Abstract:
A device is suitable both for determining with high accuracy and precision the temperature of the human body (surface temperature, temperature in layers next to the surface, temperature in bodily cavities, temperature gradient towards the inside of the body) and for detecting the heat of the human body. The device has at least one sensor head and the associated electronic control, measurement, evaluation and output units. Their measurement accuracy and precision is higher than that of conventional temperature and heat measurement devices. The device further allows temperature measurement and heat detection with a high spatial and temporal resolution. In addition, because of the high correlation discovered between the glucose concentration in human blood and body temperature and heat measured at certain points of the body, the device is extraordinarily suitable for non-invasively and even contactlessly determining the glucose concentration in parts of the human body, in particular the human blood.
Abstract:
A process and device for the analytical determination of the glucose concentration in a biological matrix. According to said process, in a detection step, light from a light transmitter is irradiated through a boundary surface of a biological matrix thereinto as primary light and the light leaving the biological matrix through a boundary surface thereof is detected in a light receiver in order to determine a measurable physical property of the light which can vary owing to the interaction with the biological matrix and which correlates with the glucose concentration in said biological matrix. In an evaluation step, the glucose concentration is found on the basis of the change in the said physical property of the light determined in at least one detection step in relation to a calibrated value. In order, with such a process, to obtain good analytical accuracy, e.g. to observe the change in the analyte concentration (cyclic control) over a sufficient period, as the property which can be measured in the detection step correlating with the glucose concentration is used a parameter corresponding to the time of propagation of the light within the biological matrix between a defined irradiation point and a defined detection point.
Abstract:
The present invention is a device and method for controlling longitudinal movement of a tube (34) relative to a shaft (36) slidably disposed within the tube, especially in the catheterization of a patient. An operative segment of the shaft cooperates with an ancillary tool to create a coupling force field between the shaft (36) and the tool (34). The tube can be moved over the shaft while the coupling force field operates through the tube to restrict movement of the shaft. In preferred embodiment, the shaft is a guide wire (36) and the tube is a catheter (34) with a lumen for slidably receiving the guide wire (36), while the coupling force is created magnetically.
Abstract:
A device is proposed for determining the concentration of substances in the blood, in particular of haemoglobin, oxyhaemoglobin and/or diagnostic dyes. A light source (12, 30, 40) emits light in the range of at least one wavelength, the light being made to pass via an optical coupler (50) and an optical waveguide connected thereto in the blood. Light emerging from the blood passes through the coupler (50) to a photodetector (60, 70), whose output signal passes through an evaluation device which determines the required concentration on the basis of the intensity of the light leaving the blood. The photodetector detects light in the range of at least two light wavelengths, one of which corresponds to the wavelength of the fluorescent light from the substance whose concentration is to be measured, the other corresponding to the wavelength of the fluorescent light from at least one other substance present in the blood. The range of the wavelength of light from the light source (30, 40) is spectrally separated from those of the light detected by the light detector (70, 60). The evaluation device calculates the required concentration of the substance in the blood on the basis of an empirically predetermined function into which are incorporated the respective intensities of fluorescent light from the substance to be measured and of the at least one other substance, in particular according to a multidimensional power series of those intensities.
Abstract:
An endotracheal tube (10) has a temperature sensor (42) positioned proximal of a patient's larynx when the tube (10) is in use. Thus, the sensor (42) overlies the tongue. A heat insulator (46) and an electrical insulator (48) surround the temperature sensor (42). The temperatore sensor (42) can be linear or serpentine. An oxymeter (50) can also be used with the tube.
Abstract:
A device and method for monitoring the pH value of the aspirated gastric fluid of a patient includes a monitor (10), a sensor assembly (18) engageable with the monitor (10), and a collecting reservoir (22) engageable with the sensor assembly (18). The sensor assembly (18) includes a sensor (48) which is moveable on a base member (42) between a cleansing cavity (74), calibration cavities (56, 70), and a monitoring cavity (78). The monitor (10) includes a suction generating member (14) which is connectable with the patient, and a microprocessor (90) which is connectable with the sensor (48) of the sensor assembly (18). In the operation of the device, gastric contents from the patient are aspirated by the suction generating member (14) into the monitoring cavity (78). There, the sensor (48) generates a signal indicative of the pH value of the gastric contents which is transmitted to the microprocessor (90). Periodically, during operation, the sensor (48) is moved to the cleansing cavity (74) for cleaning and subsequent calibration by successive contact with pH 7 and pH 1 solutions in the calibration cavities (56, 70) of the sensor assembly (18).
Abstract:
A sensor (10) for spectrophotometric-type patient examination devices includes a thin, flexible, elongated support frame (22) of opaque material which defines integral socket-like mounting bases (32, 32a, 32b) for positioning an electro-optical light source (14) and detectors (16, 18) in particular relative locations, and the support frame further defines light passages (30, 30', 30") in alignment with each such electro-optical component. A thin metallic member (24, 34) overlays each side of the frame to shield the electro-optical components from electric noise-producing fields, and a compliant outer cover (12) overlies the shield on one side for contact with the patient. An adhesive outer layer on the cover secures the sensor to the patient. The cover and shield have apertures (24a, 24b) aligned with the electro-optical components for passage of light to and from the latter. The source and detectors are solid-state devices, which are mounted on lead-frame assemblies and have an optically clear lens-like deposit covering them.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for spectrophotometrically determining internal physiological parameters such as blood constituents, wherein a source (132) of selected electromagnetic wavelenghts is disposed at a first location and at least two detectors (128, 130) are located at particular different distances from the source, selected such that both detectors receive energy that has traversed not only perimetral layers (114, 142, 214, 242, 314, 342) such as bone, tissue, etc. but also internal tissue (140, 240, 340) disposed beyond such perimetral layers, and one such detector (130) receives energy which has traversed only a small amount of the selected internal tissue while the other (128) receives energy which has traversed substantially more of such tissue, whereby comparative analysis of the data from the two detectors provides information which consistently characterizes only the selected internal tissue. In cerebral oximetry, where the detector and receivers are applied to the forehead, the particular distances from the source to the two detectors are about 30 and 40 mm., respectively.
Abstract:
Intraoral-procedures TENS electrodes (10, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) are disclosed. Intraoral electrodes (60, 70, 80, 170) include active electrodes and return electrodes having a common carrier with a field of pressure sensitive adhesive for adhering the electrode to a hand (finger or thumb) of the practitioner or an applicator. Extraoral electrodes (10, 30, 40, 50) adhere to facial skin of mammals and provide TENS treatment for intraoral-procedures. The electrodes can be dual channel to combine active electrodes and return electrodes on one electrode. Optionally, a dual channel electrode is used in combination with an elongated applicator (140) having a bifurcated end in order to facilitate guiding a syringe needle toward a desired injection site.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for measuring or monitoring pCO2, and optionally pO2, on a real-time basis, in the stomach or the intestine using air tonometry. The intraluminal measurements are made using a catheter (14) having a pCO2 sensor (12), and optionally a pO2 sensor, at its tip (14a) for in situ measurements, or by circulating a fixed amount of air through the catheter (14) with measurement occurring at the proximal end (14b) of the catheter (14). Instrumentation (16) supporting the sensor may be adapted for location within a patient or external to a patient.