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Method and apparatus for detecting respiratory distress

  • US 4,422,458 A
  • Filed: 12/01/1981
  • Issued: 12/27/1983
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1980
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting a respiratory distress condition in a patient comprising:

  • first generating means connectable to a patient for providing a first electrical signal corresponding to thoracic cavity activity;

    second generating means connectable to a patient for providing a second electrical signal corresponding to heart beat activity;

    trigger means coupled to said second generating means for providing an electrical trigger pulse corresponding to each heart beat;

    digitizing means coupled to said first generating means and said trigger means, said digitizing means being operative to produce a digital electrical pulse in response to each trigger pulse received from said trigger means, said digital electrical pulse corresponding to the amplitude of said first electrical signal of said first generating means; and

    comparator means coupled to said digitizing means for comparing the amplitude of the most recent digital electrical pulse generated by said digitizing means to the amplitude of the previous digital electrical pulse, and for counting the number of consecutive digital electrical pulses having an amplitude equal to or greater than the amplitude of the preceding digital electrical pulse, said comparator means being operative to produce a third electrical signal when each of a selected number of consecutive digital electrical pulses has an amplitude greater than or equal to the digital electrical pulse immediately preceeding it, the selected number of digital electrical pulses defining the desired sensitivity of said apparatus and being at least ten pulses, said third electrical signal corresponding to a respiratory distress condition.

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