Abstract:
An overload protection method and apparatus for a medicament syringe pump force sensor. A dome switch is employed with force sensor components of a medicament pump. The dome switch collapses at overload pressures, isolating the force sensor from pump driving forces that exceed the force sensor limit. An alarm signal can be triggered by the overload, and initiate pump shut down.
Abstract:
A pole clamp for mounting a medical device to a pole. The pole clamp includes a main body, including a first portion including a threaded hole therethrough, a second portion that is disposed at an angle relative to the first portion, and a pivot post disposed in the second portion. A threaded adjustment rod is rotatably disposed in and through the threaded hole of the first portion. The threaded adjustment rod has a knob at a first end thereof and a push plate at a second end thereof. A rotatable stop block has a plurality of faces and is rotatably coupled to the pivot post. The rotatable stop block is rotatable to a plurality of positions to align a selected one of the plurality of faces opposite the push plate.
Abstract:
A rotatable electrical connector can include a base housing having a bottom surface, a top housing that is rotatably engaged with the base housing, and a plurality of contact pads that are arranged radially within the base housing. The contact pads each have a top surface and a bottom surface. A plurality of signal pins are individually associated with the plurality of contact pads; and each of the signal pins correspondingly project outwardly from the bottom surface of an associated contact pad and outwardly from the bottom surface of the base housing. A center ground pad, having a top surface and a bottom surface, is provided within the base housing. A ground pin projects outwardly from the bottom surface of the center ground pad and outwardly from the bottom surface of the base housing. A plurality of conductors is arranged radially within the top housing. The conductors individually correspond to the plurality of contact pads within the base housing. Each of the conductors has (i) a bottom surface that is capable of being in rotatable contact with the top surface of each of the contact pads and (ii) a top surface that projects outwardly from the top housing. A ground conductor is centrally located within the top housing and is surrounded by the plurality of conductors. The ground conductor has a bottom surface that is in rotatable contact with the top surface of the center ground pad in the base housing, and a top surface that projects outwardly from the top housing.
Abstract:
An implantable portal includes a septum that has embedded therein a plurality of formations that together form an indicia adapted to identify at least one characteristic of the portal. The formations are configured from impressions formed on different layers of the septum spatially separated along the vertical axis of the septum. The impressions are filled with a radiopaque material. The superposed formations do not overlap when viewed from atop the septum. When viewed under radiographic imaging from the top of the septum, a 3-D identification indicia is presented to the viewer. The 3-D indicia may be used as a 3-D marker to focus the location of the septum where a needle to access the fluid reservoir of the portal may be inserted.
Abstract:
A drug delivery system has a fluid store that has a first tubing having an outlet fitted with a connector of a given configuration that prevents the connector from being coupled to a conventional counterpart connector. The system further has a tube retaining device that has a catheter extending out of one of its ends and an inlet connector at its other end that has a configuration complementary to the configuration of the outlet connector of the first tubing, so that the first tubing may be matingly connected to the tube retaining device to establish a through fluid path from the first tubing to the catheter. A one-way valve may be provided to the tubing to prevent fluid from flowing backwards into the tubing. A fitting that enables the inventive system to be used with conventional IV stores and syringes is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A clam shell shaped adapter for retaining a catheter to establish a fluid path between the catheter and a fluid device or line has two shells integrally connected by a living hinge. A first shell has a luer end and a catheter end wherein a catheter is insertable through its aperture. A flexible tube at the inner surface of the first shell connects the luer end to the catheter end. The catheter is inserted through the catheter end to extend along the flexible tubing. A retainer structure is provided at the inner surface of the second shell so that when the first and second shells close upon each other, the retainer structure presses against the flexible tubing to fixedly retain the catheter in a fluidly sealing manner. Respective latch mechanisms provided at the shells lockingly couple the two shells to each other. The latch mechanisms are located remotely from the outer surfaces and peripheries of the shells to prevent inadvertent uncoupling of the shells. The shells may be uncoupled by inserting a pointed object through a notch to the interior of the device to disengage the latch mechanisms.
Abstract:
A safety catheter includes a catheter hub (16), a catheter tube (18), a needle hub (20), a needle cannula (22) having a distal tip (24), and a tip protector (30). The tip protector (30) includes an outer member (34) having a flexible tab (130) configured to releasably engage with the catheter hub (16) and release therefrom upon inward flexing of the tab (130). An inner member (32) is positioned entirely within the outer member (34) and has a portion (64) that impedes inward flexing of the tab (130) when disposed adjacent thereto. The inner member (32) is axially shiftable relative to the outer member (32) between a first position wherein the needle tip (22) is distal of the tip protector (30) and the inner member portion (64) is disposed adjacent the tab (130) to impede release from the catheter hub (16), and a second position wherein the tip (22) is within the outer member (34) and the inner member portion (64) is no longer adjacent the tab (130) and no longer impedes release from the catheter hub (16).
Abstract:
An underbody convective warming blanket that may be used by a pediatric or neonate patient includes a head portion configured with multiple substantially U-shaped channels each having a plurality of adjacent rows of apertures that circumscribe the head of the patient positioned on the blanket. The adjacent rows of apertures are configured on the upper layer of the blanket so as to be positioned at an orientation or angle relative to the base plane of the blanket or the head of the patient such that those apertures would substantially face the head of the patient when the blanket is inflated, so that the heated air output from the apertures is directed substantially towards the head of the patient to thereby effect an invisible dome of heated air that envelopes the head of the patient.
Abstract:
An ambulatory infusion pump can include a guided user help system that allows for a user to correct an error with the pump without needing to summon a home healthcare aide or other medical professional. When an error occurs with the pump, the user can select an option to receive help with the error. The help screen can display a possible solution for correcting the error that the user can follow. Additional help screens can display additional possible solutions if prior possible solution prove ineffective at correcting the problem.
Abstract:
A connector assembly for a heat exchanger has a fitting and a mount to which the fitting couples. The fitting has an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. At the proximal portion there is a crossbar, and at the distal portion there are an inlet and an outlet that protrude away from the body. Two wings extend from the body in a direction opposite to that of the inlet and outlet. There is formed on each of the wings a locking protrusion. The mount has a top portion where there is a groove dimensioned to accept the crossbar of the fitting. A longitudinal channel is formed orthogonal to the groove in the mount. Two sidewalls extend from the mount each for accepting a corresponding one of the wings, when the fitting is coupled to the mount. Apertures are provided at the sidewalls to engage the protrusion at the wings so that, once the fitting is coupled to the mount, it is secured thereto, until a force is exerted to compress the wings towards each other to disengage the protrusions from the apertures. To couple the fitting to the mount, a user first positions the crossbar of the fitting onto the groove of the mount, with the body of the fitting at an angle relative to the mount. With the crossbar resting on the groove, a pivot point is established between the fitting and the mount, so that the body of the fitting can be pivotally positioned within the channel of the mount. At that time the inlet and outlet of the fitting are mated to an output port and an input port, respectively, of the mount; and the protrusions at the wings of the fitting are engaged to the apertures at the sidewalls of the mount. An infusate line and a heat exchanger are connected to the proximal end and distal end, respectively, of the fitting.