Medtronic, Inc.

Miles Laboratories, Inc.

Eric J Fogt

Patrick T Cahalan

Darrel F Untereker

James F Kelley

Kazuhiko Ishihara

Nobuo Nakabayashi

Arthur J Coury

Edouard Koulik

Ralph M Kerns

Marye S Norenberg

Timothy J Duffy

Larik Vincent

Martin T Gerber

Mark E Meyerhoff

Bruce J Oberhardt

Allan H Jevne

James E Jones

Linda Lee Cahalan

Arthur R Eddy, Jr

David J Draska

Paul A D'Orazio

Cheryl Feia

Pat Cahalan

Jeff Schweitzer

The invention relates to implantable vascular access ports that can release agents such as antibiotics, anti-thrombogenics and anti-proliferatives. The invention also relates to ports having locking mechanisms that prevent accidental disengagement, and structures that facilitate surgical implantation and provide for long-term stability and use of the port.

Implantable vascular access system

A method for making a biocompatible medical article, and preferably, a blood compatible medical article, through the use of a copolymer coating. The copolymer coating is synthesized using methacrylate or acrylate monomers with a functional group (primary amino group) for subsequent attachment of heparin. Synthesis of the copolymer coating is carried out using the proper proportion of hydrophobic monomer/hydrophilic monomer/functional monomer in order to optimize the solubility of the copolymer in alcohol, its insolubility in water (before and after heparin coupling), the heparin coupling efficacy and heparin bioactivity. Once the copolymer coating is fashioned, a medical article is coated with it. The coating is thereafter dried and heparin attached. In such a manner the present invention provides for a method for making a biocompatible medical article, and preferably, a blood compatible medical article.

Implantable medical device

Method for making biocompatible medical article

A system for disabling an oximetric device when radiation-carrying channels are exposed to excess ambient radiation is disclosed. It includes a transmitter channel adjacent the sample to be measured, means for isolating the channel from the sample so that it does not carry radiation reflected from or transmitted through the sample, a detector for receiving the transmitted signal, if any, and means for disabling the output in response to the transmitted signal. Preferably, the transmitter channel runs parallel to other transmitter channels in the device, and is isolated from undue ambient light. The system preferably includes means for determining when the second transmitted signal exceeds background noise and the output is disabled when the second transmitted signal exceeds background noise. In general, the sample is a fluid, usually blood, passing through a cuvette adjacent the fiber-optic channels, the cuvette defining an area of radiation absorption adjacent the transmitter channel so that the transmitter does not carry reflected or transmitted radiation from the sample. Also disclosed is a fiber-optic sensor for measuring components of a composition by detecting transmitted or reflected, usually reflected, radiation including such a system, and the cuvette therefore. Finally, a method of disabling the output of an oximetric device when the fiber-optic channels are exposed to undue ambient radiation is disclosed.

System for disabling oximeter in presence of ambient light

An improved pH probe based on fiber optics and a unique cross-linked terpolymer of methacrylamidopropyl-trimethyl ammonium chloride, sodium acrylamidopropane sulfonate, and acrylamide, the terpolymer having bound thereto an indicator dye.

Terpolymer composition with bound indicator dye for fiber optic probe

Preparation of an absorbent quantitative test device in the form of a flat patch. When placed on the skin of a subject, the device collects a fixed volume of sweat. It is particularly intended to be used in screen testing for cystic fibrosis by measuring the chloride level in sweat and providing a visual indication when the level is in excess of a predetermined concentration. A fill tab indicator undergoes a color change when the fixed volume of sweat has been collected signifying completion of the test. The device includes two concentric circular reaction areas of chemically treated absorbent paper or the like. The sweat sample is introduced into the device at the center of the first or inner circular reaction area which contains a chemical composition capable of reacting with all chloride in the sweat sample below a predetermined concentration value to screen out that amount of chloride. A second or outer ring-shaped reaction area contains a chemical composition which indicates a color change for any chloride reaching it in excess of the predetermined concentration value. The color change in the outer ring-shaped portion thereby provides a quantitative indication of the pressure of a concentration of chloride in the subject's sweat in excess of the predetermined concentration level.

Method of preparing a fluid absorbent quantitative test device

A simplified gas sensor which includes a pH sensitive transducer having a gate-insulated field effect transistor (FET) structure. The gas sensor is particularly adapted to detect carbon dioxide in fluids.

Gas sensor

An improved flow through ion sensing electrode and a method for producing it. The electrode is formed of bilumen plastic tubing using one lumen as the sample path and the other lumen as a sensing chamber. By permeating a portion of the tubing with an ion selective material, an ion selective membrane integral with the chamber wall is produced. A preferred embodiment also incorporates a reference electrode.

Flow through ion selective electrode

An improved method for producing ion-selective membranes having a desired shape and of a desired plastic, for incorporation in ion-sensing electrodes, and the electrodes incorporating these membranes. This method allows the use of preformed polymeric members having the desired shape to produce ion-selective membranes, allowing simplified production of ion-sensing electrodes, as well as combination ion-sensing and reference electrodes.

Ion selective membranes for use in ion sensing electrodes

An absorbent quantitative test device in the form of a flat patch. When placed on the skin of a subject; the device collects a fixed volume of sweat. It is particularly intended to be used in screen testing for cystic fibrosis by measuring the chloride level in sweat and providing a visual indication when the level is in excess of a predetermined concentration. A fill tab indicator undergoes a color change when the fixed volume of sweat has been collected signifying completion of the test. The device includes two concentric circular reaction areas of chemically treated absorbent paper or the like. The sweat sample is introduced into the device at the center of the first or inner circular reaction area which contains a chemical composition capable of reacting with all chloride in the sweat sample below a predetermined concentration value to screen out that amount of chloride. A second or outer ring-shaped reaction area contains a chemical composition which indicates a color change for any chloride reaching it in excess of the predetermined concentration value. The color change in the outer ring-shaped portion thereby provides a quantitative indication of the presence of a concentration of chloride in the subject' s sweat in excess of the predetermined concentration level.

Fluid absorbent quantitative test device

A membrane for electrochemical analysis is described comprising a first, relatively dense and thin layer and a second, relatively porous thick layer, which thick layer has dispersed therethrough the enzyme, glucose oxidase. The process of making the membrane by casting two to three layers of cellulose acetate compositions is also described.

Growing community of inventors

Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

Eric J Fogt