Monitoring of oro-nasal respiration
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring oro-nasal respiration comprising a nasal tube for receiving nasal respiratory flow and an oral tube for receiving oral respiratory flow, the pneumatic impedances of the nasal tube and the oral tube being arranged to be different so that the contributions of respiratory airflow from each of said tubes are substantially equal, and electrical transducer means to which both said oral tube and said nasal tube are coupled for generating an output signal representative of oro-nasal respiration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for monitoring oro-nasal respiration. A pair of nasal prongs, suitable for insertion into the lower portion of the nares, join together via a small plenum chamber to form a single tube conveying the nasal pressure towards an electrical pressure transducer. Another prong is held in proximity with the patient'"'"'s mouth. A baffle element extends downwards from a location above the open end of the prong to redirect a portion of oral airflow. The oral tube extends towards the electrical pressure transducers and conjoins with the nasal tube at a junction to form a common tube connected to the pressure transducer. The relative lengths and/or diameters of the nasal tube and the oral tube are arranged so that the respective pneumatic impedances are different, so that the contributions of respiratory airflow from each of said tubes are substantially equal.
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Citations
36 Claims
- 1. An apparatus for monitoring oro-nasal respiration comprising a nasal tube for receiving nasal respiratory flow and an oral tube for receiving oral respiratory flow, the pneumatic impedances of the nasal tube and the oral tube being arranged to be different so that the contributions of respiratory airflow from each of said tubes are substantially equal, and electrical transducer means to which both said oral tube and said nasal tube are coupled for generating an output signal representative of oro-nasal respiration.
- 2. Apparatus for detecting oro-nasal respiratory flow, comprising a nasal tube for receiving nasal respiratory flow and an oral tube for receiving oral respiratory flow, the pneumatic impedances of the nasal tube and the oral tube being arranged to be different so that the contributions of respiratory airflow from each said tube are substantially equal.
- 33. A method for monitoring oro-nasal respiration comprising the steps of locating a nasal tube in the vicinity of a patient'"'"'s nares to receive nasal respiratory flow, locating a mouth tube in the vicinity of the patient'"'"'s mouth to receive oral respiratory flow, arranging the pneumatic impedances of the nasal tube and the oral tube to be different so that the contributions of respiratory airflow from each said tube are substantially equal, and converting, by electrical transducer means, flow in said oral tube and said nasal tube to a signal representative of oro-nasal respiration.
Specification