Non-invasive estimation of individual lung function
First Claim
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1. A non-invasive method for monitoring individual lung function in a subject having a torso and right and left sides of the torso defined on opposite sides of a midsternal line, comprising:
- disposing a transducer on the subject'"'"'s torso, said transducer being disposed on one only of the right and the left sides of the subject'"'"'s torso for overlying only a portion of the chest and back of the subject'"'"'s torso above an individual lung to be monitored, said transducer producing a signal corresponding to the movement of the portion therebeneath; and
monitoring the signal produced by said transducer, said signal corresponding to volume changes in the underlying individual lung.
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Abstract
A non-invasive method and apparatus for monitoring individual lung function is disclosed. A transducer (12, 14) is disposed on the torso above the lung to be monitored, the transducer producing a signal corresponding to movement of the torso portion therebeneath which, in turn, corresponds to changes in the volume of the underlying lung. Regional lung volume changes may also be assessed by utilizing transducers positioned on the torso to encompass only a portion of the underlying lung.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A non-invasive method for monitoring individual lung function in a subject having a torso and right and left sides of the torso defined on opposite sides of a midsternal line, comprising:
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disposing a transducer on the subject'"'"'s torso, said transducer being disposed on one only of the right and the left sides of the subject'"'"'s torso for overlying only a portion of the chest and back of the subject'"'"'s torso above an individual lung to be monitored, said transducer producing a signal corresponding to the movement of the portion therebeneath; and monitoring the signal produced by said transducer, said signal corresponding to volume changes in the underlying individual lung. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A non-invasive apparatus for monitoring individual lung function in a subject having a torso and right and left sides of the torso defined on opposite sides of a midsternal line, comprising:
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transducer means adapted for disposition on one only of the right and the left sides of the subject'"'"'s torso for overlying only a portion of the chest and back of the subject'"'"'s torso above an individual lung to be monitored, said transducer producing a signal corresponding to movement of the portion therebeneath; and means for monitoring the signal produced by said transducer, said signal corresponding to volume changes in the underlying individual lung. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A non-invasive method for monitoring individual lung function in a subject having a torso and right and left sides of the torso defined on opposite sides of a midsternal line, comprising the steps of:
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a. disposing a transducer on the subject'"'"'s torso, said transducer being disposed on one only of the right and the left sides of the subject'"'"'s torso for overlying only a portion of the chest and back of the subject'"'"'s torso above an individual lung to be monitored, said transducer comprising a stretchable conductor whose inductance changes as it stretches in response to movements of the portion therebeneath; b. converting the inductance of said conductor to a proportional voltage signal; and c. recording or displaying said voltage signal, said voltage signal being indicative of the individual lung function. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification