Whitman Medical Corporation

Joseph Lichtenstein

Marvin Gordon

Edward N Sharpless

Vincent L Vaillancourt

Stephen Kocanowski

A sterile intravenous flow valve includes in-line valve mechanism which is maintained sterile in all of its positions. The valve also includes an adjustment member and a locking mechanism for selectively locking the adjustment member in place to thereby assure accurate flow rate settings. Sterility is achieved by providing a sealed chamber formed by a snap-fit engagement between the adjustment member and the main body member of the valve.

Adjustable in-line valve for sterile fluids

A surgical scrub apparatus includes a liquid-containing rupturable cylindrical cartridge which is slidable within a tubular handle having two (2) hollow interior spikes projecting longitudinally from one end. The cartridge can be inserted sufficiently far to cause rupture of the cartridge by both spikes. Liquid from the ruptured cartridge flows through the hollow spikes to an applicator sponge having two (2) wide area applicator surfaces. The hollow spikes are oriented such that one is always disposed higher than the other when the applicator surfaces of the sponge are disposed substantially horizontally. The upper spike can be disposed at a position wherein the liquid pressure applied thereto is less than ambient such that the upper spike serves as a vent passage which admits air into the cartridge. The lower spike thereby serves primarily as an outflow for liquid from the cartridge and air replaces the egressing liquid through the upper spike. The forward ends of the spikes are truncated on respective bias planes which diverge in the direction toward the remote end of the handle. The spikes are transversely spaced as far as possible to maximize the liquid pressure difference at the punctures made in the cartridge by the spikes when the handle is oriented with the sponge tilted slightly downward from horizontal.

Surgical scrub

A surgical scrub apparatus includes a liquid-containing rupturable cylindrical cartridge which is slidable within a tubular handle having at least one and preferably two hollow interior spikes projecting longitudinally from one end. The cartridge can be inserted sufficiently far to cause rupture of the cartridge by both spikes. Liquid from the ruptured cartridge flows from within the handle, preferably through the spikes, to an applicator sponge having two wide area applicator surfaces. The spikes include exterior projections which are received in respective recesses or flow passages in the applicator to facilitate distribution of liquid through the applicator to the application surfaces. The recesses are contoured as desired to aid in liquid distribution. The interior of the spikes may be coated with a non-wetting agent such as silicone to facilitate flow through the hollow spikes.

Sterile urine specimen collection is achieved by collecting the initial or forestream portion of a void in a chamber and then directing the midstream overflow into a specimen container in which the chamber is partially disposed. Overflow from the specimen container is drained to ambient or to an overflow container. This specimen container is selectively disengageable from the apparatus and can be sealed with a sterile cap which is secured to the apparatus in a sterile manner before it is deployed on the specimen container. Collection of the forestream and terminal portions of the void eliminates dripping from the unit when the specimen container is removed. When the terminal portion is drained to ambient, the drain tube is provided with a drip prevention structure. Void urine is received in a funnel having an oval entrance and a discharge spout which projects into the forestream chamber to a level above overflow holes defined in the chamber. A urine-absorbent material is disposed in the forestream chamber to immobilize the collected forestream and thereby minimize intermixing of the collected forestream with the overflowing midstream.

Sterile urine specimen collection

System and means for irreversibly recording the incidence of a predetermined temperature comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal system and an activator material capable of interacting with the liquid crystal system to induce a unique irreversible change in the optical properties thereof sustantially at the predetermined temperature. The system preferably includes means for separating the liquid crystal system and activator at temperatures below the activation temperature of the activator.

Indicator system and means for irreversibly recording a temperature limit

The surface of the intravenous liquid in a container is maintained at substantially constant height above the patient by suspending the container from an elastic member which stretches along an axis other than the suspension axis for the container. In this manner, the total vertical length of the intravenous unit, including the container, the elastic member and the support hook, is minimized. In a particular embodiment the elastic member is a spring oriented substantially horizontal and combined with a pulley and idler roller to redirect the suspension cord for the intravenous liquid container. In another embodiment the spring is disposed vertically along an axis parallel to the suspension axis. An alarm circuit includes one or more micro switches which are actuated by the moveable spring-attached pulley to provide an audible or visible alarm indication when the suspension spring retracts to a specified position, thereby indicating that the intravenous container is approaching an empty condition.

Intravenous liquid leveling device

A patch of temperature-sensitive liquid crystal material adheres to a patient's skin to serve as an indicator of infiltration during intravenous (or intraarterial, intra-lymphatic vessel, etc.) insertion procedures. The material is selected so as to have a constant color over a temperature range which spans the normal skin temperature range. The patch is placed immediately downstream of the insertion point and preferably has a straight forward edge to permit rapid color change over a broad section of the patch in response to infiltration. The patch may include a downstream extension, remote from the likely infiltration region, which experiences infiltration-responsive color change considerably later than the forward edge, thereby providing a color contrast to facilitate visual detection. Alternatively, a portion of the patch is permanently colored to have the same color as the patch at normal skin temperatures; the permanently colored portion therefore provides color contrast when the patch color changes due to infiltration.

Liquid crystal infiltration sensing system

An incentive spirometer, of the type wherein an object is raised in a tube by a patient inhaling through the tube, is improved by automatically maintaining the tube vertically-oriented in spite of tilting of the frame from which the tube is supported.

Incentive spirometer with automatic levelling

An improved liquid dispensing device having particular utility as a surgical scrub and/or swab unit is characterized by a cartridge which is slidable in a rigid handle and rupturably by a spike when slid within the handle to a predetermined degree. Fluid from the ruptured cartridge flows from within the handle to within a sponge through apertures which permit free flow of the dispensed fluid. The handle may be provided with longitudinally-extending slots to facilitate compression of the handle and the cartridge disposed therein. A check valve may be included in the hollow spike passage to prevent back flow of liquid from the sponge and dispensing chamber into the cartridge.

Liquid dispensing device with cartridge-rupturing member

A fitting for inserting a needle or catheter into a blood vessel and for positionally stabilizing the inserted needle or catheter in situ includes separate needle holder and stabilizer elements. A retainer member is secured at its proximal end to the holder and extends in spaced relation along the holder to a distal end. The stabilizer has a bi-wing shape with a slot contoured to receive the retainer member in longitudinally slidable relation at a location below a holder supporting region on the top surface of the stabilizer. The wings can be flexed upward and toward one another to positively grip the holder for insertion of the needle or catheter. When unflexed, the stabilizer slot constrains the retainer element which in turn holds the stabilizer in the space between the retainer and the holder. Removal of the needle is achieved by withdrawing the retainer longitudinally from the stabilizer slot.

Vascular puncture stabilizer fitting for facilitating withdrawal

An incentive spirometer is provided with a mechanism for inhibiting the incentive in response to high flow rate bursts of inhalation so as to promote proper long inhalation efforts by a patient. In one embodiment, the spirometer includes a transparent column located in the inhalation flow path and in which an object is disposed and caused to rise in the column in response to inhalation efforts by the patient. The incentive-inhibiting mechanism may comprise a valve in the rising object which opens in response to excessive flow rate to permit flow through the object and thereby preclude the object from rising. Alternatively, the incentive-inhibiting object may be disposed to admit air into the flow path downstream of the object in response to high flow rate inhalation bursts to thereby reduce the flow rate acting on the object. A variety of embodiments are disclosed. In another embodiment, an indication is provided each time the object is raised to a predetermined height in the column and maintained at the height for a predetermined time, signifying that a minimum volume of air has been inhaled.

Incentive spirometer

An intravenous flow control valve includes an in-line valving mechanism as opposed to a tube clamp. The mechanism includes an adjustment member and a locking mechanism for selectively locking the adjustment member in place and thereby assure accurate flow rate settings.

Adjustable in-line intravenous valve with locking mechanism

A fitting for use in performing a vascular puncture includes a system for rapidly and securely stabilizing an intravascular catheter or needle to a patient's skin upon insertion of the needle or catheter into a blood vessel. The hub of the needle or catheter has upper and lower lateral wings extending from its opposite sides. The wings are folded up over the hub and gripped together while a vascular puncture is made and then the lower wings, which have adhesive under surfaces, are released and dabbed onto the skin to rapidly stabilize the fitting. The upper wings can be taped down over the lower wings to effect a more permanent attachment of the fitting.

Fitting for use in performing a vascular puncture

A safety valve for catheterization procedures is characterized by a piston having an internal flow path, a portion of the piston being surrounded by an elastomeric member which surrounds a portion of the piston and biases it to a closed position. The elastomeric member also severely restricts fluid flow around the piston to eliminate any flow path other than the internal piston flow path.

Growing community of inventors

Colonia, NJ, United States of America

Joseph Lichtenstein