Sensormedics Corporation

Signet Scientific Company

Michael Pawlowski

Alan J Arena

Edwin J Pounder

Larry S McDavid

Adrian M Totten

Gerald T Stillman

Rex McCarthy

Gene Frick

Stuart L Foster

Cedric H Beebe

A device and method for determining pulses in a modulated signal is disclosed. The modulated signal is processed and converted into a quantized analog type of digital data stream. The data stream is evaluated over time by considering preceeding and subsequent values in the data stream to generate a filtered wave form. By using extreme values in the filtered wave form pulse detection is accurately determined regardless of whether the modulated signal has complicating features, such as dicrotic notch, or high noise levels, or both.

Wave form filter pulse detector and method for modulated signal

A temperature control system for an electrically heated cutaneous gas sensor. A heating element is provided with heating current by a closed loop temperature control circuit. The system includes a plurality of temperature monitoring circuits which are arranged to turn off the flow of heating current if the temperature of the sensor takes on an unacceptable value. The system also includes temperature setting circuitry for applying an increased temperature setpoint signal to the temperature control circuit, for a predetermined time, to reduce the time delay between the application of the sensor to the patient and the production of usable sensor data. Timing circuitry assures that the flow of heating current is not turned off in response to normal sensor temperature transients.

Temperature control system for cutaneous gas monitor

An improved method and apparatus for deplating the electrodes of cutaneous oxygen sensors. A controllable voltage source selectably establishes either a polarizing voltage or a deplating voltage between the electrodes of a cutaneous oxygen sensor, while a current sensing circuit measures the current flow therebetween. If, during the calibration of the sensor, the current flow exceeds a predetermined threshold, the apparatus initiates an operator assisted sequence of operations which deplate the electrodes and restore the gas sensor to a usable operating condition. During the performance of this sequence of operations, the apparatus carries out all steps, except those which must be performed manually by an operator.

Apparatus for deplating cutaneous gas sensors

A temperature control system for an electrically heated cutaneous gas sensor. A heating element is provided with heating current by a closed loop temperature control system. The system includes a plurality of temperature monitoring and control circuits which are arranged to turn off a switch that controls the flow of current through the heating element if the temperature of the sensor varies outside of acceptable limits. The system also includes latching circuitry for maintaining the off state of the switch after the occurrence of an out of limits condition, and circuitry for preventing the latching circuitry from being actuated during normal temperature transients.

A fluid dispensing method and apparatus particularly adapted for post-mix dispensing of a soft drink, with accurate relative proportions of carbonated water and soft drink syrup. Separate syrup and water valves are controllably turned on and off, independently, at prescribed duty cycles, to provide a prescribed mix ratio, and syrup and water flow meters monitor the instantaneous flow rates of the water and syrup to minimize the effects of any pressure variations in the initial syrup and water supplies. The apparatus is conveniently modified for use with different soft drink syrups using a separate removable personality module for each syrup, characterizing its prescribed mix ratio and its viscosity.

Fluid dispensing system

A post mix dispensing system for mixing together and dispensing carbonated water and a flavored soft drink syrup, while generating substantially reduced amounts of foam. Carbonated water is injected into a special staging chamber, where it circulates turbulently at about atmospheric pressure. The water is ported from the chamber through a plurality of elongated ports, substantially under gravitational forces alone, and the ports are configured to straighten the flow of water and remove most of its kinetic energy. A nozzle deflects the water to converge upon a stream of syrup and to mix with the syrup in an unconfined region, after a substantial proportion of the gases released from the water has escaped, thereby substantially reducing the generation of foam.

Post mix dispensing method and apparatus

A fluid flow meter having a paddle wheel rotatably mounted in a cylindrical cavity and an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit tangentially aligned with the periphery of the cavity for directing a fluid to flow through it. The paddle wheel's axis of rotation is displaced from the cavity's centerline, in the direction of the inlet conduit and substantially perpendicular to the flow of fluid entering the cavity, such that the flow meter operates effectively over an extended range of Reynolds numbers, spanning both turbulent and laminar flows.

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Chino, CA, United States of America

Michael Pawlowski