient in two squeezing motions. Both drawing and returning steps are performed by squeezing two of a plurality of finger grips provided on the reservoir. The reservoir may include a bracket which enables one-handed operation in either a hand-held or a pole-mounted configurations. In the alternative, the reservoir and finger grips may be formed by telescoped inner and outer housings without a bracket. The reservoir desirably includes a syringe-like body forming a chamber and a plunger/piston assembly reciprocal therein to vary the volume of the chamber. A narrow gap is provided in the chamber open to both inlet and outlet ports when the piston is fully seated to ensure a consistent and minimum flush volume in the chamber. The piston may be spring-loaded against the syringe body to simplify manufacturing by reducing the number of close toleranced parts required. The reservoir is preferably placed within an infusion line having a pressure transducer therein, and the spring loaded piston may be adjustable to vary the dynamic response of the fluid pressure system.

Closed one-handed blood sampling system

A one-handed blood sampling reservoir for an infusion line having a configuration which allows discard fluid to be drawn into the reservoir and then returned to the patient in two squeezing motions. Both drawing and returning steps are performed by squeezing two of a plurality of finger grips provided on the reservoir. The reservoir may include a bracket which enables one-handed operation in either a hand-held or a pole-mounted configurations. In the alternative, the reservoir and finger grips may be formed by telescoped inner and outer housings without a bracket. The reservoir desirably includes a syringe-like body forming a chamber and a plunger/piston assembly reciprocal therein to vary the volume of the chamber. A narrow gap is provided in the chamber open to both inlet and outlet ports when the piston is fully seated to ensure a consistent and minimum flush volume in the chamber. The piston may be spring-loaded against the syringe body to simplify manufacturing by reducing the number of close tolerance parts required. The reservoir is preferably placed within an infusion line having a pressure transducer therein, and the spring loaded piston may be adjustable to vary the dynamic response of the fluid pressure system.

Closed, one-handed blood sampling system

A female electrical connector (164') is carried on an electrical cable (24') including plural electrical conductors (28'). The female connector includes an insulative housing (34a', 34b') defining a blind cavity (36') therewithin and an axial opening outwardly from the cavity. The housing carries a printed circuit board (166) carrying plural wire-like contacts (40') which individually connect with the conductors of the electrical cable. The wire-like contacts extend into the cavity of the connector for deflecting in spring-like contact with electrical contacts (60) carried by a male connector (20) when the latter is inserted into the cavity of the female connector. A comb feature (50') of the female connector is formed by a strong end wall (138') of the blind cavity and in a respective one of plural slots (48') of the comb feature movably receives a free end portion (46') of each one of the plural wire-like contacts. The wire-like contacts are free to move in the cavity in spaced apart parallel relationship between a first position against or adjacent to a shelf surface (52') of the comb feature and the second position spaced from the shelf feature as the matching male connector is mated with the female connector. The end wall (138') of the female connector carries a stop member (190) preventing the male connector from damaging either the wire-like contacts or comb feature of the female connector when the male connector is inserted into the female connector too forcefully. Structural features (76', 192) of the female connector allow the insulative housing to be injection molded using dies which open only in the axial direction.

Connector for electrical cable and method of making

A disposable blood pressure sensor assembly (10) includes a blood pressure sensor module (12), an electrical cable (18) extending from the blood pressure sensor module (12), and an electrical connector (20) carried on the electrical cable (18). The electrical connector (20) forms a projecting portion (38) having an end surface (58). The electrical cable (18) has a cable jacket (68) which forms an end surface (66). The electrical connector (20) includes a conductor contact portion (60) of each of the electrical conductors (62) of the electrical cable (18), which conductor contact portion (60) is un-insulated and is arrayed and disposed outwardly on the connector (20) for direct electrical contact. Connector end surface (58) and cable jacket end surface (66) cooperatively define the surface across which conductor contact portions (60) extend. The connector (20) and its matching connector (22) include, respectively, a slot (72) and a key (76) for polarization and detents (82) and a pin (80) for connector latching. Also included in connector (20) is an air vent slot (104).

Electrical cable connector and method of making

A probe for use within a catheter is disclosed. The probe transducer portion is constructed of a crystal hollow cylinder with an inside lead attached to the inner surface of the crystal cylinder. One end of the outside lead is positioned close to the outer surface, in a plane tangential to the outer surface, and is coupled to the outer surface of the crystal cylinder by a thin sputtered layer of conductive material. The probe transducer also includes a layer of acoustically absorbing material on the proximal end of the crystal, and layer of acoustically coupling material on the distal end of the crystal cylinder. The transducer element simultaneously generates an axially oriented signal beam at one frequency and a radially oriented signal beam at 2 different frequency. The signal beams are analyzed to calculate the blood flow area and the blood flow velocity, the product of which is the blood flow rate.

Ultrasound probe for use with transport catheter and method of making

An improved integral flow-through injectate delivery system comprises fluid flow means having a proximal and a distal end. The proximal end comprises a first port having fluid inlet means for connecting the flow means to a source of fluid injectate and a second port adapted to be connected to a syringe means. The distal end of the fluid flow means is adapted to be connected to a fluid delivery means for delivering the injectate to the patient and the syringe means is adapted to direct injectate fluid from the injectate source through the fluid inlet and the fluid flow means to the fluid delivery means. A first check valve is in fluid-flow communication with the fluid inlet means and the fluid flow means and a second check valve means is in fluid-flow communication with the fluid flow means and the fluid delivery means. A sensing means is disposed within the fluid flow means at its distal end for sensing a characteristic of fluid flowing therethrough, usually temperature. A fluid flow regulating means is placed within the fluid flow means between the fluid inlet means and the sensing means to delay or limit injectate from flowing therethrough except when being directed by the syringe means.

Improved injectate delivery system

A cardiac output probe assembly is disclosed wherein the assembly includes a chest tube which carries a cardiac output probe therein. The chest tube includes a main lumen for draining fluids from the thoracic cavity of the chest and a secondary lumen which carries leads attached to the probe. The probe is attached to the pulmonary artery or aorta vessel with detachable tines and/or sutures. The tines are uniquely configured to ensure that good contact between the probe and vessel is maintained. When cardiac output monitoring is complete, a pulling force is applied to the probe leads extending out through a proximal end of the tube. The pulling force detaches the tines and sutures, releasing the probe from connection with the vessel. Further withdrawal of the leads through the tube retracts the probe within the tube, where it is housed until the tube is removed from the thoracic cavity.

Cardiac output probe assembly

A flexible tip catheter for electrically stimulating the heart comprising an elongated body having an elongated passage therein and an elongated conductor partially in the passage. The elongated conductor has a distal end portion outside of the passage which is flexible and resilient along its length. The distal end portion includes a flexible resilient electrode exposed at the outer periphery of the catheter so that current can be passed along the conductor to the electrode to electrically stimulate the heart. The distal end portion is more flexible at distal locations than at proximal locations along its length. The flexibility of the distal end portion and of the electrode greatly reduces the risk of penetration of the heart wall.

Flexible tip cardiac pacing catheter

A guiding catheter adapted to be passed through the right side of the heart into the pulmonary artery and comprising a catheter body having at least first and second lumens extending longitudinally in the catheter body and a port extending from the first lumen to the exterior of the catheter body. The port is between the ends of the catheter and is in the right heart when the catheter is in use. An elongated stiffening element is locked within the second lumen and extends from a location on the proximal side of the port to a location on the distal side of the port. The stiffening element is flexible, but it is sufficiently stiff to cause the catheter to be gently curved along the stiffening element without forming a kink when the catheter is in use. The first lumen is adapted to have an inner catheter passed through it and out of the port into the right heart.

Growing community of inventors

Garden Grove, CA, United States of America

David L Swendson