Puritan-bennett Corporation

Mallinckrodt Medical, Inc.

Samuel D Riccitelli

Charles S Bankert

Jamil Ahmad

Henry K Hui

Richard Hannah

Christopher L Davis

Thomas A Shern

Neil Dunski

Erich H Wolf

Alan M Nelson

George A Divers

Terry J Lumsden

Richard Homick

John F Goodman

David P Skarshaug

The reinforced catheter sensor probe for intravascular use includes an aramid strand that extends along the length of the electromagnetic conduits and is bonded thereto. A greater than ten fold increase in tensile strength is thereby achieved. Additionally, the inherent strength of flexibility of the reinforcing strand ensures that a positive interconnection with the distal end of the sensor probe is maintained in the event the sensor probe is subjected to loads that cause its relatively more fragile components to sever. A protective, strain relieving introducer catheter is also provided to substantially prevent kinking and breakage of the sensor probe where the introducer catheter bends.

Reinforced catheter probe

The calibration cuvette apparatus for storing and calibrating a chemical sensor in a tonometered solution includes an upper cuvette section and a lower cylindrical valve section for alternately sealing the cuvette section and admitting a gas mixture to the cuvette section. The upper cuvette section has relatively narrow diameter upper and lower ends on either side of a wide diameter middle portion. The cuvette section is adapted to receive the sensor and retain the sensor in a fluid bath in the cuvette section so that the chemical sensor portion is disposed approximately in the center of the wide middle portion of the cuvette section. The chamber formed within the cuvette section is thus shaped so as to maintain the sensor in a position in the fluid bath so that any gas bubbles within the chamber will not dry the sensor. A lower end portion of the cuvette section includes a gas communication inlet for introducing gas into said chamber to equilibrate the tonometered buffer solution.

Calibration cuvette

A calibration cuvette apparatus for storing and calibrating a chemical sensor in a tonometered solution includes an upper cuvette section and a lower cylindrical valve section for alternately sealing the cuvette section and admitting a gas mixture to the cuvette section. The upper cuvette section has relatively narrow diameter upper and lower ends on either side of a wide diameter middle portion. The cuvette section is adapted to receive the sensor and retain the sensor in a fluid bath in the cuvette section so that the chemical sensor portion is disposed approximately in the center of the wide middle portion of the cuvette section. The chamber formed within the cuvette section is thus shaped so as to maintain the sensor in a position in the fluid bath so that any gas bubbles within the chamber will not dry the sensor. A lower end portion of the cuvette section includes a gas communication inlet for introducing gas into said chamber to equilibrate the tonometered buffer solution.

The multiple optical fiber event sensor apparatus includes a semipermeable generally cylindrical shaft, one or more optical fiber gas sensor modules within the shaft, and an optical fiber pH sensor module extending beyond the distal end of the shaft, with the sensor modules arranged in an axially staggered relationship. The shaft contains a potting matrix for axially fixing the position of the optical fibers, and includes a gas permeable portion surrounding the one or more gas sensor modules, and a hydrophilic portion covering at least part of the pH sensor module. A hemodynamically shaped, rounded distal end is also provided on the distal end of the shaft. The device provides for a multiplicity of individual sensors incorporated in a single shaft which minimizes cross-interference and thrombus formation when used as an intravascular multi-sensor.

Multiple optical fiber event sensor and method of manufacture

The system for measuring the concentration of oxygen in a fluid sample which may also contain halothane includes a sensor having a matrix containing a first indicator dye which fluoresces at a known wavelength when irradiated with light of a specific wavelength and containing a second indicator dye which fluoresces at a different emission wavelength upon irradiation with light of a similar or different specific wavelength. The fluorescence of the first and second indicator dyes are quenched to a different degree by the presence of oxygen, but the fluorescence of the indicator dyes is quenched to the same degree by halothane. Means are provided for irradiating the indicator dyes in the matrix with the appropriate wavelengths of light, and means are provided for measuring the resultant intensity of fluorescence of the indicator dyes at the different wavelengths of fluorescence. Means are also provided for determining the ratio of the intensity of the different wavelengths of the fluorescence of the indicator dyes, to provide an indication of the concentration of oxygen in the sample measured.

System and method for measuring oxygen in the presence of halothane

A carbon dioxide indicator for use in determining the proper placement of endotracheal tubes. The indicator is comprised of a pH-sensitive dye suspended in a predominantly hydrophilic polymer matrix. The indicator may be placed inside a tube or connector to form an indicator device. When the pH-sensitive dye changes color due to CO.sub.2 and moisture in exhaled air, the color change is visible from outside the device.

Carbon dioxide indicator

The multiple optical fiber event sensor apparatus includes a semi-permeable tubular sleeve, and a plurality of individual optical fiber event sensor modules within the sleeve arranged in an axially staggered relationship. A rounded tip is also provided on the distal end of the sleeve. The device provides for a multiplicity of individual sensors incorporated in a single tubular sleeve which minimizes cross-interference and thrombus formation when used as an intravascular multi-sensor.

Growing community of inventors

Murrieta, CA, United States of America

Samuel D Riccitelli