Monitor of low pressure intervals with control capabilities

• US 5,485,850 A
• Filed: 08/13/1993
• Issued: 01/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry G. Dietz
• Original Assignee: Henry G. Dietz
• Inventors: Dietz, Henry G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GILBERT, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US08/106,083
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 128/716, 128/719, 128/722, 128/725, 128/724, 128/204.18, 128/204.23, 128/204.21, 128/205.24, 128/207.18, 128/726, 73/200.23, 73/861.44
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0677 Gas-saving devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/16 with back-up system in case of failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated

Abstract

A monitor that provides data obtained from the detection of very low positive, negative, or differential pressures, and can be used to control devices in health care and industry. An example of its use in health care is as a respiration monitor providing data that can be used to control devices associated with breathing while providing constant surveillance of the fundamental characteristics of air-breathing humans and animals. In industry it can act as a monitor that provides data by sensing very low pressures (negative, positive or differential) at intervals that can be used to detect positioning of low weight parts or act as a touch sensor for robotic equipment. Monitor detects pressure intervals by use of a vane type capacitance sensor capable of detecting pressures as low as 0.001 ounce per square inch. Monitor uses a micro-controller to control devices from data, obtained from sensor, by storing programs that govern, in predetermined manner, the operation of devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring low pressure intervals and controlling delivery of therapeutic gas to be synchronous with inhalation comprising:

a) a source of therapeutic gas;

b) means for delivering the therapeutic gas from the source to nasal cavities of an air breathing animal;

c) sensing means, connected to the means for delivering, for generating a signal indicative of a change in pressure produced at a beginning of inhalation of the air breathing animal, said sensing means including a vane;

d) processing means for receiving the signal and determining a length of inhalation of the animal, said processing means including circuit means for determining a dose of the therapeutic gas to be delivered to the animal, the circuit means including means for automatically adjusting a length of the dose to be a percentage of the length of the inhalation of the animal with the length of the dose never less than 200 mS;

e) means for controlling delivery of the dose of therapeutic gas; and

f) alarm means for generating an alarm when the sensing means does not generate the signal for a predetermined time period.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, having means for controlling delivery of the dose of therapeutic gas wherein:

said means for delivering includes a valve to obtain a controllable flow; and

means for reducing electrical power requirements by reducing power input to said valve immediately after said valve is actuated to obtain longer battery life.