Flow sensor system

• US 5,161,541 A
• Filed: 03/05/1991
• Issued: 11/10/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Embla Systems, Inc. (Natus Medical Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: EdenTec Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bowman, Bruce, Stasz, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US07/665,552
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 128/716, 128/724, 128/671, 128/639-640, 128/725, 128/736, 374/183, 374/185, 374/178, 338/308
• US Class Current: 600/537
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0878 using temperature sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/684 Structural arrangements; Mounting of elements, e.g. in relation to fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/692 Thin-film arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49085 Thermally variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49099 Coating resistive material on a base

Abstract

A plurality of flow sensors are fabricated on a single substrate. The substrate is laid out to provide the proper physical relationship of the individual sensors. The resulting multiple sensor structure may be effectively used as a respiration detector by positioning a different sensor element at each of the airflow orifices (i.e., two nostrils and mouth) of a patient. In the preferred embodiment, the sensors are thermoresistive elements, which are screened on the substrate using conductive ink. The change in temperature of the air flow in relation to the ambient at each orifice provides an indication of the flow and may be used to determine the extent of the flow. The substrate is packaged in a single piece adhesive strip which provides ease of proper attachment by the patient.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring respiration of a patient comprising:

a. a flexible substrate having three thermoresistive devices comprising a layer of conductive ink of high temperature coefficient of resistivity coupled in series and affixed to said substrate; and

,

b. means adhesively coupled to said substrate for adhesively attaching said substrate to said patient comprising a strip of medical adhesive tape having a major portion and a minor portion wherein said minor portion folds with respect to said major portion permitting said medical adhesive tape to cover all of said substrate except said thermoresistive devices.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said thermoresistive devices are inclined with respect to said substrate away from said patient.

3. An apparatus comprising:

a. a substrate;

b. a thermoresistive sensor comprising conductive ink attached to said substrate;

c. a connector;

d. a conductive path of conductive ink electrically coupling said thermoresistive sensor to said connector; and

e. a second thermoresistive sensor attached to said substrate and electrically coupled with said conductive path.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said thermoresistive sensor is attached to said substrate at a position to intersect a first air passage of a patient.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said thermoresistive sensor is attached to said substrate at a position to intersect a second air passage of said patient.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3, 4, or 5 wherein said connector comprises a region of conductive ink.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said conductive path and said thermoresistive sensor comprise the same compound.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said conductive path and said thermoresistive sensor comprise different compounds.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a. a substrate;

b. a thermoresistive sensor comprising conductive ink attached to said substrate;

c. a connector, wherein said connector comprises a region of conductive ink; and

d. a conductive path of conductive ink electrically coupling said thermoresistive sensor to said connector.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said conductive path and said thermoresistive sensor comprise the same compound.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said conductive path and said thermoresistive sensor comprise different compounds.