Electronic pneumothorax monitoring device

• US 5,816,245 A
• Filed: 06/01/1995
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rachid Manseur, Rawlings D. Jim
• Original Assignee: Rachid Manseur, Rawlings D. Jim
• Inventors: Rawlings, D. Jim, Manseur, Rachid
• Primary Examiner(s): NASSER, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US08/457,052
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 128/633-4, 128/664-6, 128/630, 128/653.1, 607/88-91
• US Class Current: 600/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence

Abstract

The device presented here is a device for detecting the presence of pneumothorax in a patient including a non-coherent light source for shining light on a patient, mounted on a first patch, capable of being attached to the patient, a light detector for receiving light from the patient mounted on a second light shielding patch, capable of being attached to the patient, where the detector produces a first signal in response to received light, wherein the first and second patches being independently attachable to the patient and removable from the patient, a driving circuit for causing the light source to turn on and off at a predetermined frequency, a circuit for receiving the first signal from said light detector including a bandpass filter tuned to the predetermined frequency and producing a second signal indicating the presence of pneumothorax when said first signal exceeds a threshol, and an alarm for producing an alarm indicating the presence of pneumothorax in response to said second signal.

Claims

1. A device for detecting the presence of pneumothorax in a patient comprising:

a. a non-coherent light source for shining light on a patient, mounted on a first patch, capable of being attached to the patient;

b. a light detector for receiving light from the patient mounted on a second light shielding patch, capable of being attached to the patient, said detector producing a first signal in response to received light, wherein the first and second patches being independently attachable to the patient and removable from the patient;

c. driving means for causing the light source to turn on and off at a predetermined frequency;

d. means for receiving the first signal from said light detector including a bandpass filter tuned to the predetermined frequency and producing a second signal indicating the presence of pneumothorax when said first signal exceeds a threshold; and

e. alarm means for producing an alarm indicating the presence of pneumothorax in response to said second signal.