Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

Welch Allyn, Inc.

Alaris Medical Systems, Inc.

John Archie Mossman

Edward D Suszynski

John W Stevenson

Thomas K Gregory

Kerry O Banke

Robert A McCarthy

George Craig Lysy

Houston Brown

Darin Kent Woolf

A method for detecting a fault condition of an operational amplifier of an integrated circuit during operation includes operating an integrated circuit which includes an operational amplifier (op-amp) having a V+ input, a V&#x2212; input and an op-amp output and an on-line fault detector electrically coupled to the V+ input and the V&#x2212; input of the op-amp of the on-line fault detector, monitoring an operation of the op-amp with the on-line fault detector, and developing a fault signal at a fault detector output if the op-amp is in a fault condition as determined by the on-line fault detector.

Method for detecting a fault condition of an operational amplifier

An integrated circuit with analog device fault detection includes an integrated circuit die having an analog device, an on-line fault detector and a control circuit. The analog device has a power input, an analog device input and an analog device output and the on-line fault detector is coupled to at least one of the power input, the analog device input and the analog device output and has a fault detector output. The control circuit is coupled to the fault detector and responsive to the fault detector output. Detector self-test (DST) circuitry can be provided to test the on-line fault detector and one or more circuit breakers can be provided to protect the analog device and other devices attached to the analog device.

Integrated circuit with analog device fault detection

In a power supply of a patient care system, a power management system monitors the temperature of an off-line switcher and adjusts the amount of current supplied by the off-line switcher to operate the off-line switcher within a range of temperature and power limits.

Power management system

The present invention utilizes a torque compensation system and a power control feedback system to reduce power consumption in a linear peristaltic pump. The linear peristaltic infusion pump includes an electric motor, which is connected to a cam shaft with multiple cams positioned thereon. Numerous elongate fingers cooperate with the cams to partly occlude an intravenous drip tube at multiple points along the tube's path. A torque compensation system and power feedback control system reduce the overall power consumption of the pump. A torque compensation cam positioned on the cam shaft, in combination with a torque compensation cam follower and a mechanical spring assist the motor while it is working against a rising cam follower. The power feedback control system comprises a controller which optimally adjusts the power supplied to the drive means so as to reduce overall power consumption of the pump.

Apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in a peristaltic pump mechanism

An improved medical thermometer is disclosed that provides an accurate estimate of a patient's temperature in substantially reduced time as compared to prior thermometers of this kind. This improved performance is achieved by configuring the thermometer to include a hollow, thin-walled metallic probe tip sized for secure attachment to the remote end of an elongated base. This defines an elongated cavity within the probe tip, and a thermistor is bonded to the probe tip within that cavity. The cavity is configured to be substantially longer in the direction of the probe's longitudinal axis than it is in a transverse direction, to inhibit the conduction of heat along the probe tip to the elongated base. The temperature of the thermistor, therefore, closely follows the temperature of any surface that contacts the metallic tip.

Medical thermometer

An improved prediction-type medical thermometer that provides an accurate estimate of a patient's temperature in substantially reduced time as compared to prior thermometers of this kind. This improved performance is achieved by using a special hollow probe tip having a low heat capacity and incorporating a resistive heater that is actuated only upon removal of the probe from a base housing. In particular, a processor measures an initial temperature upon the probe's removal and applies to the heater an initial electrical signal having prescribed parameter, e.g., pulse duration, that varies according to the initial temperature measurement. This warms the probe to a prescribed temperature at or near about 93.degree. F., after which the processor applies a sequence of pulses to the heater, to controllably regulate the probe's temperature to the prescribed value.

Growing community of inventors

La Mesa, CA, United States of America

John Archie Mossman