The Kendall Company

Other

Aci Medical

Edward J Arkans

Stephen J Coble

Frank K Villari

Larry D Annis

Mark W Kolstedt

Carolyn M Semrow

Norbert W Ellmann

Lynn M Kaczmarek

Bernard Sigel

An apparatus for ensuring proper engagement between connectors in external pneumatic compression devices. Two or more compression bladders are connected via tubing to a controller by a mated connector unit. Each mated connector includes an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The upstream portion includes a shut-off valve per individually addressed bladder. The downstream portion includes structure which defeats or opens the shut-off valve in the upstream connector and allows for fluid flow. Internally and externally, the mated connectors are configured for reciprocal engagement. Even if visual orientation of the connectors fails, the reciprocal structure of the connectors prevents incorrect engagement therebetween.

Fluidic connector

A vascular assist device which maintains a static graduated pressure as the minimum pressure at all times during use. At least two inflatable chambers which wrap around selected portions of a limb apply elevated pressure to selected portions of a limb to disgorge blood therefrom. The inflatable chambers also apply static pressure which is graduated from distal to proximal along selected portions of a limb, such as from the ankle to the hip. A separate inflatable foot chamber can be included and is not necessarily utilized in conjunction with the compression phases for the ankle, calf, or thigh inflatable chambers. A desired pressure level is generated and maintained in a pressure accumulator, and a pressure regulator and regulator valve control the pressure in the inflatable chambers. The inflatable chambers between the ankle and hip are inflated to a predetermined and uniform dynamic pressure which is maintained in the inflatable chambers for a predetermined amount of time. The pressure is then decreased to a static pressure level which is graduated in pressure from the most distal inflatable chamber to the most proximal inflatable chamber between the ankle and the hip. The cycle is repeated after maintaining graduated static pressure for about forty five seconds.

Vascular assist methods and apparatus

An apparatus and a method are provided for vascular examination of a limb by inflation of a flexible-walled pneumatic chamber mounted to the limb and calibration of the pressure within the chamber in units of volume. Calibration is accomplished by inflating the chamber to a preselected reference pressure, altering the volume of the chamber, and measuring the calibration pressure at the altered volume. The calibration pressure is stored for use off-line in scaling subsequent pressure fluctuations as changes in limb volume.

Apparatus and method for vascular examination of a limb

A combined and integral pump and check valve combination is disclosed herein for the control of fluid flow through a fluid pump portion having an inlet port leading to a gland cavity occupied by a movable sealing element yieldably held in position closing or sealing the inlet port by a self-biasing member such as an open-cell foam material. A retaining ring used during the assembly procedure is disposed between the edge marginal regions of the self-biasing member and the movable sealing element which may function to stabilize the element. A sealed retaining plate is attached to the pump supporting the self-biasing member and the movable element combination and further defines an outlet port or duct on the side of the movable element opposite to its side which is adjacent to the inlet port.

Integral pump and check valve apparatus

A rate meter for use with an IV fluid administration system having a vertical transparent drip chamber, the rate meter having an elongated housing having a notch therein for receiving the drip chamber, and a spring bias moveable portion which engages the drip chamber so that the housing is held to the drip chamber in a horizontal manner, the housing having two light emitters positioned on one side of the drip chamber and a photodetector on the other side, the light path between the light emitters and the photodetector being affected by passages of drops of fluid through the drip chamber, circuitry for computing a volumetric flow rate based on the frequency of detected drops, an indicator for displaying the detected flow rate and a self-contained battery. The two light emitters are arranged to provide equal light intensity on the photodetector. The rate meter is further identified by the provision of an occluder element forming a part of the housing slideable portion which moves to intercept the light beam from one of the light emitters when the housing is removed from engagement with a drip chamber to provide an OFF signal employed by program instructions to de-energize most of the circuit components to thereby prolong battery life.

IV rate meter

An arterial thrombus detection system (4) measures and displays the elapsed times (ET1, ET2, etc.) for an arterial pulse to travel between selected pairs of locations (A and B, B and C) along the length of a patient's limb (10, 12). The arterial pulse sensors comprise inflatable cuffs (A, B, C) with pressure sensors (A, B, C) that are flexibly secured together to form a sleeve (6, 8) which is wrapped around the limb (10, 12). A pair of start/stop timers (46, 48) are controlled in accordance with arterial detection pulses to measure the elapsed times (ET1, ET2, etc.). Display of elapsed times (ET1, ET2, etc.) which are significantly different signifies a thrombus in the section of the limb associated with the relatively longest elapsed time.

Arterial thrombus detection system and method

A method of determining the pressure applied to a limb by an inflatable garment by placing a flexible pressurizable cuff between the garment and the limb to receive the compressive garment forces and then determining the pressure in the cuff due to those compressive forces alone. The cuff pressure component due to compression of the garment is determined by extrapolating from a plot of cuff pressure versus bias pressure. The bias pressure is required to obtain an accurate reading of cuff pressure and is eliminated as a component in determining the garment pressure by means of the extrapolation. A preferred transducer for converting cuff pressure to electrical signals employs a manometer tube extending between two plates of a capacitor.

Pressure measurement method

A pressure generating device for applying compressive pressures from a compressor against a patient's limb through means of a flexible, pressurizable sleeve which encloses the limb having an overpressure circuit which causes venting of the pressurizable sleeve and termination of power to the compressor in the event of the pressure assuming an excessive value. The sleeve has a ventilation chamber and a controller which generates electrical signals to actuate a solenoid controlled valve to periodically connect the compressor to the ventilation chamber during cooling cycles.

Sequential compression device

A device for applying indicia in a first geometric form to an elongated elastic web comprising, a device for longitudinally stretching the elastic web, and a device for printing the first geometric form onto a surface of the web in the stretched configuration such that the first geometric form assumes a second geometric form when the web is relaxed.

Device for applying indicia to an elastic web

A sterile cover for an instrument comprising, a tray having an upright post, with the post having an upper end and a lower end. The cover has a sleeve of flexible material having an open end and a closed end. The sleeve is placed on the post with the closed end being located adjacent the upper end of the post, with the sleeve extending over the post from the upper end toward the lower end of the post, and with the open end of the sleeve being accessible to a user to remove the sleeve from the post.

Sterile cover for instrument

A device for applying compressive pressures against a patient's limb from a source of fluid comprising, a sleeve for placement about the patient's limb and having at least one inflatable chamber. The compressive device has a device for intermittently inflating and deflating the chamber, a first conduit connecting the inflating device and the chamber, and a second conduit communicating with the first conduit upstream from the chamber. The compressive device has a pressure determining gauge communicating with the second conduit, and an element for providing resistance against fluid flow passing through the second conduit intermediate the first conduit and the gauge.

Compression device with pressure determination

A therapeutic device comprising, a sleeve for covering a portion of a patient's body and having a space to receive liquid, a device for circulating a liquid through the space of the sleeve, and a device for cooling the circulated liquid.

Therapeutic device

A method of determining the pressure applied to a limb by an inflatable garment by placing a flexible pressurizable cuff between the garment and the limb to receive the compressive garment forces and then determining the pressure in the cuff due to those compressive forces alone. The cuff pressure component due to compression of the garment is determined by extra-polating from a plot of cuff pressure versus bias pressure. The bias pressure is required to obtain an accurate reading of cuff pressure and is eliminated as a component in determining the garment pressure by means of the extrapolation. A preferred transducer for converting cuff pressure to electrical signals employs a manometer tube extending between two plates of a capacitor.

Growing community of inventors

Schaumburg, IL, United States of America

Edward J Arkans