CO.sub.2 diagnostic monitor with rupturable container
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:
- a plurality of portions of compositions having an initial pH in solution above about 3.8 and which substantially change color in solution in response to exposure to CO2, each of said composition portions being within a reservoir constructed substantially of a substantially transparent material for exteriorly viewing said color change;
an opening adapted for communication only with said gas exiting and entering said patient during endotracheal or esophageal intubation; and
a plurality of semipermeable membrane portions which are permeable to CO2, each membrane portion separating at least one composition portion from said exiting and entering gases, and wherein said plurality of composition portions require a different time of exposure of 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 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. An arrangement is provided whereby the monitor is automatically activated by the normal assembly steps of a patient breathing circuit.
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Citations
25 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:
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a plurality of portions of compositions having an initial pH in solution above about 3.8 and which substantially change color in solution in response to exposure to CO2, each of said composition portions being within a reservoir constructed substantially of a substantially transparent material for exteriorly viewing said color change; an opening adapted for communication only with said gas exiting and entering said patient during endotracheal or esophageal intubation; and a plurality of semipermeable membrane portions which are permeable to CO2, each membrane portion separating at least one composition portion from said exiting and entering gases, and wherein said plurality of composition portions require a different time of exposure of CO2 to effect said change in pH thereby causing said color change. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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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:
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a plurality of portions of a composition having an initial pH in solution above about 3.8 and which substantially change color in solution in response to exposure to CO2, each of said composition portions being within a reservoir constructed substantially of a substantially transparent material for exteriorly viewing said color change in said at least one composition; an opening adapted for communication only with said gases exiting and entering during said intubation; and a plurality of semipermeable membrane portions which are permeable to CO2, each membrane portion separating said at least one composition portion from said exiting and entering gases, and wherein said plurality of composition portions require 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)
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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 contacting said exiting gases with a self-contained CO2 diagnostic monitor integral with a breathing circuit piece, said monitor comprising:
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1) a reservoir for containing at least one composition 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; and 2) a semipermeable membrane which is permeable to CO2, said membrane separating said at least one composition from said entering and exiting gases; upon or immediately prior to contacting said exiting gases with the monitor, rupturing a container part of said monitor by connecting said breathing circuit piece to another breathing circuit piece such that a liquid will flow to adjacent said semipermeable membrane to activate the monitor; and viewing said at least one composition.
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22. In an endotracheal or esophageal intubation system containing a breathing circuit with 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:
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1) a reservoir containing at least one portion of a composition 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, and wherein said monitor is integral with a breathing circuit piece and includes a container part which is rupturable to allow a liquid within the container part to flow to adjacent said semipermeable membrane to activate the monitor;
said container part projecting from said breathing circuit piece such that said container part ruptures automatically when said breathing circuit piece is connected to another breathing circuit piece. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification