Abstract:
A hand-held inhalation-actuated spray device including a housing; tank of substance to be sprayed; a dispenser mechanism for dispensing the substance; an inhale duct; a dispenser mechanism urging device for actuating the dispenser mechanism; a locking mechanism fixed on a plate inside the housing, which includes at least one locking latch member for locking or unlocking the action of the urging device; an unlocking mechanism for displacing the latch member towards its released position while suction exists in the inhale duct; the unlocking mechanism including an electrical actuator for actuating the latch member, an electronic control circuit for the electrical actuator, a suction sensor to deliver a suction signal to the electronic control circuit on detecting suction in the inhale duct, the electronic control circuit then causing the electrical actuator to move the latch member into its released position; the device being characterized in that it further includes a position sensor for detecting that the device is in a predetermined proper orientation, in which the position sensor is connected to the electronic control circuit and the electronic control circuit is adapted to trigger actuation of the device only if the position sensor detects the predetermined proper orientation of the device.
Abstract:
A casing holds a syringe that contains a medicine, such as insulin, which may be driven out of the syringe by a plunger into a catheter attached to a human body. The power for the plunger drive mechanism is provided by a spiral spring mounted in the casing. A clockwork movement, regulated by a step electrical motor, controls the speed of the drive mechanism. A microprocessor controls the speed of the step electrical motor which regulates the clockwork movement. All of the components are contained in a casing which has an opening to allow the position of the plunger in the syringe to be seen from outside the casing.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an implantable device for the injection of fluid into a patient's body. The device includes a non-invasive external part which magnetically cooperates with the implanted portion through a magnetic field. The device is entirely mechanical and is capable of delivering both a continuous dose of fluid as well as instantaneous dose of fluid. The mechanism comprises a fluid reservoir, a catheter, an elastic means, a regulating means, a magnetic drive means, a gear transmission means and a flow adjustment means.
Abstract:
A probe is provided for a pacemaker which is associated by one of its end portions with the pacemaker and by its opposite end portion with the auricle and the ventricle of the heart. It comprises two conductors which form a one-piece assembly and which are associated with each other by means allowing them to slide axially with respect to each other, namely two tubes or sleeves fitting one into the other and movable with respect to each other. An annular space is provided between said tubes.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for adjusting an implantable heart stimulator (1) in dependence on the effort exerted by the patient wearing the stimulator, using an external control programmer (2) associated in operation with the stimulator (1), a number of typical operating programs p.sub.i of the stimulator (1) being previously defined, each corresponding to a type of effort by the patient and characterized by specific values v of at least one operating parameter p of the stimulator (1), and the stimulator (1) is externally actuated, via the control programmer (2), so as to select the desired operating program p.sub.i, the result of the selection being that the stimulator (1) then operates in accordance with the selected operating program, so that the patient can automatically choose an operating program p.sub.i for the stimulator (1) in dependence on an effort to be made. The typical operating programs p.sub.i and consequently the specific values V of the parameters p, i.e., the maximum stimulation frequency F and the time D necessary for reaching the frequency F, are stored in the memory of a microprocessor (3) found in the stimulator (1).
Abstract:
A process of regulating by an extra-corporeal control unit an implanted cardiac stimulator comprising a pulse generator and a pair of electrodes, comprises controlling the stimulator so that it functions at a fixed rhythm independent of normal cardiac rhythm and detecting by the extra-corporeal unit successive pulses emitted by the stimulator. After each of selected stimulator pulses detected, and during the whole period between successive stimulator pulses, a train of successive control pulses is transmitted by the control unit and is received by the stimulator as binary information "1". On the contrary, no train of successive control pulses is transmitted during the whole period between other successive stimulator pulses and this is received as binary information "0". The binary information thus received is used to regulate the operation of the stimulator. The extra-corporeal unit displays the pulses emitted by the stimulator to verify that the regulator is effective.
Abstract:
In order to determine parameter values of an implanted programmable pacemaker, each parameter value is assigned a time .DELTA.T which is a fraction of the pacing period T in the magnetic mode. In a pair of successive pacing intervals with the combined duration of 2T, one interval is shortened and the other lengthened by the amount .DELTA.T. With the pacemaker in the magnetic mode, the parameter value is identified by observing the position of the middle pulse in the double interval 2T.
Abstract:
This cardiac stimulator comprises a sealed metal case (2), means for generating electric direct current which are electrically connected to at least one electronic circuit (13) adapted to deliver heart-stimulating pulses, the current generating means, comprising an anode (3), a cathode (4) and an electrolyte, being disposed directly in the case (2). The electronic circuit (13) is enclosed in a sealed cell (12) provided with an output terminal (14) for electrically connecting an electrode (14') and another terminal (15) for electrically connecting one of the anode and cathode poles (3, 4). This stimulator has a low weight and reduced over-all dimensions.
Abstract:
An implantable cardiac stimulator having terminals for connections with a cardiac probe comprises an amplifier for receiving and amplifying a signal received from the probe, a band pass filter for filtering the output of the amplifier and a level detector which responds to a predetermined level of the amplified and filtered signal. A logic module comprising a clock, a microprocessor and a memory is connected with the level detector and with a magnetically operable control switch which can be actuated by a permanent magnet outside the body. The stimulator automatically performs the normal therapeutic function of palliating the patients cardiac insufficiencies and also provides means for monitoring operation of the stimulator and the condition and degree of dependency of the patient on the stimulator.