Alaris Medical Systems, Inc.

Woodside Biomedical, Inc.

Cardinal Health 303, Inc.

Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Navius Corporation

Carefusion 303, Inc.

Robert J Duffy

Thomas L Grey

Lon M Severe

Edward M Richards

Timothy W Vanderveen

Shawn Wayne DeKalb

Stephen Bollish

Hogar Tait

Gregory J Gruzdowich

James Patrick Stewart

Thomas L Mann

Dale Coleman

Stephen J Bollish

Eugene J Jung

Philip N Eggers

Erich H Wolf

Thomas A Steinke

Leo R Roucher, Jr

Jeffery D Schipper

Kenneth W Carpenter

Derek K Evans

Benson C Stone

Casimer Domitrz

Richard B Kelsky

James P Stewart

Philip L Baddour

Shawn W Dekalb

Jeffrey D Schipper

A modular patient care system having a central management unit module and one or more detachable functional units is described. Using unique mechanical and electrical features, the modular patient care system is capable of flexibly, bilaterally, and safely providing electrical power from the central management unit to the attached functional units, with exposed power leads of end units being electrically isolated for safety and security. Functional units are capable of detecting the presence of other functional units more distant from the central management unit for passing power to those units, and for otherwise electrically isolating exposed power leads when no further units are attached. Additionally, the modular patient care system provides for a modular connection arrangement wherein modules are detachably connected to each other in a convenient, flexible, interchangeable, and secure manner by providing a hinge connector pair, a specially located latch mechanism, and a guide means between any pair of modules.

Modular patient care system with interchangeable modules

An electro-acupuncture device for controlling nausea. The device includes a base unit which is includes a wrist-watch like housing, circuitry for generating electro-acupuncture stimulus disposed within the housing, and a strap for securing the housing to the wrist. The base unit has a standardized construction. The device also includes a releasably attachable electrode assembly. The electrode assembly attaches to the base unit of the device. The electrode assembly includes a pair of electrodes and connectors for connecting the electrodes to the circuitry of the base unit. The output of the device is dependent upon the circuitry of the electrode assembly. Thus various electrode assemblies can be made. The circuitry of the base unit modifies the output of the device depending upon which electrode assembly is attached to the base unit.

Electro-acupuncture device with stimulation electrode assembly

Method and apparatus for power connection in a modular patient care system

An acupressure device with mechanisms for modulating the pressure applied to the user.

Automatically modulating acupressure device

A patient care system comprising an interface unit, a Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) unit, and a pulse oximetry unit is disclosed. The PCA unit provides PCA administration, including administration of a dose of analgesic upon request, and the pulse oximetry unit provides constant monitoring of the patient's blood oxygen saturation level and pulse rate. The interface unit provides for communication between and control of the PCA unit and the pulse oximetry unit, and further provides an interface between the user and the system. When the pulse oximetry unit indicates to the interface unit that the patient's blood oxygen saturation level and pulse rate has reached a user-specified minimum, the interface unit initiates visual and audio alarms and controls the PCA unit by shutting off the PCA unit. The interface unit also contains communication ports, which the interface unit can use to send signals to external devices, such as to alert alerts medical personnel.

Oximetry monitored, patient controlled analgesia system

Method and apparatus for power connection in a modular patient care

The present invention is a stent for insertion into an artery or other vessel. The stent is formed from a series of tubular shaped bands each formed with a first end which overlaps a second end. The overlap between the first and second ends is variable and allows each band to move between a contracted configuration and a fully expanded configuration which are within the elastic limits of the band. Each band includes a plurality of receivers and a first tab on a first edge of the band to secure each band at or near the fully expanded configuration and allow the stent to conform to the contours of the vessel. The bands are distributed along a substantially common axis to form a tube interconnected by a pair of elongated strips. In use, the stent is placed over a balloon catheter and compressed to adopt the contracted configuration. The stent may be maintained in the contracted configuration by a retainer. The balloon catheter and stent are then advanced through a placement catheter to a target site where the balloon is partially inflated to free the stent for expansion to an equilibrium configuration. The balloon may then be more fully inflated to further expand any of the bands in the stent to suit the needs of the patient. The balloon is then deflated and removed, leaving the expanded stent to support that target site.

Stent and method for making a stent

A modular patient care system is described having unique mechanical, electrical, and logical features. An apparatus is described for allowing a modular connection arrangement wherein modules are detachably connected to each other in a convenient, flexible, interchangeable, and secure manner by providing a hinge connector pair, a specially located latch mechanism, and a guide means between any pair of modules. Additionally, an apparatus and method is described for automatic, sequential, and dynamic logical address assignment of functional units attached to the central management unit, according to their respective position in a linear array of units. Logical address assignment is designed to occur automatically upon a physical reconfiguration of the functional units, without requiring external input or a rearranged scheme for determining the relative physical positions of the functional units.

Method and apparatus for logical addressing in a modular patient care

In accordance with the present invention, a safety monitoring apparatus provides protection in the event of an alarm condition or failure in a patient care system. More particularly, the safety monitoring apparatus is an independent functional unit within a device such as an infusion pump unit which provides single-fault protection in the event of an alarm condition or failure in the pump itself or in the primary control and monitoring means of the pump. The safety monitor utilizes control and signal inputs and can detect fault conditions independently of the primary control and monitoring means of the pump. Parameters which the safety monitoring apparatus may independently monitor in an infusion pump include motor control, air-in-line, flow-stop detection, mechanism motion, pressure sensing, door position sensing, and total volume infused. If a fault condition is sensed, the safety monitor can notify the primary control means, independently shut down fluid delivery, or sequentially do both.

Safety monitoring apparatus for a patient care system

In accordance with the present invention, a modular patient care system provides patient monitoring and the supply of therapeutic requirements. Specifically, the system is comprised of an interface unit and a plurality of patient functional units. The interface unit provides an interface between the user and the system, and may be configured and adapted to provide different levels of functionality. Interface units with different levels of functionality may be interchanged so as to provide greater flexibility, safety, and cost effectiveness. Each interface unit contains interface ports for the transfer of information such as drug libraries, system configuration values, and event history. The functional units are internally programmed and controlled so as to provide a high level of system modularity, and require only power and interfacing functionality from the interface unit.

Modular patient care system

Growing community of inventors

Poway, CA, United States of America

Robert J Duffy