Disposable flow tube for respiratory gas analysis
First Claim
1. A flow tube for passing inhaled and exhaled gases from a subject between a respiratory connector and a respiratory analyzer as the subject breathes into the respiratory connector for analysis of the user'"'"'s breadth by the respiratory analyzer, said flow tube comprising:
- a housing having an outer shell;
an inner flow tube within said outer shell defining a flow pathway for passing the inhaled and exhaled gases therethrough, wherein said flow pathway is in fluid communication with the respiratory connector and also a source and sink for respiratory gases;
an inlet conduit extending from said housing for removably connecting the respiratory connector to the respiratory analyzer that is in fluid communication with said flow pathway;
an engagement means integral with said outer shell for removably connecting the flow tube to the respiratory analyzer; and
a usage indicating means integral with said housing for indicating previous usage of the flow tube.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is an improved flow tube for passing inhaled and exhaled gases from a subject between a respiratory connector and a respiratory analyzer as the subject breathes into the respiratory connector for analysis of the user'"'"'s breadth by the respiratory analyzer. The flow tube includes a housing having an outer shell, an inner flow tube within the outer shell defining a flow pathway for passing the inhaled and exhaled gases therethrough, such that the flow pathway is in fluid communication with the respiratory connector and also a source and sink for respiratory gases. The flow tube also includes an inlet conduit extending from the housing for removably connecting the respiratory connector to the respiratory analyzer that is in fluid communication with the flow pathway, and an engagement means integral with the outer shell for removably connecting the flow tube to the respiratory analyzer. The flow tube further includes a usage indicating means integral with the housing for indicating previous usage of the flow tube. The respiratory analyzer includes a flow pathway operable to receive and pass inhaled and exhaled 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 calculates at least one respiratory parameter for the subject as the subject breathes through the calorimeter.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A flow tube for passing inhaled and exhaled gases from a subject between a respiratory connector and a respiratory analyzer as the subject breathes into the respiratory connector for analysis of the user'"'"'s breadth by the respiratory analyzer, said flow tube comprising:
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a housing having an outer shell;
an inner flow tube within said outer shell defining a flow pathway for passing the inhaled and exhaled gases therethrough, wherein said flow pathway is in fluid communication with the respiratory connector and also a source and sink for respiratory gases;
an inlet conduit extending from said housing for removably connecting the respiratory connector to the respiratory analyzer that is in fluid communication with said flow pathway;
an engagement means integral with said outer shell for removably connecting the flow tube to the respiratory analyzer; and
a usage indicating means integral with said housing for indicating previous usage of the flow tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A flow tube for passing inhaled and exhaled gases from a subject between a respiratory connector and a respiratory analyzer as the subject breathes into the respiratory connector for analysis of the user'"'"'s breadth by the respiratory analyzer, said flow tube comprising:
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a housing having an outer shell;
an inner flow tube within said outer shell providing a flow pathway for passing the inhaled and exhaled gases therethrough, wherein said inner flow tube includes a first end in fluid communication with the respiratory connector and a second end in fluid communication with a source and sink for respiratory gases;
an annular flange interconnecting said outer shell and said inner flow tube, wherein said annular flange is positioned near a lower end of said inner flow tube;
a chamber disposed between said inner flow tube and said first end, wherein said chamber is a concentric chamber surrounding one end of said inner flow tube and being defined between said inner flow tube, said outer housing, and said annular flange an inlet conduit extending from said housing for removably connecting the respiratory connector to the respiratory analyzer that is in fluid communication with said concentric chamber;
an engagement means integral with said outer shell for removably connecting the flow tube to the respiratory analyzer; and
a usage indicating means positioned on said housing for indicating previous usage of the flow tube. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification