CO2 SENSOR AND CO2 MEASURING APPARATUS

• US 20120330161A1
• Filed: 06/19/2012
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Inventors: KOBAYASHI, Naoki, INOUE, Masayuki, DAINOBU, Hidetoshi, AOKI, Toshiki, TAKAHASHI, Iwao, ITO, Kazumasa, USUDA, Takashi, SUGIYAMA, Kumi
• Granted Patent: US 9,615,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head

Abstract

A CO₂ sensor includes: a sensing portion operable to change in color in accordance with a CO₂ partial pressure in expiration from at least one of nares and a mouth of a living body; and a mounting member adapted to hold the sensing portion at a position where the expiration from the at least one of the nares and the mouth impinges on the sensing portion.

Claims

1. A CO₂ sensor comprising:

a sensing portion operable to change in color in accordance with a CO₂ partial pressure in expiration from at least one of nares and a mouth of a living body; and

amounting member adapted to hold the sensing portion at a position where the expiration from the at least one of the nares and the mouth impinges on the sensing portion.

2. The CO₂ sensor according to claim 1, wherein the mounting member is adapted to hold the sensing portion on a philtrum of the living body.

3. The CO₂ sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the mounting member includes a projecting piece,

the sensing portion is disposed in the projecting piece, and

when the mounting member is attached to the living body, the mounting member is adapted to hold the sensing portion between the nares and the mouth of the living body.

4. The CO₂ sensor according to claim 1, wherein the mounting member includes an airflow path which guides the expiration from the mouth to the sensing portion.

5. The CO₂ sensor according to claim 1, wherein the mounting member is included in a mask-like air permeable member which is adapted to be held on a face of the living body.

6. The CO₂ sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the mounting member is included in an oxygen mask, and

the sensing portion is disposed in an inner side of the oxygen mask.

7. A CO₂ measuring apparatus comprising:

the CO₂ sensor according to claim 1;

a light source operable to emit a light signal toward the sensing portion;

a light receiver operable to receive a light signal from the sensing portion; and

a CO₂ measuring unit operable to perform a CO₂ measurement based on the light signal received by the light receiver.

8. The CO₂ measuring apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the light signal received by the light receiver is a light signal reflected from or transmitted through the sensing portion.

9. The CO₂ measuring apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the light signal emitted from the light source includes at least two kinds of light signals having different wavelengths.

10. The CO₂ measuring apparatus according to claim. 1, wherein an optical fiber for conducting light is disposed at least one of an area from the light source to the sensing portion and an area from the sensing portion to the light receiver.