Device and method for assessing perfusion failure in a patient during endotracheal intubation
First Claim
1. A device for assessing the degree of perfusion failure in a patient requiring mechanical ventilatory support, the device comprising:
- an endotracheal breathing tube comprised of a cannula for carrying air from an air supply pump to the lungs of a patient, the cannula having a proximal end for receiving air from the air supply pump and a distal end having an aperture for releasing air into the patient'"'"'s trachea; and
carbon dioxide sensor means for detecting the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, with the patient'"'"'s trachea the sensor means physically connected to the endotracheal breathing tube in a manner that allows for PCO2 measurement along the sidewall of the patient'"'"'s trachea.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method are provided for assessing impairment of blood circulation in a patient, such as that in perfusion failure, wherein the patient requires mechanical ventilatory support. The invention involves measurement of PCO2 (partial pressure of carbon dioxide) within the lower respiratory tract of the patient, using a device that includes an endotracheal breathing tube for introducing air from an air supply pump into a patient'"'"'s lungs, wherein a carbon dioxide sensor is provided as an integral part of that device, i.e., is physically connected to the endotracheal breathing tube in a manner that allows for PCO2 measurement along the sidewall of the patient'"'"'s trachea.
68 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A device for assessing the degree of perfusion failure in a patient requiring mechanical ventilatory support, the device comprising:
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an endotracheal breathing tube comprised of a cannula for carrying air from an air supply pump to the lungs of a patient, the cannula having a proximal end for receiving air from the air supply pump and a distal end having an aperture for releasing air into the patient'"'"'s trachea; and carbon dioxide sensor means for detecting the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, with the patient'"'"'s trachea the sensor means physically connected to the endotracheal breathing tube in a manner that allows for PCO2 measurement along the sidewall of the patient'"'"'s trachea. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A device for assessing the degree of perfusion failure in a patient requiring mechanical ventilatory support, comprising:
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an endotracheal breathing tube comprised of a cannula for carrying air from an air supply pump to the lungs of a patient, the cannula having a proximal end for receiving air from the air supply pump and a distal end having an aperture for releasing air into the patient'"'"'s trachea; an optical carbon dioxide sensor for detecting the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, within the patient'"'"'s trachea the sensor physically connected to the endotracheal breathing tube in a manner that allows for PCO2 measurement along the sidewall of the patient'"'"'s trachea, wherein the sensor is comprised of an optical fiber means provided with a fluorescent indicator composition; means for irradiating the indicator composition with light of a predetermined wavelength which causes the indicator composition to emit fluorescent light having an intensity proportional to the PCO2 value in the region surrounding the sensor; and means for converting the intensity of the emitted fluorescent light to a value indicative of PCO2. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for assessing the degree of perfusion failure in a patient requiring mechanical ventilatory support, comprising:
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(a) providing an endotracheal breathing tube comprised of a cannula for carrying air from an air supply pump to the lungs of the patient, the cannula having a proximal end for receiving air from the air supply pump and a distal end having an aperture for releasing air into the patient'"'"'s trachea, the endotracheal breathing tube further including, at the distal end of the cannula, a carbon dioxide sensor means for detecting the partial pressure of carbon dioxide along the sidewall of the patient'"'"'s trachea; (b) introducing the distal end of the endotracheal breathing tube into the trachea of the patient so that the carbon dioxide sensor means is positioned against the sidewall thereof; and (c) detecting the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the patient'"'"'s trachea. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for assessing the degree of perfusion failure in a patient requiring mechanical ventilatory support, comprising:
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(a) providing an endotracheal breathing tube comprised of a cannula for carrying air from an air supply pump to the lungs of the patient, the cannula having a proximal end for receiving air from the air supply pump and a distal end having an aperture for releasing air into the patient'"'"'s trachea, the endotracheal breathing tube further including, at the distal end of the cannula, an optical carbon dioxide sensor for detecting the partial pressure of carbon dioxide along the sidewall of the patient'"'"'s trachea, wherein the sensor is comprised of an optical fiber means provided with a fluorescent indicator composition; (b) positioning the endotracheal breathing tube so that the optical carbon dioxide sensor contacts the sidewall of the patient'"'"'s trachea; (c) irradiating the indicator composition with light of a predetermined wavelength so as to cause the indicator composition to emit fluorescent light having an intensity proportional to the PCO2 value in the region surrounding the sensor means; and (d) converting the intensity of the emitted fluorescent light to a value indicative of PCO2. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification