Arcscan, Inc.

Cobe Laboratories, Inc.

Other

Sundstrand Fuild Handling Corporation

Sundyne Corporation

Arc-san, Inc.

George J Eilers

Wes Weber

J David Stienmier

John David Watson

Donn D Lobdell

Frank Corbin, Iii

Keith J Manica

Steven H Johnson

Douglas P Miller

Lori A Truitt

Lawrence L Leppert

Palmer H Beam

David J Belanger

Francis T Ogawa

Michael R Manes

Joseph Imlach

Terry D Boucher

Douglas Paul Miller

P Michael Finsterwald

Eric Osmann

Randy Rasmussen

Paul McGregor

Heather Hoops

Olga Medvedeva

Daniel R Mohrbacher

David Mabe

Albert C Krabacher

Ben Terry

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to various aspects of imaging systems, including permeable and impermeable barriers separating liquid compartments, one of which contains the object to be imaged and the other an ultrasonic transducer, a fluidic bearing between a transducer carriage and guide supporting the carriage, a linear motor for the carriage, and a location sensing device for the carriage.

Tracking system for an ultrasonic arc scanning apparatus

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to an ultrasound transducer whose holding device moves along a guide track while the transducer on the end of the holding device oscillates about a known position during ultrasound transmission and receiving. In this embodiment, most refractive eye components including zonules and their connection points can be imaged.

Compound scanning head for an ultrasonic scanning apparatus

Innovative components for an ultrasonic arc scanning apparatus

A method and apparatus are disclosed for a method for securing a patient for a medical procedure and specifically for an innovative headrest system for securing a patient for an ocular imaging procedure. The approach avoids the need for linkages and sliding rods and such. Instead, it relies on three independently movable face rests (two for the forehead or temples and one for the chin) each with a deformable cushion that is urged into conformity with the patient's head and chin during an adjustment phase of operation. Once a comfortable position and suitable conforming shape is achieved, the positions of the face rests are rigidly fixed and the shape of the cushions are rendered rigid and non-deformable, by application of a light vacuum, for the procedural or imaging phase of operation.

Method of positioning a patient for medical procedures

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods of rapidly obtaining ultrasonic images of the eye using a set of procedural options that can be automated by a positioning mechanism that can be controlled by software.

Procedures for an ultrasonic arc scanning apparatus

A method and apparatus are disclosed for generating accurate and precise ultrasonic images of biological materials or animate objects, such as the cornea and lens of the eye, and, in particular, to an ultrasonic scanning apparatus that can position its virtual center of curvature such that its ultrasonic transducer will emit pulses that reflect substantially perpendicularly from a curved specular surface of interest within the eye. This invention can allow real time imaging of a lens as it accommodates and can better enable researchers and ophthalmic surgeons to develop, fit, implant and diagnose performance of accommodative lenses.

Alignment and imaging of an eye with an ultrasonic scanner

A bearing monitor for use with a canned motor pump having a wound stator and a rotor drivably coupled to an impeller, the rotor being mounted on radial journal bearings and axial thrust bearings within a containment can comprises a first and a second target embedded in an outer periphery of the rotor in axial proximity to a first and a second end of the rotor. The monitor includes a plurality of sensors mounted external to the containment can in axial proximity to each of the two targets and radially displaced approximately equally around the periphery of the containment can. A plurality of magnetic field generators create local magnetic fields coupled through the containment can, process fluid, rotor, and at least a portion of one target to one of the sensors. In response to each field, each sensor generates an output signal which varies as a result in a change in the magnetic circuit reluctance caused by bearing wear. A monitor circuit is coupled to the sensors and compares their output signals to generate a scaled output which is approximately linearly related to bearing wear. The output of sensors in the same axial plane are utilized to determine bearing wear in a radial direction, while the output of sensors in different axial planes are utilized to determine bearing wear in an axial direction. Electromagnetic shielding may be used depending on the environmental and operating conditions.

Sealless pump rotor position and bearing monitor

Apparatus for detecting a dry bearing condition utilizes an ultrasonic transducer which is intermittently pulsed a certain number of times by a microprocessor and associated circuitry. The number of return pulses received by the ultrasonic transducer is detected by the microprocessor and is used to determine whether a dry bearing condition exists.

Dry bearing detection apparatus

Blood from a patient is treated extracorporeally by any selected one of a plurality of predetermined treatments. Each of the treatments involves the flow of blood from the patient into a primary chamber of a filtration unit, past a semipermeable membrane located in the filtration unit which separates the primary chamber from a secondary chamber of the filtration unit, out the filtration unit and back to the patient. A replacement fluid is selectively and controllably added to the blood, as required for the selected treatment. A secondary fluid is controllably and selectively introduced into the secondary chamber of the filtration unit for controllably collecting material passing across the semipermeable membrane from the blood or for supplying material to pass across the semipermeable membrane into the blood as required for the selected treatment. Materials are removed from the secondary chamber and collected in accordance with the selected treatment. Upon selection of one of the plurality of extracorporeal blood treatments available, the rates of blood flow, fluid flow and fluid collection during the extracorporeal treatment are automatically determined, established and monitored in accordance with the selected treatment. An apparatus which automatically performs and monitors the selected treatment is also described.

Technique for extracorporeal treatment of blood

Blood from a patient is treated extracorporeally by any selected one of a plurality of predetermined treatments. Each of the treatments involves the flow of blood from the patient into a primary chamber of a filtration unit, past a semipermeable membrane located in the filtration unit which separates the primary chamber from a secondary chamber of the filtration unit, out the filtration unit and back to the patient. A replacement fluid is selectively and controllably added to the blood, as required for the selected treatment. A secondary fluid is controllably and selectively introduced into the secondary chamber of the filtration unit for controllably collecting material passing across the semipermeable membrane from the blood or for supplying material to pass across the semipermeable membrane into the blood as required for the selected treatment. Materials are removed from the secondary chamber and collected in accordance with the selected treatment. Blood leaks into the secondary chamber are automatically detected and the rates of blood and fluid flow automatically adjusted in response thereto. An apparatus which automatically performs and monitors the selected treatment is also described.

A peristaltic pump comprising a race having an internal surface for supporting a flexible tube in a tube pumping region, and a rotor rotatably mounted about a rotor axis and carrying rollers that travel in a circular path adjacent to the tube pumping region, the rollers having a large diameter central portion between smaller diameter portions to cause the tube to be self-aligning at the central portion. Also disclosed are a cover mounted on the race for movement in a direction parallel to the rotation axis between a loading position spaced from the race sufficiently to permit insertion of the tube through a tube insertion opening into a tube mounting region and an operational position in which the tube insertion opening is closed; and self-loading a tube into a peristaltic pump via rollers having a small diameter end portion and an adjacent larger diameter portion.

Peristaltic pump

A liquid conductivity sensor which features simply and inexpensively driving the excitation transformer of a two-transformer/fluid-loop remote conductivity sensor with a square wave excitation signal provided by a digital timer and a flip-flop. Also disclosed is using an electrodeless conductivity sensor to sense conductivity of dialysate.

Remote conductivity sensor using square wave excitation

A diaphragm and chamber device including chamber means for defining a chamber having fixed position walls on opposite sides, a diaphragm in the chamber and sealably mounted between the walls to define first and second regions therein on opposite sides of the diaphragm, the diaphragm being movable in the chamber so as to change the volume of the two regions as the diaphragm moves toward either the wall, a magnet carried by the diaphragm and movable therewith, and a magnet position sensor carried by a the wall and sensing the location of the magnet and thus the diaphragm.

Diaphragm and chamber device

A portion of the cornea or similar flexible membrane is flattened by urging against the cornea a footplate with a measurable force and deriving a signal proportional to the magnitude of the applanated area of the cornea when the applanating force is compared to a threshold which corresponds to a force equal to a selected reference force on the planar footplate contacting the cornea. When the selected reference force signal is reached the area of the applanated region of the cornea is transferred as a signal for scaling by another signal proportional to the force.

Growing community of inventors

Evergreen, CO, United States of America

George J Eilers