BREATH SAMPLING SYSTEM

• US 20100298734A1
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oridion Medical 1987 Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Oridion Medical 1987 Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Colman, Joshua Lewis, Levitsky, Gershon
• Granted Patent: US 8,992,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/543
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/083 Measuring rate of metabolism by using breath test, e.g. measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow

Abstract

There is provided herein a breath sampling device comprising a controller adapted to initiate a signal to trigger a valve functionally associated with a breath sampling tube upon said controller receiving a signal indicating a blockage in the breath sampling tube. The valve is adapted to facilitate an increase of pressure within the breath sampling tube between the blockage and a pump functionally associated with the breath sampling tube. There is further provided herein an airway adapter comprising a restrictor located in proximity to a connection point between the airway adapter and a breath sampling tube, wherein the restrictor may be adapted to reduce the flow rate of liquids entering the breath sampling tube. There is further provided herein an airway adapter comprising one or more openings located near a connection point between said airway adapter and a breath sampling tube, wherein said one or more openings are adapted to allow inflow of air to reduce the flow rate of liquids entering the breath sampling tube.

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A breath sampling device comprising:

a breath sampling tube;

a valve associated with said breath sampling tube; and

a controller configured to initiate a signal to trigger said valve upon said controller receiving a signal indicating a blockage in said breath sampling tube.

25. The device according to claim 24, wherein said valve is configured to facilitate an increase of pressure within said breath sampling tube between the blockage and a pump.

26. The device according to claim 25, wherein said valve is configured to facilitate the increase of pressure within said breath sampling tube, between the blockage and the pump, by allowing air into said breath sampling tube between the blockage and the pump.

27. The device according to claim 24, wherein said controller is further configured to initiate a signal to deactivate a pump associated with said breath sampling tube.

28. The device according to claim 24, wherein the signal indicating the blockage in said breath sampling tube is indicative of a pressure measurement within said breath sampling tube reaching a predetermined threshold value.

29. The device according to claim 24, wherein the signal indicating the blockage in said breath sampling tube is indicative of a pressure change rate within said breath sampling tube reaching or exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

30. The device according to claim 26, wherein said valve is a solenoid valve.

31. The device according to claim 30, wherein said solenoid valve is configured, while the pump is deactivated, to toggle between a normal mode of operation and a self-zeroing mode of operation, thereby allowing air into the breath sampling tube between the blockage and the pump.

32. The device according to claim 24, further comprising a restrictor located in proximity to a connection point between an airway adapter and said breath sampling tube, wherein said restrictor is configured to reduce a flow rate of liquids entering said breath sampling tube.

33. The device according to claim 32, wherein said restrictor comprises a restricting hole.

34. The device according to claim 24, further comprising one or more openings located near a connection point between an airway adapter and said breath sampling tube, wherein said one or more openings are configured to allow inflow of air to reduce a flow rate of liquids entering said breath sampling tube.

35. An airway adapter comprising a restrictor located in proximity to a connection point between the airway adapter and a breath sampling tube, wherein said restrictor is configured to reduce a flow rate of liquids entering the breath sampling tube.

36. The airway adapter according to claim 35, wherein said restrictor is located inside a sampling port.

37. The airway adapter according to claim 35, wherein said restrictor is manufactured from a hydrophobic material.

38. The airway adapter according to claim 35, wherein said restrictor comprises a uniform inner diameter.

39. The airway adapter according to claim 35, wherein said restrictor comprises a restricting hole.

40. A breath sampling tube comprising a restrictor located in proximity to a connection point between the breath sampling tube and an airway adapter, wherein said restrictor is configured to reduce a flow rate of liquids entering the breath sampling tube.

41. The breath sampling tube according to claim 40, wherein said restrictor is manufactured from a hydrophobic material.

42. The breath sampling tube according to claim 40, wherein said restrictor comprises a uniform inner diameter.

43. The breath sampling tube according to claim 40, wherein said restrictor comprises a restricting hole.