DEVICE FOR COMBINED MONITORING AND STIMULATION OF RESPIRATION

• US 3,802,417 A
• Filed: 09/03/1971
• Issued: 04/09/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volker Lang
• Original Assignee: Volker Lang
• Inventors: Lang, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Application Number:
  US05/177,580
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.1R,30,30.2,25R,DIG.17,2.08,145.8 340/279
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor

Abstract

A device for monitoring and automatically stimulating respiration including means for directly monitoring respiratory activity via the respiratory tract, a sensor for converting the monitored respiratory activity into cyclical electrical signals indicative of the respiration depth and frequency, and electronic counter means for counting the electrical signals generated by the sensor and for generating a signal when a predetermined number of electrical signals have been counted. The device also includes an alarm relay, integrating timing means for triggering the alarm relay in the event that no signal is received from the counter within a predetermined time period, and respiration stimulator means activated by the alarm relay upon the triggering thereof for automatically reestablishing respiration. Means are also provided to clear mucus from the passage between the respiratory tract and the sensor, and further to ensure that shallow breathing is not mistaken for reestablished normal breathing.

Claims

1. A device for automatically monitoring and stimulating respiration, the device comprising:

means for directly monitoring respiratory activity via the respiratory tract;

said means including at least one sensor means for converting the monitored respiratory activity into electrical signals indicative of the respiration frequency;

electronic counter means said at least one sensor means for counting the electrical signals generated by said sensor and for issuing a signal when a predetermined number of electrical signals have been counted;

an alarm relay;

first integrating timing means for receiving the signals issued by said electronic counter means and for triggering said alarm relay in the event that no signal is received from said counter means within a predetermined time period; and

respiration stimulator means activated by said alarm relay upon the triggering thereof for automatically reestablishing respiration.

2. The device recited in claim 1, in which said counting means comprises a plurality of counters, and said first integrating timing means comprises a corresponding number of timing circuits, and further comprising means for delivering the electrical signals generated by said sensor to one of said counters, and for delivering the signal issued by said one counter to a corresponding one of said timing circuits.

3. The device recited in claim 1, in which said respiration stimulator means comprises a rhythmically inflatable belt, a magnetic valve means controlling the inflation of said belt, and a pulse generator means for actuating said magnetic valve.

4. The Device recited in claim 1, in which said respiration stimulator means comprises heating elements for establishing normal respiration by way of thermal stimuli.

5. The device recited in claim 1, and further comprising a second alarm relay and means for triggering said second alarm relay in the event that respiration is not automatically reestablished by said respiration stimulator means after a predetermined time period.

6. The device recited in claim 5, and further comprising a second timing means connected after said first timing means for energizing said second alarm relay after the elapse of said predetermined time period.

7. The device recited in claim 1, and further comprising a gasping respiration safety including an electronic zeroing means connected to said counter means;

a pulse generator means for putting a predetermined count on said counter means; and

a blocking circuit means for blocking the input to said first timing means.

8. The device recited in claim 7, wherein said first timing means is connected after said electronic counter means and initiates, in succession, the blocking of the input of said first timing means, the electronic zero setting of said counter means by said electronic zeroing means, the energizing of said pulse generator to deliver a pulse to the input of said electronic counter, and the removal of the blocking of the input of said first timing means.

9. The device recited in claim 1, and further comprising a blow-through device including a two-way valve in combination with said sensor means and a source of pressurized gas.

10. The device recited in claim 9, and further comprising a sound tube serving for transmission of respiratory activity, said tube being selectively connected by said two-way valve either to said means sensor or to said blow-through device.

11. The device recited in claim 9 and further including an electronic circuit means for switching said valve in the event of penetration of mucus or fluid into said sound tube.

12. The device recited in claim 9, and further including a second blocking circuit, means actuated simultaneously with the actuation of said two-way valve, for blocking signals developed in the operation of said two-way valve from being erroneously detected as respiration.