Medex, Inc.

Warren B Nicholson

Charles Russell Patzer

Glenn D Brunner

Wendell Thompson

James H Fowler

Thomas P Frank

Theodore R Adams

Nilesh M Shah

Mark D Pfouts

Michael P Eland

John C Toomey

Dennis M Tomisaka

Russell I DeLong

Glen D Brunner

A medical pressure transducer includes a reusable component with channels to either side of a reusable diaphragm, and a disposable dome with mounting wings to either side of a disposable diaphragm and slidably receivable in the channels to mount the dome with the diaphragms in confronting relationship. Camming ramps are provided in the channels and on the wings by which to drive the dome diaphragm into the reusable diaphragm. Where the channels are defined behind outer front walls, the outer surface of one is provided with a tab-receiving slot to receive a locking tab associated with dome to lock diaphragms into confronting relationship. The dome includes second wings spaced from the mounting wings to receive the outer front walls. The second wings have finger gripping portions one of which is a locking paddle supporting the lock tab. In alternative embodiments, the dome wings are edges, fixed or resilient, receivable through slots formed in the reusable component.

Modular medical pressure transducer

A pressure transducer (10) for measuring fluid pressure in a fluid path comprising a strain gauge circuit (37) of thick film piezoresistors formed on an alumina diaphragm (36) in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. Each resistance leg of the bridge typically includes a thick film measuring piezoresistor (R1A) to which selected thick film patch-in piezoresistors (R1B, R1C, R1D, R1E) are selectively connected to create a measuring resistance network (PN1). The measuring resistance network is adjusted to a predetermined resistance value to balance and optimize the electrical symmetry of the bridge. The pressure transducer (10) includes a mechanical stop member (46) located adjacent the alumina diaphragm (36) such that the fully deflected diaphragm contacts the stop thereby physically preventing the diaphragm from deflecting an amount that would cause the diaphragm to rupture.

Low cost pressure transducer particularly for medical applications

A modular interconnecting component support unit has a rigid plate (14) with a planar face (16) and a rib (24) and a slot (38) extending parallel the plate face but from opposite sides or edges (22, 34) of the plate so that two such units may be slid together while their faces are in planar relationship. Locking arms (46) adjacent the ends (40) of the slots (38) are provided to releasably grip a rib (24) of one unit received in the slot (38) of a second unit. A medical device, such as a reusable portion of a medical pressure transducer (20), may be permanently affixed to the plate face (16).

Modular interconnecting component support plate

An electronically monitored angioplasty system is provided with a verifier circuit to verify the operation of conversion circuitry for converting an electrical pressure signal from a pressure transducer to a displayed numerical value on a digital read-out. The verifier circuit is selectively activated to offset the displayed numerical value by a predetermined amount and upon deactivation the displayed numerical value returns to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer in the balloon. In one embodiment, a reference signal to the conversion circuitry is selectively offset by a signal corresponding to the predetermined amount and in another embodiment the electrical pressure signal itself is selectively offset by a reference signal corresponding to the predetermined amount. In another aspect of the system, an audible balloon deflation indicator circuit sounds a pleasant signal that the pressure within the balloon has fallen below a threshold pressure so the doctor need not divert attention from the patient.

Electronically monitored angioplasty system

A sample site for obtaining a whole blood sample includes flow directors in the ports. The flow directors may include ramp surfaces. Blood flowing into the sample site is diverted by the flow directors to mix with and flush out all of the saline otherwise present in the sample site to allow for a whole blood sample to be taken.

Sample site with flow directors

A reusable pressure transducer for use with a detachable dome. The pressure transducer includes a body having a recess with an opening covered by a flexible diaphragm. The body has a hole opposite the flexible diaphragm and a sensor placed over the hole. A dielectric gel fills the recess to transmit to the sensor variations in pressure imparted to the diaphragm.

Gel-filled blood pressure transducer

An interference edge filter is mounted on the end of an optical fiber to provide a sensor for pressure or temperature. The filter is formed such that the transition slope of the filter curve will move to the left or right depending upon the changes in the parameter being monitored. The shift in the position of the slope of the edge filter curve is detected by passing the reflected light through an interference bandpass filter having an edge slope intersecting the transition slope and measuring the intensity of the light passing the bandpass filter.

Growing community of inventors

Dublin, OH, United States of America

Warren B Nicholson