Respiration Detecting Means

• US 20090024048A1
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MAP Medizin-Technologie GMBH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lang, Bernd, Schatzl, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 7,967,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/168 Fluid filled sensor housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses

Abstract

The present application is directed to a detector to detect or generate measuring signals that are indicative of the respiration of a person, wherein said detector can be used advantageously in view of hygiene and stands out due to a simple and robust configuration. According to a first aspect, the detector detects a signal that is indicative of the activity of the respiratory muscles of a person to be examined, the detector comprising a band which, in the application position, is passed around a torso region which widens and narrows when the person to be examined breathes, as well as a structure that is included in the band and loaded in accordance with the narrowing or widening of the torso region. The structure is configured such that it causes a change in the volume of a measuring space device depending on a tensile force. It is thus advantageously possible to detect or measure the forces acting on the band in a non-electric manner and, on the basis of this detection or measurement, draw conclusions relating to the widening or narrowing of the torso.

Claims

1. A detecting means for detecting a signal that is indicative of the activity of the respiratory muscles of a person to be examined, said detecting means comprising a band means which is passed around a torso region which widens and narrows in response to the respiration of a person to be examined as well as a structure which is included in the band means and is loaded by said band means in accordance with the narrowing and widening of the torso region, wherein said structure is configured such that it causes a change in the volume of a measuring space means.

2. The detecting means according to claim 1, characterized in that the structure is configured as a buckle means.

3. The detecting means according to claim 1, characterized in that the change in the volume can be realized by squeezing an elastically deformable chamber means.

4. The detecting means according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic chamber means is realized by a tube portion.

5. The detecting means according to claim 1, characterized in that said tube portion is squeezed by the buckle means in accordance with the tensile loading of the belt means.

6. The detecting means according claim 1, characterized in that the buckle means is divided into two segments, and the two segments surround the tube portion for squeezing it depending on the tensile force.

7. The detecting means according to claim 1, characterized in that the walls surrounding the tube portion have such a geometry that deformation conditions are obtained which are favorable as regards the squeezing of the tube portion depending on the tensile force.

8. The detecting means according to claim 1, characterized in that the detecting means forms part of a multi-channel measuring system.

9. The detecting means according to claim 1, characterized in that a change in the volume depending on the tensile force is passed on to a measuring means by means of a measuring tube arrangement.

10. The detecting means according to claim 1, characterized in that the measuring means comprises a signal recording means.

11. A measuring arrangement comprising a detecting means according to claim 1, said measuring arrangement further comprising a measuring tube and a measuring means which is coupled to the detecting means by means of the measuring tube for recording the tensile force measuring signals measured by the detecting means.

12. The measuring arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the measuring means is configured such that its signal recording capacity extends over a pressure signal range which also comprises the dynamic pressure signals that can be measured by means of a nose glasses means.