Non-contact respiration monitor

• US 20050065449A1
• Filed: 09/09/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Army (U.S. Department Of Defense)
• Original Assignee: United States Army (U.S. Department Of Defense)
• Inventors: Caldwell, Donald W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,169,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/538
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow

Abstract

This invention relates to non-contact monitoring devices, and more particularly, non-contact respiration monitoring devices. According to the invention there is provided a monitoring device having a body defining an air monitoring channel between an air inlet and an air outlet. Disposed in monitoring channel is a respiration detection means, such as a flap-valve, which operates with associated logic circuitry to report the presence or absence of respiration via visual and audible displays. The device may be configured to attached, or be integrally connected to, the air input orifice of an air filter canister of a gas mask or the like. Alternatively, the device may be associated with the air output orifices or valves of a gas mask or the like.

Claims

1. A respiration monitoring device comprising:

a body having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication;

a detector disposed between said inlet and said outlet;

said detector being capable of detecting fluid moving from said inlet to said outlet;

wherein said fluid movement is caused by respiration of a wearer.

2. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein said detector includes a flap-valve switch.

3. The monitoring device of claim 2 wherein said flap-valve switch is actuated by movement of fluid from said inlet to said outlet.

4. The monitoring device of claim 3 wherein said detector includes a logic circuit;

said logic circuit being configured to report air actuated movement of said flap-valve.

5. The monitoring device of claim 4 further comprising a visual display electrically coupled to said logic circuit.

6. The monitoring device of claim 5 wherein said visual display comprises a light that is illuminated upon completion of a circuit caused by movement of said flap-valve into an open position.

7. The monitoring device of claim 4 further comprising an audible alarm electrically coupled to said logic circuit.

8. The monitoring device of claim 7 wherein said audible alarm is sounded upon completion of a circuit caused by movement of said flap-valve into an open position.

9. The monitoring device of claim 4 further comprising a visual display which displays a value corresponding to a number of air actuated movements of said flap-valve from an open position to a closed position in a given period of time.

10. The monitoring device of claim 1 wherein said flap valve switch is actuatable from a first position wherein it is in engagement with a first contact and a second position wherein it engages a second contact.

11. The monitoring device of claim 10 wherein engagement with said first contact illuminates a red lamp and engagement with said second contact results in illumination of a green lamp.

12. The monitoring device of claim 11 wherein said monitoring device is sealed to a flange of an air input orifice of an air filter canister.

13. The monitoring device of claim 11 wherein said monitoring device is sealed around a portion of an air filter canister body.

14. The monitoring device of claim 4 further comprising a battery for powering said logic circuit.

15. The monitoring device of claim 14 further comprising an on/off switch associated with said battery.

16. The monitoring device of claim 4 further comprising a selectively removable visual display mounted on an inlet side face of said body.

17. The monitoring device of claim 4 wherein said body includes a removable outer portion on an inlet end;

said outer portion having a visual display disposed thereon.

18. A non-contact respiration monitor comprising:

a monitor body having an inlet, an outlet and a fluid monitoring chamber passing therethrough;

a means for detecting movement of air passing from said inlet to said outlet, wherein movement of said air is caused by respiration of a wearer of said monitor; and

a means for reporting the presence or absence of respiration.

19. The respiration monitor of claim 18 wherein said means for detecting movement of air comprises an air flow actuated flap-valve switch.

20. The respiration monitor of claim 19 further comprising a battery powered logic circuit operatively associated with said flap-valve switch.

21. The respiration monitor of claim 20 further comprising an on/off switch operatively associated with said battery.

22. The respiration monitor of claim 21 wherein said means for reporting the presence or absence of respiration comprises a visually detectable light which is electrically illuminated when respiration moves said flap-valve to an open position.

23. The respiration monitor of claim 22 wherein said means for reporting the presence or absence of respiration includes an audible detectable alarm which is electrically sounded when respiration moves said flap-valve to an open position.

24. The respiration monitor of claim 23 wherein said means for reporting the presence or absence of respiration further includes a visual display of a rate of respiration calculated by said logic circuit based.

25. A gas mask comprising:

a mask having an inlet and an outlet;

an air filter canister having an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice;

a monitor having an inlet, an outlet, and a means for detecting and reporting movement of air from said inlet to said outlet;

said monitor being coupled to said mask.

26. The gas mask of claim 25 wherein said monitor is coupled to said inlet orifice of said air filter canister.

27. The gas mask of claim 26 wherein said monitor is coupled to said outlet of said mask.

28. A method of using a respiration monitor comprising:

disposing a monitor body having an inlet, an outlet and a fluid monitoring chamber passing therethrough in a path of air flow to a patient;

detecting the presence or absence of air passing from said inlet to said outlet, wherein movement of said air is caused by respiration of said patient; and

determining the presence or absence of respiration.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said monitor is disposed around the mouth and/or nares of said patient.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein said monitor is disposed on an outer surface of a mask worn by said patient.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said mask is a paper mask.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein said monitor is disposed around an air inlet of a gas mask.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein said monitor is coupled to an air inlet of a gas mask.

34. The method of claim 28 wherein said monitor is disposed around an air inlet of a gas mask filter canister.

35. The method of claim 28 wherein said monitor is coupled to an air inlet of a gas mask filter canister.