초록 ▼

There is provided herein an electronic patient monitor that is suitable for use with a variety of different sensors and which automatically configures itself depending on the sensor that is used and/or the environment in which the electronic monitor is placed. In a first preferred embodiment, the el

There is provided herein an electronic patient monitor that is suitable for use with a variety of different sensors and which automatically configures itself depending on the sensor that is used and/or the environment in which the electronic monitor is placed. In a first preferred embodiment, the electronic monitor determines whether it is being used on a bed or a chair by sensing whether or not a nurse call connector is present. If such a connector is plugged into the monitor, the unit will assume that it is being used with a sensor that has been placed on a bed and will configure its internal parameters appropriately. Such configuration would include changing a delay time to provide for longer delays before sounding an alarm than would be used with a chair monitor.

대표청구항 ▼

There is provided herein an electronic patient monitor that is suitable for use with a variety of different sensors and which automatically configures itself depending on the sensor that is used and/or the environment in which the electronic monitor is placed. In a first preferred embodiment, the el

There is provided herein an electronic patient monitor that is suitable for use with a variety of different sensors and which automatically configures itself depending on the sensor that is used and/or the environment in which the electronic monitor is placed. In a first preferred embodiment, the electronic monitor determines whether it is being used on a bed or a chair by sensing whether or not a nurse call connector is present. If such a connector is plugged into the monitor, the unit will assume that it is being used with a sensor that has been placed on a bed and will configure its internal parameters appropriately. Such configuration would include changing a delay time to provide for longer delays before sounding an alarm than would be used with a chair monitor. said back side of said screen facing said second portion of said chamber, and each of said plurality of perforations is frustoconical in shape, expanding from said front side to said back side. 4. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, wherein said sample catch member has an engagement portion having an irregular shaped cross-section, and said sample catch assembly is adapted to receive said sample catch member in a single orientation. 5. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 2, wherein said screen divides said chamber into first and second portions, and said aspiration conduit includes a first aspiration connector coupled to said first portion of said chamber and a second aspiration connector coupled to said second portion of said chamber. 6. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 5, further comprising: (g) an irrigation conduit within the tubular member and adapted to provide a conduit through which the fluid is provided to the distal end of the tubular member; and (h) a valve through which said aspiration conduit and said irrigation conduit extend. 7. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, wherein said sample catch assembly has a plurality of chambers for discretely storing a plurality of tissue samples. 8. A proximal actuation handle for a biopsy forceps instrument having a tubular member with proximal and distal ends and an aspiration conduit, a distal end effector assembly coupled to the distal end of the tubular member, at least one pull wire extending through the tubular member, and said proximal actuation handle coupled to the proximal end of the tubular member, the biopsy forceps instrument for retrieving a tissue sample from a patient, said proximal actuation handle comprising: (a) a stationary member coupled to a first of the at least one pull wire and the tubular member; (b) a movable member movable relative to said stationary member and coupled to a second of the at least one pull wire and the tubular member, wherein movement of said movable member relative to said stationary member moves the at least one pull wire relative to the tubular member to actuate the distal end effector assembly so as to obtain the tissue sample; and (c) a sample catch assembly removably coupled to the aspiration conduit and removably coupled to the stationary member for receiving the sample from the aspiration conduit and retaining the sample, said sample catch assembly including a chamber and a sample catch member insertable into and removable from an external opening in said chamber for filtering the tissue sample from a fluid flowing through the aspiration conduit. 9. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 8, wherein said sample catch member has a screen provided with a plurality of perforations which permits the fluid to pass therethrough and prevents the tissue sample from passing therethrough. 10. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 9, wherein said screen has front and back sides and divides said chamber into first and second portions, said front side of said screen facing said first portion of said chamber and said back side of said screen facing said second portion of said chamber, and each of said plurality of perforations is frustoconical in shape, expanding from said front side to said back side. 11. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 9, wherein said sample catch member has an engagement portion having an irregular shaped cross-section, and said chamber is arranged to receive said sample catch member in a single orientation. 12. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 9, wherein said screen divides said chamber into first and second portions, and said first portion of said chamber is provided with a first aspiration conduit connector for coupling said first portion of said chamber to the aspiration conduit, and said second portion of said chamber is provided with a second aspiration conduit connector for coupling said second portion of said chamber to said aspiration conduit. 13. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 8, further comprising: (d) a valve through which said aspiration conduit extends. 14. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 8, wherein the biopsy forceps instrument further includes an irrigation conduit within the tubular member, said proximal actuation handle further comprising: (d) a valve through which said aspiration conduit and the irrigation conduit extend. 15. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 14, wherein said valve is biased in a closed position, which thereby closes said aspiration conduit and said irrigation conduit. 16. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 8, wherein said stationary member includes a shaft portion having a transverse slot, and said movable member is a spool member slidably mounted on said shaft portion and includes a transverse bar extending through said transverse slot. 17. A biopsy forceps instrument for retrieving tissue samples from a patient for use with an endoscope, comprising: a flexible tubular member having an aspiration conduit and at least one irrigation conduit; at least one support member embedded within said flexible tubular member, said support member being provided with a proximal end and a distal end, and said distal end of said support member made from a shape memory material; a distal assembly having a first jaw and a movable second jaw, said movable second jaw being pivotable relative to said first jaw and coupled to a first of said at least one irrigation conduit and said aspiration conduit; at least one flexible control member extending through said at least one irrigation conduit and coupled to said movable second jaw; and a proximal actuation handle coupled to said at least one flexible control member for moving said at least one flexible control member relative to said flexible tubular member, thereby moving said movable second jaw relative to said first jaw from an open position to a closed position. 18. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 17, wherein: said at least one support member is one of a round wire, a flat wire, and a multi-strand cable. 19. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 17, wherein said flexible tubular member is made of a polymer. 20. A flexible tubular member for use with a biopsy forceps instrument for retrieving tissue samples from a patient for use with an endoscope, comprising: (a) a flexible multi-lumen tubular extrusion provided with an aspiration conduit and at least two irrigation conduits, said multi-lumen extrusion having two irrigation conduits; and (b) at least one support wire co-extruded with said flexible multi-lumen extrusion and having proximal and distal ends. 21. A tubular member according to claim 20, wherein said at least one support wire has a distal end formed from a shape memory metal. 22. A tubular member according to claim 20, wherein said flexible multi-lumen extrusion is made of a polymer. 23. A tubular member according to claim 20, wherein said at least one support wire is made of one of a rounded wire, a flat wire, and a multi-strand cable. 24. A tubular member according to claim 23, wherein said at least one support wire is made of stainless steel. 25. A tubular member according to claim 20, wherein said at least one support wire is located substantially between each of said two irrigation conduits and said aspiration conduit. 26. The biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1 wherein the proximal actuation handle includes a stationary member coupled to a first of said flexible tubular member and said at least one flexible pull wire, and a movable member movable relative to said stationary member and coupled to a second of said flexible tubular member and said at least one flexible pull wire, wherein movement of said movable member relative to said stationary member moves said at least one flexible pull wire relative to said flexible tubular memb er and actuates said distal end effector assembly so as to obtain the tissue sample. 27. The biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 10 wherein the proximal actuation handle includes a stationary member coupled to a first of said flexible tubular member and said at least one flexible control member, and a movable member movable relative to said stationary member and coupled to a second of said flexible tubular member and said at least one flexible control member, wherein movement of said movable member relative to said stationary member moves said at least one flexible control member relative to said flexible tubular member and actuates said distal assembly so as to obtain the tissue sample. 28. The biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 17 wherein said first jaw is coupled to a second of said at least one irrigation conduit and said aspiration conduit, and said movable second jaw and said first jaw are configured such that, when said movable second jaw and first jaw are in said closed position, said movable second jaw and said first jaw form a fluid passage between said at least one irrigation conduit and said aspiration conduit.