Other

Becton Dickinson and Company Limited

Gould Inc.

Splined Tools Corporation

Spectramed, Inc.

James E Cole

Lawrence Allan Lynn

Richard R Schaberg

Maurice A Warren

Peter Thornton

Douglas R Savage

Norman H Sears

A pressure transducer calibration device is disclosed having a housing which defines a first and second chamber separated by a compliant barrier. Two ports are in fluid communication with the first chamber, and one port is in fluid communication with the second chamber. The first chamber is configured to be filled with fluid and connected, via a three-way stopcock, to a pressure monitoring line. The second chamber is configured to be connected in fluid communication with a pressure generation device. In operation, the transducer is isolated from the monitored pressure source. Fluid communication is established between the first chamber and the transducer. A known fluid pressure is applied to the second chamber such that the known fluid pressure is also applied to the first chamber through the compliant barrier. The pressure transducer is then calibrated based upon the known fluid pressure within the first chamber.

Isolated calibration adapter for sterile pressure transducer

A sealed coupler includes a splined pin that moves axially inside orifices formed in the two or more members, and a rotating actuator. The actuator can be threaded to engage a threaded end of the pin, or it can include one or more cams to engage one or more cam followers coupled to the pin to move the pin inside the orifices. The pin moves axially between a locking position, where the members are rotationally locked, and an unlocking position, where the members are free to rotate relative to each other, in response to rotation of the actuator.

Assembly with a sealed coupler

A cannula that is usable to remove blood from a patient during an operation such as bypass surgery where the cannula has a pressure sensor in the form of an electronic piezoresistive chip located at or adjacent the location within the heart where the blood is being removed. The crystal has a sensing side and a reference side that is exposed to a reference pressure that is known. The piezoresistive chip is mounted at the distal end of the cannula such that its sensing side faces outwardly away from the central bore of the cannula that is transporting the blood that is being removed and thus is isolated from the dynamic effects of the moving blood. In addition, the pressure sensor has a characteristic drift based on temperature and the sensor is therefore standardized at body temperature, 36 degrees Centigrade, so that the pressure sensor is standardized at the temperature at which it will be used when positioned within the patient. As such, the pressure sensor is zeroed at the body temperature and is more accurate in measuring pressure.

Pressure tip cannula

A modular tool system includes a tool head, a handle, and an intermediate piece disposed therebetween. The handle includes a first pin for coupling the handle to the intermediate piece and the intermediate piece includes a second pin for coupling the intermediate piece to the tool head. The first and second pins each include a splined portion for engaging splined orifices in the handle and intermediate pieces, respectively, and a shank for removably engaging shank-receiving orifices in the intermediate piece and the tool head, respectively. When the shanks are engaged with their respective shank-receiving orifices, the handle can be moved along the first pin to selectively lock the handle to the intermediate piece and the intermediate piece can be moved along the second pin to selectively lock the intermediate piece to the tool head. The handle can also be moved along the first pin to selectively unlock the handle for rotational movement about the pin relative to the intermediate piece and the intermediate piece can be moved along the second pin to unlock the intermediate piece for rotational movement about the pin relative to the to the tool head. If desired, the intermediate piece can be removed and the handle can be coupled directly to the tool head by inserting the first pin into the tool head's shank-receiving orifice.

Modular tool system

An adjustable tool with a locking hinge mechanism is disclosed which is movable between a plurality of selectable positions. A hinge pin splined along substantially its entire length holds the portions of the tool together, and is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the tool is adjustable, and in the locked position the tool is fixed in position and suitable for use.

Adjustable tool with a locking hinge mechanism

A ratchet wrench including the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a ratchet head having a conventional ratchet system for rotating a shank about an axis, a connecting pin, and a handle. The generally cylindrical connecting pin is aligned along an axis parallel to the shank axis and is attached to the ratchet head. The connecting pin extends through an orifice in the handle, thereby connecting the handle to the ratchet head. The handle is slidable between a locked position and a unlocked position on the connecting pin. When the handle is in the locked position, splines on the forward end of the handle engage complimentary splines on the ratchet head, thereby allowing the ratchet wrench can be used to rotate a nut or bolt in a conventional manner. When the handle is in the unlocked position, the ratchet wrench can be used to rapidly rotate a nut or bolt by moving the handle in a reciprocating manner. When a nut or bolt to be rotated is near an obstruction, the handle can be unlocked, rotated about the connecting pin axis, then locked, thereby adjusting the angle between the longitudinal axis of the handle and the longitudinal axis of the ratchet head. In many instances, such angular adjustment allows the ratchet wrench to be used to rotate the nut or bolt in the conventional manner while avoiding contact between the handle and the obstruction.

Indexable wrenches

A blood aspiration assembly and method has proximal, intermediate and distal tubing, an adjustable volume reservoir and an aspirator receiver. The receiver has a housing with a rigid casing and a resilient plug, and a liquid flow chamber. The resilient plug has a slit or perforation to allow passage of a blunt needle therethrough. The plug can have two parts of different compliance, which aligned slits or perforations. The blunt needle tip can be rounded or flat, with a side opening for the needle bore. The contour of the needle tip and the design of the plug are correlated such that the working force required to penetrate the needle tip into the plug perforation is considerably less than the force required for said needle tip to penetrate normal intact human skin of the hands or arms.

Blood aspiration assembly components and blunt needle aspirators

An aspirator receiver forms part of a blood aspiration system for injecting fluid into a patient and withdrawing undiluted blood. The aspirator receiver has a housing with a passage occluded by a septum and in communication with the blood flow channel through the aspirator system. An aspirator comprises a cannula having a blunt tip surrounded by a shroud, the cannula being in communication with a blood receiving receptacle. The aspirator is applied to the housing with the shroud centering the cannula about and for penetration through the septum of the housing whereby undiluted blood may be withdrawn from the flow channel into the receptacle. Upon removal of the aspirator, the septum occluding the end of a standard vacuum-filled container is penetrated by the cannula whereby blood from the receptacle may be transferred into the container. The housing and container septa are of like external configuration and dimension and the shroud is complementary in dimension to facilitate transfer of the blood from the aspirator system to the receptacle and finally to the container.

Apparatus and methods for transferring blood between a blood aspirator

A ratchet wrench comprises a ratchet head having a conventional ratchet system for rotating a shank about an axis. A generally cylindrically shaped connecting pin aligned along an axis parallel to the shank axis is attached to the ratchet head. The connecting pin extends through a splined orifice in a handle, thereby connecting the handle to the ratchet head. The handle is slidable between a locked position and a unlocked position on the connecting pin. When the handle is in the locked position, the ratchet wrench can be used to rotate a nut or bolt in a conventional manner. When the handle is in the unlocked position, and the ratchet wrench can be used to rapidly rotate a nut or bolt by moving the handle in a reciprocating manner. When a nut or bolt to be rotated is near an obstruction, the handle can be unlocked, rotated about the connecting pin axis, then locked, thereby adjusting the angle between the longitudinal axis of the handle and the longitudinal axis of the ratchet head. In many instances, such angular adjustment allows the ratchet wrench to be used to rotate the nut or bolt in the conventional manner while avoiding contact between the handle and the obstruction.

Indexable head ratchet wrench

Apparatus and methods for transferring blood between aspiration assembly

A blood aspiration assembly has an aspirator receiver. The receiver has a housing with a rigid casing and a resilient plug, and a liquid flow chamber. The chamber has an offset lower wall surface, to create turbulence to remove air bubbles during initial set up. The offset wall can be elevated with an intermediate part of larger cross section to accommodate the blunt needle. The plug has a slit or perforation to allow passage of a blunt needle therethrough. The plug can have two parts of different compliance, with aligned slits or perforations. The blunt needle tip can be rounded or flat, with a side opening for the needle bore. The contour of the needle tip and the design of the plug are correlated such that the working force required to penetrate the needle tip into the plug perforation is considerably less than the force required for said needle tip to penetrate normal intact human skin of the hands or arms. A stop prevents the needle from contacting the aspiration chamber wall.

Blood aspiration assembly septum and blunt needle aspirator

A resilient valve core, biased against its seat in a molded body, controls large flow volumes for flushing. A small resilient tube embedded in the core bypasses the valve to provide smaller flow volumes for IV-fluid drip. For flushing, the core is deformed, rather than bodily moved, relative to the body. A fluid-flow channel is recessed along one side of the valve cavity, and the valve seat forms a short barrier across this channel. The core is a T-shaped unitary member; the center of the 'upper' surface of the T crossbar is biased against the seat, and the extrema of the crossbar are hermetically sealed against the valve body, while the stem of the T extends outward from the body. A user squeezes a cowling mounted outside the body to start and control flushing. The cowling itself deforms to pull the stem of the T outward, deforming the T and separating the middle of its crossbar portion from the valve seat. A user can elect to grasp and pull the stem directly. Parts of the upper side of the extrema of the T crossbar are relieved, forming a smooth fluid-flow transition with the inlet and outlet. These paths, the relieved parts of the crossbar, and the cavity interior are all smooth, gently tapering and well fitted, forming nearly an in-line flush path to minimize gas-bubble trapping.

Flush-valve assembly for blood pressure measurement catheter

A damping device for use in conjunction with a circulatory pressure measuring system to attenuate resonant pressure waves therein includes a series connector for connection to the pressure measuring system. An integrally connected parallel portion includes a capillary tube fluid resistance element in communication with the series connector. A flexible membrane isolates the capillary tube from a fixed volume gas chamber located adjacent the flexible membrane.

Damping device for circulatory pressure measuring apparatus

An improved conduit (50) communicating between a pressurized source (10) of solution and a partially filled reservoir (34) associated with a drip chamber (24) in a continuous-flush system. The conduit comprises a tube (54,56) that is bent at approximately a 45 degree angle so that solution discharging from the conduit (50) is diverted to impinge against the interior wall (58) of the reservoir (34) before interfacing with the solution (62) accumulated therein. The arrangement reduces bubble formation normally associated with turbulent discharge flow during filling and flushing of the system.

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Ventura, CA, United States of America

James E Cole