Abstract:
Uterine activity is sensed (13) by passing (14, 16) light through the patient's abdominal wall and detecting (12) the light reflected from abdominal tissues. The intensity of the reflected light varies with the state of contraction of the patient's uterus. The use of light for monitoring uterine activity avoids the problems of size, fixation, and measurement accuracy exhibited by the conventional tocodynamometer technique.
Abstract:
An improved method and apparatus for use in optical testing of concentration in samples has been developed. The apparatus restricts the solid angle of illumination and the solid angle of detection to eliminate a high proportion of the scattered radiation while allowing the ballistic radiation and the snake-like radiation to be transmitted. In samples which contain multiple scattering centers, this allows less correction for variations in effective pathlength and allows easier calibration of the apparatus. The use of polarized radiation as a means of minimizing scattered radiation in the sample is also disclosed. In a second embodiment the detector collects only polarized radiation while excluding depolarized (multiple scattered) radiation. The radiation preferrably is chosen to be in the 700-1500 nm wavelength range. The sample preferrably is a portion of a mammalian body, the analyte to be analyzed is selected from the group consisting of glucose, glucose identifying substances, mixtures thereof or from the group consisting of hemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin and mixtures thereof. The concentration measurement can be used to derive oxygen saturation of the blood.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the production of certain substances secreted in the body, for instance such substances as hydrochloric acid, bile salts, pancreas enzymes, pepsins, trypsins, porphyrins, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide. A dialyzable calibrating substance (21) is added to body fluid to a known extent, said calibrating substance containing the substance whose production shall be determined; the amount of calibrating substance dialyzed in a dialysis catheter in time is determined, the amount of substance whose production shall be determined dialyzed in the dialysis catheter in time is determined and a quotient (F(t)) between the added and dialyzed quantities of calibrating substance in time is determined and is correlated with a corresponding quotient (G(t)) for the substance whose production shall be determined, so as to determine said production.
Abstract:
A multiple blood pressure cuff system comprises a plurality of inflatable cuffs (12a-12e) of a range of widths and lengths which collectively share a common pressure source (14) and a common pressure measuring device (16). A manifold (18) pneumatically connects each cuff (12a-12e) to the common pressure source (14), pressure measuring device (16), and stopcock valves (20a-20e) allow airflow to be directed to the particular cuff in use. A mounting board (24) is provided for affixing the system to a wall or cabinet and for conveniently supporting and displaying the cuffs (12a-12e) that are not in use.
Abstract:
Devices, systems, and methods are provided for accessing the interior of the heart, and performing procedures therein while the heart is beating. A tubular access device (22) is positioned through an intercostal space and through a muscular wall of the heart. The access device (22) includes a balloon or flange for sealing (32) the penetration to prevent leakage of blood. An obturator (52) is positionable in the access device, and includes cutting means (60) located at its distal end. Elongated instruments are introduced through the access device to perform surgical procedures including septal device repair, ablation, and electrophysiological mapping.
Abstract:
An endocardial lead (12) for implantation in a right heart chamber (RV) for responding to blood pressure and temperature and providing modulated pressure and temperature related signals to an implanted or external hemodynamic monitor (100) and/or cardiac pacemaker or pacemaker/cardioverter/defibrillator. The lead (12) has a sensor module (20) formed in its distal end and is coupled to a monitor (100) that powers a sensor circuit in the sensor module. The sensor module is formed with a pickoff capacitor (Cp) that changes capacitance with pressure changes and a reference capacitor (Cp) that is relatively insensitive to pressure changes. The sensor circuit provides charge current that changes with temperature variation at the implant site, alternately charges and discharges the two capacitors, and provides timing pulses having distinguishable parameters at the end of each charge cycle that are transmitted to a demodulator (150). The demodulator (150) detects and synchronizes the timing pulses and derives pressure and temperature analog voltage values representative of the intervals between the timing pulses which are digitized and stored in the monitor. The monitor may also be coupled with other sensors (106, 152) for measuring and storing related patient body parameters, e.g. blood gas, ECG, and patient activity.
Abstract:
A device for supporting a sensing surface above an underlying artery of a patient includes a hold down assembly (36) and a sensor interface (38) pivotally coupled to the hold down assembly (36). The hold down assembly is secured at a spaced position relative to the underlying artery of the patient. The sensor interface (38) includes a flexible diaphragm (168), a compressible side wall (162, 164) and a mount (152). The flexible diaphragm (168) has an active portion (168b) for transmitting blood pressure pulses of the underlying artery. The compressible side wall (162, 164) encircles the active portion (168b) and has a top end and a bottom end. The bottom end (162, 164) is secured to the flexible diaphragm (168). The mount (152) is coupled to the top end of the compressible side wall (162, 164). The mount (152) has a connection located below the top end of the compressible side wall (162, 164) for receiving a movable member (128) of the hold down assembly (36) so that the movable member (128) may be pivotally coupled to the sensor interface (38) below the top end of the compressible side wall (162, 164).
Abstract:
An embodiment of the invention provides a guidewire having a coil which comprises at least a distal coil segment (24) and a proximal coil segment (22), one of the coil segments being more radiopaque than at least one of the other coil segments. An elongate wire (14) may extend within the lumen of the coil. In a two segment coil, the distal end of the distal coil segment is attached to the wire (14) and the proximal end of the distal coil segment is attached to the distal end of the proximal coil segment while the proximal end of the proximal coil segment is attached to the wire (14).
Abstract:
A medical apparatus comprising a transcutaneous device (3) comprising a base (6) having means for attachment to a bone (5) of the organism and sealed connection means fitted either with a temporary stopper (7) or a transcutaneous pillar (8) containing electrical connections (27) complementary to the electrical connections (21) incorporated in the base (6), the base also comprising a sealed bacteriological protective membrane (34) which can be perforated by at least electrically conductive pins (30) which the said electrical connections (27) comprise.
Abstract:
This invention is a protective shield (18) for a blood sampling unit that is movably engaged to an adapter (10) having a needle (12) attached. The shield attaches to a tube holder when the needle is covered by the shield. Longitudinal grooves (56) on the adapter (52) guide the shield between a first position, covering the needle, and a second position, exposing the needle. The shield can be locked in either the first position or the second position. The blood sampling unit is safely disassembled or re-assembled when the needle is covered by the shield. In an embodiment of the invention, a tip protector (42), removably attached to the adapter, extends through the length of the tube holder (44) to prevent needlesticks. The blood sampling unit and the tube holder can be assembled and disassembled when the tip protector is attached to the adapter, covering the needle. The tip protector is removed during a clinical procedure and then replaced after the clinical procedure is finished.