Wallace Harold Ring
Physician in Salt Lake City, UT

5133358, Jul 28, 1992

Sep 7, 1990

7/578712

Gary E. Gustafson - Sandy UT
Wallace H. Ring - Salt Lake City UT
Timothy J. Erskine - Salt Lake City UT
Kim L. Richardson - Herriman UT
Steven C. Kimble - Draper UT

Becton, Dickinson and Company - Franklin Lakes NJ

A61B 502, A61M 2500

128675

A sensor assembly for an in vivo physiological pressure measurement has a member with a distal end to ease placement of the catheter sensor assembly in vivo. A passage is preferably in an intermediate part of the member and is open but covered by a pressure responsive sensor sealing the passage. The sensor has a first side away from the intermediate part for exposure to in vivo physiological pressure and a second side in fluid communication with the passage. A pressure connecting means for inhibiting liquid communication located between the physiological pressure and the passage is arranged for selectively connection therebetween so that when connected the pressure on the first and second sides of the sensor can be substantially equalized. A control ex vivo makes the selective connection of the second side of the pressure sensor and the physiological pressure. A method for rezeroing an in vivo pressure sensor has the steps of obtaining a signal from the first side of the sensor at distal end, using a pressure substantially equal to the in vivo pressure and applying that pressure to the second side of the sensor.

5203340, Apr 20, 1993

Mar 16, 1992

7/851712

Gary E. Gustafson - Sandy UT
Wallace H. Ring - Salt Lake City UT
Timothy J. Erskine - Salt Lake City UT
Kim L. Richardson - Herriman UT
Steven C. Kimble - Draper UT

Becton, Dickinson and Company - Franklin Lakes NJ

A61B 502, A61M 2500

128675

A sensor assembly for an in vivo physiological pressure measurement has a member with a distal end to ease placement of the catheter sensor assembly in vivo. A passage is preferably in an intermediate part of the member and is open but covered by a pressure responsive sensor sealing the passage. The sensor has a first side away from the intermediate part for exposure to in vivo physiological pressure and a second side in fluid communication with the passage. A pressure connecting means for inhibiting liquid communication located between the physiological pressure and the passage is arranged for selectively connection therebetween so that when connected the pressure on the first and second sides of the sensor can be substantially equalized. A control ex vivo makes the selective connection of the second side of the pressure sensor and the physiological pressure. A method for rezeroing an in vivo pressure sensor has the steps of obtaining a signal from the first side of the sensor at distal end, using a pressure substantially equal to the in vivo pressure and applying that pressure to the second side of the sensor.

5218965, Jun 15, 1993

Dec 3, 1990

7/620994

Wallace H. Ring - Salt Lake City UT

Becton, Dickinson and Company - Franklin Lakes NJ

A61B 502

128673

A catheter carrying a sensor for placement in a catheter adapter has proximal and distal parts with a passage therebetween. The distal part detachably fits within a catheter adapter. The connector, when attached to the adapter, places the passage in fluid communication with and near a catheter lumen. A sensor on the connector within the distal part is exposed to the passage for fluid communication with the lumen. The sensor mounts on a tube or in an inside wall of the distal part and extends within the passage and partially through the distal part to monitor pressure with a first side of the sensor exposed to the passage and a second side of the sensor covering an exit from the connector near the proximal part. The second side is vented to atmospheric pressure and a sensor signal communication means connects the sensor to pass signals from the sensor through the exit. A sleeve extends distally on the connector for threaded engagement with a male luer on the adapter allowing fluid tight communication between a cavity within the adapter and the passage.

5098405, Mar 24, 1992

Jan 31, 1991

7/648799

Gerald H. Peterson - Salt Lake City UT
Wallace H. Ring - Salt Lake City UT

Becton, Dickinson and Company - Franklin Lakes NJ

A61M 500

604247

A catheter adapter, with a side port connection, contains a one-piece integral bifunctional resilient combination valve which serves to prevent back flow from the patient. It allows infusion from either the primary axial port or from the side port and provides automatic shut-off when the infusion pressure becomes lower than the ambient pressure in the patient's body from either port.

3964488, Jun 22, 1976

Nov 13, 1974

5/523250

Wallace H. Ring - Salt Lake City UT
John C. Adair - Salt Lake City UT
Richard A. Elwyn - Salt Lake City UT

A61M 1600

128351

A tracheal tube that may be constructed for either oral or nasal use is preformed as a flexible integral unit from flexible material having a memory so as to return to preformed shape following flexure. The tube has a proximal or machine end portion and a distal or patient end portion interconnected along the length of the tube by an intermediate portion and an abrupt bend portion. The distal or patient end portion and the adjoining intermediate portion merge into each other along the length of the tube and include curvature such that they will positionally conform to the shape of a patient's posterior pharynx and trachea and extend therealong when the tracheal tube is installed for use. The abrupt bend portion interconnects the proximal or machine end portion and the intermediate portion along the length of the tube at an angle substantially no greater than 90. degree. , so such proximal or machine end portion will be located exteriorly of the body opening of the patient and will extend along the face of the patient exteriorly of such body opening when the tracheal tube is installed for use.