Respiratory connector for respiratory gas analysis
First Claim
1. A respiratory connector for passing inhaled and exhaled gases as a subject breathes into a respiratory analyzer comprising:
- a housing configured to be supported in contact with the subject;
a flow pathway within the housing for passing the inhaled and exhaled gases therethrough;
a connector port extending from the housing for connecting the respiratory connector to the respiratory analyzer; and
a usage indicating means within the housing for indicating usage of the respiratory connector to the subject.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved respiratory connector for use with a respiratory analyzer is provided. The respiratory connector includes a housing configured to be supported in contact with the subject, a flow pathway within the housing for passing the inhaled and exhaled gases therethrough and a connector port extending from the housing for connecting the respiratory connector to the respiratory analyzer. The respiratory connector also includes a usage indicating means within the housing for indicating usage of the respiratory connector to the subject. The respiratory analyzer includes a flow pathway operable to receive and pass inhaled and exhaled gases. A first end of the flow pathway is in fluid communication with the respiratory connector and a second end is in fluid communication with a source and sink for respiratory gases. A flow meter generates electrical signals as a function of the instantaneous flow volume of inhaled and exhaled gases passing through the flow pathway. A component gas concentration sensor generates electrical signals as a function of the instantaneous fraction of a predetermined component gas in the inhaled and/or exhaled gases as the gases pass through the flow pathway. A computation unit receives the electrical signals from the flow meter and the component gas concentration sensor and calculates at least one respiratory parameter for the subject as the subject breathes through the calorimeter.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A respiratory connector for passing inhaled and exhaled gases as a subject breathes into a respiratory analyzer comprising:
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a housing configured to be supported in contact with the subject;
a flow pathway within the housing for passing the inhaled and exhaled gases therethrough;
a connector port extending from the housing for connecting the respiratory connector to the respiratory analyzer; and
a usage indicating means within the housing for indicating usage of the respiratory connector to the subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A respiratory connector for passing inhaled and exhaled gases as a subject breathes into a respiratory analyzer comprising:
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an outer shell having a generally hemispherical shape, with an opening in the outer shell in fluid communication with a flow path for the respiratory connector;
a removable shell liner inserted in said outer shell, wherein said shell liner includes a hygiene barrier positioned over the opening in said outer shell for operatively passing the inhaled and exhaled gases therethrough while blocking a predetermined pathogen in the exhaled gas; and
a usage indicating means within the respiratory connector for indicating usage of the respiratory connector to the subject. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A respiratory connector for passing inhaled and exhaled gases as a subject breathes into a respiratory analyzer comprising:
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a mouthpiece;
a hygiene barrier module having an inlet port for operatively connecting said hygiene barrier module to said mouthpiece, such that the inhaled and exhaled gases pass therethrough said hygiene barrier module for blocking a predetermined pathogen from the exhaled gases and a connecting port for operatively connecting the respiratory connector to a corresponding inlet conduit for the respiratory analyzer; and
a usage indicating means within the respiratory connector for indicating usage of the respiratory connector to the subject. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification