Fiber optic based multicomponent infrared respiratory gas analyzer
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for monitoring the composition of a main respiratory gas stream of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
- a broad band infrared source capable of producing infrared light having a spectral content distributed at least across a wavelength range from about 4 microns to about 8 microns;
means for detecting infrared signals at a plurality of wavelengths within said wavelength range; and
means for transmitting light between said broad band infrared source and said means for detecting, said light being transmitted at least partially through a respiratory gas conduit outside the patient such that said main respiratory gas stream at said patient can be analyzed free from the need to divert a side stream therefrom for purposes of composition analysis, the main respiratory gas the conduit being adapted for flow of the main respiratory gas stream therethrough, said means for transmitting including fiber optics for transmitting infrared light within said wavelength range.
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Abstract
A novel respiratory gas analyzer employs optical fibers to facilitate in-stream, multiple component infrared analysis. In one embodiment, the analyzer (10) includes an infrared source (12), entrance optics (14), a sample chamber (20), exit optics (24) and a detector assembly (28). One or both of the entrance optics (14) and exit optics (24) includes infrared optical fibers. In this manner, the source (12) and or detector assembly (28) can be located away from the patient (22) as may be desired. In addition, the fiber optic implementation reduces system complexity and optical alignment concerns.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring the composition of a main respiratory gas stream of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
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a broad band infrared source capable of producing infrared light having a spectral content distributed at least across a wavelength range from about 4 microns to about 8 microns; means for detecting infrared signals at a plurality of wavelengths within said wavelength range; and means for transmitting light between said broad band infrared source and said means for detecting, said light being transmitted at least partially through a respiratory gas conduit outside the patient such that said main respiratory gas stream at said patient can be analyzed free from the need to divert a side stream therefrom for purposes of composition analysis, the main respiratory gas the conduit being adapted for flow of the main respiratory gas stream therethrough, said means for transmitting including fiber optics for transmitting infrared light within said wavelength range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for monitoring the composition of a respiratory gas stream of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
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a broad band infrared source capable of producing infrared light having a spectral content distributed at least across a wavelength range from about 4 microns to about 8 microns; means for detecting infrared signals at a plurality of wavelengths within said wavelength range; means for transmitting light between said broad band infrared source and said means for detecting, said light being transmitted at least partially through a respiratory gas conduit outside the conduit being adapted for flow of the respiratory gas stream therethrough, said means for transmitting including fiber optics for transmitting infrared light within said wavelength range; and a reference light path including fiber optics, and wherein said means for detecting infrared signals includes means for comparing infrared signals received via said means for transmitting to signals received via said reference light path.
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14. An apparatus for monitoring the composition of a main respiratory gas stream of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
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an infrared light source; a detector assembly capable of detecting infrared light having wavelengths produced by said source, said detector assembly including means for separately detecting infrared light within a plurality of infrared wavelength bands, each said band having a unique spectral content; and transmission means for transmitting infrared light from said infrared source between said infrared source and said means for detecting, said transmission means including fiber optics for transmitting said infrared light wherein said infrared light is transmitted at least partly through a main respiratory gas conduit outside said patient such that said main respiratory gas stream at said patient can be analyzed free from the need to divert a side stream therefrom for purposes of composition analysis, said main respiratory gas conduit having a wall portion for transmitting infrared light produced by said infrared source. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for monitoring multiple components in a main respiratory gas stream of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving said main respiratory gas stream, said means adapted to allow said main respiratory gas stream to flow therethrough and also adapted for infrared spectroscopy of a gas located therein such that said main respiratory gas stream at said patient can be analyzed free from the need to divert a side stream therefrom for purposes of composition analysis; an infrared source; means for detecting infrared light transmitted through said means for receiving and said respiratory gas stream and for characterizing said respiratory gas stream relative to multiple gaseous components present in said respiratory gas stream; means for transmitting light between said infrared source and said means for receiving and between said means for receiving and said means for detecting, said means for transmitting including fiber optics operative to transmit infrared light. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for monitoring the composition of a main respiratory gas stream of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
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probe means for transmitting infrared light to and from a main respiratory gas conduit for receiving said main respiratory gas stream such that said main respiratory gas stream at said patient can be analyzed free from the need to divert a side stream therefrom for purposes of composition analysis, said probe means supporting first means for transmitting said infrared light into said main respiratory gas conduit and second means for receiving the infrared light transmitted into said main respiratory gas conduit; said probe means including infrared fiber optics for transmitting said infrared light and coupling means for coupling said probe means to said main respiratory gas conduit such that said infrared light is transmitted through said main respiratory gas stream and returned from said main respiratory gas conduit by said probe means for use in analysis. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method for monitoring multiple components in a main respiratory gas stream of a patient, said method comprising:
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receiving said main respiratory gas stream in a conduit adapted to allow said main respiratory gas stream to flow therethrough such that said main respiratory gas stream at said patient can be analyzed free from the need to divert a side stream therefrom for purposes of composition analysis; transmitting light between an infrared source and said conduit and between said conduit and a means for detecting, said transmission being via means for transmitting including fiber optics operative to transmit infrared light; and detecting infrared light transmitted through said means for receiving and said respiratory gas stream and analyzing said detected infrared light relative to multiple gaseous components. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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30. A method for monitoring multiple components in a respiratory gas stream of a patient, said comprising:
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receiving said respiratory gas stream in a conduit adapted to allow said respiratory gas stream to flow therethrough; transmitting light between an infrared source and between said conduit and a means for detecting, said transmission being via means for transmitting includes fiber optics operative to transmit infrared light; detecting infrared light transmitted through said means for receiving and said respiratory gas stream and analyzing said detected infrared light relative to multiple gaseous components; and comparing light transmitted through said means for receiving with a reference light measurement. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification