Oximetrix, Inc.

Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Sierra Monitor Corporation

Robert W Beard

Leonard Nanis

Russell F Kirk

Gulu N Advani

Apparatus for monitoring fluid pressure and controlling fluid flow in a fluid line. The apparatus (10) includes a base (36) and a cover (38), between which is captured a membrane (42). The base includes an inlet port (18), a first outlet port (20), and a second outlet port (34). Channels formed within the base and covered by the membrane connect the inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication. The apparatus includes a flushing flow control valve (30) formed by a flow control projection (70), which projects outwardly from the base through the cover, and separates an inlet channel (62) from an outlet channel (64). A capillary flow passage 88 for restricting flow through the apparatus is disposed between the inlet channel and outlet channel comprises a capillary groove (86), formed across the flow control projection, adjacent the overlying membrane. Flushing fluid flow through the apparatus is obtained by pulling upwardly on a grip (90) to deform the membrane away from the flow control projection, thereby enlarging the capillary flow passage. A pressure sensing assembly (28) is mounted on the apparatus in fluid communication with the outlet channel for continuous monitoring of fluid pressure. A flow direction valve is formed by a generally 'T'-shaped flow direction channel (122) formed in the base and overlying the membrane, with an actuator button (128) being slidably secured to the cover above the flow direction channel providing for selection of the flow path. An inwardly extending valve projection (130) included on the actuator button bears on and deforms the membrane into the flow direction channel. Sliding the actuator button between three positions causes the membrane to selectively block one of the inlet or outlet ports, preventing fluid flow through that port, but allowing fluid flow between the other two ports.

Fluid pressure monitoring and flow control apparatus

An apparatus and method for providing a blood pressure transducer suitable for use in a catheter line, for monitoring blood pressure. Two embodiments of the blood pressure transducer (20, 120) are disclosed, both of which include connectors (24) suitable for connection to a catheter line. A flow-through passage (22) extends between the two connectors, in fluid communication with a solid-state pressure transducer chip (36), which is mounted on a chip carrier (34) inside a rectangular-shaped plastic housing (30/130, 32). The chip carrier includes a plurality of formed flat leads (38) connected to the pressure transducer chip, and an extending nib (62) having a passage (66) filled with a silicon gel (64), which couples fluid pressure in the flow-through passage to a pressure sensitive diaphragm (106) on the solid-state pressure transducer chip. Electrical signals are transmitted to and from the pressure transducer chip through a multiconductor lead (40) having a plurality of conductors (42), which make electrical contact with the formed flat leads during assembly of the housing. Use of the preassembled chip carrier and of a solid-state pressure transducer chip which includes its own thermal compensation circuit greatly reduces the assembly cost of the blood pressure transducer.

Encapsulated blood pressure transducer

A compact, inexpensive, and lightweight pressure calibrator and a method for calibrating pressure monitoring devices. The pressure calibrator (10) comprises a plunger (14) sized to slide snugly within a hypodermic syringe barrel (12). Included within the plunger are pressure transducer (56), a microprocessor (54) and other electronic components (62). A digital display (30) disposed within the side of the plunger is operative to display the pressure developed within the syringe barrel (12) as the operator moves the plunger. 'O' rings (28) provide a hermetic seal between the plunger and the internal bore (16) of the syringe barrel. A tube (22) is connected to the output port (20) of the syringe and provides fluid communication between the syringe and a pressure monitoring device (26) being calibrated.

Syringe pressure calibration reference

An optical module for coupling a fiberoptic catheter to a catheter oximeter processing apparatus. The optical module includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, each of which is mounted on a flat surface at the free end portion of a respective bracket. A plurality of optical fibers, which are adapted to be optically connected to the catheter, have their free ends secured to a mounting substrate in spaced positions and in closely spaced alignment with the diodes. The diodes are each individually provided with electrical connections that can be selectively actuated by the processing apparatus. The brackets, which are fixed at one end, are constructed of thin flexible material so that the diodes can each be adjusted generally in the plane of the receiving end faces of the optical fibers so as to obtain maximum light energy transfer therebetween.

Optical coupling

A surgical instrument includes a handle and a disposable assembly which can be readily replaced after each operation or as necessary. The disposable assembly includes both an electrically heated scalpel blade and an electrosurgical active electrode which are mounted in a spaced parallel arrangement so that they can be used alternately by rotating the instrument by 180 degrees. The mounted ends of both the blade and the electrode are adapted to be received by separate terminals in the instrument handle so that the appropriate external power sources can be selectively connected thereto.

Combination surgical scalpel and electrosurgical instrument

The cutting instrument of this invention is made by threading a heater assembly through a hollow cutting instrument body. A blade having a shank and a blade body including a cutting edge is secured within the hollow cutting instrument body at its shank portion such that the blade body extends from the hollow cutting instrument body. The heating assembly is secured to the blade body and to the cutting instrument body. The blade body is coated with a non-stick means.

Surgical cutting device

A portable infusion device includes a disposable syringe which is located in a removable section of a compact package that comprises the device. In order to conserve space, a flexible piston rod assembly is provided wherein the syringe plunger head is connected to a thin flexible plunger stem which is reversely bent about the upstream end of the syringe body so that the outer end of the stem lies directly adjacent and parallel to the syringe body. A small motor located in the non-removable portion of the package drives the plunger through a screw which sequentially engages closely spaced teeth on the face of the plunger stem as it moves along the outer surface of the syringe. When the syringe contents have been discharged, the removable section, including the syringe and plunger stem assembly, can be readily removed and replaced.

Portable fluid infusion apparatus

The cutting instrument of this invention is adapted to be heated to a predetermined temperature range and includes a steel substrate having a cutting edge, a copper composition having a yield strength of at least 25,000 p.s.i. laminated to the steel substrate and an electrical heater means secured to the copper composition laminate. The cutting edge of the cutting instrument and at least a part of the copper composition and heater means may be coated with a non-stick composition in order to prevent the cutting instrument from sticking to the subject upon which the cutting operation is performed with the cutting instrument.

Surgical cutting blade

Cutting device and method of manufacture

A gas measurement method for metal-oxide gas sensors. The sensors are thermally cycled by sequential heating and cooling. It has been found that a continuous, concentration-dependent, unique signature for different gases is produced during thermal cycling. Once signature patterns are developed for different concentrations, an unknown gas concentration for which a signature pattern exists may be sampled, either by amplitude or time-dependent samples, in order to identify the gas in its concentration.

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Placerville, CA, United States of America

Robert W Beard