Outcome measuring airway resistance diagnostic system
First Claim
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1. An airway resistance measurement method comprising:
- applying an oscillating compressive force to a patient'"'"'s chest which includes a steady state force component and an oscillating force component;
supplying air pressure to a mouthpiece in communication with the patient'"'"'s mouth in a relationship to the oscillating compressive force; and
determining airway resistance based upon the compressive force applied to the patient'"'"'s chest and the air pressure supplied to the mouthpiece.
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Abstract
Airway resistance of a patient'"'"'s lungs is measured by applying an oscillating compressive force to the patient'"'"'s chest while supplying air pressure to a mouthpiece in communication with the patient'"'"'s mouth so that airflow from the patient'"'"'s mouth equals expiratory flow produced by the oscillating compressive force.
173 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An airway resistance measurement method comprising:
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applying an oscillating compressive force to a patient'"'"'s chest which includes a steady state force component and an oscillating force component;
supplying air pressure to a mouthpiece in communication with the patient'"'"'s mouth in a relationship to the oscillating compressive force; and
determining airway resistance based upon the compressive force applied to the patient'"'"'s chest and the air pressure supplied to the mouthpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
sensing air pressure at the mouthpiece;
sensing compressive force applied to the chest;
adjusting one of the compressive force and the air pressure so that outward air flow from the patient'"'"'s mouth essentially equals expiratory flow produced by the compressive force; and
providing an indication of airway resistance based upon the adjusting.
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8. The method of claim 7 and further comprising:
providing an output based upon a first signal related to sensed air pressure and a second signal related to sensed compressive force, the output indicating a null condition when outward air flow essentially equals expiratory flow.
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9. A method of measuring airway resistance of a patient'"'"'s lungs, the method comprising:
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applying an oscillating compressive force to the patient'"'"'s chest;
supplying an oscillating air pressure to a mouthpiece in communication with the patient'"'"'s mouth;
sensing a null condition in which the oscillating compressive force and the oscillating air pressure produce an outward air flow from the patient'"'"'s mouth that essentially equals expiratory flow produced by the compressive force; and
providing a measurement of airway resistance based upon the sensed null condition.
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10. An airway resistance measurement system comprising:
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a chest wall force applicator for applying an oscillating compressive force to a patient'"'"'s chest;
a mouthpiece having a mouth port for positioning in the patient'"'"'s mouth, an outlet port for positioning outside the patient'"'"'s mouth, and an air supply port;
an air pressure supply connected to the air supply port;
a control system which controls operation of the chest wall force applicator and the air supply; and
an airway resistance indicator which provides an indication of airway resistance based on the oscillating compressive force and air pressure at the mouthpiece. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
a sensor to measure air pressure at the mouthpiece; and
a sensor to measure the compressive force on the patient'"'"'s chest.
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16. The system of claim 15 wherein the airway resistance indicator provides an indication of airway resistance based upon an adjustment of either the air pressure at the mouthpiece or the compressive force on the patient'"'"'s chest so that airflow from the patient'"'"'s mouth essentially equals expiratory flow produced by the compressive force.
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17. The system of claim 10 wherein the airway resistance indicator senses a null point of pressure in which the oscillating compressive force and the oscillating air pressure produce an outward air flow from the patient'"'"'s mouth that essentially equals expiratory flow produced by the compressive force.
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18. The system of claim 17 wherein the airway resistance indicator provides an indication of airway resistance based upon the null point of pressure.
Specification