Sorenson Research Co., Inc.

Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Sorenson Laboratories, Inc.

Sorenco

Gordon S Reynolds

James L Sorenson

Karl A Pannier, Jr

Robert J Todd

Robert H Johnson

A Boyd Hansen

Valdon G Reynolds

Karl L Dunn

Terry M Wonder

Joseph T Sorenson

Sam L Sparks

Dixon A Ford

Sherman L Kendall

Gregg H Smith

Edward J Russell

A flush device for an intravenous blood pressure monitoring system has a main body which includes a continuous capillary flow channel and a fast flush channel. The continuous capillary flow channel is separated from the fast flush channel by a median wall. A fast flush opening in the median wall is blocked by an elastomeric member. When the member is distended, the fast flush opening is unblocked. An alternative embodiment of the fast flush device has a tubular body with a capillary channel formed on an inner wall. An elastomeric member contained within the tubular body enables flow to the capillary channel when the elastomeric member is in an initial position. When the elastomeric member is in a distended position fluid is allowed to overflow the capillary channel thus permitting a fast flush flow. Another alternative embodiment of the flush device comprises a tubular body having a cylinder disposed within, with a fluid entry chamber defined in an annular space and a fluid exit chamber defined by the interior of the cylinder. A microbore in the cylinder wall enables continuous capillary flow from the inlet to the outlet. A fast flush opening, blocked by an elastomeric member, is also provided in the cylinder wall. When the member is distended, the fast flush opening is unblocked.

One hand push button fast flush device

A flush device for an intravenous blood pressure monitoring system has a main body which includes a continuous flow channel and a fast flush channel. The continuous flow channel is integral with the main body and includes an inlet, a closed end which receives a laser drilled hole for fluid output, and an outlet. The continuous flow channel is separated from the fast flush channel by a median wall. An opening in the median wall is blocked by an elastomeric member disposed in an initial position in the fast flush channel. When the member is distended, the opening is unblocked, and fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet is through the fast flush channel. An alternative embodiment of the fast flush device has a tubular body with a capillary channel formed on an inner wall. An elastomeric member contained within the tubular body restricts flow to the capillary channel when the elastomeric member is in an initial position. When the elastomeric member is in a distended position fluid is allowed to overflow the capillary channel thus permitting either a fast flush flow between a source of medical fluid and the outlet on the fast flush device which is in fluid communication with the catheter.

One hand push button intraflo

A ventilating and aspirating apparatus for delivering respiratory gases to the trachea of a patient and aspirating congested lungs and breathing passageways includes a flexible catheter tube extendable into and withdrawable from the patient's trachea, a resilient pliable sheath lending a structural rigidity to the apparatus and receiving the catheter tube when withdrawn from the patient, a valve structure attached to the catheter tube which is slidable along the length of the sheath, a manifold structure and swivel mounting means to allow coaxial swivel motion of the components, and a collapsible/extendable sealing envelope structure arranged to cover components on the proximal side of the manifold.

Apparatus and method for ventilating and aspirating

The invention comprises a handpiece for use in a surgical procedure which involves directing a surgical agent to a target area of a person's body which procedure produces an unwanted smoke plume. The handpiece includes both a probe for directing a surgical agent, such as a CO.sub.2 laser beam, and a smoke eliminator for removing with suction the smoke created by the surgical procedure. The probe has no functional components for creating the laser beam, and is thus economical enough to be disposable after one use. The smoke eliminator includes a nozzle and/or an offset suction port so configured as to create a votrex flow in the smoke in the target area upstream in the fluid flow pathway of smoke through the hand piece from the distal tip of the hand piece.

Surgical probe and smoke eliminator

An intravascular delivery device (10) for inserting and withdrawing a thin, elongate probe (12) through a catheter (14). The delivery device (10) includes a fitting (18) connected to a flexible guide tube (15) and a delivery assembly (20) comprising a fixed inner sleeve (22) and a slidable outer actuator sleeve (24). The fitting (18) has an internal axial bore into which a seal (28) is placed. The seal (28) has a cone-shaped forward end (31) and an internal axial bore through which the cable (11) slidably passes. The outer sleeve (24) has its proximal end (26) affixed to the larger cable insulation (17) that is joined to the sheath (16) of the cable (11). A first ring (38) affixed to the cable (11) and a second ring (40) affixed to the proximal end (36) of the inner strain relief sleeve (22) cooperate to limit movement of the outer actuator sleeve ( 24) as it is slid over the inner strain relief sleeve (22) away from the fitting (18). A side port (42) depends from the fitting (18) to allow fluid into and out of the guide tube (15) and the catheter (14). In addition, a contamination sleeve (62) may be fitted over the delivery assembly (20).

Intravascular delivery device

An apparatus which is capable of being removably attached to a conventional, hand-held, electric hair dryer which is also capable of spraying a hair conditioner contained within a standard container such as an aerosol can. In one embodiment of the invention, the device is comprised of two generally cylindrical members. The first cylinder member is designed so that it fits onto the end of the nozzle of a conventional hair dryer. The first cylindrical member is attached to a tubular member which is capable of holding the container. In another embodiment of the device, the tubular member is attached directly to the nozzle of the hair dryer. The tubular member has an opening in its front through which a portion of the spray nozzle of the aerosol cannot pivot or turn because of the close fit of the opening and the spray nozzle. The tubular member of the hair dryer also has attached a trigger which when pulled causes the aerosol can to spray. The spray of the aerosol can then mixes with the hot air exiting the hair dryer so that hair can be dried and a hair conditioner applied simultaneously.

Sprayer attachment for a hair dryer

The disposable transducer includes a small housing constructed of lightweight plastic material. The housing is shaped so as to form a transparent chamber within which is situated a very small piezoresistive strain gauge in the form of a resistive bridge network diffused onto a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is electrically isolated by means of a nonconductive gel which partially fills the transparent chamber in which the semiconductor substrate is positioned. The resistive bridge network of the semiconductor substrate is also electrically connected to a plurality of calibration resistors which are separately formed on the semiconductor substrate, making the entire apparatus economically disposable after a single use.

Disposable transducer apparatus for an electromanometry system

A detachable balloon catheter apparatus and method. The apparatus includes an introducer catheter which is attached at its trailing end to a source of pressurized fluid. The leading end of the catheter is attached to an inflatable balloon which may be inflated as the pressurized fluid is injected through the introducer catheter. A valve mechanism is positioned inside the assembled introducer catheter and balloon and the leading end of the valve mechanism is bonded to the interior of the balloon. As the balloon is inflated by the pressurized fluid, a forwardly directed lateral force is exerted on the valve mechanism so that it is pulled forward into fluid-tight engagement with the valve seat placed at the opening of the balloon. Once the valve mechanism is pulled into fluid-tight engagement so as to close off the opening of the balloon, further injection of the pressurized fluid serves to detach the inflated balloon from the introducer catheter.

Method of manufacturing a detachable balloon catheter assembly

An apparatus and method for effectively eliminating the risk of introducing air bubbles into a fluid delivery system such as to administer parenteral fluids to a patient. The apparatus comprises a baffle positioned within a drip chamber for deflecting fluid expelled from a fluid resistor in order to eliminate turbulence and the formation of micro-bubbles during rapid filling or flushing of the fluid delivery system. The drip chamber also comprises a filter membrane positioned across the outlet of the drip chamber. The filter membrane is attached to a filter carrier assembly which enables the filter membrane to be momentarily displaced so that air bubbles trapped beneath the filter membrane may escape.

Drip chamber

A novel apparatus and method for suppressing unwanted resonance in an electromanometry system. The apparatus includes a compliant air cavity connected through a variable impedance device which is coupled in parallel to the liquid-filled catheter of the electromanometry system. By varying the hydraulic impedance through which the compliant air cavity is coupled to the system, precise impedance matching capability is provided over a wide range of hydraulic impedance values, thereby permitting suppression of unwanted resonance and improved frequency response of recorded waveforms in a wide variety of catheter-transducer systems.

Apparatus and method for suppressing resonance in an electromanometry

A manometer for measuring the hydrodynamic pressure of fluids parenterally administered to a patient. The manometer includes a transparent housing which has a passageway formed in the housing that accommodates continuous flow of fluid therethrough. A pressure measuring chamber is formed in the housing and one end of the pressure measuring chamber is in fluid communication with the passageway. The other end of the pressure measuring chamber communicates with an enclosed air space. The fluid flowing through the passageway enters the pressure measuring chamber and rises to a level which is dependent upon the pressure of the fluid flowing through the passageway. Markings are provided on the housing of the manometer which permit the pressure exerted on the fluid flowing through the passageway to be read directly from the level of the fluid in the pressure measuring chamber. In one embodiment of the manometer, the enclosed air space may be adjusted so that the manometer may be normalized for use at any one of several different altitudes. A valve is provided so that the enclosed air space may be vented to the ambient atmosphere when it is desired to set the pressure reading to zero. In another embodiment of the manometer, the pressure measuring chamber is provided with a progressively decreasing cross-sectional flow area from its bottom to its top so that the pressure may be read in a linear fashion.

Manometer for infusion apparatus

A needle valve and a method of manufacturing the needle valve. The needle valve has a metal needle with a leading end that is elongated and tapered so as to provide carefully restricted fluid flow along the length of the tapered end. A portion of the needle is threaded so that the position of the tapered end may be adjusted by screwing the needle. A housing for the needle is manufactured by placing the needle into a mold. The housing is then injection molded around portions of the metal needle. The molded housing forms an inlet port around the tapered end of the needle and a collar around the threaded portion of the needle. An outlet port is molded adjacent to the tapered end and is in fluid communication with the inlet port of the housing. As the housing cools, the plastic shrinks thus conforming the inlet port to the tapered end of the metal needle and creating a hermetic seal around the tapered end. A plastic knob is also molded onto the opposite end of the metal needle. The plastic knob may be rotated so that the tapered end of the needle may be screwed into or out of the inlet port of the plastic housing in order to control fluid flow therethrough.

Needle valve and method of manufacturing a needle valve

An apparatus for providing continuous flushing of intravascular catheters. The apparatus consists of a small block having passages which define a continuously open path through which flushing solution is introduced into a catheter. A flow resistor is placed in the continuously open path in order to limit the flushing solution to a desired small amount. At least a portion of the block consists of a resilient sleeve which surrounds the flow resistor. The resilient sleeve provides a by-pass passage around the flow resistor. A disk placed in the by-pass passage cooperates with the resilient sleeve selectively opened to permit relatively large amounts of flushing solution to be introduced into the catheter when desired.

Continuous flushing apparatus

A cannula and method for bidirectional blood flow, the cannula being constructed so as to provide a bifurcated flow path, each branch of the flow path independently communicating through telescoping cannulae and a venipuncture needle initially projecting beyond the exterior cannula to facilitate venipuncture and thereafter being displaceable away from the venipuncture site to permit unobstructed simultaneous fluid flow in opposite directions through each of the bifurcated flow paths.

Cannula and method for bidirectional blood flow

A double lumen cannula mounted upon a hub and constructed to penetrate the human vascular system, the cannula assembly having an interior cannula and an exterior cannula spaced from the interior cannula. A bushing is normally situated in the space between the interior and exterior cannula which bushing facilitates venipuncture without damanging the tissue. After venipuncture, the bushing is removable from the space between the interior and exterior cannulae by withdrawing the bushing from the cannulae through the hub.

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Bountiful, UT, United States of America

Gordon S Reynolds