Method and apparatus for sensing humidity in a patient with an artificial airway
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sensing the humidity of gases present in a patient having an artificial airway, said apparatus comprising:
- an adapter having a wall defining at least one humidity sensing chamber therein;
means for connecting said adapter, in an inspiratory limb of a breathing circuit of said artificial airway in gas flow communication with said humidity sensing chamber, anda humidity sensing device incorporated into at least one of said at least one humidity sensing chamber, said humidity sensing device being an Rh sensor element in humidity sensing communication with said gases.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for the sensing and reporting the relative humidity, moisture content, and temperature of inspired or delivered gases in a patient with an artificial airway. The apparatus includes a humidity sensing device, incorporated into an adapter that is compatible with and connectable in series to standard artificial airway connections of a patient'"'"'s breathing circuit. The apparatus also includes a display means which receives signals from the sensing device, translates the signals and displays results as percent relative humidity and/or moisture content (water content per volume of gas delivered). One apparatus is connectable in series with the artificial airway just before the artificial airway enters the patient, or two apparati are connectable, one in the inspiratory branch of a breathing circuit, and one in the expiratory branch of the breathing circuit to monitor both inspired and expired gases in patients on mechanical ventilation or anesthesia. The method includes the use of the humidity sensing device and adapter in patients with an artificial airway. The apparatus and method are used on patients with or without mechanical ventilation. There is also an apparatus having two humidity sensing chambers, one for inspired gas and one for expired gas, each air-flow isolated from the other and each having a separate humidity sensing device such that both inspiratory and expiratory gases are monitored.
186 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing the humidity of gases present in a patient having an artificial airway, said apparatus comprising:
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an adapter having a wall defining at least one humidity sensing chamber therein; means for connecting said adapter, in an inspiratory limb of a breathing circuit of said artificial airway in gas flow communication with said humidity sensing chamber, and a humidity sensing device incorporated into at least one of said at least one humidity sensing chamber, said humidity sensing device being an Rh sensor element in humidity sensing communication with said gases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for monitoring the humidity of gases in a patient having an artificial airway, said method comprising the steps of:
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securing an adapter in humidity sensing communication with a patient'"'"'s artificial airway in an inspiratory limb of a breathing circuit of said artificial airway and with a ventilation circuit, said adapter having at least one humidity sensing chamber therein; attaching at least one Rh sensor humidity sensing device to said adapter; placing a means for receiving and translating humidity information communicated from each said humidity sensing device and reporting to a user, said means for receiving and translating receives signals from said humidity sensing device and translates and reports the signals; monitoring said signals and responding to said signals to increase or decrease moisture delivered to a patient; and trending the Rh of these inspiratory gases allowing the use of said Rh sensor technology. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for monitoring humidity in a patient with an artificial airway comprising an Rh sensor humidity sensing device incorporated in an inspiratory limb of a breathing circuit of said artificial airway in humidity sensing communication with the patient'"'"'s airflow thereby monitoring the humidity of inspired gas delivered to the patient.
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29. A method for monitoring humidity in a patient with an artificial airway comprising the steps of
installing an Rh sensor humidity sensing device selected from the group consisting of capacitive type and resistive type of Rh sensor technology, in an inspiratory limb of a breathing circuit of said artificial airway in humidity sensing communication with the patient'"'"'s airflow; -
monitoring humidity readings of inspired gas delivered to the patient taken by said Rh sensor humidity sensing device; and trending the Rh of these inspiratory gases allowing the use of said capacitive type and resistive type of Rh sensor technology.
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Specification