Bead thermistor airflow sensor assembly
First Claim
1. A thermistor airflow sensor assembly adapted to be mounted adjacent the mouth and nose of a patient for monitoring the breathing of such patient, comprising:
- (a) upper and lower layers of thin, flexible, resilient plastic film readily conformable to the facial curvatures of the patient, said layers being essentially identical in shape and configured to include an elongated main body strip, longitudinal end portions serving as primary mounting pads for the assembly, a first leg extending laterally from said main body strip and having an outer end adapted to be aligned generally with the mouth of the patient when the assembly is mounted, and a pair of longitudinally spaced second legs having outer ends and extending laterally from said main body strip in a direction opposed to said first leg, the outer end of each of said second legs being aligned with the nostrils of the patient when the assembly is mounted;
(b) an electrical circuit comprising circuit conductors applied to said lower layer, said conductors extending to said outer ends of each of said legs and to a periphery of one of said end portions, and being adapted to be connected electrically to a monitor;
(c) a bead thermistor for sensing air temperature mounted on said lower film layer adjacent the outer end of each of said first and second legs and electrically connected to said circuit conductors, said bead thermistors being located on said legs so that expired air from the patient'"'"'s mouth and nose passes thereover;
(d) said upper film layer fully enclosing and encapsulating said circuit conductors and said bead thermistors thereby electrically isolating said electrical circuit; and
(e) adhesive bonding means for laminating said upper film layer to said lower film layer and encapsulating said bead thermistors and conductors, wherebysaid thermistor means detects the temperature change of ambient and expired air and transmits signals through said circuit indicative of such temperatures.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bead thermistor air flow sensor assembly comprising bead thermistor and circuit conductor completely encapsulated between upper and lower layers of thin plastic film. The thermistors are mounted adjacent the outer ends of arms adapted to be aligned with the nostrils and mouth of the patient when the sensor assembly is positioned on the face of the patient by double faced mounting tape. The electrical circuit and bead thermistors being fully encapsulated and sealed, the assembly can be immersed in fluid for sterilization between uses. The assembly is thin and very flexible, permitting either face thereof to be applied to the patient to facilitate connection to monitoring equipment which may include an alarm to signal when normal breathing is interrupted.
93 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A thermistor airflow sensor assembly adapted to be mounted adjacent the mouth and nose of a patient for monitoring the breathing of such patient, comprising:
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(a) upper and lower layers of thin, flexible, resilient plastic film readily conformable to the facial curvatures of the patient, said layers being essentially identical in shape and configured to include an elongated main body strip, longitudinal end portions serving as primary mounting pads for the assembly, a first leg extending laterally from said main body strip and having an outer end adapted to be aligned generally with the mouth of the patient when the assembly is mounted, and a pair of longitudinally spaced second legs having outer ends and extending laterally from said main body strip in a direction opposed to said first leg, the outer end of each of said second legs being aligned with the nostrils of the patient when the assembly is mounted; (b) an electrical circuit comprising circuit conductors applied to said lower layer, said conductors extending to said outer ends of each of said legs and to a periphery of one of said end portions, and being adapted to be connected electrically to a monitor; (c) a bead thermistor for sensing air temperature mounted on said lower film layer adjacent the outer end of each of said first and second legs and electrically connected to said circuit conductors, said bead thermistors being located on said legs so that expired air from the patient'"'"'s mouth and nose passes thereover; (d) said upper film layer fully enclosing and encapsulating said circuit conductors and said bead thermistors thereby electrically isolating said electrical circuit; and (e) adhesive bonding means for laminating said upper film layer to said lower film layer and encapsulating said bead thermistors and conductors, whereby said thermistor means detects the temperature change of ambient and expired air and transmits signals through said circuit indicative of such temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification