Breathing monitor and stimulator

• US 5,277,194 A
• Filed: 06/04/1991
• Issued: 01/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alvin W. Smith, Craig Hosterman
• Original Assignee: Alvin W. Smith, Craig Hosterman
• Inventors: Smith, Alvin W., Hosterman, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REICHLE, KARIN M
• Application Number:
  US07/710,506
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 128/721-723, 128/716, 128/719, 128/28, 128/30, 128/30.2, 128/204.23, 128/205.23, 128/724, 128/725, 128/419 R, 128/796, 128/671
• US Class Current: 600/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0218 with alternating magnetic fields producing a translating or oscillating movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/00 Artificial respiration or heart stimulation, e.g. heart massage artificial respiration by treatment with gas or air, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration A61M16/00; applying electric currents by contact electrodes for stimulation, e.g. heart pace-makers A61N1/36 ; teaching or training models, demonstration models for medical purposes G09B23/288
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776

Abstract

Apparatus worn about the chest of a user monitors the breathing pattern and upon occurrence of an abnormal breathing pattern stimulates the respiratory reflexes to urge resumption of the normal breathing patterns. Alarms may be actuated upon detection of an abnormal breathing pattern.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring a breathing pattern of a user and for stimulating resumption of the normal breathing pattern upon occurrence of an abnormal breathing pattern, said apparatus compressing in combination:

a) a bladder for providing pressure changes in response to inhalation and exhalation of the user;

b) means for supporting said bladder, said supporting means including a band, said band being attachable about a torso of the user for positioning said bladder adjacent the torso, said band being sufficiently rigid and generally non-conformable to resist deflection and bending in response to inhalation and exhalation by the user and any induced pressure variations within said bladder, said supporting means further including means for maintaining said band positioned upon the torso irrespective of pressure variations within said bladder;

c) means disposed upon said supporting means for pressurizing and depressurizing said bladder;

d) monitoring means secured to said supporting means for sensing a normal pattern of pressure changes present in said bladder in response to normal inhalation and exhalation by the user and for generating a trigger signal in response to a sensed abnormal pattern of pressure changes; and

e) means responsive to the trigger signal for urging resumption of the normal breathing pattern, said urging means including means for cyclicly actuating said pressurizing and depressurizing means to repetitively pressurize and depressurize the bladder to compress and to allow expansion of the torso to induce exhalation and inhalation, respectively.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said urging means further includes a rectilinearly translatable plunger.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said monitoring means includes a transducer for sensing the pressure within said bladder.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including a source of electrical power supported by said band for energizing said monitoring means and said urging means.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pressurizing and depressurizing means comprises a source of compressed gas and means for selectively interconnecting said bladder with said source of compressed gas.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further including means disposed on said supporting means for replenishing said source of compressed gas.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said monitoring means includes an oximetric sensor for augmenting a determination of the presence of the normal breathing pattern.

8. Apparatus for monitoring a breathing pattern of a user and for stimulating resumption of a normal breathing pattern upon occurrence of an abnormal breathing pattern, said apparatus compressing in combination:

a) a bladder for providing pressure changes in response to inhalation and exhalation of the user;

b) means for supporting said bladder, said supporting means including a band, said band being attachable about a torso of the user for positioning said bladder adjacent the torso, said band being sufficiently rigid and generally non-conformable to resist deflection and bending in response to inhalation and exhalation by the user and any induced pressure changes within said bladder, said supporting means further including means for maintaining said band positioned upon the torso irrespective of pressure variations within said bladder;

c) means disposed upon said supporting means for pressurizing and depressurizing said bladder;

d) monitoring means secured to said supporting means for sensing a nonmoral pattern of pressure changes present in said bladder in response to normal inhalation and exhalation by the user and for generating a trigger signal in response to a sensed abnormal pattern of pressure changes; and

e) means responsive to the trigger signal for urging resumption of the normal breathing pattern, including a rectilinearly translatable plunger for applying intra-thoracic pressure to a respiratory trigger of the user to stimulate the normal breathing pattern and means for supporting said plunger upon said band.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said plunger includes a head.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said urging means further includes solenoid means for operating said plunger.

11. Apparatus for detecting breathing and cessation of breathing of a patient and for stimulating resumption of breathing by the patient upon detection of cessation of breathing, said apparatus comprising in combination:

a) a band attachment about a torso of the patient, said band including an inner surface for placement in juxtaposed relationship with the torso of the patient upon mounting of said band;

b) means for maintaining said band positioned about the torso of the patient;

c) a bladder secured to said inner surface for placement adjacent the torso of the patient upon mounting said band upon the patient, said bladder for providing pressure changes in response to inhalation and exhalation by the patient, said band being sufficiently rigid and generally non-conformable to resist deflection and bending in response to inhalation and exhalation by the patient and any induced pressure changes within said bladder;

d) means disposed upon said band for pressurizing and depressurizing said bladder;

e) pressure responsive monitoring means disposed upon said band for sensing a normal pattern of pressure changes induced by said bladder in response to normal inhalation and exhalation by the patient and for generating a trigger signal in response to a sensed abnormal pattern of pressure changes resulting from abnormal inhalation and exhalation by the patient; and

f) means responsive to the trigger signal for cyclicly actuating said pressurizing and depressurizing means to repetitively pressurize and depressurize the bladder to compress and to allow expansion of the torso to induce exhalation and inhalation, respectively, and the resumption of a normal breathing pattern.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 further including means supported upon said band for stimulating a respiratory reflex in the patient.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said stimulating means comprises a source of electric power, an electrically-actuated solenoid and a plunger responsive to said solenoid for applying intra-thoracic pressure to stimulate breathing, each of said source, said solenoid and said plunger being mounted upon said band.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including indicia responsive to said monitoring means for reflecting the presence of the normal and an abnormal breathing pattern.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said maintaining means includes a pair of shoulder straps and means for adjusting said shoulder straps to reposition said band about the patient'"'"'s torso.