CO.sub.2 diagnostic monitor
First Claim
1. A self-contained diagnostic monitor for screening the CO2 content of a gas exiting a patient during endotracheal or esophageal intubation comprising:
- (1) a reservoir containing at least one portion of a composition having an initial pH in solution above about 3.8 and which substantially changes color in solution in response to exposure to CO2, said reservoir having an opening adapted for communication only with said gas exiting and entering said patient during endotracheal or esophageal intubation; and
(2) a semipermeable membrane which is permeable to CO2, said membrane separating said at least one composition portion from said exiting and entering gases, and wherein said reservoir contains a plurality of composition portions having initial pH is solution above about 3.8 and which substantially change color in solution in response to exposure to CO2, and further comprising a plurality of semi-permeable membranes having differing thicknesses and/or CO2 permeabilities and/or surface areas, each semi-permeable membrane separating a corresponding composition portion from said exiting and said entering gas, and each one of said plurality of composition portions separated from every other composition portion by at least one semi-permeable membrane, and each of said plurality of composition portions requiring a different time of exposure to CO2 to effect said change in pH thereby causing said color change.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A diagnostic monitor checks the carbon dioxide (CO2) content of a gas exiting a patient during endotracheal or esophageal intubation. A plurality of composition portions substantially change color in response to exposure to the carbon dioxide. The composition portions change color in response to different times of exposure to carbon dioxide. A magnifying or condensing lens may be positioned on the monitor to enhance viewing of the color change. The monitor may advantageously be made as part of an intubation system through which the gases from a patient exit the patient. The differences in time of exposure needed to cause the color change may be accomplished by using semipermeable membranes having differing thicknesses, CO2 permeabilities, and/or surface areas with each membrane corresponding to a particular one of the composition portions.
78 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A self-contained diagnostic monitor for screening the CO2 content of a gas exiting a patient during endotracheal or esophageal intubation comprising:
- (1) a reservoir containing at least one portion of a composition having an initial pH in solution above about 3.8 and which substantially changes color in solution in response to exposure to CO2, said reservoir having an opening adapted for communication only with said gas exiting and entering said patient during endotracheal or esophageal intubation; and
(2) a semipermeable membrane which is permeable to CO2, said membrane separating said at least one composition portion from said exiting and entering gases, and wherein said reservoir contains a plurality of composition portions having initial pH is solution above about 3.8 and which substantially change color in solution in response to exposure to CO2, and further comprising a plurality of semi-permeable membranes having differing thicknesses and/or CO2 permeabilities and/or surface areas, each semi-permeable membrane separating a corresponding composition portion from said exiting and said entering gas, and each one of said plurality of composition portions separated from every other composition portion by at least one semi-permeable membrane, and each of said plurality of composition portions requiring a different time of exposure to CO2 to effect said change in pH thereby causing said color change. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- (1) a reservoir containing at least one portion of a composition having an initial pH in solution above about 3.8 and which substantially changes color in solution in response to exposure to CO2, said reservoir having an opening adapted for communication only with said gas exiting and entering said patient during endotracheal or esophageal intubation; and
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10. In an endotracheal or esophageal intubation system containing means through which gases exit the patient during said intubation, the improvement comprising a self-contained diagnostic monitor for screening the CO2 content of a gas exiting said patient during said intubation comprising:
- (1) a reservoir containing at least one portion of a composition having an initial pH in solution above about 3.8 and which substantially changes color in solution in response to exposure to CO2, said reservoir having an opening adapted for communication only with said gases exiting and entering during said intubation; and
(2) a semipermeable membrane which is permeable to CO2, said membrane separating said at least one composition portion from said exiting and entering gases, and wherein said reservoir contains a plurality of composition portions having initial pH in solution above about 3.8 and which substantially change color in solution in response to exposure to CO2, and further comprising a plurality of semi-permeable membranes having differing thicknesses and/or CO2 permeabilities and/or surface areas, each semi-permeable membrane separating a corresponding composition portion from said exiting and said entering gas, and each one of said plurality of composition portions separated from every other composition portion by at least one semi-permeable membrane, and each of said plurality of composition portions requiring a different time of exposure to CO2 to effect said change in pH thereby causing said color change. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- (1) a reservoir containing at least one portion of a composition having an initial pH in solution above about 3.8 and which substantially changes color in solution in response to exposure to CO2, said reservoir having an opening adapted for communication only with said gases exiting and entering during said intubation; and
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21. In a method for monitoring the CO2 content of gases exiting a patient during endotracheal or esophageal intubation, the improvement comprising providing a self-contained CO2 diagnostic monitor and contacting said exiting gases with said monitor, the monitor having a reservoir containing a plurality of composition portions having an initial pH solution above about 3.8 and which substantially changes color in solution in response to CO2, said reservoir having an opening adapted for communication only with said entering and exiting gases during said intubation, each composition portion separated from other composition portions and each composition portion requiring a different time of exposure to CO2 to effect said change in pH thereby causing said color change;
- a plurality of semipermeable membranes having differing thicknesses and/or CO2 permeabilities and/or surface areas, each semi-permeable membrane permeable to CO2 and separating a corresponding one of said composition portions from said entering and exiting gases; and
viewing said plurality of composition portions. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- a plurality of semipermeable membranes having differing thicknesses and/or CO2 permeabilities and/or surface areas, each semi-permeable membrane permeable to CO2 and separating a corresponding one of said composition portions from said entering and exiting gases; and
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30. In an endotracheal intubation system containing means through which gases exit the patient during said intubation, the improvement comprising a self-contained diagnostic monitor for screening the CO2 content of a gas exiting said patient during said intubation comprising:
- (1) a reservoir containing at least one portion of a composition having an initial pH in solution above about 3.8 and which substantially changes color in solution in response to exposure to CO2, said reservoir having an opening adapted for communication only with said gases exiting and entering during said intubation; and
(2) a semipermeable membrane which is permeable to CO2, said membrane separating said at least one composition from said exiting and entering gases, said system further comprising an endotracheal tube, and wherein said monitor is a part of the endotracheal tube and wherein said reservoir contains a plurality of composition portions having an initial pH in solution above about 3.8 and which substantially change color in solution in response to exposure to CO2 and further comprising a plurality of semi-permeable membranes having differing thicknesses and/or CO2 permeabilities and/or surface areas, each semi-permeable membrane separating a corresponding composition portion from said exiting and said entering gas, and each one of said plurality of composition portions separated from every other compositions portion by at least one semi-permeable membrane, and each of said plurality of composition portions requiring a different time of exposure to CO2 to effect said change in pH thereby causing said color change.
- (1) a reservoir containing at least one portion of a composition having an initial pH in solution above about 3.8 and which substantially changes color in solution in response to exposure to CO2, said reservoir having an opening adapted for communication only with said gases exiting and entering during said intubation; and
Specification