System for conveying gases from and to a subject's trachea and for measuring physiological parameters in vivo
First Claim
1. An apparatus for conveying gases from and to a subject'"'"'s trachea and for enabling the measurement of a physiological parameter in vivo or the measurement of respired gas concentrations, comprising:
- a tube suitable for insertion into the trachea and for conveying gases;
at least one light source;
at least one light detector; and
means for conveying light from the light source to the trachea or locations within the trachea and for conveying light to the light detector from the trachea or locations within the trachea, said light conveying means including at least one optical path having two ends along the tube for passage of light signals between the trachea or locations within the trachea at one end of the path, and the detector at the other end, the at least one optical path transmitting light from the trachea or locations within the trachea along the tube to the detector for enabling the measurement of the physiological parameter or the measurement of respired gas concentrations of the subject.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical path is provided in the wall of an endotracheal tube to transmit light from a light source to the tracheal tissue. The same path or different path may be used to receive light reflected from the tracheal tissue to a detector for detecting the oxygen saturation of blood of a subject. The light supplied may also be directed across the gaseous medium inside the tube and received by a different optical path. The received light signal is then detected to determine the carbon dioxide concentration of the medium inside the trachea.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for conveying gases from and to a subject'"'"'s trachea and for enabling the measurement of a physiological parameter in vivo or the measurement of respired gas concentrations, comprising:
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a tube suitable for insertion into the trachea and for conveying gases; at least one light source; at least one light detector; and means for conveying light from the light source to the trachea or locations within the trachea and for conveying light to the light detector from the trachea or locations within the trachea, said light conveying means including at least one optical path having two ends along the tube for passage of light signals between the trachea or locations within the trachea at one end of the path, and the detector at the other end, the at least one optical path transmitting light from the trachea or locations within the trachea along the tube to the detector for enabling the measurement of the physiological parameter or the measurement of respired gas concentrations of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for measuring data useful for determining a physiological parameter or the respired gas concentrations of a subject employing a tube suitable for insertion into the trachea of the subject, said trachea having a medium therein, said tube having at least one optical path having a first and a second end along the tube for passage of light signals between the trachea or locations within the trachea at the first end of the path and the second end of the path, said method comprising:
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providing light to illuminate a portion of the trachea or locations within the medium; and measuring light reflected from the trachea or transmitted through the medium in the tube, said reflected light indicative of a physiological parameter or of the respired gas concentrations of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification